Building work
With greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and construction at 12% of the UK total in 2018 (Climate Change Coalition), thinking about the materials we use, and how we use them is well worth it! So where do all these emissions come from?
Greenhouse-Gas heavy products, that release GHG in their manufacture and use, waste, and heavy energy intensive processes required to make materials. The CCC recommend choosing low-embodied-carbon materials, using products efficintly and for longer (reducing waste), and making sure manufactuing and transport uses renewable energy, and are less energy intensive.
What sort of materials might these be?
In my quest to renovate & extend our home in the most sustainable, earth friendly way, I have come across a few winners which I will share here. This list is not exhaustive but may help!
HEMP - hemp grows quickly and it’s fibres can be made into fabrics and even building materials, such as hempcrete. It absorbs large amounts of carbon as a plant, and even continues to sequester as a hempcrete brick! Hempcrete blocks have the same structural and themal values as concrete blocks, and are breathable.
CORK - Cork comes from the bark of the Cork oak tree, and as long as the forest and trees are managed sustainably, the tree can keep growing and support biodiversity as it grows. Cork can be used for walls, floors, mats etc. and is hypo-allergenic, anti-fungal, and can be recycled. Ask about the sustainability of glues and finishing products used, as this will vary. Recork and Wicander seem to prioritise sustainability.
WOOD - Timber from FSC forests, and as local as possible (less transport emissions) seems a good option. The FSC prefers engineered to solid wood floors as one tree can make more engineered boards than solid wood. Tiber frame buildings with structuarlly insulated panels can be sustainably sourced (I’m not sure about the insulation!) and constucted in a day.
TERRAZO - made from industry waste left over pieces set in concrete is an interesting material to explore, and QUARTZ can also be made from waste products. However, quartz goes through intensive heat and pressure processing, so needs to be powered by renewables.
MARMOLEUM - from Forbo use 97% naturl raw materials and are carbon neutral, and list sustainability and emissions ratings in their specification technical sheet.
GROUND SCREWS - avoid the need for poured concrete and digging, especially for small projects.
… a big topic, more later!
Most importantly, speak to your contractors, trades people, suppliers and dealers - the more people who ask, the more they will adapt practices in reponse! As BEIS identify, the CO2 emissions that construction can influence is significant - almost 47% of total CO2 emissions of the UK. SO let’s get them influencing!