Concrete Steps to a Cleaner Planet: 10 Sustainable Changes in the Construction Industry
The next time new construction starts around your hometown, you don’t have to worry about the planet. Many construction companies have started using sustainable alternatives to traditional business practices.
Once you learn how they adapt to help the earth, you may feel less alone in the fight against global warming.
1. Green Materials Are Becoming Standard
Traditional construction projects rely on materials like wood and concrete, both of which use limited natural resources. Industry leaders are making their teams less reliant on materials they can’t replace by opting for creative, sustainable options.
Moso bamboo can grow taller than 20 meters in 45-60 days, much faster than the years needed for trees to mature. The material is also an excellent substitute for wood. Reclaimed wood, cork and recycled steel are other options with lower environmental impacts across construction projects. The best choice depends on the team’s building plans.
2. Building Resilience Should Reduce Waste
Construction experts often assist in repairs and renovations. Buildings made with outdated standards might fall apart faster than resilient designs. The updated ways of designing projects make the materials last longer so that teams don’t have to use limited resources during frequent repairs.
Resilient strategies are crucial as global warming causes extreme weather events. Resident and commercial properties may withstand the effects of climate change more effectively if they’re resilient. The people inside gain better shelters, and the construction companies become more reliable.
3. Everyday Tools Use Fewer Limited Resources
You might be surprised to learn that construction teams use more than nails and screws. Some of their required supplies use limited natural resources to turn projects into liveable spaces, and many construction teams are seeking green alternatives in those cases.
Abrasive media blasting is necessary to finish surfaces toward the end of a construction project. Traditionally, the machinery shoots sand with compressed air on any surface that needs smoothing, but sand is a limited natural resource. Instead, industry experts use materials like glass beads as a recyclable sand replacement. The simple switch reduces coastal erosion and makes the industry more reliant on reusable supplies.
4. Modular Construction Is More Popular
When traditional construction begins, teams clear the land, level it, start on the foundation and eventually build every part of the structure. This well-trusted process works but requires numerous materials and excessive time.
Modular construction might change that process to make it better for the planet. The method can incorporate recycled materials while teams build a structure at an off-site location. They disassemble the building when it’s ready to go, transport it to the client’s desired location and reassemble it with minimal effort. Construction crews reduce the gas burned during trips to the site, minimize the materials used for single-use equipment like wood framing support and complete projects faster.
5. Teams Use Wool for Insulation
Standard insulation materials are effective but not great for the environment. They use chemicals and plastics during manufacturing, which consume limited resources and become landfill waste when building owners replace their insulation in later years.
Construction crews are opting for biodegradable materials like wool instead. The natural resource is renewable and insulates buildings effectively. Teams also help sheep and goats by shearing them before their wool becomes too matted for them to stay comfortable. You might not think of lining a building with the same resource in your favorite sweater, but it’s a planet-friendly way to insulate your living space, reduce your electricity usage and finish construction projects.
6. Rooftop Materials Are Adapting
As construction industry leaders consider rooftop materials for a project, they also must consider the planet. Standard shingles can last a long time and effectively redirect water, but other options could be better for the environment.
Metal roofing sheets are becoming more popular for that reason. They’re cost-effective for construction teams and improve a home’s energy footprint. Reflective roof materials can make 90% of the sun’s heat bounce back, which keeps the building cooler in hot weather. They also come in various colors, which may impress construction clients.
7. Construction May Include Water Conservation Resources
Rain is inevitable during construction work. Industry leaders are using that to the planet’s advantage. They’re installing rainwater harvesting systems at active sites to reduce runoff from installed concrete. Local farms may welcome the collected water to offset how much they’re using from their sprinkler systems.
Some sustainably minded clients might want to keep those conservation resources on the property. Once they see a rainwater harvesting tool in action, they could use it after the project ends. Trying something new is much easier once you’ve seen how it works.
8. Construction Plans Are Primarily Digital
New builds have multiple planning phases before anyone can lift a hammer. The phases used to require various printed drafts, which used excess paper and sent more trash to landfills. Digital resources are minimizing that environmental harm.
Cloud-based planning programs eliminate the need for paper and foster better expert-client communication. Built-in tools like 3D scans also help teams visualize and adjust their plans without requiring multiple printed drafts between project reviews.
9. Teams Use Carbon-Absorbing Concrete
Construction is essential to everyday life. The industry also produces carbon dioxide (CO2) waste through its machinery and site transportation. Making materials also creates CO2 emissions at manufacturing plants. While there isn’t one solution for every part of the industry, carbon-capturing concrete can reduce each project’s environmental impact.
Modern formulas can absorb any CO2 floating around after teams install the concrete. The long-term planetary benefits may outweigh any emissions produced during its creation. As the resource grows in popularity, you may see more carbon-absorbing concrete around town or in your neighborhood.
10. Smart Building Technologies Are More Common
Residential and commercial buildings can benefit from smart technology woven into their construction plans. Internet-connected devices can adjust their operations according to changing factors like the weather, a building’s interior temperature and how people use appliances within the structure.
A smart thermostat might lower its setting when a summer day is cooler early in the morning. The HVAC unit that would otherwise run its fans every 10 minutes might run them every 30 minutes for the next hour or two. The unit’s electricity usage for that short period would drop, conserving energy and reducing how much CO2 the local power plant creates to meet the grid’s demand.
Automated lighting is another resource construction teams are adding to new builds. You could shrink your electric bill with internet-connected light fixtures. Put them on a timer, adjust their brightness and turn them off remotely if you forget before leaving home. Every opportunity minimizes your home’s energy usage and carbon footprint.
Anticipate a Future of Greener Construction
The construction industry is adapting to global warming with sustainable changes that work on any project. You may see some new techniques around town, like shopping centers made with carbon-absorbing concrete. You’re not alone in your efforts to help the planet, especially as construction experts meet each client’s plans with greener business practices.
