Green building materials usually visualize environmentally friendly products such as recycled paperboard or pre-fabricated metal roofing. In fact, green materials are as common and beneficial as other building materials. They can help reduce your building's carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, and, depending on the product in question, even decrease building maintenance costs.
Green buildings can also contain everything from naturally renewable wood to recycled concrete to earth-friendly paints and adhesives. Even in areas with little access to petroleum, developers use it as a cheap alternative to reinforce concrete, adding another layer of strength to crumbling steel exteriors. In fact, cities across the country and around the world are seeing the benefits of green building materials by encouraging developers to use products that decrease carbon emissions and/or introduce a "green" consciousness into their buildings. For example, some cities have adopted zero-waste programs, requiring new buildings to make at least a part of their waste non-recycled. Bamboo, precast concrete slabs, cork, straw bales, recycled plastic, reclaimed wood, and reclaimed or recycled steel are some of the types of green materials used in the construction industry. They are gaining huge adoption on the account of growing need for environmental sustainability and the ongoing trend to go-green.
Green construction is all about incorporating building materials that are friendly to the environment. Many times, that means using sustainable building materials that have a smaller impact on the environment than traditional construction supplies. The result is a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential to fighting climate change and keeping our planet healthy. Whether one looking to build a new home, a new office, a sustainable development project, or even a residential building for a family, green building materials are a great way to improve the sustainability of construction projects and reap the benefits long term.
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