4 Criteria of Sustainable Building Materials

Whether you’re looking to build a green home or building or simply interested in how a building can be green, there are four main criteria that must be met in order for a building material to be considered sustainable.

Efficiency: Resource efficiency is the measurement of certain factors of a building material. One of the primary measurements is how much of the material is First, it measures the amount of recycled that makes up the building material. Second, the material has to made up of a natural and renewable source. Third is the local availability of the material so as to cut back on energy and transportation costs.

Indoor air quality: Sustainable building materials cannot contain toxic chemicals that create poor indoor air quality.

Energy efficiency: Sustainable materials that are also energy efficient reduce energy use and consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency introduced its Energy Star Program to endorse appliances that are energy efficient.

Water conservation: Reduction of water use is another characteristic of a sustainable building material.

Using sustainable building materials helps to create home and building environments that are environmentally friendly and healthier for the inhabitants of the structure. Consider these factors for your next building or remodeling project. It makes the world and the building a better place to live, work and play.