Strategies for Sustainable use of Resources

In construction industry mainly there are three types of resources

• construction materials
• energy sources
• water

But in the present there are huge problems with these resources such as resource scarcity, damages during extraction of materials, resources depletion, waste dispose to the environment. To avoid the problems relating to conventional building materials and to fulfill the neediness of sustainable building materials there are some strategies have being using.
Those strategies as follows

• 3R concept
• Local and Regional material
• Rapidly renewable material 

Selected building materials

• Cement
• Timber
• Glass
• Bricks
• Steel

Material Sources	Sustainable Strategies	Description
Cement	Local and Regional material	When the cement manufacturing site and the construction site situated closer, cost of transportation and cost of replacement can be reduce. But 3R concept cannot be applicable for cement. Because it cannot be reduce, reuse and recycle. The material s which are used to produce cement such as lime stone clinker and sand are not regrown within shorter period of time.
Timber	Rapidly renewable material	Timber is one of the ecofriendly material which is used in construction industry. And also it is rapidly renewable material. But it is depending on the type of wood. Some trees grow within a shorter period of time (Rubber, Teak). But some trees take to grow 100 or 200 years.
Glass	3R concept	Glass is another important material Which can be used for roof, door and windows. 3R concept can be used for this material.  There are different types of glasses available in the industry. When use quality glasses for a building the replacement cost will be reduced. Glasses can be reuse. Because when end of the life time of a building glasses of that building can be reuse for another building for another or same purpose. Glasses can be recycle and make another thing for another purpose (form work). It will cause to reduce the disposal cost and the disposal effect for the environment
Bricks	Local and regional material 3R concept	When the brick manufacturing site and the construction site is closer it will reduce the transportation cost because the clay is widely available material in Sri Lanka. Therefore, replacement cost also can be reduced. Consider about the 3R concept when constructing a non-load bearing wall can reduce the use of bricks. Because can use substitution for that. Bricks can be reuse. When the end of the life time of some building the bricks of that building can be reuse for another building (for non-load bearing walls).  And also it can be used for sanitary land filling.
Steel	3R concept	Steel cannot be reduce but it can be reuse and recycle. Steel can be reuse for the situation of modification of a same structure. Steel can be recycle and change it original shape and form it into another shape.

By Group 13

Group Members :

1. Madusanka S.G.A - 162425E

2. Lankapriya H.J. - 162424B

3. Jayakody K.H.S.K-162415.A

4. Kuruppu K.A.U.I - 162700T

5. Nisha J. - 162710A