Building Materials: Materials Used for Newton House.

The material list for the Newton House has been analysed using the principles of thermal gain and the Building Materials Environmental Index. The following table lists the building material that will be used, and summarizes which sustainable features the product has been selected for.

Material	Sustainable	Cautions
Straw Bale.	1. Straw is abundant and renewable 2. Straw is a waste product of a basic food source. Excess straw is being burnt in Australia 3. Suppliers are local, therefore the purchase and embodied energy cost is low 4. It has excellent energy conserving properties, with no reliance on other insulating products. Straw has an R-value of 5.6 5. Heating and cooling requirements will be substantially reduced. 6. It produces no waste. Any excess straw on site will be utilized in the gardens. 7.  Fire resistant properties. 8.  Durability. Houses dating back to the early 1900’s are in excellent condition with low maintenance 9. Termite resistant to most termite species. 10. Straw is a carbon sink that may otherwise have been burnt.	Building design must protect the straw from excessive moisture.
Earth Render.	1.   Abundant resource. 2.     Negligible pollutants. 3.     Local clay, so it will have a very low embodied energy. 4.     Will have some thermal mass, though may not be thick enough to be of great benefit. 5.     Shown to act effectively as a moisture barrier for straw walls, therefore increasing the durability of the walls. 6.     Recyclable.	Will require some maintenance.
Recycled timber.	1. Timber is recycled therefore not resource depleting. 2.  Waste is minimal. 3.  Aged wood is very durable. 4. Very low embodied energy, only from demolition and transport energy. 5. More efficient thermally then metal alternatives.	A natural source of food for termites.
Recycled doors and windows.	1. Very low embodied energy, only from        demolition and transport energy. 2.     Timber frames will be thermally more efficient then metal alternatives.	1.  Will need good management to keep maintenance low. 2. Care will be required in use of pollutants to strip old (lead) paints and recondition timber.
Corrugated iron roof sheeting.	1. Low maintenance. 2. High durability. 3. Reliable product. 4. Good reflective qualities. 5. Good water harvesting product.	1. Has high resource depletion, inherent pollution and embodied energy.
Sisal matting for ceilings	1.  Renewable resource. 2.     Low maintenance. 3.     High durability.
Deveney aquaplate steel water tanks.	1.  Low maintenance. 2.  High durability for application. 3.     Good water harvesting product.	1. Has high resource depletion, inherent pollution and embodied energy.

LINKS

http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs34e.htm
http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/documents/strawbale.html
http://strawbale.archinet.com.au/
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs30.htm