Excellent Advantages of Sustainable Construction

With the effects of climate change increasing, there is more demand for greener spaces with sustainable construction becoming more important now more than ever. Sustainable construction focusses on conserving, reusing and recycling materials, sustainable development practices, energy efficiency and green technology to reduce the construction industry’s impact on the environment.

One of the best ways to practice sustainability in construction is through the new generation of stronger, lighter and more sustainable building materials. JVR Construction Asphalt and Concrete and 12 Stone Roofing uses building methods like cutting materials accurately to reduce waste, separating and recycling waste, managing construction sites to improve the environment by treating water on-site, not smoking and conserving energy.

Sustainable construction takes into account a building’s full life cycle and these buildings often generate sufficient power to support their own energy needs and even direct surplus energy back into a cities power grid. Sustainable buildings may have well-insulated windows, walls and ceilings, solar heaters, insulated air-conditioning pipes and photovoltaic panels ensuring the building is more energy efficient. Further benefits of sustainable construction include:

Encouraging healthy eco-systems

The location, orientation and landscaping of a building all affect the local ecosystem. With sustainable construction buildings are developed in areas where construction will lead to the least possible land degradation and deforestation, while promoting healthy landscaping and preventing erosion. Sustainable siting uses existing facilities, avoids building on prime agricultural land, floodplains and habitats of threatened species or near wetlands, parks and cultural or scenic areas. Sustainable design reduces detrimental conditions such as slopes that can erode, negative impacts on adjacent properties and carefully considers building placement among existing trees onsite.

Buildings provide a higher quality of life

The average person spends most of their time inside buildings so our quality of life is directly affected by the quality of the building in which we are located. To have thriving and healthy communities, we need to have clean air, natural resources and a non-toxic environment. Sustainable construction improves our quality of life as these buildings provide healthier environments due to being constructed with safer materials, free of pollution and waste, and having effective noise protection. This makes it easier for us to concentrate and work towards completing tasks effectively, reduces stress and enables us to enjoy our surroundings more which may lead to increased longevity.

Buildings are produced at a lower cost

Buildings created with sustainable construction cost less to develop than traditional buildings because they use fewer resources such as water and energy and materials like recycled metal and reclaimed wood can often be salvaged from demolished buildings. These buildings have a better value than traditional properties with a greater Return on Investment. Buildings created with sustainable construction have lower maintenance and heating costs, increased water conservation and provide large operational savings over the lifespan of the building.

Building users experience better health

Air quality, thermal comfort and sound comfort are important for healthier living.Sustainable, non-toxic materials used to develop eco-friendly buildings help with purification of the air and reduce the chance of building occupants developing illnesses or allergies. Sustainably constructed buildings pay extra attention to noise avoidance using distance methods and creating noise barriers which can lower stress for users. There are also many psychological benefits for users of sustainably built buildings where employees experience increased cognitive function which improves decision-making skills to achieve workplace goals and absenteeism of employees is lower.

Reduces waste and use of materials

Sustainable construction minimizes waste using fewer resources, relying on recycled and renewable materials as well as more sustainable construction methods. It manages water in a more effective and environmentally friendly manner. Products such as demolition debris, sand and burnt coal can be used in construction with excellent environmental and aesthetic results. Construction waste is also reduced as a beneficial side effect in building more green buildings. Sustainably constructed buildings are equipped with systems that recycle water such as collecting rainwater for toilet cleaning. They can collect and save natural energy such as solar or wind energy, storing it and reusing it accordingly.

Elevates the economy

Sustainable construction provides many jobs helping to boost the economy. As climate change devastates the world, efforts to combat its effects increase causing an increase in demand for sustainable construction workers and an increase in sustainable construction jobs available. When these jobs start becoming filled, a country’s unemployment rate drops and it’s revenue increases. Understanding the life cycle-costs of a sustainable building and the possibilities for innovation enables conservation and the renewal of the built environment.