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Wall Construction: Which Materials are Sustainable? 

 

In recent years, there have been a number of advancements in environmentally friendly building materials. From naturally occurring materials like bamboo and cork to high-tech upcycling solutions, there are more options than ever before for putting up walls.

 

What Makes a Material Sustainable?

Whether you’re taking on a commercial project or figuring out how to build the best walls for your own home, there are some key indicators that tell you how sustainable a given material is:

 

• Is the material locally available? Sourcing and extracting local materials can reduce transportation-related energy consumption.

 

• Does the material help with insulation in the winter and ventilation in the summer? A material's insulation and ventilation capabilities can help reduce dependence on heaters and air conditioning when weather conditions get feisty. This can save residents money and help cut back on energy usage.

 

• Does the material require a lot of energy to produce? Materials like concrete can be expensive to produce in terms of both money and natural resources like water and energy.

 

• What is the material’s lifespan? The longer a material lasts, the less often you will have to source and produce to replace it.

 

• Does sourcing the material negatively impact its native environment? Quarrying for sand — which is needed for concrete production — leads to pollution and environmental degradation. The less extracting a material disrupts the environment, the more that particular material is eco-friendly.

 

Pros and Cons of Common Wall Materials

 

Bamboo

Sustainability experts agree that bamboo is one of the most environmentally friendly building materials.

 

PROS of Bamboo

• Bamboo is lightweight, so transporting it requires less energy. 

 

• The material has high durability and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

 

• It has a high self-generation rate, making it a highly sustainable and renewable resource. 

 

CONS of Bamboo

• Bamboo is not readily available in Europe.

 

• It requires extra treatment to prevent rot and repel insects, which are often attracted to the starch produced by untreated bamboo.

 

Cork

Cork is a variety of tree bark with surprising shock and noise absorption capabilities. It also makes for a decent thermal insulator.

 

 

PROS of Cork

• Like bamboo, cork is quick to replenish itself.

 

• The material is flexible, resilient, and impermeable, so it does not easily succumb to water damage or rot.

 

CONS of Cork

• Cork is predominantly sourced from the Mediterranean — using it in any other region will lead to high transportation-related energy consumption.

 

• Shipping costs can be very expensive.

 

• Over time, cork tends to become brittle.

 

 

Upcycled Materials

A hot trend in a variety of industries, upcycling is the reuse and repurposing of discarded material to create new products. For example, plastic bottles can be upcycled into architectural tiles for building a floor or wall.

 

 

PROS of Upcycled Materials

• Using upcycled materials reduces energy costs, since resource extraction, transportation, and many processing steps are not required.

 

• Repurposing material already in circulation helps reduce waste production.

 

• Upcycled solutions often lead to creative and unique designs. If you're looking for something beyond the typical wood or brick look, upcycled tiles might be for you!

 

CONS of Upcycled Materials

• It takes a lot of discarded material to produce enough tiling for a complete set of walls.

 

• Some materials are not able to be repurposed more than once.

 

Fired bricks (porous and non-porous)

Fired bricks include fly ash bricks, clay bricks, coal gangue bricks, and shale bricks. They are typically used for walls, columns, and arches. Fired porous bricks can be used to build insulated walls.
 

PROS of Fired Bricks

• Brick is fairly long-lasting. It has a high level of durability and color retention.

 

• A non-combustible material, brick is fireproof and weather resistant.

 

• It is eco-friendly and made from some of the most abundant materials on the planet — clay and earth!
   

CONS of Fired Bricks

• Brick can be expensive compared to other materials.

 

• There aren't many design or styling options.

 

• A brick wall may require repointing every few years — pointing is the whitish mortar that is used to stick bricks together. 

 

• Brick cannot be used in earthquake zones.
   

Sheep's Wool Insulation

Sheep's wool is an incredibly effective insulator; its insulating factor is 10% greater than a number of traditional glass fiber insulations.

 

PROS of Sheep’s Wool

• Sheep's wool has staying power — it doesn't degrade as quickly or easily as other common insulation materials (e.g. straw). 

• The material can regenerate faster and be harvested much more easily than insulating materials like cotton.
   

CONS of Sheep’s Wool

• Sheep's wool is not the most affordable insulation option. However, experts hope that costs will eventually lower over time as the material becomes more commonplace.

Acoustic Wall Panels

Acoustic panels are sound-absorbing and typically placed on walls to control and reduce noise and echo.
 

PROS of Acoustic Wall Panels

• Pre-built acoustic wall panels are fairly easy to install.

 

• The material is fairly long-lasting.

 

CONS of Acoustic Wall Panels

• Acoustic wall panels can be expensive.

 

• Sound absorbability depends greatly on the individual acoustic wall panel design.

 

• Incorrect placement of panels can result in poor sound absorption.

 

Prefabricated Insulated Wall Panels

There are two types of prefabricated insulated wall panels: structural insulated panels and insulated PVC wall panels. 

 

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are engineered panels used to build ceilings, floors, and walls.
 

PROS of Structural Insulated Panels

• SIPs are highly durable and energy-efficient.

 

• They are extremely strong; SIPs can withstand dead loads of about 10 lbs per square foot and live loads of up to 70 lbs per square foot. 

 

• Buildings constructed using SIPs enjoy energy efficiency rates that are about 50% higher than structures built with traditional framing.

 

• You can combine SIPs with other materials, such as wood, stone, brick, glass, and tiles.

 

• SIPs are up to 15 times more airtight than traditional solutions. 
   

CONS of Structural Insulated Panels

• SIPs' airtightness can quickly become a negative if there is poor ventilation.

 

• Improperly glued panels are vulnerable to delamination.

 

• Because they are made of foam, SIPs can attract pests. However, applying insecticide (e.g. boric acid) to the panels can resolve this issue.

 

Insulated PVC wall panels (PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride) are a popular choice for interior wall and ceiling paneling. 
 

PROS of Insulated PVC Wall Panels

• PVC panels are sturdy, highly durable, and fairly affordable.

 

• Panel installation is easy, as the panels can be cut and shaped without much difficulty.

 

• The panels are lightweight and easy to maintain.

 

• The material is resistant to moisture and therefore not prone to mold and mildew growth.
   

CONS of Insulated PVC Wall Panels

• PVC panels have a plastic look, which some people do not prefer.

 

• They are not heat-resistant and can be toxic when burnt, so avoid using them near the kitchen and other areas that may contain fire. 

 

• They might release traces of chlorine gas over a period of time.
   

Conclusion

There are several options when it comes to sustainable, environmentally friendly wall materials. Take note of your location, year-round climate and temperature, overall budget, and stylistic preferences to make the best decision for your project.

 

Looking for some eco-friendly wall material? Check out MINIWIZ's Trashpresso tile generator. You can also learn more about MINIWIZ's work here.

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