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Building a Better Future: A Look at Sustainable Building Practices

Building a Better Future: A Look at Sustainable Building Practices

The post Building a Better Future: A Look at Sustainable Building Practices appeared first on UK Construction Blog.

There is always room for improvement when it comes to being more environmentally-conscious. This is especially true for the construction industry. As you may already know, this is one of the major contributors to climate change, making up around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Fortunately, there is a growing movement towards sustainable building practices that can help reduce the industry’s detrimental impact on the environment. Several construction companies have embraced sustainable building practices in recent years, committed to building with a better future in mind. Keep reading to find out more about how to be more environmentally-friendly in your own construction activities! 

Short Summary

  • Sustainable building practices are becoming increasingly important and common in the construction industry. 
  • To be able to facilitate the most environmentally-friendly building practices, construction companies focus on using reusable or recycled materials, improving energy efficiency, and on building durable structures. 
  • Sustainable building practices rely on people being educated on sustainability and committed to a greener, better future. 

What does sustainability mean for the construction industry? 

Sustainability in the construction industry means that those involved in construction aim to minimise the environmental impact of the buildings they’re working on. 

What this looks like in practice is that the extraction of building materials, the construction process, as well as the possible demolition of the building are all done with care for the environment at the forefront of construction activities. 

Some of the strategies employed by construction companies committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the building they’re creating are: 

Using renewable and recycled materials

By prioritising sustainable building materials, the construction process can occur with a lower impact on the environment. Materials that are considered sustainable include recycled steel, cork, baboo, and certain types of concrete. 

Of course, in some cases, such materials are simply not feasible for the construction project. However, you can always assess whether there are parts of the building where they can be used or whether there is a more suitable sustainable alternative for you to work with. 

Improving energy efficiency

Accommodating energy systems in a building is one of the integral parts of the construction process. This entails accounting for heating, cooling, and lighting systems. As a person involved in construction, you can play a part in making the building more sustainable by ensuring that the energy systems in place are as green as possible. 

The most environmentally-friendly energy systems you could opt for are renewable energy sources. Think for instance of solar panels, biomass boilers, or air or ground source heat pumps. 

Installing such systems in your construction project is not something you should take lightly. To ensure that the building’s carbon footprint can be as low as possible, you will want to choose from the best air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, or solar panel options on the market. This will guarantee that you have chosen highly efficient sustainable technologies that can perform well for years to come. 

Focusing on durability

The importance of prioritising durability in a construction project cannot be overstated. Building a structure with the vision that it will remain functional for decades after it was constructed is crucial in sustainable building practices. 

Being future-oriented allows you to consider how you can design your building to last and how to ensure that it can adapt to changing needs and circumstances. By creating a structure that can be used for years, you avoid any future need for demolition or reconstruction, which would have a negative impact on the environment. 

Highlighting knowledge about sustainability

One of the best ways to foster sustainable construction practices is to emphasise the importance of being educated about environmentally-friendly possibilities when working on buildings. Ensuring that all the people on the construction team are aware of and prioritise knowledge about sustainability allows for a shared vision of sustainable construction. 

Companies committed to creating a better future through their work can collaborate with professionals who are knowledgeable about sustainable building practices or host training sessions focused on sustainability. 

By creating a culture in which sustainability is prioritised, construction companies can consider how they prepare future generations of workers to be mindful of and creative when it comes to greener building practices. 

Summary

By focusing on sustainable building practices, construction companies can reduce the massive carbon footprint produced by the construction industry. Working with recyclable or renewable materials, incorporating sustainable energy, prioritising durability, and educating workers on greener construction practices are all great ways to create a culture of sustainable building practices. 

With these strategies in mind, you can consider your own part in reducing carbon emissions and think about how you can build a better, greener future one building at a time.

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