"Nightjar.me.uk" "cpb"@ insert my surname here wrote in message
...
On 09/04/2015 03:40, Bill Wright wrote:
Nightjar cpb@ wrote:

Actually, we used more of everything. The UK's total material
requirement in 1970, when records began, was 1,750 million tonnes -
31.3 tonnes per capita. In 2013, it was 1,730 million tonnes - 27
tonnes per capita.


Yes but things are lighter nowadays.

Not necessarily. The new Routemaster bus weighs 12.45 tons (12.65 tonnes)
for up to 87 passengers, compared to 7 tons 7 cwt for the old 64 seater
Routemaster; a 24% increase in weight per passenger.

I don't have weights for houses but, with things like extra insulation
requirements, I would be surprised if a 2013 house weighed less than a
comparable one built in 1970.

I wouldnt if less brick/block is used.

However, the construction industry uses a lot more recycled materials
today, so the total material requirement of the house has almost certainly
reduced.