Green Building: How
Chemistry aids in the
production of an Energy
Efficient Home
Juan Gonzalez
31192
Green Building
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Green or “sustainable” building accounts
for the environmental impact of all
products throughout a commercial of
residential building’s life cycle.
Green Building
This includes processes at different
stages that help to diminish long
term costs and maximize efficiency:
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•
•
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Extraction
Processing of raw materials
Manufacturing and transportation
And the disposal and reuse of such materials.
Sustainability
•
While the purpose of green building
is to achieve a balance between
construction and the sustainable
environment, such an objective
would not be fulfilled without
products of modern chemistry.
Sustainability
A few of those products provided by modern
chemistry are:
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Polymer roofing membranes
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastic piping systems
Thermal foam insulation
Polycarbonate windows and vinyl framed windows, etc.
Water Efficiency
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The use of PVC and ABS piping systems
for plumbing is significantly beneficial.
- Plastic piping offers great fusion
integrity
- Eliminates potential leak points
Energy Efficiency
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Insulation is an important material
that is necessary for reducing energy
costs.
Many chemical advances are making
different kinds of insulation, such as
polyisocyanurate insulation and
expanded polystyrene, widely
available to the consumer.
Energy Efficiency
•
In addition, doors and windows also play a
role in the amount of energy that is lost.
- vinyl doors & windows have great
insulating properties that can maintain
an even temperature
- polycarbonate, an alternative to
glass, windows have low thermal
conductivity and also help reduce
heating and cooling costs
Recycling
•
The recycling of materials such as
wood, sawdust, and fiber composites
are being blended with plastics in
order to be used in new construction
projects. The recycled plastics are
used for fencing, the manufacturing
of decks, and siding are a few of the
ingenious ideas that chemistry is a
part of.
Green Building
•
Thanks from the help of modern
chemistry, construction has become a
more environmentally conscious business.
Works Cited
American Chemistry.com 2007. American Chemistry
Council, Inc. 15 April 2007
<http://americanchemistry.com/>