5 Tips for Environmentally Responsible Construction in the Eco-Conscious World
Sustainable residential and commercial real estate development is on the rise around the world, and there are many reasons for this shift. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves in thinking construction companies and investors are suddenly interested in saving the planet. Even though many truly are, we should instead consider the various benefits environmentally responsible construction brings to the table.
For one, sustainable construction is not so much popular as it is necessary for regulatory reasons, but also because it helps cut costs in the long-term. It also can minimize operating costs for the building, boost resale value, and much more. Now that governments around the world are pushing for construction companies to follow certain eco-conscious protocols, there is even a greater incentive to keep building new residential and commercial properties with the environment in mind.
Let’s put all of this into perspective today and take a look at the five ways construction companies can turn to more environmentally responsible construction in 2021.
1. Using Sustainable Materials Is Vital
The foundation of eco-conscious construction (pun intended) are sustainable materials. Contractors and investors need to focus on using sustainable materials more and more now and in the years to come. This will be essential in achieving numerous strategic goals, such as lower emissions, shorter construction times, greater financial savings, to support local suppliers and economies, and much more.
Some of the key sustainable materials used in construction, as well as interior and exterior design, today include sustainable concrete, wool bricks, solar tiles, sustainable wood (like bamboo), and recycled steel. These and other sustainable construction materials help contractors and investors build with the environment in mind. It also puts a high focus on future generations and the world they will inherit. This not only makes financial sense, but it ensures the future, eco-conscious generations will want to buy these properties and lease them for their living and business needs.
2. Energy Efficiency Across the Board
Conserving energy during construction should be one of your top priorities, but it should also be an inherent feature of the building when it’s put in operation. In other words, you need to save energy throughout, but also build properties for maximum energy conservation over the long term. This is a top priority for investors right now who are looking to minimize financial waste. It also appeals to modern buyers and renters who won’t settle on paying high energy bills.
The best way to plan for energy-efficient construction and implement energy conservation features is through BIM, or building information modeling. This system is used by tech-savvy builders and engineers to map out the entire process and optimize every step for energy conservation. Building information modeling also allows you to model every inch of the property in a 3D virtual space where you can introduce future energy-efficient solutions with ease.
3. The Importance of Proper Waste Management
Properly handling and disposing of waste during the construction process, but also within the property during its use, is not only vital for compliance reasons, but also for environmental protection, financial savings, and more. It’s important to have a waste management strategy that will include proper planning and waste handling procedures, but also the use of proper tools and equipment to meet industry rules and regulations.
You can work closely with a reliable waste management company to ensure complete compliance with the local laws, while also minimizing financial waste and your impact on the environment. This will improve your overall efficiency and productivity, and will help you build properties with eco-friendly waste management in mind.
4. Water Conservation Throughout
Much like you should strive to conserve energy during construction and after, you should focus on water conservation in order to cut extraneous costs. More importantly, doing so can help conserve this vital, yet diminishing, natural resource. There are many ways you can waste less water during construction. Using recycled water is one of the best solutions out there.
By collecting rainwater, water from HVAC systems, or from other similar sources, you can repurpose it towards certain construction processes and use it instead of potable water. Combining recycled water with constant monitoring and measurement will help you keep your water consumption to a minimum.
5. Planning For and Introducing Green Spaces
Lastly, another big part of green construction should be green design. It’s important to use modern technology to reduce our impact on the environment. By planning for more green spaces and more functional green solutions, we can help build sustainable living and working environments for the future generations. From green roofs to vertical gardens, all the way to biophilic design and the use of the aforementioned green building materials, there is plenty we can do to boost eco-conscious construction around the world.
Over to You
The construction sector needs to adopt environmentally responsible practices in order to keep up with the shifts in the eco-conscious world. These solutions will help push the industry in the right direction and minimize waste across the board so we can build a better world for the future.
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