Masonry Magazine May 2009 Page. 32
TRENDS IN GREEN
New, dense neighborhoods where fire safety is an issue. Masonry also provides security for buildings against vandalism because of its strength against cuts and impact loads.
Most metal products use between 1 percent and 30 percent of the excavated ore in their production, and the rest goes to a landfill. This means a larger volume of resources is excavated for a certain amount of metal production. Masonry, however, is a resource-efficient product made of abundant material such as clay and sand, with more than 90 percent of the extracted material ending up in the finished products. Resource extraction for masonry has minimal impact on the environment, due to non-toxic mining practices. Some old masonry mining sites have been rehabilitated and used as golf courses, sport stadiums and parks.
In the area of water efficiency, reduction of landscape irrigation is a major factor. Masonry pavers can be used in xeroscaping and can decrease irrigation needs, while creating a beautiful landscape design. Pavers are long lasting, can be designed with different patterns, and are a good replacement for turf.
Masonry buildings are the best candidates for adaptive reuse, which is the best recycling strategy. Salvaged masonry from demolished buildings can give character to a new project. Masonry manufacturers can use recycled content such as fly ash, slag and crushed masonry from demolished buildings to make new concrete block. We need to have a deeper understanding of recyclable building materials to make the right choice. For instance, a good portion of steel recycling takes place in China. In addition to the large amount of energy used in the recycling process, transportation of steel to and from China is a source of pollution.
Need for a deeper vision
IS OUR VISION DEEP ENOUGH when designing a green building? For example, in the last few years, bamboo flooring has been considered sustainable, since bamboo is a fast-growing plant. Is that fast growth all that matters? Or, do we need to pause and ask from where that bamboo flooring originates? How much water and energy goes into its growth, process, manufacture and transfer to the job?
DIEDRICH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
What's More Green than Restoration? Restoration proves the ultimate test of sustainability. Diedrick Technologies, a division of Sandell Construction Solutions, is a leading producer of high-performance detergent products for building restoration and maintenance.
Many of our products are manufactured from more environmentally friendly citric based acids, rather than mineral acids, making a milder product posing fewer hazards to workers or the environment. And our Water Repellents are specially formulated to meet different VOC requirements.
Diedrich cleaning and restoration products are ideal choices for restoring buildings of any age. The products are approved by state preservation officers throughout the country and have been specified and used on over 500 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
View our entire product line, technical data & helpful other resources online: www.diedrichtechnologies.com