Building Materials

The building materials you choose play a crucial role in increasing your home’s energy efficiency. Sustainable materials are more durable and have better insulation properties. This significantly decreases the energy required to regulate your home’s temperature.  

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In Big Sky, where the beauty of our landscape is defined by the health of our ecosystem, building with sustainable materials is critical to maintaining a flourishing environment. Each material in this section has been selected for its environmental benefits, performance attributes, and ability to integrate into new constructions and renovations.

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Sustainable Building Materials

Sustainable building materials are resources used in construction that aim minimize the environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of the product while maximizing home performance. These materials are often renewable, recycled, biodegradable, low-impact, non-toxic, energy-efficient, and durable.

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Key Benefits

• Lower Carbon Footprint
• Reduced Waste
• Improved Energy Efficiency
• Enhanced Durability 
• Increased Property Value
• Contribute to Healthier Indoor Environments
• Better Performance

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Categories of Materials

Recycled Materials: Recycled  Steel, glass, plastic, reclaimed wood

Renewable Materials: Bamboo, cork, hempcrete

Low-Impact Materials: Rammed earth, straw bales, compressed earth blocks 

Eco-Friendly Finished: Low-VOC paints, natural plasters, and finishes

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Choosing the Right Sustainable Materials

Material Performance: Understand the key performance attributes of each material you are considering, such as durability, thermal performance, and maintenance requirements.

Source and Certification: When sourcing materials, ensure they are from certified suppliers such as FSC-certified wood, Cradle to Cradle certification, Green Seal, and LEED. 

Environmental Impact: Choose materials that have enhanced performance based on your location and home goals and have the lowest environmental impact.

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Understanding Embodied Carbon

Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions created during the lifecycle of a building material. When choosing building materials, consider the full lifecycle and carbon footprint of the materials and choose those with the lowest environmental impact. The stages include extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, use, and end-of-life.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)  can help you understand the embodied carbon of building materials.

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Top Sustainable Materials:

Bamboo

Uses: Structural elements, cabinetry, flooring

Benefits: Renewable, versatile properties, doesn’t require pesticides, alternative to sustainable hardwoods

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Reclaimed Wood

Uses: Flooring, furniture, decorative elements

Benefits: Helps combat deforestation, provides a unique aesthetic

Cork

Uses: Flooring, wall tiles, insulation

Benefits: Renewable, naturally fire-resistant, high-quality acoustic insulation

Recycled Metal

Uses: Structural components, roofing, architectural fixtures 

Benefits: Highly durable, helps reduce the environmental impact of mining and processing new materials

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Recycled Plastic

Uses: Composite, decking, insulation, and plumbing pipes 

Benefits: Helps reduce waste and has many modern construction applications

Sheep’s Wool

Uses: Insulation for walls and roofs 

Benefits: High insulation value, renewable, biodegradable

Hempcrete

Uses: Wall construction and flooring

Benefits: Carbon-negative, strong, lightweight

Insulated Rammed Earth (SIREWall)

Uses: Constructing walls and flooring 

Benefits: High thermal mass, very durable

Low-VOC Paints and Finishes

Uses: Interior and exterior finishes 

Benefits: Improved indoor air quality, exposure to fewer harmful chemicals

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