Building material choices

Article published on September 18 2014

The sustainability of clay bricks

The use of environmentally friendly, or environmentally beneficial products in all industries is on the increase largely as a result of pressure on the manufacturing industry. Not least of which is the building industry.

When any kind of building takes the initial impact of the process will be more visible on the site and in the immediate vicinity. Care should be taken to minimise the destruction of surroundings to allow nature a speedy recovery. The initial damage caused when building starts is usually of a temporary nature, there are how ever further reaching implications of a build, and the long term effects will have a greater impact on the environment than the immediately visible ones.

'Green building' is a point of focus on the agenda of the building trade and the trends to promote sustainability are becoming more prevalent throughout South Africa.

Environmentally friendly materials and techniques are the primary focus when planning and building the structure, these have the most impact during the initial life of a building. The focus needs to include the continued life and use of the building, as mass consumption ends when the building is complete. However to maintain the building and to use it for its intended purpose there will be continued energy requirements.

Clay bricks require very little maintenance, if any, and there are indefinite periods during which clay brick, especially face brick can go unattended.

Clay brick as a building material option can impact long term energy conservation.

While there are various means by which to generate electricity being discovered on a regular basis it is important to note that energy resources are dwindling and the various new applications may not be entirely practical or require precious resources. The answer then is to cut down on electricity consumption.

Thermal mass in clay brick will reduce heating and cooling costs dramatically as this property is an inherent characteristic of clay bricks.

Thermal mass refers to the ability of clay brick to absorb heat through out the hottest periods of the day to slowly release it during the cooler periods.
Homes and other buildings constructed with clay brick can be designed in such a way that the brick receives maximum exposure to the sun to absorb heat. This kind of thermal energy collection has proved to cut electricity consumed for heating and cooling by over 40%. Added to this the various other methods of generating electricity on a sustainable level and you will have benefited your pocket and the store of natural resources that are in very short supply.

Clay bricks which will meet the needs of both you and the environment can be found at the following top brick manufacturers and suppliers.

logibrik

clay-brick.co.za

unicornbricks.co.za

These manufacturers can deliver clay bricks all over Gauteng and in the NorthWest province. Contact them to discuss your needs.

All of this however is only the beginning, you still ahve things like security to consider and of course if you are a building a new home, the are all the decisions to make about the interior of the house not least the bathrooms and kitchen.