Building Materials - Natural and Recycled

Industry experts estimate that buildings contribute to 30% of GHGs through use of materials and consumption of energy, and cement production is estimated to be responsible for 5% of GHG emissions. The sector is also a major consumer of natural resources. The construction industry consumes 60% of all raw materials extracted in the world. Buildings consume about 40% of the world’s energy, and 25% of global water. Traditional building materials, such as cement and steel, contain significant embodied energy, which contributes to the building’s carbon dioxide emissions, and constitutes 15% of a building’s lifetime energy consumption. The building process also creates massive amounts of waste, most of which is sent to landfills. Increasingly architects and construction companies are incorporating “green” practices, including the replacement of fuel-based materials with natural, recycled materials.