Chapter 6: Materials

Chapter 6: MaterialsMaterial SelectionSustainable Building MaterialsSystem Integration Issues

Chapter 6Materials“Then I say the Earth belongs toeach generation. During its course,Material SelectionThe use of durable, attractive, and environmentallyresponsible building materials is a key element of anyhigh-performance building effort. The use of naturaland healthy materials contributes to the well-beingof the occupants and to a feeling of connection withthe bounty of the natural world.Many construction materials have significant environ mental impacts from pollutant releases, habitat destruc tion, and depletion of natural resources. This can occurduring extraction and acquisition of raw materials, pro duction and manufacturing processes, and transporta tion. In addition, some construction materials can harmhuman health by exposing workers and building occu pants to toxic and hazardous substances. As a result,identification and selection of environmentally preferable materials for use in construction activities at LANLprovide an opportunity to limit such environmental andhuman health impacts.Selecting environmentally attractive materials withreduced environmental impacts is primarily achievedthrough the practice of resource conservation andselection of non-toxic materials. The resources usedto manufacture construction materials affect theenvironment by depleting natural resources, usingenergy, and releasing pollutants to the land, water, andfully and in its own right, nogeneration can contract debtsgreater than may be paid duringthe course of its own existence.”Robb Williamson– Thomas Jefferson, 1789Unfinished pressed fiberboard and the lack of interior finishes and fixtures reduce resource use and indoor airpollutants in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Phillip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, Maryland.Los Alamos National Laboratory Sustainable Design Guide123

Chapter 6 MaterialsSample Characteristics of Environmentally Preferable (EP) Materialsatmosphere. Materials that contain irritating, odorous,hazardous, or toxic components adversely affect humanhealth through out-gassing of volatile components ordirect contact.CharacteristicMaterial CostRelative cost to equivalent products that do not possess sustainable characteristics.Life Cycle Cost Impact(LCI)Relative impact on life cycle cost of building operations (not to be confused withenvironmental life cycle assessment, which measures environmental burdens, notfinancial impact).Energy Efficiency (EE)Construction materials that directly influence building energy use.Water Efficiency (WE)Construction materials that directly influence building water use.Locally Manufactured(LM)Construction materials that are manufactured within a defined radius (500 milesfor the LEED Rating System) of Los Alamos, New Mexico. LANL strongly encouragesthe use of construction materials manufactured in northern New Mexico.Material Reduction(MR)Products or materials that serve a defined function using less material than istypically used.Locally Derived RawMaterials (LRM)Construction materials that are locally manufactured using raw materials obtainedwithin a defined radius of Los Alamos, New Mexico. LANL strongly encouragesthe use of construction materials manufactured using raw materials derived fromnorthern New Mexico.Non-Toxic (NT)Construction materials that release relatively low levels of emissions of odorous,irritating, toxic, or hazardous substances. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs),formaldehydes, and particulates and fibers are examples of substances emittedfrom construction materials that can adversely impact human health (allergens,carcinogens, irritants).Recycled Content (RC)Amount of reprocessed material contained within a construction product thatoriginated from post-consumer use and/or post-industrial processes that wouldotherwise have been disposed of in a landfill.Salvaged (S)Construction materials that are reused as-is (or with minor refurbishing) withouthaving undergone any type of reprocessing to change the intended use. This includesthe reuse of existing building structures, equipment, and furnishings at LANL.Rapidly Renewable (RR)Construction materials that replenish themselves faster (within 10 years) thantraditional extraction demand; and do not result in adverse environmental impacts.Certified Wood (CW)Construction materials manufactured all or in part from wood that has beencertified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council as originating from awell-managed forest.Craig Miller, DOEIdeally, materials choices would be made based on arigorous assessment of environmental burdens throughout the entire of the product or material. This practice,known as environmental life cycle assessment, is rarelyfeasible for most building procurement decisions. It ispossible, however, to use life cycle thinking to comparewhat is known about the environmental performanceof products and make informed choices. Materials thatCategoryEngineered wood products conserve wood and generateless waste.124Los Alamos National Laboratory Sustainable Design Guide

Chapter 6 MaterialsEnvironmentally preferable building materials havea reduced adverse effect on human health andthe environment when compared with competingproducts for the same application. The selection ofEP construction materials should always be basedon functional performance, environmental perfor mance, and economic costs. First costs and lifecycle costs for building materials must be takeninto consideration to ensure a balance betweenfunctional and environmental performance.“We shall require asubstantially new mannerof thinking if mankindis to survive.”– Albert EinsteinMaterialCeiling tilesMaterialcLifoecy stcleEncoerstgyimefWfici pacattenercM effic yatieernciaylrLoedcaucllytiomLonanucallyfaNo der reCenertiwfieaSa d w blelvaoge oddSustainable Design Evaluations for Materials and Resourceshave a reduced environmental impact are knownas environmentally preferable (EP) materials. – Fabrics (wall/furniture) Resilient flooring – – Interior/exterior paints Sealants and adhesives Steel Cement/concrete Insulation – Bathroom partitions Brick/CMU Roofing Windows – – Ceramic tile Insulating concrete forms – Structural insulated panels – Aerated autoclave concrete –CarpetWood productsGypsum wallboardFurnitureDoors – Exterior finishesPermeable paving Potentially applicable Material & Resource issue, research ongoing Applicable Material & Resource issue( ) Equivalent, (–) Generally less expensive, or ( ) Generally more expensiveLos Alamos National Laboratory Sustainable Design Guide125

Chapter 6 MaterialsRecycled-Content ProductsEnvironmentally preferable construction materialsmay possess any one or more of the characteristicsdescribed previously, and they may possess these char acteristics in varying degrees. A product may containmore or less recycled content, for example, or be betteror worse in terms of indoor air emissions. The moreEP characteristics a construction material possesses, andthe greater the degree to which it possesses them,the better. Materials can also have environmental drawbacks, and these must be weighed against the EPcharacteristics when making a selection. Finally, theperformance of a product must be assessed not onlyin the abstract, but also in the context of the specificapplication in the building.The following internet Web sites identify manufacturersthat offer products meeting one or more EP criteriafor each material tar/purchasing/2d products.htmlwww.oikos.comUnder the Resource Conservation and RecoveryAct (RCRA), EPA established the AffirmativeProcurement (AP) Program to promote pro curement of products with recycled content.Executive Order 13101 was issued to improvefederal use of recycled content products andenvironmentally preferable products and ser vices. EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) identifies such products along withminimum recycled content requirements forfederal agency procurement. Fifty-one suchitems are currently designated as EPA CPGcompliant items with new products and cate gories added each year. The product categoriescurrently include: Paper and Paper Products, including sanitarytissue, printing and writing paper, newsprint,paperboard and packaging, and paper officesupplies (e.g., file folders, hanging files). Non-Paper Office Products, including binders,recycling and trash containers, plastic desktop accessories, plastic envelopes, trashbags, printer ribbons and toner cartridges,report covers, plastic file folders, and plasticclipboards. Construction Products, including insulation,carpet, cement and concrete, latex paint,floor tiles, patio blocks, shower and restroomdividers, structural fiberboard, and laminatedpaperboard. Transportation Products, including channel izers, delineators, parking stops, barricades,and cones. Landscaping Products, including garden andsoaker hoses, mulch, edging, and compost. Miscellaneous Products, including pallets,mats, awards, and plaques.CheyenneSalt Lake CityDenverDodge CityLas VegasLANLSan DiegoPhoenixOklahoma CitySanta FeAmarilloAlbuquerqueDallasLas CrucesEl PasoThis map shows cities within a 500-mileradius of Los Alamos, the recommended maximumdistance for material transportation.126Los Alamos National Laboratory Sustainable Design Guide

Chapter 6 MaterialsSustainable Building MaterialsCeiling TileCeiling tiles are manufactured from a variety of differ ent materials, including mineral fibers (mineral wooland cellulose fiber), fiberglass, gypsum, and polystyrene. Ceiling tiles are available with recycled contentup to 95 percent. Slag wool from the steel industry,newspaper, glass, and sugar cane fiber are examples ofrecovered materials used in the manufacture of ceilingtiles. Ceiling tiles are also recyclable when replaced ordiscarded. Most major ceiling tile manufacturers havebecome environmentally conscious and resourceefficient through raw materials acquisition, manufactur ing plant operations, and waste management.CarpetLight reflectance is also an important part of a ceiling.The light reflectance (LR) characteristic of ceiling tilesenhances the efficiency of indirect lighting, which canreduce light requirements and energy costs. Highlyreflective ceiling tiles have an LR of 0.85 or greaterand should be specified with indirect, high-efficiencylighting, and can be incorporated as part of a daylight ing strategy.Nylon and polyester are common carpet fabrics. Suchcarpets have been identified under the CPG program tobe available with recycled content of up to 100 percentfor polyester and nylon carpet face fiber and up to70 percent for nylon carpet backing. Carpet backing,such as vinyl, is also available with recycled content upto 100 percent. Reconditioned carpets are consideredto be 100 percent recycled content. In addition, carpetcushion is available with recycled content ranging from15 to 50 percent for bonded polyurethane, 40 percentfor jute, 100 percent for synthetic fibers, and 60 to90 percent for rubber. Some carpet manufacturers havebuyback programs for used carpet. Most major carpetRecycled-content ceiling tiles are readily available atno increased cost. Additional first costs are incurred forhigh-LR ceiling tiles. However, the life cycle costs arelower when considering the operating cost savingsassociated with reduced lighting requirements for anindirect, high-efficiency lighting system.Recycled Content for CarpetCarpet ComponentsRecycled ContentPolyesterUp to 70%NylonUp to 100%CarpetBackingVinylUp to 100%NylonUp to 70%CarpetCushionBondedPolyurethaneUp to 50%JuteUp to 40%Synthetic FibersUp to 100%RubberUp to 90%LANLCarpet FaceFiberLANL new construction uses a variety of regionally available building materials.Los Alamos National Laboratory Sustainable Design Guide127