Lumber from forests and making cement for building are bad for envionment. We need alternative materials.?

Question

So much lumber is used in the building industry. We are depleting our own forests as well as those of other countries. This deforestration makes it very difficult for mother earth to keep our atmosphere in balance. Also the erosion of the soil is a huge problem due to the deforestation and the surrounding rivers and streams are being badly polluted in turn. Any ideas for alternative building materials to lumber and cement? (The manufacture of cement is also not environmentally friendly.) Lets get the scientists on this problem!

Answer 1

umm EVERY material we use willbe non eco friendly. atleast trees can be regrown. and cement... who cares? o no we moved soem dirt AHH the worlds ecosystem is going to die...

Answer 2

There are several options available that provide alternatives for building. You should check out New Society Publishers. They publish a lot of environmental books and they had several titles on alternative buildings.

Also, one option you may want to look at is Materials Exchange or Reuse Centers. They tend to try and salvage good lumber from buildings that are being torn down. There are many companies that specialize in buidling manufacturing just for the purpose of recovering the wood.

Not all concrete/cement manufacturers are bad. There are many projects going on that are looking at aggregate alternatives or material replacements for concrete/cement inputs. We worked with a company that tried crushed fluorescent tube glass (10 % replacement) and shredded tires (15-20% replacement). The main problem was that the it was very expensive to clean up the material before it could be added to the process.

They were very excited and willing to participate in the project and wound up donating a lot of their own resources.

Answer 3

The other answers were positive.
Here's another suggestion - keep using recycled materials in construction. Also, don't waste any part of the trees. For instance, pressed board is a good use. Btw, the USA's Forest Service treats trees as a resource. Trees are quite viable for construction. There are possibilities for other materials to be used - depends on your personal choices.
It is true that concrete and cement are used extensively to a fault in construction. I am tryng to make out a career in landscaping that is attractive and incorporates effective environmental methods. For example, permeable surfaces would reduce runoff and allow water to infiltrate te land to restore the water table.

Answer 4

The answer?

Bamboo.

Quite simply.

Bamboo is stronger than wood (some species are stronger than steel), more flexible (think: earthquakes), more renewable (a 3-5 year cycle harvest as compared to the 10-20 years needed for trees), and it is the fastest growing woody plant in the world (as fast as 3 meters per day!)

But wait! There is a bonus! If a plant is growing that fast, it uses up lots and lots of CO2, which reduces the amount of greenhouse gasses, which helps stop global warming.

Need I say more?

Oh yeah, and bamboo provides food, housing, or income for 2.2 BILLION people....

How's that for a resource?

I vote bamboo...

Answer 5

First off--The deforestation in the world is clear cutting for animal pasture. they don't make lumber from it,they pile it up and burn it.

Those that cut for lumber,cut select trees. this allows the forest to open up and grow better. They also replant trees.
Older trees do not produce oxygen or intake carbon dioxide at the same rate as younger trees. The more younger trees the better the air quality.
If you really want to protect the environment , I would say quit eating beef.

Answer 6

oh my gosh i read the coolest article about homes that are being built in Mexico along the gulf. they are made out of discarded tires and adobe. they are so ecological bcuz they use discarded materials, plus the adobe keeps them cool/warm so no air conditioning/heating is required. additionally, they are dome shaped in order to withstand hurricane winds better. i saw a picture they are really awesome and i really want one!!!