Green Building Materials for Construction – Part 2

Big tax deductions provide significant motivation to pursue residential and commercial deconstruction. Donating deconstruction materials can also yield substantial potential savings. Consider green building materials for your next construction project to multiply your impact.

For green building projects, deconstructed materials will be used as much as possible. When deconstructed building materials are deemed unfit for reuse, their deconstruction, as opposed to pure demolition, allows them to be more easily recycled. This process helps keep materials that can be recycled and repurposed into like-new construction materials from being dumped into overflowing landfills unnecessarily.

When a green building construction project has used as many deconstructed materials as possible, the next step is to use virgin green building materials. The goal of using green building materials is to construct energy-efficient structures that minimize environmental impact.

Here’s the next part of our list of popular green building materials, their characteristics, and their environmentally friendly impact.

Green Building Materials Used in Construction

Bamboo Building Material

Bamboo is one of the most used multipurpose and durable materials for various construction projects. Sustainability experts nearly universally agree bamboo is one of the best eco-friendly building materials on the planet. These trees grow faster irrespective of climate, making them exceptionally economically viable as they can grow in diverse conditions. Bamboo is technically a perennial grass, not a wood, and it continues spreading and growing without replanting after harvest.

But don’t let its classification as grass fool you. Bamboo has a high strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional durability—even greater compressive strength than brick or concrete—so it can take a thumping without being replaced often, which is not necessarily the case with other fast-growing, sustainable items such as hemp. That makes bamboo viable for flooring, frames, supports, walls, cabinetry, and more. It provides exceptional structural integrity, and bamboo offers beautiful aesthetics for the best of both worlds.

Cordwood Building Material

While it can be a labor-intensive construction process, cordwood does not require special skills to implement and offers an inexpensive, environmentally friendly building alternative. What makes it an especially green option is that it can be constructed with local materials, often with scrap or sustainably sourced wood. Cordwood masonry requires short and round pieces of wood, which are laid one above the other, width-wise, and are bonded together by a unique mortar mix.

Furthermore, green benefits must persist beyond the initial construction. Cordwood masonry offers energy-efficient heating and cooling for the entire home. Thanks to the thick log-end walls and the juxtaposition of insulation and thermal mass (the mortar matrix) in cordwood masonry, cordwood homes are very energy-efficient.

Expert Green Donation and Deconstruction Services

Need help getting maximum tax benefits for your green building material donations? Want experienced consultants to take care of the entire deconstruction process from start to finish? Looking for expert guidance on deconstruction and the use of green building materials for construction? Contact Green Donation Consultants or call today at 540-786-8220 to speak with our team. We’re here to help you leverage enormous potential financial benefits while doing your part to keep our planet green.