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SMART Construction By Katy Mena-Berkley To complement a more energy-effi cient design, use these materials. l. Depending on the location of your build, using one of three roofi ng materials can signifi cantly improve the home's sustainability. A white roof made of light-colored materials that refl ect sunlight is an excellent option for warm, dry climates. Composed of organic materials, green roofs fare better in cold climates, reducing heating and cooling energy consumption. However, a study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology shows that roofs supporting an array of photovoltaic panels outperformed white and green roofs in colder climates, reducing both manufacturing emissions and the amount of coal-powered electricity the home consumes. 2. Recycled steel fram- ing is strong, durable and emits a minimal a mou nt of ca rbon d iox ide emissions into the air. 3. Use insulation made with cellular glass, a materia l that ha s long been used in industrial projects requiring insulation around high-temperature objects, such as fur- naces. Cellular glass is strong and fi re resistant, and wood-boring insects can't penetrate it. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) may be an excel- lent insulation material, but it is terrible for the environment. Made with hexabromocyclododec- ane, a brominated fl ame retardant that has been added to the Stockholm list of Persistent Organic Pollutants, and HFC-134a, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, XPS is currently facing bans in countries across the globe. 4. Made from renewable resources, bam- boo plywood interior walls are elegant, durable and easy to install. The mate- rial is also free of volatile organic compounds. 5. Replacing clear glass win- dows with low-emissivity (low-e) glass windows may a¥ ect a home's ability to absorb and retain energy in the form of light, heat a nd u lt r av iolet r a d i at ion . Layered with translucent metallic oxides, low-e windows can block the sun's ultraviolet rays, keeping you r home cool i n t he su m mer a nd wa r m in t he w inter. Low-e windows also help prevent fading on fl oors and furniture. BUILDERARCHITECT.COM Builder+Architect |