The definition of “green” is continuing to evolve and now includes sustainability, energy efficiency, conservation and the long-term impact on our environment. General Shale is America’s largest brick manufacturer, a major concrete block manufacturer and supplies a wide variety of masonry materials for the construction industry. Our company has a long history of responsible stewardship of the environment and has received numerous awards for our conservationist accomplishments. We are proud of leading our industry with innovative processes while providing the world’s best building materials for...

Monticello, built in 1769 was the home of President Thomas Jefferson. To be truly sustainable, a building material must stand the test of time. Brick is one material that a homeowner will never have to replace and requires virtually no maintenance. With its long life cycle of over 100 years, the sustainability of brick is without equal. Brick provides a safe, sustainable environment for your dream home. Brick is fire resistant, impact resistant from wind borne debris or projectiles, and provides excellent resistance to sound transmission.

Energy Efficiency Brick homes are more energy efficient than many people realize. Due to it’s high thermal mass, brick responds slower than other exterior cladding materials to changes in temperature; this phenomenon is called “thermal lag”. Thermal lag keeps the inside temperature of a home at a more moderate temperature level when outside temperatures change and thus reduce peak heating and cooling loads on a home’s HVAC system.

Our manufacturing processes have continuously improved to reduce energy consumption. Raw material is located close to the production facility to reduce transportation costs, use of automation to reduce energy is a cornerstone of our manufacturing philosophy, and recycling brick that does not meet quality standards is fully integrated into our process. Our residential brick are made to meet ASTM C652 which uses less material and thus lowers energy cost throughout the manufacturing process and finished product delivery.

Protecting the environment is at the core of the General Shale culture. Brick is made from one of the earth’s most abundant materials and choosing brick for your home provides far reaching environmental, social and economic benefits. General Shale has won numerous conservationist awards for its efforts in responsible raw material harvesting, manufacturing practices and reclamation efforts. Waste is kept at an absolute minimum from production practices to job site construction.

Brick Block Fiber Vinyl Masonr y Masonr y Cement Siding Board Basic Data Warrantee Weight/ft2 Energy, Mining and Recycling: Manufacturing Brick 100% Recycling and and mortar Energy, kWh/ft2/yr 40% Energy: 0.252 Recycling: Recycling: Recycling: Recycling: 80% 0%1 80%2 0%1 Energy: Energy: Energy: Energy: 0.228 0.328 0.210 5.48 Pollution Water and air emissions, lb/ft2/yr Distribution Energy Average Distance, mi. and Net Energy, kWh/ft2/yr 1 No proven method available. 2 sed the maximum allowed in this analysis (80%). According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, 100% of vinyl siding is U recyclable....

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