Part 1 of 2: ‘Green Building’ – Embracing sustainability in construction.
New Zealand’s construction industry has been making great progress towards reducing their carbon footprint and environmental impact through Kiwis choosing to utilize sustainable alternatives in their construction and doing their part for greener future. According to NZ Construction news (2021), “buildings and construction made up to a fifth of New Zealand’s carbon footprint”, which meant that without concerted effort NZ would not meet international obligations on climate change.
In response to accelerating environmental issues many New Zealanders are now consciously incorporating a sustainable, or ‘Green’ mentality into the way they construct buildings, homes, workplaces, and lifestyles.
Despite this shift … many New Zealander’s deem themselves ‘unable to do so’ for predominantly financial reasons, especially smaller businesses.
With the rising cost of living seen here in NZ and across the globe, the added costs associated with adopting sustainable building practices seems financially inaccessible to many or perhaps simply an inconvenience, yet at what cost? Can we continue to put short sighted cost concerns ahead of the environment?
Many people from overseas like to point out how expensive it is to live comfortably in New Zealand in comparison to countries as Australia, and I for one do not disagree. “In Auckland, prices rose 2.4% from a month ago and were up nearly 5% from a year ago, to a median price of $1.05 million” (NZ Herald, 2024). While… “The average rent in the housing market in Auckland, New Zealand was 645 New Zealand dollars per week as of November 2023. This marked an increase in the average rent in Auckland from the previous year” (Statista, 2024). The economy in New Zealand, in many areas, is still crawling out of a recession. So, the time is perfect to think more clearly about affordable sustainable options when it comes to construction and the products associated with the industry.
This kind of mentality shift cannot be achieved without the understanding and conscious effort of all New Zealanders that are involved in the construction industry at all levels.
With that firmly in mind, this series of articles serves to provide insight for all New Zealanders about the kinds of green building materials, practices and certifications that can help to decrease New Zealand’s carbon footprint and ultimately ensure that we, as a country can meet international climate change obligations and uphold our ‘clean green NZ’ ideal, or at least hold on to what remains of it.
‘Green’ building materials are innovative building materials that incentivize replacing or incorporating typical materials with more sustainable and conservative products such as Mass timber, Pre-cast concrete, Wool insulation, Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), and PVC panels.
Mass timber refers to engineered wood products made by connecting smaller wood elements using adhesives, dowels, nails, or screws to create larger building components, for example cross-laminated timber, nail-laminated, glue-laminated etc. This timber family provide a strong, durable, versatile, and sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. Mass timber is mostly prefabricated, reducing on-site waste, construction time, and can significantly decrease co2 emissions.
More about Mass Timber:
- Woodtek – Mass Timber Construction NZ
- LMA Timber – Reclaimed & Sustainable Architectural Hardwood New Zealand
We cannot talk about decreasing co2 emissions without including concrete – it is the most used material in construction and is the second most used substance in the world after water!
In general, concrete is a reusable material – it can be demolished and used as concrete aggregates and made into more concrete with added combination of sand, water, and stone. However, these 4 components are not fully recycled only the concrete aggregates are in a conventional concrete mix. Pre-cast concrete is a strong alternative taking recycling a step further by casting a recycled mix of materials in a reusable concrete mold or ‘form’ that is then cured in a controlled environment. The product has a lower water-cement ratio which enhances durability and energy efficiency, and it reuses the water that an on-site concrete mix consumes.
More about Pre-cast concrete:
- Is Precast Concrete Sustainable? (premierprecast.com)
- Precast Sector Group – Concrete New Zealand (concretenz.org.nz)
Secondly, Wool Insulation is a product derived from sheep’s wool – a naturally renewable resource, it offers a safe, natural, and an extremely energy-efficient alternative to that of traditional fiberglass insulation as it has superior thermal properties preventing “up to 40% of heat lost in your roof space”. Wool insulation also improves indoor air quality by absorbing pollutants and it is naturally flame-resistant.
More about Wool Insulation:
Another way to conserve energy and save costs in construction is by using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). SIPs are essentially an insulating foam sandwiched between structural facings that can be fabricated in factory to fit almost any design purpose. These panels have excellent thermal performance and resource efficiency, offering a 50% more energy-efficient outcome than traditional timber framing all-the-while reducing construction time.
More about SIPs:
- What are SIPs Overview | Structural Insulated Panel Association
- SIP Manufacturer and Supplier (nzsip.co.nz)
PVC panels offer an eco-friendly alternative for floor, wall, ceiling, and exterior installations. These panels are durable, recyclable, water-resistant, and have a longer lifespan compared to other materials, reducing over-all waste and environmental impact. PVC panels are an incredibly versatile and user-friendly product that requires fewer natural resources to produce, making them a preferred choice for ease, cost, quality, and sustainability purposes.
More about PVC panels:
- The 10 Pros and Cons Of PVC Ceiling Panels You Need To Consider (thetoolsquare.com)
- PVC – Modern Plastics
This is only a handful of trending sustainable building alternatives commonly used around the globe that are conveniently produced in New Zealand. Ultimately, this serves to provide insight and understanding further endowing people with the courage to help rework the fabric of the construction industry and our own lives for an affordable and more sustainable future.