Green Building Forum - The greenest construction materials/techniques Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:41:21 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25492#Comment_25492 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25492#Comment_25492 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:21:23 +0100 greenman
A truly 'green' building must be one that is 'green' in terms of the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing processes, transport, energy consumed, impact on the environment, ecology, the energy efficiency and self-sufficiency of the resulting structure, its anticipated life expectancy, the ease with which materials could be recycled in that event, and so on...

Given all this (and the things I've missed out), but ignoring current fashions, aesthetic considerations and other peripheral matters, what is the 'greenest' building type (for a home), construction method, and combination of building materials there is?]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25493#Comment_25493 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25493#Comment_25493 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:23:41 +0100 tony ]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25495#Comment_25495 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25495#Comment_25495 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:29:08 +0100 greenman The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25498#Comment_25498 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25498#Comment_25498 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:34:37 +0100 tony The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25503#Comment_25503 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25503#Comment_25503 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:16:48 +0100 llwynbedw Posted By: tonyMud hut with a thatched roof:smile:" alt=":smile:" src="https:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/smile.gif" >
And no central heating! Design it out!
:bigsmile:

Dan]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25528#Comment_25528 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25528#Comment_25528 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:47:32 +0100 greenman
Do I get the impression that this discussion isn't being taken entirely seriously...?]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25531#Comment_25531 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=25531#Comment_25531 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:22:31 +0100 joe.e The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62290#Comment_62290 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62290#Comment_62290 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:14:02 +0100 SteamyTea
Not so sure about straw bales, lots of energy used in growing the crops (fertiliser and tractor fuel, change of land use) and in transporting to site.

Rammed Earth is probably best (though there is an energy use in feeding the workers and in releasing carbon dioxide from the extraction).

Has anyone looked at the ICE document to find the lowest embodied energy/carbon materials?

Nick]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62318#Comment_62318 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62318#Comment_62318 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:03:40 +0100 jon

Posted By: SteamyTeaHas anyone looked at the ICE document to find the lowest embodied energy/carbon materials?

Yes, in the Green Building Bible: Volume 2. A more extensive study describing the ethical model used for the GBB study was undertaken afterwards resulting in a technical advice note issued in The Institution of Structural Engineers periodical (May 2008 from memory).]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62320#Comment_62320 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62320#Comment_62320 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:19:49 +0100 joe90
"Not so sure about straw bales, lots of energy used in growing the crops (fertiliser and tractor fuel, change of land use) and in transporting to site."

Straw is a waste material, the crop will be grown anyway, better to use the straw than burn it like thousands of tonnes are every year. (recycling) Yes it is transported to site but every book or web site on this subject suggests that the straw is sourced locally.

I fully intend to use straw for my new build, what could be better or greener than recycling a waste product to give a very well insulated, vapour permiable home. I suggest that this is greener than using lots of man made products to build warm homes. (and I intend to have a wood burning stove to recycle all the waste wood i can).]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62321#Comment_62321 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62321#Comment_62321 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:25:05 +0100 jon Posted By: joe90Straw is a waste material, the crop will be grown anyway, better to use the straw than burn it like thousands of tonnes are every year.
Straw works out OK providing you furnish the rest of your property using similar material types. If you don't do this, then straw can work out worse from an embodied point of view.

But embodied isn't as important as your heating system and the type and width of insulation you have chosen. Straw is OK (and cheap) for insulation but for some applications doesn't work out well.]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62322#Comment_62322 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62322#Comment_62322 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:16:06 +0100 SteamyTea

Nick]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62328#Comment_62328 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62328#Comment_62328 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:08:22 +0100 joe90
I am interested in what you mean by:-

Straw works out OK providing you furnish the rest of your property using similar material types. If you don't do this, then straw can work out worse from an embodied point of view.

I am planning to clay and lime render the straw both inside and out (most common way of straw bale build nowadays) and doors and windows in oak. Roof insulation to be re-cycled paper.

With regard "embodied energy" surely using a waste product that would otherwise be burnt (releasing particulants etc) is better as the embodied energy for the plant is set against the original product, i.e. wheat ETC.? and if the house should fail the straw will rot and provide some good nutrition for someones veggies!

What could be greener than that.]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62332#Comment_62332 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=62332#Comment_62332 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:18:30 +0100 jon
Not a lot. Sounds as if you have the right mix.

Otherwise, It varies depending on what is meant by green

For instance, if green means low embodied and therefore low carbon emissions right now then short term low embodied contents are suitable
If green means to reduce carbon emissions to reduce the probability of global warming then low embodied short term or long term high durability but low annualized embodied structures are suitable
If green means the above but also to take account of peak oil reducing future generation's access to power, then generally long term structures work; particularly if there is an energy 'crunch' before other power (such as 'world grid' solar' or nuclear is developed

However, we could end up having to revert to agrarian society in which case we will need a knowledge base of short term construction methods.

Green also means other things to other people (such as natural materials)]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65632#Comment_65632 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65632#Comment_65632 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:47:56 +0000 jkalar The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65634#Comment_65634 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65634#Comment_65634 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:54:47 +0000 ludite The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65635#Comment_65635 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65635#Comment_65635 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:00:32 +0000 jkalar The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65636#Comment_65636 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65636#Comment_65636 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:23:30 +0000 jamesingram
There are some new ones springing up which appear to be trying to supply more along the lines of a standard Merchant
keep thinking about starting one up , have been for a good few years
It would be good to link it with a skip/rag and bone service as the material source
Got garages and shed loads of stuff I just cant throw away perhaps I should just upscale the operation
from junk to collector to junk baron]]> The greenest construction materials/techniques https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65641#Comment_65641 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2049&Focus=65641#Comment_65641 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:08:02 +0000 jkalar