Brick: A Resilient Product That Will Make You Proud

Words: Allison Goley

Originating as the very dirt beneath our feet, brick has proven to be a sustainable, enduring solution that has been trusted for hundreds of years. While modern consumerism tends to focus on providing fast, cheap merchandise that is not intended to last, brick is different.

The process of manufacturing brick embodies resiliency in its inherently earth-friendly nature. The clay and shale used to create a brick comes directly from the earth—literally. The General Shale mine sites used to source the raw material initially have very minimal impact on the earth and are reclaimed after mining to be returned to a similar or better state than they were before mining began.

The longevity and recyclability of brick results in a very low net energy consumption across the brick’s lifecycle. The brick manufacturing process is often described as being sustainable “from cradle to grave.” Some environmentalists in the brick industry even argue that the manufacturing process is sustainable “from cradle to cradle,” since brick is recyclable.

Brick itself is also resilient in its ability to withstand extreme weather, debris, and the little mishaps that life throws your way. It can truly stand the test of time. In many cases, such as Bacon’s Castle or the 17th century church tower in Jamestown, Virginia, brick structures have been known to last for hundreds of years. This leads to a product that everyone can be proud to produce, sell, install, or own.

Minimal impact from mining
While the raw material used to create bricks come directly from the earth, the mine site where this is sourced has a minimal impact on the earth’s landscape. The clay and shale are mined from shallow open pits that simply scratch the surface until the best raw material is harvested. Afterwards, the area is safely reclaimed back to a cohesive environmental state.
One of the many beautiful aspects of the brick industry is the fact that no hazardous waste is created in the manufacturing process as with other building materials. In fact, General Shale bricks contain no solvents or asbestos and emits no toxic fumes or ozone depleting substances.

Low energy cost
A significant portion of the energy used in manufacturing brick comes from the process of kiln firing, where kilns are typically heated to a maximum of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite high energy use during production, brick’s proven longevity, durability, and lack of required maintenance leads to a very low overall energy cost.

Once brick is installed on a home, there is no need to paint it, clean it, or routinely replace it. However, competing cladding materials such as vinyl or fiber cement siding can attract mildew and discolor over time. In fact, some cleaning companies recommend power washing your vinyl home every two to three years, which alone leads to a lot of wasted water. The siding may need to be entirely replaced after 20 to 30 years, leading to a huge waste of product. While fiber cement siding is known to last longer than vinyl, it often needs to be painted every five to ten years, which brings a large cost to the consumer in terms of both money and time. It is also important to consider the potential environmental impact of certain paints. Brick, on the other hand, regularly comes with a lifetime warranty, as both the manufacturer and builder easily expect the brick to last for the lifetime of the building.

Brick also cuts down on the amount of energy used to heat and cool a home. According to Energy Star, nearly half of the total energy used in a home goes towards heating and cooling, so decreasing this energy source provides a large savings. Because the clay used in brick manufacturing is a naturally dense material, brick has thermal mass, which means that it can store energy and release it slowly. This prevents drastic changes in a home’s temperature.

In fact, the Brick Industry Association (BIA) notes that an exterior building wall clad in brick reduces heat gain on the interior of the wall nearly 50% in summer and reduces heat loss to the outside in winter by 55%.

Sustainable from cradle to grave
A “cradle to grave” sustainability model scrutinizes the sustainability of a product, its environmental impact, and the practices employed in manufacturing the product from its creation to the end of the product’s “lifecycle.” Some in the brick industry argue that brick is sustainable “from cradle to cradle,” as brick really has no “grave.” Brick can be recycled back to the earth, reclaimed for use in buildings, or crushed and used in residential roadways and landscaping material.

Reclaiming a mine site
Once a General Shale mine site is no longer in use, the area is rigorously reclaimed to create an ecosystem that is often stronger than before the site was mined. Because the process of mining raw material is shallow and does not penetrate hard rock, reclamation efforts can be very successful.

The process begins with bulldozer work that softens any “high walls” or topography that is uneven to create gentle hills. Next, the vegetation and trees are replaced to match what would naturally occur in the area. Within two years of reclamation, a mine site tends to look like a green, grassy meadow. Within ten years, the site will be populated with trees that have begun to grow on their own, appearing indistinguishable from the surrounding area. Reclaimed General Shale mine sites have since been sold to be used as wildlife preserves, hunting retreats, or private homes.

A product that will make you proud
As you can see, brick provides a sustainable building solution that leaves minimal impact on the earth’s resources. The manufacturing process embodies resiliency in that it is sustainable from “cradle to grave:” originating as the dirt beneath our feet and leaving behind a reclaimed site where flora and fauna thrive. Brick itself is resilient enough to last for hundreds of years while easily enduring the elements. Plus, it can be recycled to live life anew. Brick truly offers a sustainable solution that everyone can be proud to manufacture, sell, install, or own.

Brick: A Resilient Product That Will Make You Proud

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