By Sydney Cohen
Sustainable construction is a concept that focuses on the use of materials and methods that are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable. This type of construction emphasizes green building practices such as energy efficiency and water conservation. Sustainable architecture can be applied to both new buildings and existing structures.
The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by using natural ventilation instead of relying on the air conditioning or heating systems; minimizing waste production through recycling materials; implementing renewable energy sources for power; incorporating features like rainwater harvesting so landscapes don’t need irrigation; and utilizing eco-friendly design principles such as nontoxic paints, recycled content in flooring materials, low VOC finishes, etc.
The Construction Industry
The construction industry is a booming business, and construction workers are in high demand. The construction process can be messy and dangerous, which translates into higher construction costs for the end product.
However, there is a solution that will save you money while still providing an excellent work environment for your crew: sustainable construction practices. Sustainable construction is not only good for the environment but is also cheaper than traditional methods of building homes or commercial spaces.
Green Building
Some people hear about green buildings and think of eco-friendly homes. Some green building is done in residential areas, although green building can also be applied to commercial construction. With green buildings, you are not only looking at the materials that were used in making them but also how energy efficient they are.
Green builders focus on reducing emissions by using natural lighting, recycling rainwater for irrigation purposes, and using sustainable materials like bamboo flooring or recycled glass countertops.
The Passive Building Design Technique for Sustainable Construction
The passive building design is a sustainable construction technique that can help reduce energy costs, material waste, and carbon emissions. The passive approach relies on the use of natural ventilation, passive solar heating, and lighting to regulate space temperatures.
It also takes advantage of passive night cooling by using thick walls and insulation to retain heat during the day and release it at night when people are typically asleep.
Passive building design is a relatively new technology but is becoming increasingly prominent in sustainable construction practices.
Sustainable Building and Green Construction Materials
Building green is a great way to save money and reduce your environmental impact. Sustainable construction materials are becoming more available, which means that you have the opportunity to be more environmentally conscious with your building plans.
Careers in Green Construction
Green construction is a growing industry with many different opportunities for those looking to work in the field. Careers in Green Construction is your guide to sustainable construction careers, including information on how you can get started and what it takes to succeed.
Careers in Green Construction will help you explore the possibilities of this growing industry by providing an overview of green construction jobs.
Some examples of the career opportunities associated with green construction companies include architects, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and urban planners. All of these occupations are vital to the development of environmentally friendly construction projects.
Examples of Sustainable Green Building
In a world where sustainability is becoming more and more important, there are many people who are looking for sustainable green building examples. Sustainable construction methods should be the norm in all new building projects. Sustainable buildings will help to conserve our natural resources while also reducing costs over time due to their lower operating expenses.
Sustainable Construction in Bahrain
An example of sustainable construction is the Bahrain World Trade Center. The towers are positioned to optimally use the island nation’s desert winds and coastal location to generate electricity, with three mounted wind turbines. Harnessing the sea breeze, wind energy provides the building with 15% of its energy needs. It is Bahrain’s first intelligent building, an incredible project that is now leading the way and setting the precedent for long term sustainable construction.
The Importance of Sustainable Construction
Sustainable construction is the future of construction projects. It’s important that we all start to think more about how our buildings are made, and what materials they’re made out of. If you want an idea of why sustainable construction is so important, look at this list:
- It has a lower impact on the environment than traditional methods
- Reduces construction waste products as it doesn’t use toxic chemicals or produce as much gas as traditional methods do
- Increases air quality by limiting the release of volatile organic compounds from building materials which can lead to respiratory issues such as asthma in children and adults
- It reduces energy consumption because it uses solar collectors for heating and cooling systems
Indigenous Methods of Sustainable Construction
The best examples of sustainable construction can be found among indigenous peoples. Their methodologies have been popularized in recent years by the Permaculture movement as natural building.
Natural Building = Sustainable Construction
Natural building involves considering such elements such as the location of the sun, seasons and the weather. The key to indigenous sustainable construction is building in sync with the natural environment, sourcing building materials from what is available locally and minimizing waste. Patterns from nature are imitated in natural building. For example, seeing how birds use earth and straw to build their nests, a person can be inspired to build their home from earth and straw.
We can construct sustainably by drawing on indigenous wisdom, which in turn draws on the wisdom of nature, in order to construct sustainably for ourselves and generations to come.
* Featured image source
