Clay for Sustainable Construction: Reducing Environmental Impact
With climate change and resource scarcity becoming increasingly pressing, the construction industry is looking for more sustainable building materials. Conventional materials like concrete and steel are energy-intensive to produce and generate high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. However, natural clay-based materials offer an environmentally friendly alternative.
This post explores the composition and properties of clays that make them ideal for green building projects.
Clay Composition and Properties
Clay-based construction materials are composed of fine-grained minerals like silica, alumina, and iron oxides that give them their unique properties. Clays have natural attributes that enhance sustainability. They require far less energy to produce than industrial materials like steel or cement.
Clay's thermal mass moderates indoor temperatures, reducing the need for heating and cooling. Clays are also naturally fireproof and pest-resistant. At the end of their life, clay products can be ground up and recycled into new clay materials in a closed-loop system.
Clay Versus Concrete
Comparing clay to a conventional material like concrete demonstrates the sustainability benefits, particularly in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. The production of Ordinary Portland cement, a key ingredient in concrete, is a substantial contributor to global CO2 emissions. Almost 1 kilogram of carbon dioxide is released for every kilogram of cement produced. The cement industry is responsible for about 8% of global carbon emissions, a significant amount when considering global emission sources.
Concrete is also recognised for its high embodied energy, which is the sum of all the energy required to produce any goods or services, considered as if that energy was incorporated or 'embodied' in the product itself. The high CO2 emissions from concrete production are a part of this embodied energy.
The recycling and reuse potential of concrete compared to clay materials is another aspect where sustainability varies. While concrete isn't easily recyclable and tends to lose structural integrity upon reuse, clay materials can often be reused multiple times in new constructions. This ability to reuse and recycle clay materials more effectively makes them a greener alternative in certain aspects of building and construction.
All of this emphasises the environmental impacts of building materials like concrete and the potential benefits of using more sustainable alternatives like clay materials in construction.
Clay in Modern Green Building
Innovative architecture makes use of clay’s natural advantages in exciting new ways. For example, the 4-storey Gateway West is an intimate brick and ceramic building constructed in London, with bricks supplied by Modular Clay Products. The design was planned to obtain a BREEAM Excellent rating and used passive design principles to work towards a truly sustainable place of work.
The materials used in this project were driven by long life, loose fit principles with recycled materials promoted, embodied carbon reduced, and the facade openings optimised to balance daylighting, insulation and overheating. The resulting energy savings go well beyond those prescribed by building regulations.
Elsewhere, architects are also modernising traditional clay building techniques. Rammed earth construction utilises compressed raw earth for sculptural, monolithic walls. Designers add modern touches like rebar reinforcements and concrete bonds at the joints. This updated age-old technique creates durable, low-impact buildings relatively cheaply.
The Future of Clay Construction
Emerging technologies and products will enable clay materials to push sustainable design further. Manufacturers are developing high-performance engineered clay blocks reinforced with polymers or concrete that retain the natural benefits of clay but with added durability. Creative architecture studios are utilising 3D printing with clay to allow for expressive customised architectural forms.
With growing demand for sustainable design, the clay construction sector is poised for an innovative renaissance. The material's ancient roots and modern versatility make it the ideal eco-friendly building material for the future. With thoughtful use of clay in new buildings, we can drastically reduce the environmental footprint of the built environment.
Speak to Brick Slip Suppliers
Brick slip systems are ideal for creating excellent-looking facades. Modular Clay Products has partnered with some of the UK’s leading brick manufacturers to offer a tremendous range of brick slip solutions.
You can browse our range of products using the Brick Finder tool and compare two products directly. But if you are looking for something more bespoke, speak to one of our experienced sales team, and we can discuss brick blend options for you.