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March 20, 2010  |  Login
Evaluating Brick
By Eric Corey Freed
 

Bricks add a rustic and human scale to a home. In the U.S. Northeast and Midwest, brick is a common finish material in buildings. Bricks also make attractive walkways and fireplaces.

Here’s where brick comes out on the life-cycle test:

  • Where does brick come from? Dating back nearly 10,000 years, brick is a ceramic material created from the firing of clay. It is a natural material and does not have the same impact as the mining or quarrying of stone. Aggressive clay mining can destroy farmland, which is why China imposed a ban on brick in 2000. Verdict: Fair.
  • What are the by-products of producing brick? Due to the heat required to fire the clay, brick production demands high energy and generates some greenhouse gases. Verdict: Bad.
  • How is brick delivered and installed? Bricks are designed to fit in one hand. Their relatively small, modular size makes them very resource efficient and encourages use of the entire brick. Verdict: Good.
  • How is brick maintained and operated? The thermal mass of brick helps maintain the temperature of the building. The brick itself requires little maintenance. Verdict: Good.
  • How healthy is brick? Brick is inert and does not release any chemicals. Verdict: Good.
  • What do we do with brick after we’re done with it? Although technically recyclable, most people don’t pay much attention to protecting bricks during demolition. If preserved, reclaimed bricks have a certain charm. Verdict: Fair.

The durability, strength, and natural material of brick make it a good choice for green building. Reclaimed bricks do not require the embodied energy of new bricks.

 
 

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