You know the importance of sustainable building practices as a business owner.
Some argue that sustainability is more crucial than ever.
These practices are good for the environment and can save you and your client money over the long term.
Are you ready to add more of these to your business?
What is Sustainable Building?
This refers to creating structures that compliment rather than negatively affect the environment.
Green building benefits should be enjoyed throughout the structure’s life, from conception to demolition.
This practice addresses traditional concerns such as cost, comfort, durability, and economics.
Construction companies can be sustainable by using passive or active methods:
- Passive sustainable buildings are built using materials and construction techniques that require little to no heating or cooling.
- Active sustainable buildings use renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to complement or replace traditional energy sources.
What are some sustainable building practices to consider?
When building a new or renovating an old one, you should consider many sustainable practices.
These practices can reduce the environmental impact of construction projects and help save money over time.
These are just a few examples.
Standardized Processes
Each new site and building project will create an architectural adventure for your clients.
Nonetheless, certain processes are the same.
These processes can be treated as new problems, resulting in wasted time.
Standardization reduces the time and materials that are not used, as employees will know which procedure to follow.
Although standardization can take time, it is well worth the effort.
Begin by looking at the most popular services you offer and then breaking them down into steps.
Prefabricated Building Materials
Construction companies often overlook prefabricated building materials.
This reduces the required work and, therefore, the labor costs you would otherwise have to charge.
It speeds up construction and allows you to take on more work each year.
Prefabricated materials are made in factories and shipped to construction sites.
Construction crews may only have to assemble the pieces upon arrival.
If the materials include a shell or kit, you might be able to add finishing touches.
Prefabricated construction is more sustainable than traditional building.
It reduces waste and condenses transport emissions into just one or two large shipments.
Passive Solar Design
This design uses the Sun’s natural heat to keep spaces warm or cool, depending on the season.
Passive solar design can be used in both new and renovated construction.
There are three types of passive solar design.
- Direct gain: This sustainable building design features south-facing windows that let sunlight heat the space. Radiation or convection heats the space.
- Trombe wall: A thick wall made of masonry placed on the south side of buildings. It heats the Sun during the day and then releases it at night. This helps to keep the building warm.
- Isolated Gain: This passive-solar design uses greenhouses or sunspaces to capture heat. The sunspace’s air is circulated through the building by fans or natural convection currents.
Passive solar design is sustainable as it doesn’t use energy to heat or cool space.
It is also cost-effective and can help improve your energy efficiency.
Daylighting
Daylighting refers to the use of natural light to illuminate a space.
This is possible by using skylights or windows to lighten a space.
Daylighting may also include reflective surfaces that reflect light.
Skylights or clerestory windows can be used to add natural light.
Remember that daylighting can also be used to heat spaces.
This is great news for cold climates. However, it can cause cooling problems in hotter areas or during summer.
This issue is sometimes solved by builders who tint or install shades on the windows.
Daylighting is a sustainable method of lighting a space. It doesn’t consume any energy.
Natural lighting can also help reduce eye strain and headaches.
Natural Ventilation
Natural ventilation refers to air movement to heat or cool a space.
Fans can be used to circulate the air through windows and doors.
These are some examples of natural ventilation.
- Cross-breeze: Place windows on opposite room walls to create cross-flows of air.
- The stack effect: is when hot air rises from the top of buildings and escapes. To replace the hot air, cool air is drawn from the bottom.
- Windcatcher: Builders install this device in a window. It captures wind and redirects it into a room.
Natural ventilation is energy-free and can be used to heat or cool a space.
Because it improves indoor air quality, it’s also a healthy method to ventilate buildings.
Building Automation Systems
BAS is a tool that can be used to manage multiple building systems such as heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation.
You can also monitor your energy consumption and adjust to conserve it with this sustainable building installation.
BAS is becoming more popular in renovation and new construction projects.
They are often referred to as smart-home features by most residential customers.
How can these help us achieve our sustainable building goals?
Take the thermostat as an example.
The Department of Energy estimates that annual energy bills will be reduced by 10%.
According to the EPA, smart thermostats and other ENERGY STAR upgrades can reduce the annual energy consumption by 20% by 2050.
Lean Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing reduces waste and eliminates unnecessary steps in construction.
Automakers use this common method to increase production without compromising quality or safety.
However, it can be used in construction and can produce amazing results.
Lean manufacturing is about creating a pull system rather than a push system.
The production of a push system relies on forecasts or estimates.
This leads to overproduction and waste.
A pull system produces from actual demand. This helps eliminate waste and keeps inventory low.
Lean manufacturing reduces waste material during construction and makes it more sustainable.