Florida Section

Is It Possible to Build Sustainable and Durable? When Eco-Construction Forgets Time

In regions with high humidity, salty air, hurricanes, and heat-such as Florida-residential housing is still being constructed to light, short-lived standards. Most houses are built using wood framing, oriented strand board (OSB), vinyl siding, and drywall. These are "fast" construction materials that theoretically meet criteria for energy efficiency and sustainability but, in practice, often do not last even a decade without major repairs.

Sustainability Without Time

In recent years, the term "sustainable construction" has become ubiquitous and even trendy. Packaging claims "eco-friendly," advertising promises "green certified." However, after 5–7 years of use, homes begin to show mold, mildew, rot, creaking beams, and façade deformation. This raises a reasonable question:

Does sustainability not imply durability?

Yes, I understand that sustainability is not identical to longevity. But in practice, modern "green" construction often focuses not on strength or lifespan, but on energy efficiency metrics and the use of recycled materials during construction. The emphasis is on certification at the time of occupancy, rather than the building's actual service life.

When Marketing Beats Engineering

A typical home can achieve "Green Build" certification thanks to:

• OSB walls, which deteriorate quickly when exposed to moisture;

• Vinyl siding made from recycled material that is not recyclable again;

• Minimal insulation and energy-efficient windows.

At the same time, the structural system is often a light wood frame, and the foundation can be minimal-especially in mobile and modular homes. After 10 years, such a house may become practically uninhabitable but still formally remains "green."

This leads to the question: how truly effective and necessary is this kind of "green" construction?

Is There Another Way?

Yes. Construction can be both sustainable and durable if the focus shifts to:

• Long-lasting materials: low-carbon concrete, metal, fiber cement, brick, durable composites;

• Climate resilience: accounting for humidity, hurricane loads, and rot risk;

• Less maintenance - less waste: reducing lifecycle costs and environmental footprint;

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): designing with 30–50 years of service in mind.

For example, slag-blended Portland cement concrete reinforced with glass fiber (GFRP) can last 3–5 times longer with lower CO₂ emissions than a standard wood-frame house. Fiber cement panels and metal roofing last decades without quality loss. Metal framing provides rigidity and fire resistance, and recycled bricks can last centuries, as demonstrated in many European countries.

Why Isn't This the Standard?

• Economics of construction: cheap, fast, sell and forget;

• Insurance and building codes: adapted to the mass wood-frame sector;

• Customers don't demand durability: changing homes every 10–15 years is considered normal;

• Certifications: assess "inputs" but not the building's lifecycle.

Conclusion

As long as sustainability is measured solely by recycled materials and energy-saving windows, we will continue to build houses that become sources of waste and losses within 5–10 years.

True eco-construction means considering not only the environment at the start but also the consequences over time. When engineering and sustainability go hand in hand, buildings can respectfully serve the planet and people for decades.

What Can Be Proposed?

• Make mandatory LCA (life cycle assessment) part of building codes;

• Incentivize long-lasting projects through tax benefits;

• Expand the concept of sustainability from recycling to preservation;

• Educate consumers - a 50-year home is more cost-effective than a 10-year one.

P.S. This post is based on my observations during a year living in Florida, closely following residential construction and the frequent relocation of residents. The question arises: if mold starts spreading in a home after 7–10 years and former occupants move out only to be replaced by new ones, doesn't such "sustainable" and "green" construction lose its meaning due to its lack of durability?