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Green Building
Materials:
- What materials can you build
with in an environmentally sensitive way? The sites below will
guide you in your choice. When choosing materials, consider both
the source (is it naturally renewable, whether the manufacturing
process avoids the production of harmful by products), distribution
(is it locally produced) and also disposal at the end of its
useful life (can it be re-used, is it biodegradable). For useful
guidance on the choice of materials, visit the National
Green Specification website.
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- How materials are used is
also important -for example bricks laid in lime mortar can be
easily cleaned and re-used whereas those using cement mortar
cannot. Similarly finishes that are stuck down are inevitably
destroyed by removal, often damaging the substrate too.
- Construction Resources -Britain's ecological building centre, based
in Soutwark, London.
- Eco
Merchant -leading environmental
builders merchant, based near Faversham in Kent.
- Ecoconstruct -ecological builders' merchant and
building centre.
- Green Culture online eco-products catalogue.
- Green Building Store -environmentally sensitive building products
from Environmental Construction Products Ltd of Meltham, Yorkshire.
- Green
Shop -range of eco-building
products and rainwater harvesting equipment.
- Green
Spec -developing specification
of green products and methods of construction.
- Mike
Wye -Devon based partnership
that specialises in the supply of lime mortars, lime plasters
and limewash. Also run courses in practical lime.
- National Building Technologies -based in Oakley, Bucks, NBT are suppliers
of environmentally friendly materials, including woodfibre boards,
Cellulose fibre, Hemp / recycled cotton and sheepswool insulation,
clay and lime plasters, renders and mortars, Ziegel blocks and
building components, NBT trade paints and Beeck Silicate Paints.
- Natural Insulations -installers of environmentally friendly insulation
using Warmcel Cellulose Fibre.
- Old House Store
-builders merchant for traditional and ecological materials -their
philosophy is based on the sympathetic and authentic conservation/
repair of old buildings, but the ecological basis of their products
makes them equally suitable for new-build projects.
- Panel
Agency -specialise
in development, marketing and distribution of wood based products
with an emphasis on environmental sourcing -hardwoods, softwoods,
glulam and panel systems.
- Renewal
-recycled carpet tyles of re-cycled Nylon yarn with natural minerals
and rubber backing -claims to be the only carpet tile in the
world awarded an ISO 14024 eco label.
- Ty
Mawr Lime -the Welsh
Centre for Traditional and Ecological Building Materials.
- Urbane Living
-natural flooring materials, rugs, wallpaper and eco paint.
- Womersleys -originally established to provide
a range of building materials for the refurbishment of historic
buildings, they now supply non-hazardous materials suitable for
natural building, including plaster, render, insulation and decoration.
Environmental
Decorating Materials:
- Auro
Organic Paint -suppliers
of paint made entirely from natural and organic materials.
- Earthborn Paints
-a range of organic and natural paints, varnishes and flooring
products designed to provide a healthier and environmentally
friendly alternative to conventional materials.
- Eco Solutions paint stripping without dangerous solvents.
- Ecos
Paints -solvent free
paints and varnishes in 108 Co-ordinated colours.
- Mike
Wye -Natural building
and decorating products.
- Nutshell Paints
-decorating ideas and recipes with natural paints.
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