MATERIALS AND SUSTAINABILITY

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       MATERIALS AND SUSTAINABILITY

As part of my project for this term, I am required to conduct research on materials that will be used to construct the Apartment blocks and surroundings. 


 TOUGHENED GLASS- TEMPERED GLASS

Toughened glass is a kind of safety glass that has been through a controlled thermal process which maximises its overall potency compared to regular annealed glass( Tinoso, 2024). 

Toughened will be the best option for the windows, doors and terrace this is because it has a high resistance. This social housing is for families in case where children are engaging in rough play and fall on the doors exerting high pressure and force the glass will not easily break. 

In the case where the glass breaks, according to Tinoso( 2024) it shatters into tiny blunt pieces which reduces the chance of cuts and wounds.

Sullivan (2022) highlights the importance of toughened glass in protecting against UV rays, as it absorbs 65% of the sun's rays, providing a 16 Sun Protection Factor and ensuring comfort during high temperatures.

Besides it offering support and protection it also has an aesthetic look which gives the apartments an ultramodern exterior. 






TOUGHENED GLASS








HEMPCRETE
Hempcrete is a bio concrete whereby hemp shives which are tiny pieces of wood from plant stalks are combined with lime and mud cement to form an environmentally friendly material ( Schires, 2021). 

Hempcrete used in walls provides fire resistance due to the lime coating used in its production. It also has low heat transfer and thermal conductivity which reduces the transfer of heat and flames across a building during the occurrence of a fire outbreak ( Schires, 2021). This will enable residents to evacuate the building more easily and quickly before major injuries are sustained. Apart from reducing the transfer of flames it also provides thermal insulation which keeps rooms warm in cold temperatures and cooler in hotter temperatures. Hempcrete is also pest resistant

 Recently a  4.8 Magnitude earthquake hit New Jersey and residents of Connecticut experienced Tremors due to this ( Busemeyer, 2024). Even though high seismic activity wasn't experienced in Connecticut it is recommended to stay safe as there are earthquake fault lines in Central Connecticut. This is why the use of Hempcrete is recommended because hempcrete has small air pockets and loses chemical bonds, making it easier to absorb seismic waves from the earth's core in the occurrence of an earthquake or tremor. ( Schires, 2021). 

Hempcrete can be sourced from the ' Natural Building Store' located in Arkansas. This company offers delivery services therefore the hempcrete blocks will be delivered to the Golden Horizon site. 





HEMPCRETE






LOW CARBON CONCRETE
Concrete which is no stranger in the construction world will be used mainly for the walls foundations and beams of the residential flats and this will be paired with hempcrete. Due to it having low carbon, it will also release less toxins into the atmosphere compared to regular concrete. 

Concrete is derived from a mixture of water, cement and either coarse aggregate( stone) or sand
( fine aggregate)( Vialle, 2020). 

Concrete is highly durable and also has a high resistance to wear and tear ( Vialle, 2020).  This is because the mixture of the water-cement and aggregate creates strong chemical bonds which are difficult to break. This makes it a good option for the walls foundation and beams for the apartments as it will offer high stability and building support. As I mentioned earlier the hempcrete will be placed in the inner sections of the walls to aid in stability and insulation. 

Concrete can be easily recycled and used in the construction of pavements and other structures( Vialle,2020). At the Golden Horizon, the remaining materials can be used in making the pavements as well as the roads. Furthermore, if there is excess these remains can be donated or given to those in need of construction materials.  Concrete is also cheaper than other materials therefore buying it in bulk will not be as costly as purchasing other materials. 

Finally the concrete section, it can be sourced locally in Cromwell from the Cromwell Concrete Products company located at  667 Main St, Cromwell, CT 06416. It is 5 minutes away from the Golden Horizon construction site which makes it easier to transport as well as low cost of transportation. 







CONCRETE







LOW VOC PAINT 
Volatile Organic compounds are chemicals which cause major harm to the air quality in the environment. According to Cunningham ( 2021), some of these are Methylene Chloride, Benzene and Formaldehyde. However, in VOC paint, some of these toxins are not included in production or are added but in lower levels. 

Low VOC paint reduces toxic chemicals being released into the atmosphere through evaporation ( Yalzekian, 2023) . This reduces the risk of residents experiencing allergic reactions, headaches and breathing issues due to lower odour and less chemical emissions from the paint. Even though using low VOC for just these apartment blocks is not a major difference in the aim of reducing greenhouse gases it goes a long way in increasing the air quality in this region. 

Low VOC paint is also easy to apply on walls and has a vibrant colour ( Yalzekian, 2023). I opted for low VOC rather than no VOC paint because even though no VOC paint has more organic products it does not contain bonding materials and pigments that give a smooth and vibrant finish. With low VOC minimal chemical content will be maintained whilst providing a clean and polished finish in both the interior and exterior of the apartments. 
LOW VOC PAINT







REFERENCES 

Tinoso, L. (2024) What is toughened glass: Understanding usage and safety, Finepoint Glass. Available at: https://www.finepoint.glass/what-is-toughened-glass/ (Accessed: 31 May 2024).


Schires, M. (2021) Hempcrete: Creating holistic sustainability with plant-based building materials, ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/955176/hempcrete-creating-holistic-sustainability-with-plant-based-building-materials (Accessed: 31 May 2024).


Busemeyer, S. (2024) Earthquake in CT? it’s not the first time. here are some others, CT Mirror. Available at: https://ctmirror.org/2024/04/05/ct-earthquake-new-jersey/ (Accessed: 30 May 2024).


Valle, G. (2023) 18 benefits of concrete in construction, BuilderSpace. Available at: https://www.builderspace.com/benefits-of-concrete-in-construction (Accessed: 31 May 2024).


Yalkezian, S. (2023) What is low-VOC paint?, Angi. Available at: https://www.angi.com/articles/what-are-benefits-low-voc-paint.htm (Accessed: 31 May 2024).


Sullivan, A. (2022) Toughened safety glass explained, UK. Available at: https://www.greenhousesdirect.co.uk/blogs/garden-blog/toughened-safety-glass-explained (Accessed: 31 May 2024).





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