"Sustainable development" meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Such development requires the selection and judicious application of materials that minimize the social, environmental, and economic impact of development. "Sustainable construction materials" could thus be defined as materials that support sustainable development and are characterized as being environmentally friendly. Some characteristics of sustainable construction materials include:
- Durability
- Local or regional extraction and production to minimize transportation needs
- Contains recycled materials
- Manufactured with little or no pollution or does not itself pollute
- Minimum amount of energy required to produce
- Reusable on projects
- Rapidly renewable
- Capable of being used in an innovative way to lessen social, environmental and economic impacts.
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