17. Role of Eco-Friendly Materials in Construction for Making Cities Smart: A Case Study of Noida and Greater Noida

Conventional building materials—such as paints, solvents, plastics, and composite timbers—along with biological pollutants (e.g., dust, mites, and moulds) and building methods—have been linked to a wide range of health problems. That is why construction technology is constantly being developed and improved and now places more emphasis on eco-friendly construction. Eco-friendly construction enables decreased energy consumption due to the use of energy-efficient design, materials, and building techniques. Decreased energy consumption automatically decreases the carbon footprint and helps decrease human impact on the environment. In addition, green construction typically uses environment-friendly materials and construction methods, which are good for both the environment and for human health. Eco-construction techniques include using energy bricks, which blend solid byproducts into manufactured bricks to partially replace normally quarried clay; another method to incorporate an eco-friendly aspect into construction is the use of plastic waste materials in road-making. If these materials can be suitably used in highway-road construction, pollution and disposal problems may be partly decreased, literally helping pave the way towards smart cities. The objective is both to develop new construction materials and decrease the environmental impact of currently used construction materials. In the present chapter, eco-friendly bricks are manufactured and their properties compared with those of conventional bricks. A study was also conducted among different academic institutions in Noida and the Greater Noida region to evaluate willingness to pay more for using eco-friendly materials in construction.