Buildings are not only for putting a roof over our heads; they also affect us and our environment directly or indirectly. That’s why green buildings are a necessity in the construction business.
During construction, buildings consume energy, raw materials and natural resources. During demolition, too, the circle goes on and on.
While these activities are going on, they produce waste, and there's also the release of harmful chemicals into the air.
Green buildings came into existence due to the ever-present harmful chemicals in the atmosphere due to these harmful practices. And to sustain green buildings practices, green materials must be used in the construction of the building.
Simply put, green buildings reduce or minimize the risk of chemicals. Instead, it impacts positively on the environment.
As a plus, green buildings are sustainable, and they help to save energy consumption and improve quality of life.
Speaking of building materials like ceilings and walls, there are different materials they can be made from to make them green.
Below are sustainable materials that can be used in the manufacturing of green walls and ceilings.
Mineral fibres are suitable materials for making ceilings and walls. They are made from natural resources, so instead of taking away from the environment, they add to it. They’re eco-friendly materials and are very sustainable.
Indeed, the process of mining metals usually takes a long approach. And a lot of energy is needed to fabricate, mine and mill them.
However, metal is an excellent eco-friendly material that can be used to manufacture green materials such as ceilings and walls. Recycling metal consumes energy but not as much as when you're mining metal from scratch.
Steel is considered the best metal to use for the manufacturing of ceilings and walls. It's durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions and even earthquakes.
Where it'll take about 50 trees to build a sturdy building, it'll take only approximately six scrapped steel cars to build the same building.
Steel is 100% recyclable, and it saves energy and impacts positively on the environment. Recycling steel consumes less energy, it makes the material sustainable and long-lasting. It doesn't burn or fold, making it a perfect choice for ceiling materials and walls.
Wood is a renewable material used to manufacture ceilings and walls for green buildings.
One of the best types of wood is bamboo. Bamboo is rated as one of the best eco-friendly building materials. It grows so fast that some have been reported to increase 3 feet in 24 hours.
Bamboo continues to spread and grow without having to be replanted. Bamboo is strong enough to carry weight as strong as concrete and bricks. It is an excellent choice to manufacture ceilings so they can bear the weight of heavy lighting fixtures and other overhead appliances.
Also, using reclaimed wood to manufacture green walls and ceilings is a good idea. Although reclaimed wood is lightweight, it is also ideal for framing, flooring, ceilings and other projects.
Different green building certifications programs guarantee that a building is fit to be called a green building. They test the materials used in the construction of green buildings.
Below is a list of these programs:
In 2000, the Green Buildings Council released a guideline and rating system for buildings through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED).
LEED is internationally recognized, and its certification system is highly esteemed. Under the guide of LEED, new buildings now follow these parameters during construction:
LEED verification has different certification levels:
Also, LEED rated buildings according to different rating systems:
LEED AP Building Design + Construction
LEED AP Operations + Maintenance:
LEED AP Interior Design + Construction
LEED AP Neighborhood Development
LEED AP Homes
The National Association of Home Builders developed this certification. Their sole purpose is to ensure that buildings are up to green building standards and to ensure the use of green materials.
The certification issued by this association covers the renovation of buildings and the manufacturing of building materials.
The following categories must be included in the construction of buildings:
A building can achieve one out of four performance levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Emerald.
For a building to attain any of these levels, it must have incorporated all the above categories into its construction.
The NGBS certification ensures that the home is green regardless of the level it is on.
GREENGUARD Certification is a part of Underwriters Laboratories (UL). GREENGUARD certification helps check for harmful chemical emissions from products.
This means the products must be made from green materials to meet this standard. This certification is used to improve the quality of indoor air.
This certification focuses more on the air quality of indoor spaces and ensures that the products used in the building emit low chemicals. Whether it's the ceiling or the walls, the GREENGUARD certification covers the testing to ensure they are greener.
GREENGUARD has four certification programs, they are:
Green buildings are rising these days and sustaining green building practices.
Ceiling and walls are a significant part of a building. In trying to sustain green building practices, if the ceilings and walls are not made of green materials.
USG ME Sonata and Halcyon Acoustical Ceiling panels are a good choice for green ceilings in your building. Made with green materials that increase its sustainability, this ceiling is your best choice.
USG ME Drywall wall system is also a good choice for green walls in the home.
There are many green materials on the market; however, using the best materials guarantees you enjoy the benefits of green materials.
Also, these products have other properties that make them worthy of being called green products, like high light reflectance and moisture resistance.
