Sustainability has been at the forefront of building construction and design for years. As Americans become more conscious of climate change and environmental issues, building owners are pushing for improved green building strategies that will help reduce the carbon footprint. …Check out five materials architects and developers are using to make projects more sustainable. Timber has been engineered to be stronger than ever, which means the potential to build eco-friendly skyscrapers is now a real possibility for architects. Cross-laminated timber… is strong and can be used to create massive structures. These can also be prefabricated in a factory and made into any shape, Dezeen reports. Timber is not only lighter than steel and concrete, it is also significantly better for the environment. Trees soak up carbon and lock it away, while steel and concrete materials emit carbon into the environment.