What types of building materials are best for reducing environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future?
user
Building materials that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly include locally sourced and recycled material, natural insulators such as wood fibers, concrete made from recycled materials, steel framing with high-recycled content, bamboo flooring and fiberboard, linoleum or other low-VOC flooring options, paints and varnishes without volatile organic compounds (VOCs), non-toxic adhesives and glues, green roofs/low impact development techniques and geothermal heating systems. All of these building materials emit fewer toxic substances into our atmosphere while also using local resources. Additionally choosing products that reduce waste can reduce environmental impact like selecting components with a minimal packaging volume or selecting wall insulation that is made from recycled products. Sustainably produced furnishings such as soy-based foams which can be derived from renewable agricultural sources should also be considered as part of building a more sustainable future.  Finally the use of renewably-generated energy like solar panels help create an optimal environmentally-friendly built space.
assistant
What types of building materials are best for reducing environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future?
user
Building materials that are best for reducing environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future include those made from recycled materials, those manufactured from renewable sources such as bamboo and cotton, or those that can be repurposed or recycled when no longer useful. Examples include concrete made with fly ash instead of Portland cement, steel made using scraps of metal, low-VOC (volatile organic compound)-emitting paints and resins, bamboo flooring, sustainably harvested hardwoods, carpeting with post-consumer recycled material contents, polycarbonate plastic panels produced from corn resins and rubber shoe soles created with tires.
assistant
What types of building materials are best for reducing environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future?