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Green building materials include sustainable flooring and countertops, reclaimed demolition waste, and environmentally friendly items. Sustainable items are alternatives to traditional materials, such as bamboo flooring. Reclaimed materials are second-hand items salvaged from demolition sites, while environmentally friendly materials have a low carbon footprint and are sourced locally. Using these materials in building projects is referred to as green, environmentally responsible, or sustainable.
The different types of green building materials can be divided into categories such as sustainable flooring and countertops, reclaimed demolition waste, and environmentally friendly items. Sustainable items are alternatives to traditional building materials, such as fast-growing bamboo flooring instead of hardwood. Reclaimed building materials are second-hand items that are often salvaged from demolition sites, so typically there is little or no negative environmental impact associated with their reuse. Environmentally friendly materials are specially designed and have a low carbon footprint and are also commonly sourced locally. When some or all of these green building materials are used in a project, it is often referred to as green, environmentally responsible, or sustainable.
Green building materials can refer to a wide variety of different items that are often used in environmentally sound building projects. These items can be very different in origin and composition, although they are all more environmentally friendly than traditional materials. These green building materials can typically be obtained from companies that specialize in supplying builders and contractors, although they can also be sourced more piecemeal.
A main type of green building material is defined by the concept of sustainability. These building materials are generally seen as alternatives to traditional components which are not sustainable. Many types of hardwoods are classified as unsustainable, so bamboo flooring is a popular alternative. Because bamboo grows very quickly, it cannot be depleted like hardwood forests. Other types of wood can also serve as green building materials, as long as the forests they come from are certified sustainable. Many other materials also fall into this category, such as cork and linseed oil which is used to make linoleum.
Another type of green building material is demolition waste. These secondhand materials are salvaged from demolition sites and reused as backfill or crushed for use as aggregate in concrete mixes. Even the fixtures and other items can often be reused. Even if the original production of these materials wasn’t environmentally friendly, reusing them can keep them out of landfills and have a net positive impact. These types of second-hand building materials can often be purchased locally as well, which is environmentally friendly due to the reduced amount of pollution associated with transportation.
Other green building materials are designed to make buildings more energy efficient. When buildings are designed to require less heating and cooling, they typically have a lower environmental impact than other similarly sized structures. Other green building materials can make it easier to install green roofs and other design elements that can create more environmentally friendly buildings.
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