New Materials in Housing - Report Example

NEW MATERIALS IN HOUSING Name Institution Instructor Date Executive summary This report contains information regarding a research project that is concerned with the identification of the use of new materials as well as the use of old materials in new ways both in public buildings as well as in domestic housing. In this case, the use of new materials considers the ones for green building and the use of traditional materials in a new way examines the use of recycled concrete. In both cases of material usage, the report identifies the reasons associated with using the materials as well as the science involved in using them. The report then concludes by evaluating the outcomes of the project with regard to material usage and offers recommendation for future considerations. Contents Executive summary 1 Introduction 2 Green building materials 3 Discussion and reasons for usage 3 Science behind material use 5 Recycled concrete bricks materials 6 Discussion and reasons for usage 6 Science behind material use 7 Conclusion 7 References 8 Appendices 9 Appendix 2: Rubbles for use in producing recycled concrete bricks materials 10 Introduction The use of new materials as well as the used of old materials in a new way in building and construction of public buildings considers the sustainability concept. This is important because it integrates and incorporates several strategies in the course of design and construction processes for the building projects. Some of the new materials that are currently used in the construction of domestic housing as well as public building include green building materials. Currently, close to 54 per cent of energy use in buildings across the world are associated with the nature of materials used in the process of building and construction. Buildings and housings in more industrialized countries account for over 35 per cent of greenhouse gas emission, twenty five per cent of the world's wood harvest and close to 15 per cent of the world's withdrawals of freshwater (Jester, 2014). Fortunately, technological improvements in housing design and the use of materials are capable of uncontained consumption and pollution while at the same time lowering the operating costs. This is because these materials provide specific advantages to the occupants of the building and to the owner of the building. There are several reasons that are given for using green building materials and these include a reduction in replacement or maintenance expenses over the life of the public building constructed. There is also an enhancement in energy use within the building, which leads to conservation of energy (Harvey, 2009). Green building materials Discussion and reasons for usage Green building materials involve the use of renewable, as compared to non-renewable resources. Green building and construction materials are environmentally sustainable since their impacts are desirable in the course of the life of the product. Depending on the specific objectives of a project, an assessment of green building and construction materials may include an evaluation of several criteria. The cases that demonstrate the use of these new materials that are also referred to as green building materials include the criteria used in product selection where the environmental impact assessment is performed (Duggal, 2008). Another reason is that of improved productivity and health of the occupant. When green building materials are used in the construction of public buildings, the changes in space configurations bring a reduction in the associated costs. The use of these materials also allow for greater flexibility in the design of public buildings. Operations of building and construction in the world consume more than three billion tons of building materials year and this account for forty per cent of the entire worldwide use. The use of green materials in building and construction of domestic housing as well as public buildings promotes conservation of dwindling non-renewable resources at the international level. In addition, the integration of green building materials into building and construction projects can plays a major role in the reduction of the environmental impacts that are attributable to the extraction, processing, transportation, fabrication, installation, recycling, reuse and disposal of these structures source of materials (Allen and Iano, 2014). Science behind material use The science involved in the green building materials is based on the physical properties water, air and energy. Green building processes, as well the appropriate selection of building materials, is concerned with a few basic principles of science. Science is what sustainability in building and construction relies on, principles that are play an important role in offering guidance the use of these materials in interrelated systems, which form part of a building under construction. The science involved here is also useful in the minimization of energy loses and conversion energy from one form to another (Binggeli, 2008). This explains the effectiveness of passive solar energy in comparison to the electric heat used in some of the modern public buildings. The use of green building materials employs principles of science in the sense that the design and construction of buildings are tailored to their surrounding environment depending on the environmental conditions. The science behind the application of green building materials in more inclined towards environmental sustainability and health benefits as well as the investments that come with efficient energy use. For several potential as well as present house owners, the use of green building material immediately evokes illustrations of solar panels fitted above buildings and housing structures, the use of appliances that are efficient with regard to energy and the introduction of even materials, which includes bamboo and paints (Allen and Iano, 2014). Green building does not get rid of the comfort of housing or a building in any way. What it does is providing the comfort required in efficient and effective manner. Recycled concrete bricks materials Discussion and reasons for usage The other use of building materials in building and construction of domestic housing or public buildings involves the use of the old materials in a new way. In this case, the old materials such as concrete bricks are recycled before they are put into use. Recycled concrete bricks and their use in the building and construction industry are important with regard to environmental sustainability. This is because it involves the recovery of rubbles from buildings that have already been demolished. These materials are reused through recycled concrete bricks. The reasons for use of these materials in the industry of building and construction especially in the construction of domestic housing as well as public buildings is that the enable the achievement of substantial energy saving. There is substantial saving and efficient use of energy in both the brick-making process as well as that of building. The consideration of use of these materials also makes it possible for the recycling of dumped landfills. An actual case that demonstrates manufacture and use of this material is where the Cape Brick in Salt River manufactures are involved in the recycling of reinforced concrete bricks and a wide range of other concrete products that are approved (Harvey, 2009). These materials are acquired from the recovery of rubbles from demolitions sites. The recovered rubbles are then subjected to separating process where others materials such as glass, paper, wood, metals and plastic are separated from the reinforced aggregate concrete. This is followed by the crushing and reusing of the reinforced aggregate concrete in the construction and building of domestic housing and or public buildings (Binggeli, 2008). Science behind material use The science principles employed in this case of involves the ability of the recycled concrete material in absorption, storage and the release of solar heat. Thermal quantity through the thermal capacity for this particular material is lower compared to the normal concrete bricks or clay-fi red bricks. This allows for the protection of the wall built using this material from damage because of damp or moisture. The science principle that is operational in the protection of external walls is that which involves protection through clay mix plaster and lime. The recycled concrete brick from rubbles is currently becoming a new way of using old materials in the building and construction industry (Duggal, 2008). This is because is because of the increasing scarcity and cost of acquiring quarried materials such as bricks. Quarried material requires mining and transportation from quarries to building sites and cities, which interfere the road network system and raises the emission of greenhouse gas. Companies involved in manufacture and production of recycled concrete bricks source most of their rubbles and other demolition waste from within five km of its plant. This results in substantial saving with regard to cost of transport and energy use (Jester, 2014). Conclusion In conclusion, Material usage in public buildings as well as in domestic housing involves the introduction of new materials as well as consideration of traditional material in a new way. This particular research on use of materials in housing and buildings has been able to establish that environmental sustainability plays an important role in the introduction new materials in building as well as the use of traditional ones in a new way. Thus, it is recommended that a continual research be performed to further investigate the possibility of more traditional materials in a new way and the introduction of new ones based on the application requirements. References Allen, E., & Iano, J. (2014). Fundamentals of building construction: materials and methods. Binggeli, C. (2008). Materials for interior environments. Hoboken, N.J, John Wiley & Sons. Duggal, S. K. (2008). Building materials. New Delhi, New Age International. Harvey, K. (2009). Fundamental building materials. Boca Raton, Fla, Universal-Publishers. Jester, T. C. (2014). Twentieth-century building materials. History and conservation. Los Angeles, Getty Publications. Appendices Appendix 1: Use of solar panels as green building material in public building Appendix 2: Rubbles for use in producing recycled concrete bricks materials Read More