As as good steward of the environment and in partnership with our clients, we are constantly looking for innovative solutions to help our clients reduce energy costs, while doing our part to find sustainable solutions in our projects. Commercial construction tends to be one of the largest consumers of materials of any industry and, in turn, produces waste. As such, adopting more sustainable practices is crucial.
Sustainable commercial construction doesn’t only impact the environment. It actually has several benefits for the owners of the sustainably constructed buildings as well.
4 Benefits Of Sustainable Commercial Construction
Sustainable commercial construction seeks a balance between environmental impact, cost, and social impact. As such, there are several significant benefits.
Better for the Environment
The first benefit is that sustainable commercial construction is better for the environment. The construction industry contributes to almost half of the global consumption of raw materials. Additionally, the heating and lighting of both residential and commercial buildings are responsible for about 60% of global electricity consumption.
Sustainable commercial construction can help reduce both these figures.
By using more sustainable and recycled materials, like steel, you can reduce the amount of waste for each project.
In addition, sustainable commercial construction considers how to insulate and create a sustainable building. Modern insulation methods allow people to have the same experience when using the building while using less energy.
Moreover, sustainable construction aims to create buildings that use as little energy as possible. For example, you can install solar panels on the roof or create a self-powered building using wind turbines.
Sustainable building practices also give more consideration to the surrounding environment.
Positive health and social impact
The shift to sustainable construction has an immediate effect on those making use of the building.
On average, a person spends about 90% of their time in or about buildings. So, when it comes to the impact of sustainable construction, its effect on people is immediate. One of the largest changes you may notice is air quality.
Sustainable construction leads to better air quality immediately due to better design and safer materials. Thus, it is beneficial for those who spend time in the building.
Lastly, sustainable commercial construction can improve comfort. This is because sustainable practices help to better regulate the temperature within a building. Not only does this make it more comfortable to be inside, but it also reduces heating and cooling costs.
Use of better materials
When it comes to sustainable construction, there is a closer eye on the materials used. Traditionally, construction is a leader in waste and toxic chemical pollution. Some materials can take hundreds of years to break down.
Thus, sustainable construction focuses more on biodegradable and recyclable materials. This helps to both reduce waste and the environmental impact of commercial construction.
Just making the switch to using more organic paints reduces the toxic footprint of commercial construction.
There is a multitude of effective sustainable materials that construction sites can make use of. These include things like:
- Steel, which is strong and durable but also recyclable.
- Plastic parts, which is also very durable with a high strength-to-weight ratio.
- Sustainable concrete. There are several new concrete constructions that are more sustainable than traditional concrete. Hempcrete is one example, which mixes hemp hurds with a binder and water. There is also green concrete, which is made using waste materials.
Reduced long-term costs with technology
Sustainable commercial construction incorporates various technologies to create low-energy buildings. Not only does this help reduce energy consumption, which is good for the environment, but it is more cost-efficient.
There are many new technologies that can reduce the amount of energy a building needs to use. These include things like cool roofs and smart glass. Both work to reduce heating and cooling costs by regulating the thermal emittance of the building.
In certain situations, buildings can be self-powered. For example, tall buildings can use wind turbines on top of their roofs. This enables a building to generate clean energy to power itself.
Many commercial buildings now choose to install solar panels on their roofs. Solar power is another clean, renewable energy source that can help power some of the building’s operations. Thus, it reduces energy consumption and costs.
Final Thoughts
Sustainable construction allows construction companies to think creatively on how they can minimize their long-term impact on the environment and design energy efficient buildings. This reduces the carbon footprint of the construction and provides energy efficient operations for the business owner.
Sustainable commercial construction benefits everyone.
At Chad Fisher Construction, we strive to implement sustainable practices in our projects to help you reduce your costs while benefiting the environment.