Material efficiency

A sustainable architect typically chooses environmental-friendly building materials. The most

desirable materials are those that are recycled or renewable, as well as those that require the least
energy to manufacture. There is often a focus on using locally-obtained woods and stone,
reducing the distance that materials travel before being used in the construction process and
supporting local trades. There is a preference for wood that is harvested responsibly from
certified forests and all other materials are non-synthetic and non-toxic. Recycling is at the heart
of a sustainable architect’s design.
Resource and Material Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the
following criteria:
! Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial
content with a preference for postconsumer content to remanufactured office furniture.
! Natural, plentiful or renewable: Materials harvested from sustainably managed sources (e.g.,
wood from certified forests) where wood is harvested using sustainable practices.
! Resource efficient manufacturing processes including reducing energy consumption,
minimising waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging), and
reducing greenhouse gases.
! Locally available: Building materials, components, and systems or regionally saving energy
and resources in transportation to the project site. Reduce transportation costs.
! Recycled, Salvaged, refurbished or remanufactured material from disposal and renovating,
repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality,
functionality, or value of a product with little to no long term maintenance and resistance to
adverse weather. Adopt a policy of “waste equals food” where 75% of waste is recycled by
waste recycling program.
! Consider everything from blended concrete, using flyash, slag, recycled concrete aggregates,
or other admixtures to recycled content materials such as structural steel, ceiling and floor tiles,
carpeting, carpet padding, sheathing, and gypsum wallboard.
! Materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.
! Recycled or recyclable product packaging: Products enclosed in recycled content or
recyclable packaging.
! Durable: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with
long life expectancies.
! Biobased materials and finishes, agro based materials, agricultural wastes and byproducts,
including straw, wheat, barley, soy, sunflower and peanut shells, etc.
! Use of engineered materials like engineered trusses, composite materials, structural insulted
panels, stress skin panels, insulated concrete forms, or protected shallow foundations.
! Low-e windows where e, which stands for low emissivity.
! Cool roofing in which the coating is designed specifically to reflect sunlight, a cool roof
expels more heat into the surrounding atmosphere. This results in a much lower temperature
throughout the home in summer.
! Recycled Steel (all steel scraps can be recycled) advantages include increased durability, little
to no long-term maintenance and resistance to adverse weather.
! Reduce amount of materials used to reduce amount of fuel generated.
! Active solar panel installations
! Train all the crew
 Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures,
especially represented by concentrations of pollutants and thermal conditions (temperature and
relative humidity) that affect the health, comfort and performance of occupants.

Factors in the indoor environment that can affect well-being and health are:
! Chemicals for intended use or
! unintentional emissions from different sources
! Particles
! Microbes
! Pets and pests
! Humidity
! Ventilation
! Temperature

(IAQ) is enhanced by utilising materials that meet the following criteria:

! Low or nontoxic: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or
irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.
! Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while
reducing chemical emissions.
! Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-
VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards.
! Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of
biological contaminants in buildings.
! Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-
toxic, or low-VOC methods of cleaning.
! Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air
pollutants or enhancing the air quality.

There are three basic strategies to improve indoor air quality

! Source Control: most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual
sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Eg.like those that contain asbestos, can be
sealed or enclosed; gas stoves, can be adjusted etc.
! Use biodegradable building materials, finishes and furnishings with no gaseous
contaminants or volatile organic compounds.
! Minimise creation and spread of construction dust
! Protect construction materials from moisture
! Provide a smoke free building, but when smoking must be accommodated, provide
completely dedicated n isolated smoking areas to assure that air from smoking areas does
not re enter the building. Locate outdoor smokies areas so that non smokers do not have
to pass through these areas when using primary building entrances.
! Improved Ventilation: Operable windows for proper ventilation by removing contaminants
! Maximise use of daylighting with proper solar orientation to provide daylight or shade
where needed.
! Monitor indoor air conditions including temperature, humidity, CO2 levels
! Provide a building that is responsive to seasonal variations in desired indoor humidity
levels, air velocity and mean radiant temperatures resulting in significant energy savings and
improved occupant comfort. (responsive building elements are essential technologies for
the exploitation of the environmental and renewable energy resources and in the
development of integrated building concepts. These are design solutions that maintain an
appropriate balance between optimum interior conditions and environmental
performance by reacting in a controlled and holistic manner to changes in external or
internal conditions and to occupant intervention.)(shading by provision of balcony,
creating seasonal living spaces, clear storey and eaves, mud and lime plastered walls)
! Air cleaners: Prior to occupancy install new air filters, Servicing of ventilation
equipment, Fresh outdoor air to naturally purge the building of remaining airborne gases
n contaminants.