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Sustainable Building Materials

The industry continues to develop sustainable building materials, recyclable or renewable, to lessen its environmental impact. These include mass timber products, which can be recycled. Other, like bamboo, are renewable; bamboo can be aggressively harvested and replaced due to its wide availability and fast growth.

Other options include mycelium, which is made from mushrooms and can be molded into bricks when mixed with sawdust and demolition waste. And 3D printing using concrete creates air-tight, energy-conserving buildings that remain comfortable throughout the seasons.

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Green Roofs

Green roofs may be some of the most interesting building techniques used today to bolster sustainability. These are spaces on flat roofs where grass, bushes and other plants grow. It replaces some of the green square footage removed during construction.

Green roofs also better facilitate rainwater management than standard roofs alone. Instead of rainwater washing down gutters and out into the sewer system, green roofs absorb it, helping plants grow. If designed carefully, these spaces can be wonderful places for gardens in urban environments, or simply areas for building residents to hang out.

Note: A green roof isn’t a park; they aren’t made to handle extensive foot traffic.

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Passive Solar

With careful planning, designers can make the most the sun’s energy without using solar panels or any electrical devices at all. Passive solar, aka designing a home to harness the sun’s energy for heating, allows buildings in cooler climates to rely less on their heating source and more on design choices.

One example of passive solar: A bank of south-facing windows that lets warming sunlight into the home all day long. Also, using construction materials like concrete with a high thermal mass encourages passive solar. The concrete will heat during the day and release energy into the home throughout the night.