Eco-Friendly Building Materials for 2021
If you’re going to be involved in the planning or construction of any buildings this new year, there are plenty of innovative new materials to be excited about. Sustainable building materials, in particular, have made leaps and bounds recently.
Not only can you get tax credits for using sustainable construction materials in some circumstances, but you can also make a positive contribution towards the ever more important cause of eco-friendliness.
In case you’re interested in popular 2021 eco-friendly building trends, let’s take a look at some of the best ones to consider.
Smart Glass
If you’re designing a building with a lot of exterior glass, consider using smart glass. Smart glass is able to turn from completely transparent to translucent, based on how the heating and/or cooling system is used.
During summertime, the glass will become translucent to prevent the sun from heating the building and making the air conditioner work overtime. During winter, the glass will become clear so that as much sun as possible can get in and aid the heating system.
This is similar in function to products like modular glass office walls and a great way to make your building more energy-efficient and reduce the carbon footprint. You can also incorporate regular windows as well if the aesthetic calls for them.
Bamboo Flooring
Everybody loves wood flooring but forests around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. If you want to do your part to slow the spread of deforestation, Bamboo is an excellent alternative to real hardwood.
Bamboo is generally durable, cheap, and eco-friendly thanks to its short grow-cycle. Much like regular wood, it can be found in a variety of colors and styles, so it’s as stylistically diverse as any other material.
It’s also a great way to save costs if you’re performing a commercial building restoration and need an affordable, yet beautiful flooring material.
Hemp Insulation
While insulation of any type will help improve the energy efficiency of a building, not all insulation is created equal. Some types, including the commonly used fiberglass batts, are produced using dangerous chemicals and toxic sprays. These pollutants are harmful to the atmosphere and should be avoided at all costs.
Thankfully, hemp insulation is just as effective as regular insulation and with an almost completely negligible effect on the environment. Hemp insulation also affords you the opportunity to pack more in because it can be compressed.
This means even higher energy-efficiency for your building. Window inserts are also an effective way to go about sealing windows for winter directly, where regular insulation can’t be used.
Eco-Friendly Materials Can Be Stylish and Effective
There’s no reason to sacrifice quality for eco-friendliness in 2021, so you might as well have both. The materials we’ve laid out here are some of the most innovative, high-quality, and sustainable products on the market.
By using bamboo flooring, smart glass, and hemp insulation, you can have a stylish building that also lives in relative harmony with the environment.
Skylar Ross is a contributor to the Innovative Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and interior design. Skylar is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
