Some Considerations of Sustainability ...

... in Brick Masonry Construction

• Clay and shale, the raw materials for bricks, are plentiful. They are usually obtained from open pits, with the attendant disruption of drainage, vegetation, and wildlife habitat.
• Because of the energy used in its firing, brick is a relatively energy-extensive product. The energy embodied in an average brick is 14,300 BTU. The usual energy sources for brick kilns are oil, gas, or coal. Air pollution can result from improperly regulated kilns.
• Clay and shale are found almost everywhere. The majority of bricks come from regional plants, which reduces the energy needed to ship them.
• Bricks last a very long time and usually an be recycled when a building is demolished.
• Brick masonry is not associated with indoor air quality problems.
• The thermal mass effect of brick masonry can be a useful component of fuel-saving natural heating and cooling strategies such as solar heating and nighttime cooling.
• Mortar is made of minerals that are generally abundant in the earth. Portland cement and lime are energy-intensive products.
• Relatively small amounts of waste are generated on a construction site during the construction of a brick building, including partial bricks, unsatisfactory bricks, and unused mortar. These wastes generally go into landfills or are buried on the site.
• When a brick building is demolished, the bricks may be cleaned of mortar and reused. However, the more usual practice is to dump the bricks and mortar in a landfill or to use them as fill on a construction site.

 What is sustainability?