Sustainable Building Materials: A Priority for Eco-Friendly Building Construction and Conservation in Nigeria

Abstract

Building construction activities contribute to very serious environmental deterioration and degradation. In recent times we have been confronted globally with a number of environmental challenges such as climate change and depletion in available resources which in turn have severe consequences on humanity. Hence, it has become important that building construction activities be carried out with methods and materials that increase sustainability of the environment. It has been observed that the use of eco-friendly materials can be one way of accomplishing ideal environmental sustainability. This paper reviews literature on sustainability, eco-friendly building materials, as well as their impacts on building construction and conservation. The study carefully looks at locally available building materials in Nigeria, and how a careful comprehensive selection based on their characteristics and application can be used to accomplish sustainability objectives. It also highlighted the enormous benefits derivable from the use of local materials in construction both to man and the environment. The paper concluded by recommending that stakeholders in the building industry should help increase the production and use of eco-friendly building construction materials and components for building construction and conservation in Nigeria.