Architects around the world are making more efforts to design commercial architecture that is greener. This is particularly noteworthy in the US where the properties are estimated to account for a huge 38% of carbon dioxide emissions according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition they consume 39% of total energy in the country.

The pursuit of greener architecture has encouraged architects to look at a wide array of alternative building materials. Below are five of the most popular ones.

Timber

Timbers are among the greenest building materials because they are renewable and soak up carbon rather than releasing it. Wood is lighter than steel as well, making it better in terms of the footprint that buildings need. Developments in stronger cross laminated timber have unlocked new potential for the material too, making it possible to construct taller buildings. It also allows more prefabrication, speeding up construction times.

Bamboo

This is a very interesting building material because it is so durable whilst also being renewable. It grows quickly, making it very sustainable. When growing it releases a lot more oxygen than trees and also absorbs more carbon dioxide. It can be used for a number of things, including protective facades.

Recycled materials

Cardboard, plastics, and scrap metals can all be used to create new building materials. Using these products can provide many benefits because it simultaneously cuts landfill and means fewer new resources need to be consumed. An array of different materials are made from recycled items including insulation and cladding.

Self healing concrete

Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the world but is also said to contribute around 5% of the global carbon emissions. The development of a material that can heal cracks itself will help to improve this though by cutting the amount of repairs that need to be done. This will boost the longevity of structures and mean fewer additional resources are needed.

Smart bricks

One of the newest technologies in the world, smart bricks have a huge amount of potential. Research into them suggests that they could be used to clean water and even produce electricity. This could dramatically improve sustainability in the future.

At Coffey Architects we understand the calls for greener commercial architecture. We play our part in this by designing properties that are as gentle on the environment as possible. We also carefully select materials for each project, always considering green alternatives.

If you would like to discuss this topic with us, please get in touch.