The Sands of Time are running out

The Sands of Time are running out

Sand is  the world’s most used solid substance.                                                                          The world of sand is running out.

For example the Delta of the Mekong River is disappearing due to massive development. Whole lakes have disappeared as they have been filled in with sand to form the basis of the developments. This all causes severe environmental damage as rivers, sand dunes and sea sand are all being plundered for the demand for concrete. One house uses about 100 tons of sand. All the housing developments round the world, all the roads, motorways, all the modern buildings, the glass, the shopping Malls they all are made with sand. 

Sand can be manufactured from rock but it is hugely energy inefficient. The sand of the deserts are the wrong kind of sand as this is round sand granules rather than square granules; which won’t do for concrete.

Because modern society wants us all to live in concrete buildings the world is running out of housing. A different direction has to be sought. So this is another reason for sustainable building development.

If you can build your house and heat your house with products that have been grown rather than from products that have been mined it is more sustainable and can more easily be replaced when its life is over. Therefore wood is better than concrete. Wood is better than coal. Wood is better than gas. Wood is better than electricity.