Painting The Town Green
Doors Opening for Sustainable Construction
During the pandemic, two-thirds of UK homeowners decided on home improvements.
People were forced to stay indoors during the lockdown and the lengthy stay provoked homeowners to make their homes as comfortable as possible. The sudden spike of renovations translates to a great impact on the environment.
But what can we do to have the comfort and improvements we want in our homes, and also reduce the impact on the environment?
Is sustainable construction the next smart move? Offering a longer life span and lower maintenance cost, and more importantly, is it realistic?
A concept image of what an eco-friendly building could look like. Using greenery and renewable energy to offset the CO2 created in construction.
What is a Green Building?
According to Wikipedia, a green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.
This requires the close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages.
The Construction Industry and its Impact on the Environment
The construction industry has an immense impact on the environment.
According to the World Green Building Council, while the total final energy consumption of the global buildings sector remained at the same level in 2019 compared to the previous year, CO2 emissions from the operation of buildings have increased to their highest level yet at around 10 GtCO2, or 28% of total global energy-related CO2 emissions.
With the inclusion of emissions from the buildings construction industry, this share increases to 38% of total global energy-related CO2 emissions.
How Can We Apply Sustainable Construction
From power consumption to utilization of sustainable materials, here are some ways we can practice sustainable construction:
Through the Use of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is gaining ground. It’s more accessible and cost-effective now compared to a few years ago. The use of renewable energy improves energy effectiveness and reduces the emissions of harmful chemicals.
One of the most popular and widely-used renewable energy is solar power. BayWa r.e is just one of many companies offering smarter ways to use renewable energies.
Other renewable energies that are making strides are water and wind.
Using solar panels to create renewable energy for construction projects
Selecting Sustainable Building Materials
Traditional construction methods involve the use of chemicals which takes hundreds of years to degrade. Even then, it has a high chance of polluting water and air.
Biodegradable materials minimize the impact on the environment. Wood, bamboo, recycled plastic, and timber are just some of the sustainable building materials that can be used as alternatives.
Conservative Methods
One of the cheapest ways to reduce the impact of the industry on the environment is to adopt sustainable building methods.
Segregation of Waste - dividing waste into different subcategories (wet, dry, metals, glass etc) to create a pure, quality material.
Recycling
Conserving Energy
Waste Reduction
What are the Benefits of Sustainable Construction
Cost Reduction
A green building costs less than a normal building because the process of how it was built suggests fewer resources (water, energy, etc.)
Lower Operating costs
The implementation of green construction significantly lowers operating costs. The structure of the building is designed to maximize natural resources e.g. natural light and free-flow of air.
Environmental Friendly
The use of eco-friendly materials alone is a powerful move towards reducing pollution. Coupled with optimizing sustainable construction methods and the use of renewable energies, the construction industry will make a huge impact on the amount of CO2 it produces.
A healthier workplace environment correlates to employees health. Several studies have shown that green buildings show a significant improvement in productivity and decision-making ability under pressure.
The construction industry is making great strides towards the betterment of the environment.
We too can contribute to this movement. The simple energy conservation, reduction of waste and use of eco-friendly materials are all great efforts toward the progress of sustainability.
We have taken big steps in our personal life to be as eco-friendly as possible, and we want to extend that into Kushy Face and the services we provide.
If you have a project going on right now, we’d love to know more and provide you with our services.
Taking care of you and your project makes us happy.