Recycled content

When assessing the eco-credentials of a building, the first thing many people examine is the building fabric itself. Choosing which materials to use from an environmental point of view requires careful consideration of many factors including longevity, performance, manufacture, transportation, ease of use etc. For example, concrete production may be polluting but a concrete building will last for ages and triple glazing may be expensive, but its thermal performance can match that of a solid wall.

The examples given here are intended to showcase the green potential of some commonly used building materials and cite examples of their use in contemporary architecture.