Materials

DESIGN TO MINIMISE WASTE
Thoughtful design can greatly reduce the amount of waste generated in the construction process. Dimensioning to use standardized construction material sizes will reduce both resource consumption and construction costs. Limit use of finish materials by specifying elements that are durable and "self-finished", such as exposed, textured concrete. Use of factory-assembled or off-site construction of components can allow tighter on-site assembly tolerances, better air leakage performance, and can greatly reduce waste from production or assembly.

USE MATERIALS WITH RECYCLED CONTENT
Specifying materials with high recycled content not only reduces the amount of new material, energy and pollution in their production, it reduces the need for landfills, and possible pollution from incineration. Many materials and components are now available that have recycled or "waste" product content. These range from concrete that uses fly ash aggregate, carpets made from recycled soda bottles, and insulation made from recycled paper, to paints that contain post-consumer returns. Designers should pay particular attention to the recycled contents of building materials derived from scarce non-renewable resources, such as:

• increasingly scarce metals: copper, lead, zinc, tin, steel and aluminum,
• plastics made from petroleum products rather than cellulose,
• other materials, such as concrete, requiring large amounts of petroleum energy for production.

These should be selected with as high a recycled content as possible, and limited to applications where they will contribute to the overall longevity of the building, have no economical substitutes, or are designed for reuse/recyclability. However, the availability of products with recycled content is dependent on demand by specifiers. Architects and designers can help ensure that innovative products with greater recycled content are available by making this a visible priority in their material specifications, and requesting information on recycled content from suppliers in the course of their design practice. The Oikos Product Directory can help designers select products with recycled materials.

1 - Concrete - 150 MPa - nic. Steel Reins	13 - #22 Steel studs - 150 mm, 600 mm o.c.
2 - Concrete Block & Mortar - 200 mm wall	14 - Glass - 6 mm Clear Float
3 - Aluminum - #16 panel	15 - Asphalt/Gravel Roofing - 4 ply
4 - Aluminum - #18 panel	16 - Interior Gypsum Board - 12 mm
5 - Galvanized Steel - #22 Q-Deck	17 - Kiln Dried studs - 38 x 140 mm, 400 mm o.c.
6 - Brick & Mortar - 100 mm Solid Clay	18 - Softwood Plywood - 9.5 mm
7 - Galvanized Steel #26 Cladding	19 - Kiln Dried studs - 38 x 140 mm, 600 mm o.c.
8 - Porcelain Steel - #24 Cladding	20 - Insulation Fibreglass - 150 mm Batt RSI 3.1
9 - #20 Steel stubs - 150 mm, 400 mm o.c.	21 - Acrylic Stucco - 2 coats
10 - Reinforcing Steel - #10 - 600 mm grid	22 - Polystyrene Insulation - 25 mm Extruded
11 - #22 Steel studs - 150 mm, 400 mm o.c.	23 - Polystyrene Insulation - 25 mm Expanded
12 - #20 Steel studs - 150 mm, 600 mm o.c.

 

-- Excerpted with permission from Design Smart published by BC Hydro