Material Use
Specifying efficient use of materials and considering their impact from manufacture to disposal.
Material Use
Building materials account for about half of all material use worldwide and about half the solid waste generated.
They have an environmental impact at every step of the building process – from extraction of raw materials, through processing and manufacturing, transporting and construction, to eventual disposal at the end of a building’s useful life. This impact can be significant. Some materials require large amounts of energy in their production. Others may cause pollution or be hazardous to occupants. Wise choice and efficient use of materials is an important aspect of sustainable building.
New Zealand statutory requirements
A key purpose of the Building Act 2004 is that buildings are designed, constructed and used in ways that promote sustainable development. The NZ Building Code requires that designers, builders, local authorities and building owners consider:
- minimising waste during construction
- use of sustainable materials
- use of safe and healthy materials
- energy conservation and efficiency
- material durability (designers must make homeowners aware of the maintenance requirements of the materials specified and that whole of life costs are a better determining factor in material selection rather than just initial cost).