Recycled Building Materials for a Green Home
Reused and Salvaged Building Material for Green Residential Building
Oct 30, 2009
Making a green home out of recycled building materials is not the only way to make an eco-friendly house, as energy efficient design and moisture control techniques are just as, if not more important to lessening environmental impact and creating a safe and healthy indoor environment. Still, making the effort to use salvaged building material and products made out of recycled goods is a valuable first step towards eco-friendly residential green building.
How Recycled Building Materials Lessen Environmental Impact
One of the wonderful aspects of salvaged building materials is that they are already made — no production is necessary. This completely eliminates the chemicals that would otherwise be released into the environment during manufacturing. Also, no fuel needs to be burned to create them. Recycled building materials, which are re-created from post-consumer or post-industrial goods, generally require much less processing than a new product, for example, recycled glass tiles are simply melted and made into new pieces.
The other environmental benefit of salvaged and recycled building materials is that there is no unnecessary use of virgin natural resources, as the finished or near-finished product already exists. Keep in mind that these construction pieces would otherwise end up in landfills, creating more waste and hazard.
According to a Washington Post article (December 13, 2008) by Katherine Salant, "Deconstructing an Old Home Can Give You Building Blocks for a New One," as much as 30% to 40% of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition debris. Any action to prevent more waste is good for the environment; using salvaged building material from deconstructed homes has the added benefit of reducing the cost of residential green building.
Examples of Recycled and Salvaged Building Material
Recycled Building Materials
- Fly ash concrete is a waste byproduct of coal-fired power plants. From one fourth to one half of cement can be fly ash concrete. This material also improves structural performance.
- Steel framing can be used as a substitute for lumber. Light-gauge steel is about one quarter recycled material, while heavier steel usually has more recycled content.
- Fiberglass insulation is almost always partially made from post-consumer glass.
- Cellulose insulation is made from fiberized newspaper. Fire retardants are added.
- Drywall is another commonly used recycled building material; it is often made from one hundred percent recycled paper facings.
- Recycled glass tile is made from used glass that has been ground, melted, and re-formed.
Salvaged Building Materials
- bricks
- stone
- framing lumber
- plumbing fixtures
Where to Find Recycled and Salvaged Building Material
There are different ways to find or purchase used construction products. There are a number of companies which specialize in recycled building materials. Some may focus on salvaged wood, while others buy and sell surplus construction materials, and others, such as ReNew in Vermont provide deconstruction services and sell salvaged building material not for profit.
Another option is to look out for homes that are going to be demolished, then contact the owners. In most cases, they will be happy to give away or sell for a minimal price, used materials which would otherwise end up in a landfill. Regional salvage yards are another place to look. Be careful not to take products that would not be energy efficient, such as outdated toilets or old windows.
Making the effort to utilize salvaged and recycled materials for residential green building is well-worth the effort. It can greatly lower construction costs, and have a long-term positive impact on the environment that everyone can appreciate.
Sources
- Wilson, Alex. "Your Green Home: A Guide to Planning a Healthy, Environmentally Friendly New Home." (New Society Publishers, 2006).
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