Why are Bricks Sustainable?

Bricks and Sustainability

Bricks have thrived over thousands of years because of their longevity, durability and a number of factors that contribute to their inherent sustainability.  

They require minimal maintenance, create highly energy efficient buildings and perform multiple functions, reducing environmental impacts from other materials.

This section of the website outlines research and collaboration between Think Brick Australia and independent groups to help you make informed decisions about the sustainability of clay bricks. 

Why are Bricks sustainable?

Brick lasts forever 

Long before 'sustainability' was a priority, builders and home owners were using clay bricks because they lasted forever and required almost no maintenance over time.    Brick buildings are strong, durable and can resist extreme weather events through fire-resistant construction and resistance to impacts and wind-borne debris.    

Brick buildings are energy efficient 

By using bricks in conjunction with good solar passive design and insulation, home owners can now create a house that requires no artificial heating or cooling in nearly all parts of Australia, significantly reducing energy use.    

Building with brick helps reduce internal temperature fluctuations ensuring comfortable living and working conditions throughout the day or year.  Brick's exceptional thermal mass  means that it absorbs heat and slows down heat transfer. In summer, brick gradually absorbs heat from the sun and keeps the building cooler during the hottest part of the day.   In winter, the brick holds the building's heat longer, keeping occupants warmer.    For more information, go to (design for climate link).

Over a 50 year period, life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that most energy (89%) is used in the operational phase of a house, rather than in the building process. In particular, heating, ventilation and air conditioning represent a bigger source of green house gas emissions than manufacture and construction, so it makes sense to focus on building your house to reduce operational energy by using materials with a high thermal mass such as brick.

Efficient manufacture has reduced the energy required to make brick 

Over the past thirty years the manufacture of bricks has improved dramatically, contributing to the inherent sustainability of the product. Manufacturing plants have been re-engineered to make use of highly efficient tunnel kilns, fired using natural gas, and all waste heat and clay is recycled within the plant. Ongoing innovation in manufacturing processes means the energy required to make clay bricks is reduced every year.

Bricks serve multiple functions, reducing environmental impacts

Brick walls fulfil multiple uses including providing structure, finish, acoustic comfort, thermal comfort, good indoor air quality, fire resistance, impact resistance and durability, all in one product, reducing environmental impacts and increasing energy and resource efficiency.

Bricks can be reused or recycled

Bricks can be reused or recycled in three ways. Firstly because of their longevity and durability, brick buildings can often be renovated for different purposes, removing the need to construct a whole new building with all its associated environmental impacts. Secondly bricks can be salvaged, cleaned and reused to build new buildings. Thirdly old bricks can be recycled into new bricks or into other building materials such as aggregate for concrete, for landscaping or as sub-base for pavements or roads. 

Brick buildings provide healthy environments

Brick walls can contribute to improved indoor air quality by eliminating the need for paints and the resulting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and by eliminating a food source for mould. 

Wasting Energy

This report warns that a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) could lead to less energy efficient housing unless the current Building Code of Australia (BCA) is amended.

The "Wasting Energy" report examines the unintended consequences of a CPRS and BCA interacting and concludes that without changes to the BCA, a CPRS will make energy inefficient houses cheaper and therefore more appealing to the market.

The report is based on the interim findings of an eight-year research program undertaken by the University of Newcastle. The study, which is the first of its kind in Australia, measures the energy efficiency of Australian housing construction styles in real climate conditions.

The research has concluded that thermal mass is critical in increasing energy efficiency, demonstrating that the incorporation of thermal mass into a home can reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by up to 22%.

A CPRS will increase the cost of materials with inherent thermal mass, such as bricks and concrete, relative to lightweight materials (timber, fibre cement), making the most energy efficient materials the least affordable.

Read full Wasting Energy media release and Wasting Energy.pdf