From natural building materials to the high-tech, browse through these pages to discover a variety of materials used in green building as alternatives to conventional materials.
Fiber cement siding has a longer history than you might suppose, with asbestos-based cement siding products first coming onto the scene at the beginning of the 20th century. These products were phased out in the 1980s, for obvious reasons, and
Even though living roofs (aka green roofs) are what most people think of when asked about sustainable roofing materials, it’s not the best option for existing buildings and homes because of weight limitations on roofs and the resulting high cost
Floors are one of the most vital finishes for your home. Let’s face it, you’ll see your floor every day as you step on it every time you are in the house. Since conventional PVC floor types harm the environment
New Brunswick-based PLAEX Building Systems, Inc. has developed a modular construction block system made from over 90 percent recycled materials. The system uses interlocking blocks that look and function a lot like Lego. A series of interlocking panels go over
Quality insulation is a cornerstone of an energy efficient building. It improves thermal performance, reducing energy consumption and wasted resources. In doing so, insulation makes a building greener not just at the time of its completion, but over the course
Our green building materials guide offers an introduction to choosing and using materials more sustainably in your building and renovation projects. If you’re interested in learning about your options when it comes to sustainable materials, or in how to evaluate
A common assumption about environmentally friendly building construction materials is that they must be more expensive. It’s a myth that’s worth busting because it drives the false perception that sustainable building isn’t cost effective. In that spirit, here are 5
If you’ve taken up woodworking as a hobby, you can now begin to create many useful things for your home. Even if you’re a beginner, there are DIY projects you can do to create home décor and small pieces of
Paint is the one thing that all residential and commercial buildings need. That means that going green on paint is making a great contribution towards environmental conservation. Purchasing natural paint keeps your indoor environment clean and ensures your health is
Windows are the weakest link in your building envelope. It doesn’t matter how high an R-value you have in your walls, if you don’t have the right windows you’re going to be bleeding heat out of them. So whether you’re
