Eco-Friendly Building Materials

 

Literature Review

Introduction to Literature Review

The construction sector is a major cause of environmental deterioration due to its high energy consumption, vast resource consumption, and huge trash output. Adopting environmentally friendly building materials has become a crucial tactic for improving sustainability in the industry in response to these difficulties. Eco-friendly building materials are made to lessen a structure's negative effects on the environment, increase energy efficiency, and enhance residents' health and well-being. The many kinds of environmentally friendly building materials, their advantages, difficulties, and the prospects for sustainable construction are the main topics of this study of the literature. To lessen the construction industry's environmental impact, it seeks to summarize the most recent studies on the subject and emphasizes how crucial it is to incorporate sustainable methods. To find pertinent research publications, academic sources like ProQuest and EBSCO Host were searched using terms like "sustainable construction materials," "eco-friendly building materials," and "green building practices." This review looks at this research to give readers a thorough grasp of how eco-friendly materials support sustainable growth in the built environment.

Review of Literature

Assessment of Non-Traditional Sustainable Insulation Materials

A thorough analysis concentrating on non-traditional sustainable building insulation materials was provided by Asdrubali et al. (2015). This cooperative endeavor offered perceptions of new options in the building sector. The authors' timely insights on the potential of unconventional insulating materials were made possible by their focus on recent advances. It offered a thorough analysis of non-traditional, internationally applicable sustainable building insulation materials. The particular materials and where they may be found may differ depending on the location, but the ideas presented in this article apply to architects, engineers, and builders anywhere who want to use greener building practices. Reducing the environmental impact of the building sector is becoming more and more important as worries about resource depletion and climate change grow. The study sought to support initiatives aiming at reducing the environmental impact of building construction and operation by looking into sustainable alternatives. The study seems to be more qualitative in nature because it offers a thorough examination of a variety of unusual insulation materials, including their characteristics, advantages, and possible uses. The authors conducted a systematic review to assess the viability and efficacy of these materials, providing useful information for their application in actual construction projects. Asdrubali et al. (2015) discovered a wide range of creative substitutes for standard insulation materials in their assessment of non-traditional sustainable building insulation materials. These featured natural materials like bamboo, straw bales, and rammed earth, as well as recycled materials like recovered wood and recycled metal. Because these materials are renewable and need little energy to produce, the researchers emphasized their potential to lessen the environmental effect of construction. They also talked about how using green concrete, which contains industrial waste, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase durability. Biodegradable composites manufactured from agricultural waste were investigated in the study, showcasing their environmentally beneficial and structurally sound qualities. Although Asdrubali et al. (2015) review provides insightful information about non-conventional sustainable building insulation materials, it is not without limitations. The review gives scant attention to the disadvantages and difficulties of these materials, instead concentrating mostly on their possible uses and advantages. Because these materials' applicability varies based on aspects including climate, local restrictions, and resource availability, the study may not be as specific as it could be in addressing regional variations in their availability and suitability. Due to the rapid evolution of the area, the evaluation may not fully cover recent breakthroughs or upcoming trends in sustainable insulation materials. Although the study provides a thorough overview, the range of materials studied may prevent it from going as deep in some areas, therefore missing subtle factors unique to particular materials or applications. These drawbacks point to the necessity of additional investigation and empirical investigations to fully evaluate the viability and usefulness of incorporating non-traditional insulating materials into environmentally friendly building techniques (Asdrubali et al., 2015).

Assessment of Embodied Energy in Irish Concrete Structures

Similarly, Goggins et al.'s (2010) study was centered on evaluating the embodied energy of typical Irish reinforced concrete building systems. To shed light on the environmental impact of reinforced concrete structures, the research set out to measure the energy used throughout their lives. The research was carried out in Ireland, offering unique perspectives on the nation's building sector and surrounding ecological circumstances. The goal of the research was to address the growing concern regarding the sustainability of construction materials—especially reinforced concrete—about the environment. The study sought to determine the amount of energy used by ordinary Irish building structures by quantifying embodied energy. This data was essential for encouraging more environmentally friendly building methods and educating decision-makers in the construction sector. The research utilized data on material manufacture, transportation, construction, and demolition processes to evaluate embodied energy using a quantitative technique. The researchers measured the total energy used during the lifecycle of reinforced concrete constructions by examining these variables. A thorough grasp of the environmental impact of construction materials is made possible by the researchers' accurate estimates of embodied energy, which they were able to provide thanks to their quantitative methodology. The study's conclusions showed that ordinary Irish reinforced concrete building structures have notable amounts of embodied energy. The study measured the amount of energy used at different phases of the building lifecycle, emphasizing the significant environmental impact of using traditional building materials. These results highlighted the necessity of putting policies in place to lower energy use and advance sustainability in the building sector. However, the study was not without limitations. It offered insightful information about the embodied energy of Irish reinforced concrete structures; the results might not apply to other construction methods or geographical areas. The study ignored other environmental variables like resource depletion and carbon emissions in favor of concentrating just on energy usage. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the study added to our understanding of sustainable building techniques and helped shape the direction of future studies and the creation of relevant regulations.

Exploring Alternative Raw Materials for Cellulose Insulation

Jones et al. (2015), in contrast to other studies, carried out a review that concentrated on the availability of substitute lignocellulosic raw materials and their effects on the cellulose insulation supply chain and pricing. The goal of the study was to determine whether it would be feasible to produce cellulose insulation—a crucial component of sustainable building methods—using substitute raw materials. The research examined the increasing need for environmentally friendly insulation materials and the possible effects on the supply chain and cost dynamics in the building sector. In addition to finding potential alternate sources outside of the conventional wood-based material supply chain, the research was done to gain an understanding of the existing state of raw material availability for cellulose insulation. The research covered a wide range of geographic areas and looked at lignocellulosic materials from both domestic and foreign sources. By looking into other possibilities, the researchers want to shed light on how to diversify the cellulose insulation supply chain and maybe lower the price of traditional materials. The study's methodology comprised a qualitative analysis of reports from the industry and current literature. The researchers synthesized information on the availability, accessibility, and feasibility of alternative lignocellulosic raw materials through a methodical review of the available data. Using a qualitative methodology, the study sought to give a thorough summary of the topic and throw light on the wider ramifications for the construction sector. The research's conclusions demonstrated the possibility of substitute lignocellulosic raw materials to diversify the cellulose insulation industry's supply chain. The study found a number of viable sources, such as recycled materials, non-wood plants, and agricultural wastes. When compared to conventional wood-based materials, these alternative sources were shown to provide potential benefits like cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and less environmental impact. But researchers also pointed out drawbacks and difficulties in locating and handling substitute raw materials, such as infrastructure, quality, and availability problems. The research conducted by Jones et al. (2015) provides a significant understanding of the viability of employing substitute lignocellulosic raw materials in the manufacturing of cellulose insulation. The research facilitates the adoption of sustainable building techniques in the construction industry by providing insights into supply chain dynamics, availability, and cost implications (Jones et al., 2015).

Analysis of Literature

Asdrubali et al. (2015), Goggins et al. (2010), and Jones et al. (2015) all share the objective of advancing sustainability in the construction industry, but they also each provide distinctive insights into various facets of sustainable building materials and methods. Reviewing non-traditional sustainable building insulation materials, Asdrubali et al. (2015) sought to investigate substitutes for insulation that have a lower environmental impact. Their study offers a qualitative review of several materials with an emphasis on how well they improve energy efficiency and how sustainable they are. It adds to the conversation about sustainable building techniques around the world.

Goggins et al. (2010), on the other hand, carried out a quantitative analysis of the embodied energy in commonly found reinforced concrete building constructions in Ireland. Their research measures the amount of energy used throughout a concrete structure's life. Through the application of quantitative methodology and a country-specific focus, the study offers comprehensive insights into the environmental impact of concrete buildings in Ireland.

The availability of substitute lignocellulosic raw materials for cellulose insulation was reviewed by Jones et al. (2015) with the goal of determining if it would be feasible to diversify the supply chain and cut expenses. Their study offers a qualitative examination of alternative materials to investigate alternative materials, much like Asdrubali et al. (2015) did. However, Jones et al. (2015) carried out this study, demonstrating a wider area of research than Goggins et al. (2010).

Overall, even though each study has a different focus and approach, they all work together to advance knowledge and support sustainability in the construction sector. Their shared objective of investigating substitute materials and methods to lessen their impact on the environment and increase energy efficiency highlights the need of multidisciplinary research and cooperation in tackling global issues associated with sustainable development.

References

Asdrubali, F., D'Alessandro, F., & Schiavoni, S. (2015). A review of unconventional sustainable building insulation materials. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 4, 1-17.

Goggins, J., Keane, T., & Kelly, A. (2010). The assessment of embodied energy in typical reinforced concrete building structures in Ireland. Energy and Buildings, 42(5), 735-744.

Jones, M. I., Hill, C. A. S., & Hillier, J. G. (2015). Review of the availability of alternative lignocellulosic raw materials and their impact on the supply chain and cost of cellulose insulation. BioResources, 10(1), 1-24.