Plastics are durable, light weight and versatile and help us to do more with less in many ways, therefore, architects and designers rely on plastics to maximize energy efficiency, durability and performance. Plastics can help to conserve natural resources like wood, metals, etc, reduce waste and consume less energy. Plastics have found applications in building foundation, roofing, windows & doors, insulation, electrical, piping & plumbing, flooring, wall covering, insulation, landscaping, safety & security, etc. Plastics in some applications have almost entirely replaced the use of metals and woods. The most important benefit of plastic applications in building is energy saving to tackle the most important environmental issue of global warming. In this article an attempt has been made to describe the applications of plastics in building design and construction.

1. Introduction

Construction significantly alters the environment. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this industry sector consumes about half of the resources taken from nature worldwide, including 25 % of the wood harvest. Mining, quarrying, drilling, and harvesting these natural resources not only depletes them but pollutes the air and water, generates waste, and accounts for biological diversity losses. Once acquired, transporting raw materials to production facility followed by transforming them into building and construction products. These activities further consume considerable energy associated with greenhouse gas emissions resulting in global warming. In addition after reaching the product at the construction site, a significant amount of waste is generated at the site.