Focus on Green Building Materials — Terrazzo

Terrazzo, used by the ancient Romans, is one of the oldest building materials on earth. It’s use was one part functionality and one part beauty. However, it has fallen back in favor recently due to the demand to reuse and recycle materials that once might have been discarded

Originally created by Venetian construction workers as a low cost flooring material, the workers used marble chips from upscale jobs to create Terrazzo. The workers would usually set them in clay to surface the patios around their living quarters. Now construction workers have expanded the use of Terrazzo from just marble chips to materials using glass, granite and other recyclable materials.

One of the most popular Terrazzo surfaces is made from recycled glass and cast concrete. The glass used is both post consumer as well as post industrial. The final product contains 80% to 95% post-consumer recycled content, and as such, relies on the material being produced and consumed in the first place. Terrazzo is as durable as granite and less porous than marble which makes for a long lasting AND beautiful green addition to your home.

As always when selecting green building materials, look for local manufacturers to reduce transporation based pollution cost.

Jonathan Blackwell

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