These Smart Green Building Materials Are Cost Effective & Long-Lasting, Too

Green buildings are growing in large numbers in India. What makes them worth it is their design simplicity. This design strategy is couple with a focused approach of an extended lifespan of natural resources, reduced operating costs like the use of energy and water, offering human comfort, safety and efficiency. One of the prime features of these structures is the use of non-toxic, recycled and environment-friendly building materials.
 
While experts believe that the occupants pay three to five per cent more for such properties when compared to the conventional ones but they save 25-30 per cent in water and electricity consumption bill. Hence, the additional expenses can be recovered within five years and in fact, profitable in the long run. But, it is still a far-fetched choice for many home buyers. 
 
In order to take make "green" more popular among residential property buyers as well, the traditional building materials are also going the sustainable way. The new materials, though the traditional have become more cost-effective and long-lasting. This allows property holders to build or rebuild their homes into eco-friendly and sustainable spaces.
 
The greener and smarter replacements

• During the stage of construction of a building, to make it green, can substitute natural sand with finely powdered crystalline silica made from rejected limestone. It supports in replacing natural sand usage in concrete and plastics.

• Using this substitute also aides in preserving natural reserves and protecting the environment. Moreover, silica also safeguards the denser concrete, making the structure more strong and durable.

• Replace clay bricks with a much sustainable, technically superior, fly ash based composition. In terms of strength, water absorption, efflorescence and various other constraints, these are superior in quality than any other bricks available in the market. Besides the quality factor, fly ash-based bricks are energy and resource efficient bricks. These bricks are produced using cleaner production methods and cut carbon footprints.

• Another component is concrete. The usefulness of which is yet to be explored well. It can be customised to serve several purposes.
   
  Here are some ways to use concrete:
   
  Weather-proof house
   
  A combination of concrete and cement to an advanced level with cement materials without changing any other important properties has a higher strength and durability when compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) against external weathering loses. This superior composition upsurges the concrete's resistance to sulphates, reduces chloride-ion penetration, and improves resistance to belligerent situations.
   
  Beautify
   
  It is not always necessary for concrete to be dull. It can be printed or stamped for making attractive surfaces on entrance, flooring, footpath and pavements. Whether, the driveway to a garage or a poolside private access path, this creation can help add a new colour to an ordinary surrounding. Intricate patterns for a decorative patio or a naturally blending pathway in a garden. This product is not only strong and impact resistant, but also weather-proof, making it easy and economical to preserve.
   
  Self-drain water
   
  (i) It allows drainage of water, the large pores present in the no-fines concrete allow easy drainage in to ground under appropriate conditions; (ii) it helps keep the area dry and clean and prevents polluted water from entering our streams; and (iii) it allows more efficient land developments, by making it possible for integrated land utilisation for water preservation and drainage.
   
  Cut electricity bills
   
  Concrete is designed to provide thermal comfort in the buildings, restricting heat or cold directly entering inside the building, a layer of modified concrete can be applied over the top layer of the roof slab. This will keep the building cool in summer and warm in winters. The trapped insulation in the concrete layer provides a bed for energy control in the cement. Due to this mechanism, energy consumption is reduced to a great amount. In addition, it helps saving the non-renewable resources, durability and the benefits lasts for an extensive time.