From energy usage to emissions, the construction industry has a huge impact on the environment. It is, by its very nature, a big user of natural resources, but with growing concerns over climate change and the finite nature of these resources, there is increasing pressure on construction firms to reduce their environmental impact.  

While there are challenges involved in adopting sustainable construction methods, there are also great benefits too.  It not only increases a building’s value, but the building is better preserved over time, and this consequently translates into lower energy consumption and a more sustainable and respectful construction process.  

So, what does sustainable construction actually mean? It is the use of renewable and recyclable materials for building projects, whilst reducing energy consumption and waste. The primary goal of sustainable construction is to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment by using materials that don’t harm the environment, whether in its production, use or disposal, and that can easily be recycled.   

Sustainable materials that are gaining popularity include bamboo for construction, cork as an eco-friendly material in home design that mimics hardwood, natural stone for cladding, Hemp Crete for good thermal acoustic insulation qualities and Terrazzo for flooring.  

We talked to Aidan Bell, co-founder of Envirobuild, whose mission is to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry by providing high quality products that are consistently the better environmental choice over current traditional products on the market.  

What are the benefits of incorporating sustainable building materials in construction?

There is currently almost no legislation forcing people to use lower embodied carbon materials into buildings.  It is only done when a client wants to reduce their own impact on the world.  The good news is that there are products which have the same performance and price, but with lower embodied carbon. It’s always worth working with your architect and contractor if this is something that interests you. They’ll often know of products, or be happy to advise on products that you’ve found through your own research   

For items that work on lowering operational carbon such as heat pumps, extra insulation, grey water harvesting, solar panels etc. there can very often be savings on monthly bills. The initial outlay can be recouped surprisingly quickly, but in almost all instances give greater returns that you’re paying in interest on your mortgage. 

What is the future for the construction industry with regards to sustainable building materials?

The future will eventually involve designing then building with deconstruction in mind, so that items can be reused more effectively. Over the next decade there is possibly going to be legislation ensuring an EPC “C” or above for sales or renting out of properties, as proposed by the climate change committee last month.

Would you agree that sustainable design is the essence of architectural design and if so, why?

I absolutely think that sustainability should be at the heart of architectural design because without it we risk losing so much. Historically it hasn’t been high on the list, however times are definitely changingchanging, and architects are usually the most forward thinking within the construction sector and are an extremely important element in educating the industry.

What would you say to potential clients who say using sustainable building materials is too expensive?

There are certain materials that you can switch for lower carbon intensity products without a loss of quality or an increase in price. As a blatant plug, two examples are:

1. Sisu luxury vinyl tile flooring that is lower in carbon intensity than any other LVT on the market
2. Hyperion composite decking and cladding which are made from recycled plastic and industrial offcuts of wood

It’s always worth remembering that with products or design features that reduce the operational energy of a property the payback can be considerable, especially with the relentless rise in energy prices.

If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.

 Pete Seeger

If clients adopt just one eco-friendly material in their build, what would you recommend?

That’s a difficult question. I would suggest working with your architect to ensure that you don’t have too much solar gain in the summer, as we’ve seen how hot the UK can now get, and ensure there is plenty of insulation for the winter.