Rice hulls have various uses in construction, including as insulation, concrete filler, and engineered wood products. They are environmentally friendly and provide a market for agricultural waste. Companies disclose the percentage of rice husks in their products, and it’s important to research before purchasing.
Rice hulls have a number of uses in construction including as an insulator, a filler for concrete and as a component in engineered wood products. Products made from hulls are available at some hardware and home improvement stores, and you can also order them directly from the manufacturers. For the agricultural industry, finding uses for waste products is beneficial as it makes their practices more environmentally friendly and provides a market for by-products that previously cost money to discard.
As insulators, they have a number of useful properties. They resist mold and mildew and have very high insulation values. Some historic structures show evidence that earlier companies reused their rice husks for this purpose, and the recycling trend in the 2000s is a throwback to older practices. People can use hulls as blow-in insulation just like cellulose, recycled paper, and similar products. It is also possible to pack rice husks into bags and use them in the construction of bag walls, where people pack bags with insulating material and stack them between backing materials before plastering with adobe or similar products to create a wall. This green building technique can be used in a variety of climates.
In concrete filler, people can use burnt rice husks as part of the aggregate material in the concrete. Burning is a common practice to get rid of agricultural waste and people usually discard the ashes. In concrete, they can act as a filler and binder to hold the concrete together, displacing other materials. While burning is less environmentally sustainable than using uncooked rice hulls, in situations where companies are likely to burn the hulls anyway, reusing them in concrete provides a better method of disposal than landfill.
Engineered wood products such as composite decking and planking can use rice hulls. These materials provide people with environmentally friendly alternatives to wood and tend to be more durable and resistant to chemicals, weather and other sources of damage. Companies can dye or stamp engineered wood in a variety of ways to create patterns and make it more visually interesting. Custom versions can often be ordered, although they will be slightly more expensive.
Companies that use rice husks in their products usually disclose their percentage by volume and should discuss other components as well. Products containing recycled agricultural products are not always more environmentally friendly, depending on the other components of the product. It’s a good idea to do thorough research before making any purchases. Resources may include green contractors, information books and brochures, and organizations interested in green building practices.
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