The Natural Insulation Materials Construction Essay

The Natural Insulation Materials twist EssayThis is usually the character reference of edifice that argon considered alternate today, save their heredity in structures that humans have been constructing for centuries. The reason why these furbish up techniques atomic number 18 gaining prevalentity in innovational times is devilfold. First, the old winding techniques argon farthest more than eco-friendly than the majority structures we utilise to encountering second, these structures ar simple replete in nature that they can build cheaply and can be create without the aid of a lot of the heavy and expensive equipment which is normally related with most new tress.Currently words much(prenominal) as thou, sustain qualified and utility(a) get make give ofd oft in the construction industry, which make its pretty conf victimisation and difficult to tell if any one particular system or tangible fall under one or umteen of these heading. The report will help id entify, green utility(a) twist method and literals which are less(prenominal) damaging to the environment than a similar practice used in conventional lumber-framed construction. The need to find selection practices will encompass any building technique that can be done repeatedly without changing the environment in any noticeable way.The Importance of Finding alternative MaterialsAs the mankind population continues to grow at an alarming rate, people are realizing that pla terminate cannot sustain such continuous and exponential growth. With land being increasable limited and we are continually diminishing our natural resource such are timber, with majority of it being used to build homes. It is evident that we cannot continue to use our natural material at this rate to build our homes. With the awareness of these natural materials become increasing limited, has made the construction industry rethink their way and start to think more about sustainable construction. Using alte rnative material for 8building homes is much more environmental sustainable than conventional homes building. Depending on the type and amount of sustainable materials used, these types of alternative material can reduce the coulomb footprint which is produce in building homes.According to the orbwatch Institute, an independent organization that analyzes critical global issues, one-fourth of the worlds timberland and one-sixth of its fresh piss are usedin building construction. This situation will only become worse as the worlds population and more people continue to migrate toward cities. The greater demands also will add pressure on increasingly scarce essential resources, especially water.The EnvironmentThe environment has now become issues and with it being heightened news, the brasss and individuals have seem to take notice and now taking to make a change because we cannot continuing abusing the environment, this is not an woof anymore.The chart below shows the proportio n of CO2 emissions in the UK from buildings in use, the construction process (mainly due to the CO2 from the manufacture of building materials) and from all other sectors including industry, transport, floriculture etc. Buildings in use contri thate about half of our CO2 emissions (and consume about half of our ability use).Figure 1 CO2 emissionsThe succeeding(prenominal) chart shows where these emissions come from and with over half of our get-up-and-go use and CO2 emissions from building use come from heating our buildings.Figure two Energy Waste.Government ActionThe UK government have stated that England must take action now, in narrate to make vast make betterment to energy efficiency in both new and alive buildings. The government have set many ambitious terminuss, an example of one they anticipate dramatic energy reductions to achieve its goal that all new homes in England will be carbon-neutral by 2016. World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2007)There are three main approaches to energy neutralityCut buildings energy demand by, for example, using equipment that is more energy efficientProduce energy locally from renewable and otherwise lavishnessd energy resourcesShare energy create buildings that can generate surplus energy and feed it into an intelligent grid infrastructure.Efficiency gains in buildings are likely to go away the greatest energy reductions and in many cases will be the most economic option. A study by McKinsey estimated that demand reduction measures with no net address could roughly halve expected growth in global electricity demand. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment trace estimates that by 2020 CO2 emissions from building energy used can be reduced by 29% at no net cost World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2007) and a cost curve for greenhouse gas reduction, McKinsey Quarterly 2007 Number 1.Fox and Murrell (1989) state the fundamental ecology rule of renewable material, such as wood is sustainable source and are renewable however, for materials like metal, plastic, gravel and sand, stone-based materials such as cement, concrete and plaster, have been used cannot be used again, their consumption if the world itself. (Berge, 1992) The extraction of certain raw material can be precise destructive effects especially to the water table and wildlife habitats. Over usage of these materials can affect the availabilities of in the near future, cause environmental degradation, and contribute to global affectionateing.Impact of the ConstructionThe industry has a major impact on the environment, it affect are not only on the resources it consumes but also the elope it produces. The construction industry is accountable for producing a whole variety of different wastes, the amount and type of which depends on factors such as the stage of construction, type of construction work and practices on site. In gigantic Britain, over 90% of non-en ergy minerals is extracted and are used to supply the construction industry with materials. Furthermore, every year more than 70 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste has been produced in England and WalesThe key is alternative radical materials because they have historically driven innovation in every industry, and could spur significant advances in todays housing. In order to gain acceptance, however, basic alternative materials must offer more benefits than the traditional materials or methods they replace. They must reduce costs, increase design flexibility, enhance sustainability, per traffic pattern eightfold functions, have superior performance characteristics, or meet a market niche. Another potential driver for adopting alternative basic materials is a shortage of existing natural materials or concerns about their gigantic-term sustainability. Martn(2005) states that in recent years, there has been a shortages of nerve center natural resources including l umber, steel, and gypsum, and this has driven construction costs higher. This irritability of supply and price motivates the industry to look for more sustainable solutions. Sustainability and resource shortages, in fact, will help to drive innovations in the future.The objective of alternative basic materials is to develop new materials that spur innovation by serving multiple functions, increasing cost- efficaciousness and efficiency, and using more sustainable materials. In many cases, these technologies form building systems that enable other Concept Home principles such as integrated functions, floor plan flexibility, and improved production processes.Alternative basic materials consist of core technologies that manufacturers can use to create products or systems and composite systems that builders can purchase and use to build homes. Martn(2005)Before considering the use of alternative materials, and before implementing into homes, matter-of-fact issues must be considered, (B erge, 1992) say to be realistic to imagine a technology that functions in line holistic ideas, none-mainstream approach but also providing human being with an acceptable material standard of living, basically Berge is trying to say there sound be a balance between the Eco approach and what consumer want.Government Schemes and principleAfter The Stern Review (2006) which advised that the implications of climate change couldnt be avoided any longer and urgent action was required, the government took notice and started implementing changes to building regulations. In 2007, the Government introduced theCode for Sustainable Homesto help improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of houses, by setting target for all new houses to achieve a carbon rate of zero by 2016. This is a take aim 6 in the Code for Sustainable.Currently, the standards of the code are not mandatory for private house builders but there are intentions to incorporate them into theBuilding Regulations over the next couple years, starting with changes to Part L in 2010.CAN I ADD moreConstructing environmental friendly houseTo construct an environmental friendly houses are to focus on reducing the environmental impact of both itsconstructionand its on-goingoperation. This is achievable at the design phase by selecting the correct material and the process.Environmental friendly houses and sustainable construction offer an exciting future for building houses. With the prospect of living in an environmentally efficient house that can generate its own power. Also reducing waste and running costs, safe in the knowledge that your house is not effecting but instead helping the environment. This is a positive step for a sustainable future.It is well documented the impacts that human drill has had on our planet and with the Office for Climate Change 2010, attributing 27% of the UKs total carbon emissions to household heating and electricity, house construction is an area where we can make a huge difference.Ecological impactDuring the development and construction stages of house being built, a ecological assessment should be carried out that reduces its impact. Also the see if it is feasible to create new habitats in the form of green or living roofs.MaterialsHouses are constructed using a vast flow of products and materials from a hunt of sources. For each one the industry must need to considerThe sustainability of the raw materials used.The lifespan of the material.Its performance characteristics as part of the building fabric.The energy use and waste generated fromThe acquisition of raw materials.Processing.Transportation.Manufacture.The possibility for re-use or recyclability at the end of life.the-self-build-guide.co.uk(2009)Luckily, a lot of the legwork has been done for you on this one, with resources such as the BREs Green Guide, which tolerates environmental ratings for building materials and components.Material specific organisations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) only certify timber taken from responsibly managed sources.You can find suppliers who use environmental management systems (EMS) to maximise the environmental efficiency of their businesses. EMS accreditation can be awarded through British Standards (BS) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).Alternative building systems improve on standard brick construction through their use of high performance materials and accurate construction techniques. Although many alternative systems involve the construction of buildings in-situ, in the same way that brick buildings are built, there are also many that are turning to off-site construction techniques to improve accuracy.Another benefit of off-site constructionAlternative Natural Construction Building SystemsAlternative building systems improve on standard brick construction through their use of high performance materials and accurate construction techniques. Although many alternative systems involve the c onstruction of buildings in-situ, in the same way that brick buildings are built, there are also many that are turning to off-site construction techniques to improve accuracy.Another benefit of off-site construction is that it can drastically reduce waste by up to 90% over traditional building methods. begrime brick flub brick is a building material, which consists of clay-loam soil puddle with water, sometimes breaking straw. The ideal soil requires clay content and the straw can be added to reduce drying and cracking. However, almost any soil can be adapted to make mud bricks making it one of the most flexible and convenient building methods. It is most popular due to its simplicity, which is advantageously grasped by the layperson with limited experience, time or resources. If the design and construction are easily, the building will last indefinitely.http//static.panoramio.com/photos/original/11435929.jpgMud brick has several advantages over conventional fired clay or concre te masonry. The advantages includeLow in embodied energyUtilisation of natural resources and token(prenominal) use of manufactured productsGood sound absorption characteristicsHigh thermal massA claimed ability to breathSuited to a wide range of soilsEasily manufactured and workedFlexibility in design/colour/surface finishesInsulation properties similar to those of concrete or brickworkThe disadvantagesMud brick building is very jade intensiveTexts and magazines suggest it is possible to make 100 bricks per day per person, although that level of productivity comes with experience and fitness Thousands of bricks are required for most dwellings.Only two or three courses of bricks can be laid at one time, because the courses need to dry out before more are added on top, to continue the wall slumping or warping.The technique requires a lot of water, which can be a problem in dry areas.Although it is possible to make bricks in arch weather, a large undercover area is needed.Mud brick building is very labour intensive and quite tiring (the most exhausting part is commingle the soil and water).(BBC h2g2, 2003)TimberWood is a very low carbon and sustainable material, it is important that the wood is ethically sourced and treated. There are types of wooden construction systems, they aretimber framing which is constructed completely on-siteStructural Insulated Panels ( imbibe)- they are manufactured off-site and assemble on-site.Timber framing is a cost effective method of construction which is available , they can be used for buildings up to around seven stories high and can be highly insulated level 4 or 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes should be achievable.The drawbacks of timber farming are that construction time to build the walls to the specification at the suppliers. With the possibilities of dry chemic decomposition reaction or wood worm if the timber is not treated properly in the first place. Which mean that only certified companies can be used.SIP s, this method usages large sheets of plywood or chipboard (more or less) to sandwich to domiciliate a stern insulting core, with these structurally sound panels then joined unitedly to construct the building. SIPs are more expensive, are slightly less flexible in the buildings they produce, but are generally extremely well insulated and airtight level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes is achievable.The drawback of wood-clad panels is that they do not provide any thermal mass as part of their composition. Frechette (2009) http//www.greenhomebuilding.com/sip.htm, stats that when SIP it will burn, it has been demonstrated that they bear on structurally sound for a lengthy period during a fire and do not emit fumes any more hazardous than those of wood products. Another possible concern is with insects or rodents nesting in the insularity since this can be an ideal habitat for them. One last concern is that a well-constructed SIP structure is practically hermetically sealed, whic h means that thewalls are not breathable for this reason they require some sort of mechanical ventilation system for healthful habitation. straw bale Constructionhttp//hurricanecandice.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/straw-bale-home-1.jpgBrian Waite from straw bale house design states that the UK alone produces 4 million tons of surplus straw every year enough for 250,000 homes. stalking must have the lowest embodied energy of any building material and is probably the cheapest and most sustainable. Straw-bales have an insulation U tax much better than required by the building regulations aswell as excellent sound deadening properties which, together, give a living station an ambience that has to be experienced to be appreciated.Contrary to common perception straw-bales in a building, is not a fire risk, is not a varmint risk and are not short-term, but would compost back into the earth if and when required to do so. Straw in bales is so tightly bound that it doesnt contain enough a ir to support combustion, just add a (carbon neutral) breathing lime render/plaster and any fire regulation requirement is easily met. There is no nutritional value in straw and so it does not attract varmint, it is only voids that vermin like, so proper attention to occurrence is the only precaution needed. Lime rendered straw-bales breath so evening out fluctuations of humidity thereby creating a healthier environment.Straw bale construction is the use of compressed blocks (bales) of straw, either as fill for a wall cavity (non-load bearing) or as a structural component of a wall (load bearing.) In each case, the interior and exterior sides of the bale wall are covered (by stucco, plaster, clay, or another treatment.)The drawback of straw is that it requires special measures must be taken to provide nailing surfaces, since straw bales do not hold nails as well as wood and anchored to the knowledgeabilitys. The external weatherproof cladding will need to be good, as bales will r ot badly if they get damp If straw bales are not available within a few hundred miles of your construction site, the cost of shipping them, along with the potential pollution from the transportation, must be taken into account.Views of the industry Straw bales may be plastered inside and out to provide thermal mass and, like standard construction, the walls must be protected from moistureStraw bale can be more resistant to termites and vermin than stick construction, but (as with any type of construction), elimination of cracks and holes is keyRammed Earthhttp//cdn.webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/rammed-earth-home.jpgRammed earth walls (aka pies) are constructed by the compacting (ramming) of moistened subsoil into place between temporary formwork panels. When dried, the result is a dense, hard monolithic wall.Rammed earth is an ancient form of construction, usually associated with arid areas. There remain plentiful examples of the form around the world endorse that ramme d earth is a successful and durable way of building. A few historical rammed earth buildings are to be found in the UK.Rammed earth construction is once again gaining in popularity for home builders looking for eco-friendly options. With rammed earth, youre using the dirt under your feet (or from a local quarry) to build a house. This is certainly a green practice since it usually makes use of local materials (local dirt) and you dont need lumber, quarried stone, brick, etc. to be transported from long distances.Rammed earth construction has its pros and cons of course. Lets take a look at the positives and negatives.A properly sited and intentional rammed earth home is ideal for passive solar strategies, so it can be great for an off-the-grid house. The thick, dense walls absorb the heating system from the sun all day and slowly release the heat into the interior of the house at night. This helps keep heating bills low in the winter, and these homes tend to lenify cool in the su mmer as well.Dirt is an easy-to-acquire material and while there are some requirements (not all dirt is going to have the pay mix of sand and clay), you ought to be able to get it locally, so this tends to be an eco-friendly building material.Soil selection needs to be done carefully, and if you are able to use dirt from the building site, youll end up with some big holes you need to figure out how to work into the landscape. Though it might seem that a house made out of dirt would be cheap, rammed earth construction actually tends to cost 5 to 15% more than conventional construction (due to the effortful process of creating the rammed earth forms).Its difficult to impossible to create rounded or sculpturally shaped walls the way you can with other materials. Homes made with rammed earth construction are going to be boxy in nature.Constructing a rammed earth house in the UK would probably require extra insulation, (its typical to add foam insulation to exterior walls and then cove r it up with stucco) as rammed earth method is not suitable for colder climates cobnuthttp//www.ranchomastatal.com/images/PicsTim100405009.jpgAnother mud-hut style of building, but there are occupied cob houses around the UK that are anything up to 500 years old. non bad for a mud hut. filbert houses are built from a mixture of earth, clay, sand and straw. The ingredients are mixed together with a little water until they form a paste-like substance. The paste is then smoochped onto a stone foundation to form walls that are often around two foot thick, then more and more slapped on to form a monolithic structural building. The slap is usually built up in layers about 18 inches high to avoid slumping.The great thing about cob houses is that they can be built into more or less any shape you care to dream up curves, vaults, domes etc. This can result in some pretty offensive buildings. The drawback is that it is very labour intensive and the walls can take up to a year to fully set.C ob is a Cheap, sustainable and eco-friendly method of construction using local materials. This is as load-bearing method of construction and needs no framework. A cob house uses 60 per cent less timber than a stud frame building. a cob house typically uses 20 per cent less energy.Cob house are naturally energy-efficient to cool and heat, provided the builder takes care to insulate the ceiling, and attend to solar positioning advantages. Straw bales embedded into north walls make this truer. Heat tends to pass out through north cladding walls. Straw bales tend to keep this heat in, better that only earth, which is more porous for air passage.Contractor do not like working with Cob material as it is time consuming and labour-intensive. It makes the need for community obvious, while demonstrating our inherent unified power. Cob has to breathe to dry out naturally after becoming wet. It used to be that the exterior walls were either left bare or lime rendered (which is expensive these days). Excessive moisture can give you a probleme, as the material needs some moisture (3-5% is considered good much higher than that and you might have rising damp). Cob generally exceeds the minimum u-values for a house.Cost benefits compared belowBuilding systemCost (/m2)*BenefitsDrawbacksTraditional brick block800-1500Well known, flexible, popular, robust, durable.Materials not eco-friendly, high waste, often poor performance.Timber framing200-1000Sustainable, cheap, reasonably rapid, well known, good performance. measly image, needs good planning.SIP300-1300Sustainable, excellent performance, rapid, can be fairly cheap.Poorly understood, few contractors, inflexible, needs good planning.Straw bale80-1000Very sustainable, good performance, can be very cheap.Misunderstood and could have low sale value, limited lifespan, needs very good planning.Rammed earth500-1500***Very sustainable, durable, good performance.Misunderstood and could have low sale value, needs insulating, eas ily water damaged, long build time.Cob500-1500***Very sustainable, durable, good performance, very flexible.Misunderstood, needs insulating, easily water damaged, long build time.Traditional MaterialTraditional Building Method and Materials usedThe majority of new homes in England and Wales are built usingtraditional masonry construction. With most people in the construction industry are familiar with this method. This method has many advantages, such as a deep historical and psychological attachment to masonry construction, which has contributes to its persistence use as the main house building method in the UK. A national surveil by MORI found that 61% of respondents would prefer to buy a newly built property of traditional block construction.Most building systems in England and Wales use a timber frame for the skeleton of the house , this is the core of most traditional method of construction, however manufacturing developments have moved many of these methods into the categoriz ation of modern methods of construction discussed below. This is currently second most popular technique for new home construction in the UK and, according to the UK Timber Frame Association, is the fastest suppuration method of construction in the UK. Traditionally used in North America and Scandinavia, as those areas are rich in timber resources, it comes with some good environmental credentials.http//www.ajbuilding.co.uk/userimages/parsonagefarm3.jpgBefore considering what type of alternative method or material to use, we need to understand how current building methods and materials are being used. Below is a basic methodOnce the excavation and installation of the foundations is completed, the bricklayers erect cavity walls that consist of an inner and outer skin.The inner skin is the main structural particle, which supports internecine floors and the roof structure. It is constructed using concrete blocks laid on beds of sand and cement mortar.The outer skin of the house is t he first line of defence against the elements and provides the aesthetic element to the structure. This is constructed usually with brick, stone or block work, this can produces a number of finishes. The two skins are connected by steel wall ties and separated by a cavity that is partially or fully filled with insulation.Internal floors, they are constructed using timber joists, composite timber beams, or one of many precast concrete systems which are available. The roof is usually traditional cut timber or prefabricated truss construction.Traditional MaterialConcreteWith environment and health issues, concrete are non-toxic stains and sealants can be used. They are Manufacturer of Portland cement contributes between 5-8% of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases, which means concrete is non-green material. It under goes a chemical process of limestone, it creates the same amount of carbon dioxide in weight, but concrete can be grounded and recycled for use in roads and pavem ents (Holistic Interior Designs,2007)Concrete is often used in the construction and constructing home and is there a need to find an alternative material to replace concrete. Traditional concrete contains material such as stone or other material with similar properties. Concrete is made from gravel, sand, cement and water through a chemical process, the concrete is next, poured into slabs for worktops and panels creating a stone like appearance. The traditional use for concrete are use walls, floors, fireplace surrounds, worktops, panels, wall finishes, concrete furniture, sinks and basins. It offers an exceptionally high lifespan up to 3 times that of alternate building materialsThe use of concrete has many advantages, Farrell (2009) summaries the advantages and disadvantages of concrete which are stated belowAdvantagesFire, moisture, insect, rot and rust resistant,Can be poured into form Absorbs and retains heat very well,Concrete is water resistant and will not warp, rust or ro t.Concrete homes are less affected by fill up or by leaks from tanks or water pipes. Concrete walls between adjoining properties offer high levels of security and peace of mind to property owners.DisadvantagesWhich are Poor insulation propertiesConcrete May Not Offer Pleasant AestheticEmbodied Energy of concrete manufacture creates very high levels of carbon emission. product line Extraction of the raw materials in very large quantities has a negative impact on the local surrounding environments.Transportation of raw materials over long distances accounts for further release of carbon dioxide levels into the atmosphereBricksThere are now more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional concrete on the market, made with haltere or carbon neutral concrete. Traditional concrete should be the last choice. Which will be explain later chapter.Are Bricks Green or Not?(Proefrock, 2007) asks what is brick made of, which is just clay and water and that is it, there are no complex c hemicals, no exotic compounds, no imported components. Brick are effectively just a manufactured clay stone with a special shape. It breaks down into earth since it comes from earth. (Proefrock, 2007) Clay mining is comparatively benign, compared to ore mining for metals, which requires far more material to be extracted and processed to produce the finished product. Clay is not a resource that is in short supply, which makes it a more attractive material to use, as well. The main reason brick is not an even greener building material is that it takes a lot of energy to make a brick. However, the extra energy is relative. (Proefrock, 2007)Finding alternative Insulationsustainablebuild.co.uk (2010) state insulation is a key component of sustainable building design. A well insulated home reduces energy bills by keeping warm in the winter and cools in the summer, and this in turn cuts down carbon emissions linked to global climate change.In regard to energy efficiency, investing in high levels of insulation materials when constructing houses is a cost-effective method of saving energy, rather than investing in expensive heating technologies. It is important to choose the correct type materials in the context of whole building design.Insulation materials are used in roofs, walls and floors. Alternative methods that have solid walls structures from cob and adobe cannot be insulated, Cob and Adobe already offers good thermal mass to compensate. Houses that construction with Timber frame require wall insulation in the form of batts (pre-cut sections that are designed to fit between stud walls), rolls or boards. Other types of construction methods such as brick or concrete insulate with spray foam, loose fill or rolls.Insulation materials work by resisting heat flow, measured by an R-value (the higher the R-value, the greater the insulation). This R-value varies according to material type, density and thickness, and is affected by thermal bridging, unclaimed heat flo