Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCY

DESIGN, ADAPT, AND REUSE WITH MASONRY AND TILE.

IMI is committed to advancing climate action and social responsibility. By promoting innovation and preserving traditional craft, we’re shaping a future where the built environment is a catalyst for positive change.

In an era where climate challenges can’t be ignored, the imperative to reduce embodied and operational carbon, conserve resources, and build resilient communities has never been more urgent.

PAE Living Building. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

How We Advance Sustainability

RESEARCH & EDUCATION

IMI champions sustainable building through research and education on the evolution of traditional materials, development of new materials and construction methods, and conservation of existing buildings.

We believe collaborative projects and partnerships between designers, builders, owners, researchers, and manufacturers is key to progressing sustainable design and building practices that minimize environmental impacts.

MATERIAL ATTRIBUTES

Traditional masonry and tile construction is inherently sustainable. These time-tested materials and techniques offer building performance benefits like thermal mass, durability, and aesthetic appeal, making them ideal choices for environmentally conscious projects.

What’s more, masonry materials have widespread local availability, cutting down on the emissions required to transport them to your job site.

Healthy Buildings

Masonry and tile materials contribute to a healthy interior environment that prioritizes the comfort and well-being of the people living, working, and enjoying the space. These materials are non-polluting and free of volatile organic compound emissions (VOCs). They’re also easy to clean and disinfect and don’t harbor mold and bacteria. Plus, masonry can help moderate indoor temperatures by storing heat and cool air, even when HVAC systems aren’t running.

Carbon Reduction

Masonry and tile solutions are long-term, safe, and durable material assemblies that serve the life of a building and offer flexibility for reuse strategies.

With the industry at-large focused on initial construction costs and embodied carbon, it’s important to recognize how low-carbon masonry systems can effectively reduce the operational carbon footprint over the lifespan of a structure. We strongly encourage the AEC community to invest in lifecycle analysis to better understand how these materials serve buildings beyond cradle-to-gate and through current and future use cycles.

“The greenest building is one that is already built.” – Carl Elefante, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP

Fair & Ethical Labor

You can help uphold fair labor practices and contribute to the economic well-being of the community by partnering with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers’ (BAC) contractors and members.

That’s because the union, together with responsible contractors, negotiates excellent wages and benefits, so that skilled craftworkers can live and work in their communities, support their families, and retire with dignity. BAC apprenticeship programs have long helped address inequities by creating pathways to the middle class.

Plus, BAC craftworkers have access to the industry’s best training throughout their careers. This gives them the knowledge and skills to implement sustainable construction techniques and work with the latest in sustainable materials and innovations.

Alternative Energy

Brick, block, and tile manufacturers increasingly incorporate clean energy sources to green their plants. For example, Palmetto Brick, pictured, produces about 20% of the energy required to run its plants using solar power. Other brick manufacturers have retrofitted their kilns with carbon capture technologies to reduce emissions and use less energy. And some are using sawdust as an alternative energy source to power their plants. Together, these efforts are helping to reduce the environmental impact of material production.