Despite the depressed global economy, demand for green building products and materials remains strong. A recently released study projects that the worldwide market for green building materials will reach $571 billion by 2013. According to "Green Building Materials: Cement, Insulation, and Wood Products Help Engineer a Greener World," a report from emerging technologies research firm NextGen Research, this represents an increase of 5 percent over the market's 2008 value of $455.3 billion.
"I would say that's a faster rate of growth than the overall construction materials market, which demonstrates that companies, manufacturers, and end users are more focused on sustainability and more accepting of greener products," says Larry Fisher, NextGen's research director.
Demand continues to grow in both commercial and residential building segments for building materials that have a lower environmental impact than their conventional counterparts. "Green Building Materials" examined three product categories—cement, insulation, and engineered wood products—and the ways in which their manufacturers around the world are reducing their overall environmental impact.
Cement
According to Fisher, for every ton of cement manufactured, one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced. "Leading manufacturers are trying to mitigate that as much as they can" in response to government carbon emission reduction goals, he says.
For example, the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), a program of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is working to define baseline CO2 emissions for the industry and develop a blueprint for sustainability improvements. According to the CSI, its members reduced their average CO2 emissions by 12 percent between 1990 and 2006, and efforts continue. In the United States, the cement industry reduced energy consumption by 37.5 percent, reducing CO2 emissions from fuel by nearly as much from 1972 to 2006, according to the Portland Cement Association. To further reduce CO2 emissions from cement manufacture to 10 percent below 1990 baseline levels by 2020, cement producers will upgrade plants to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption during manufacturing by improving product formulations, and develop new applications for cement and concrete that improve energy efficiency and durability.
Insulation
Meanwhile, "Insulation manufacturers are examining their processes and materials, using fewer toxic materials, and using biodegradable materials [as much as] possible," says Fisher.
The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), for example, is developing a life-cycle assessment to establish an aggregated baseline for fiberglass and slag-wool insulations that will allow its manufacturer members to perform individual life-cycle analyses on their products, measured against the industry baseline. In terms of health impacts, some fiberglass insulation manufacturers offer products that offgass fewer VOCs by using alternative binders in fiberglass batts or no binders for blown-in products. "The whole industry is working toward a better environmental footprint," says Paul Bertram, NAIMA's director of environment and sustainability. The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance also is developing a life-cycle assessment for spray polyurethane foam products and other spray foam insulations and should have initial results by the end of the year.
Engineered Wood Products
Likewise, engineered wood products manufacturers are focused on better managing their forests and acquiring materials from well-managed forests, working with programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. They also are improving their manufacturing processes and using fewer adhesives containing toxic chemicals, Fisher notes.
The Bottom Line
According to the "Green Building Materials" study, commercial office buildings will account for the greatest demand of green building materials through 2013, but new residential construction and home improvement will play a vital role in driving development and market acceptance of green building materials.
"They're much smaller projects, and it's much easier to use more new environmentally friendly products in a residential project and see how they work and perform than trying them out in a new office building," Fisher says. "The residential sector in many cases serves as a proving ground for many green products, which once accepted will be used in larger projects."
The 48-page report may be purchased (registration is required) at www.nextgenresearch.com.
