Eco-Friendly Building Materials in India: Sustainable Guide

As the word “eco-friendly” suggests, the building materials are not harmful to the ecosystem or the environment. This article will discuss ten eco friendly building materials in India to save the environment.

This article will examine ten outstanding environmentally friendly building materials, such as bamboo, Timbercrete, green concrete, etc.

For more details about environmentally friendly building materials in India, keep reading.

Table of Contents

10 Eco Friendly Building Materials In India

The following are ten materials used in green building.

Green Concrete

Green concrete was developed to encourage sustainable building materials in India. It comes from recycled and waste materials like glass, mud, sawdust, burned clay, and mining debris. These eco friendly building materials in India are also durable and low-maintenance.

The parameters, structural design, maintenance, and production were considered during its design and construction life cycle. Green concrete prevents hazardous emissions from entering the atmosphere and lowers CO2 emissions. It has a long lifespan and is thermally and fire-resistant. The going rate for green concrete is Rs. 6500 per cubic meter.

Straw Bales

Moreover, straw bales are excellent insulators. Straw bales are put into walls and ceilings to assist in preserving warmer winter temperatures and cooler summer temperatures. Harvesting and replanting straw is simple and has little effect on the environment.

The process of turning straw into bales has no impact on the environment. Instead of using gypsum, fiberglass, concrete, stone, plaster, or wood for the wall of the house, straw bales are utilized instead inside a frame.

Straw-bale construction is an environmentally friendly building technique in terms of the materials used and also the energy required for heating and cooling. The going rate in India for straw bales of dry wheat is Rs. 4500/tonne.

AAC Blocks

The materials used to create autoclaved aerated concrete blocks, or AAC blocks, are typically waste from industry. These eco friendly building materials in India illustrate how waste can turn into valuable building components. They also save money, are more durable, mold- and fire-resistant, energy-efficient, and have a longer lifespan.

Their typical uses include creating floor panels, roofing panels, and wall partitions, among other things. The AAC block’s market price ranges from Rs. 2250/cubic meter (the lowest) to Rs. 3000/cubic meter (maximum).

Timbercrete

Sawdust and concrete combine to create the intriguing building material known as Timbercrete because it weighs less than concrete. It reduces transportation emissions and uses sawdust, a recyclable waste product, to replace some of the energy-intensive components of conventional concrete.

Timbercrete also molds into common shapes like pavers, blocks, and bricks. A piece of Timbercrete measuring 23x11x7.5cm costs Rs. 14.25 on the Indian market. Timbercrete has a density of 694 kg/m3. Timbercrete has a compressive strength of 3.5 N/m2.

Bamboo

Bamboo construction has long been a common practice. It is a similar substance to wood and has recently become more popular due to the limited supply of wood. The building industry uses it because of its durability and affordability. Bamboo has a quick rate of regeneration.

Corrugated sheets made of bamboo mats are frequently in use instead of asbestos, corrugated metal, and plastic in roofing applications. Bamboo is an eco-friendly building material in India that can withstand harsh weather conditions well, making it a good choice for roofing sheets. Bamboo costs Rs. 4000/tonne in India (for sun-dried bamboo with 15% moisture).

Cork

The demand for cork is rising quickly. It comes from an active tree growing and producing cork and bark. Cork is also durable and flexible, returning to its original form under pressure. Its capacity for absorbing sound makes it ideal for insulation sheets, and its capacity for absorbing stress makes it suitable for subflooring.

Cork is inherently fire-resistant and doesn’t emit harmful fumes when it burns if left untreated. Cork is an intense heat insulator as a result of this. According to market rates, a hardwood cork sheet of 12x12x0.5 inches costs Rs. 650–700. The cork sheet has a tensile strength of 15-20 kg/ cm2.

Plastic Bricks

A novel idea has been created that reuses plastic to address plastic garbage disposal. These eco friendly building materials in India are used with cement aggregates that mold into brick shapes to create plastic bricks. Tensile strength-to-weight ratios for plastic materials are higher.

In addition to being significantly more sound and heat-insulating than conventional bricks, plastic bricks are considerably lighter. Because of the multiple qualities listed above, it utilizes for building infrastructure, including roads and railroads. A pallet of plastic bricks costs Rs. 240 and is available on the market.

Sheep’s Wool Insulation

Sheep’s wool is natural, unlike polyurethane spray foam or fiberglass insulation. Sheep’s wool is more widely available, regenerates more quickly, and is easier to obtain than certain other insulators like cotton.

It also doesn’t decay nearly as quickly as other insulating materials. Sheep’s wool currently values at 450 rupees per kilogram in India. The rate may change depending on whether the wool is natural or cleaned.

Reclaimed Or Recycled Metal

Due to the energy needed to mine, heat, shape products, and transport relatively heavy materials, aluminum, and steel are materials with substantial energy consumption.

Yet, because metal can be correctly and effectively recycled or utilized to manufacture new products, it reduces embodied energy, making it a more sustainable and environmentally responsible choice for green construction materials.

Recycled metal is also a durable substance that does not require regular replacement. Its propensity to neither burn nor distort makes it a practical choice for roofing and structural support.

It is sometimes possible to use recycled metals in their original forms, such as plumbing parts, instead of recycling them and creating new products. Water- and pest-resistant building materials are also available.

Rice Husk Ash Concrete

One-of-a-kind eco-friendly building material in India is concrete from rice husk ash. The byproduct of burning rice husk is rice husk ash. Afterward, the charred residues combines to make the concrete more workable. Compared to Portland cement, the binding strength of concrete made with rice husk ash is higher.

The material is more robust than regular concrete regarding split, flexural, and compressive strength. It is chemical and corrosion-resistant. It also has a variety of small- and large-scale applications as an insulator, including use in industrial flooring, restrooms, swimming pools, and other spaces.

The going rate for rice husk ash concrete ranges from Rs. 2800(minimum) to Rs. 3050 per cubic meter (maximum). It is one of the materials used for green building.

FAQs

Why is it important to use eco-friendly materials in construction?

The production of building materials has a permanent negative impact on the environment. The most excellent strategy to construct an eco-friendly structure is to use eco-friendly materials.

Is bamboo a real solution for green buildings?

Bamboo is one of the green building materials in India that may be used for walls and roofs. Despite having a flimsy appearance, according to scientific testing, bamboo has a higher tensile strength than steel. Green bamboo constructions that are sturdy and adaptable have even been reported to survive the earthquake and hurricane effects.

What advantages come with utilizing environmentally friendly building materials?

An advantage of eco-friendly building materials is that they reduce operation and maintenance costs, energy efficiency, water efficiency, a better environment, etc.

What is a green building?

A green building is a naturally occurring, environmentally friendly structure that uses resources like water, energy, and materials wisely while requiring minimal upkeep. Green building examples in India are Suzlon One Earth (Pune), Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(Hyderabad), CII- Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre(Hyderabad), Infosys Limited(Mysore), etc.

Conclusion

This blog post lists all ten eco-friendly building materials in India used for green building that can be utilized to save the environment. Also, you now understand why we should utilize environmentally friendly building materials.