What is the Most Energy-Efficient Building Material for a House?

The onset of "Building Green" has given us new innovative ideas, designs and energy-efficient building materials, and for good reasons. Building green is best represented by sustainable, intelligent, and reduced ecological footprint buildings. Constructing these green buildings saw the adaptation of energy-efficient building materials and the continuous search for new materials that will supplant existing ones.

This practice has led to developers' ever-growing support to take a slice of the profit in the form of reduced energy consumption. The demand for new building materials is on an all-time high, especially for new houses where energy-efficiency is becoming the norm.

If you have the resources to build your own home, making it as energy-efficient as possible saves money in the long run. The higher upfront costs will pay itself back in the form of reduced utility costs. Choosing the building materials to be used is just as important as the overall design of the house. Here are some you should consider:

Bamboo Plywood

This all-natural material is commonly used for cabinetry, flooring, and coverings. It adds a natural feel to the house mainly because it looks like natural wood, which makes the home more elegant. Due to its natural origin, it has zero volatile organic compounds (VOC). Other than that, bamboo plywood is easy to laminate, making furniture designs more customizable.

Insulating Concrete Forms

This type of material is created by replacing conventional formworks such as wood and metal with sturdy insulators. Concrete is poured between insulators making the insulator part of the structural element.  This sandwiching of concrete creates energy-efficient characteristics. More importantly, it has the same structural strength as conventional construction materials.

Low-Emissive Windows

Low-emissive windows have a special coating that contains a metallic oxide. This reflective barrier bounces a significant chunk of infrared rays coming from sunlight while letting visible light pass through. Hence, the windows reduce heat inside the house while providing maximum sunlight for occupants to enjoy.

Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation

Polyurethane foam insulation is sprayed onto a substrate in liquid form, usually roofs and walls, then expands and hardens to form a solid. It adheres well to the area it's applied to, and its ease of application makes it the preferable choice of installers as compared to conventional rolled insulation. Because it expands rapidly, usually five times from its initial volume, it provides a seamless seal that covers even the small areas and cavities.

Sealants

Sealants are used to block the passage of fluids through openings or joints between materials or elements. They work by adhering to substrates tightly.  For the perfect result, the sealant needs to cure uninterrupted. Successful curing creates a mechanical seal that blocks even high-pressure fluids.

Plastic Composites

This material is commonly used as an alternative for traditional wood-building materials. It's made from recycled plastic and natural wood fibers, which makes it more durable and weather resistant. For houses generally made from wood, plastic composites are a great energy-efficient alternative. The downside, however, is it has higher upfront costs.

For more information on building an energy-efficient home, contact Grayson Homes at 919-578-6222.