Download or read book Ecology of Building Materials written by Bjørn Berge and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2007-08-22 with total page 475 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As both a practising architect and a researcher, Berge introduces us authoritatively to issues such as using raw materials from renewable sources, and the possibilities of designing and manufacturing reusable building materials. The alternatives to modern building materials are outlined and discussed from an ecological perspective. In a time when environmental labelling is becoming increasingly popular and the producers of building materials are urged to be more environmentally aware, it is obviously important that we are acquainted with these alternatives. Important issues discussed in this book include: Can raw materials from non-renewable sources be replaced with raw materials from widely available or non-depletable sources? Can environmentally friendly chemicals replace environmentally damaging ones? Can the make-up of building materials be altered so that individual components can be re-used? A clear interpretation of complicated Life Cycle Analysis issues and vital guidance are given to specifiers confronted with a plethora of manufacturers' environmental claims.