Courtesy of The Blog Frog.
In this day and age, we need to all be a little bit more sustainable. From recycling our old things to choosing to carpool, even the little things we can do add up to a big difference. That being said, there’s one industry where a little change goes much further. This industry is construction, and the environmental impacts are far-reaching.
How exactly does construction harm the environment? Frankly put, much of it has to do with the size of the operation. The world is growing in population, and more buildings and housing are necessary than ever before. This takes a huge toll. In this guide, we’ll uncover why construction has such a negative impact on the environment as well as the top trends for sustainable construction today.
The Impact of the Construction Industry
What exactly is the impact on the construction industry? The construction industry involves a lot of moving parts. First, materials are sourced through harmful mining practices. Next, these materials need to be transported to the building site. They often have to travel long distances to get from warehouses to their final destination.
Finally, The construction process itself and the following disposal process can be a drain on the environment. As more and more countries are looking for new ways to construct necessary homes and buildings faster, it’s not unusual for corners to be cut at the expense of the environment.
The truth is in the statistics. The construction sector contributes to 23% of air pollution, 40% of drinking water pollution, 50% of climatic change, and 50% of landfill waste. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reports that the construction industry accounts for around 40% of the world’s energy usage.
As you can see, this is a call to arms. It’s up to the construction industry and surrounding technology to make a difference in this sector, and that difference might be in the changes below.
Recent Sustainable Changes in the Construction Industry
Sustainable construction ensures that the resources we have are used in an efficient way. While it likely won’t be possible to entirely eliminate the entire impact of this industry, new technology is changing the way the industry functions from the ground up. Here are a handful of the top trends shaping sustainable construction today.
3D Printing – The most well-known change is 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing. Since materials are added instead of taken away, there’s significantly less waste. In addition, companies can create highly customizable materials on a smaller scale. To learn more about this process, visit 3erp.
Prefabrication – Another change to construction is the increasing popularity of prefabrication. With this process, manufacturing units are created in a factory before being shipped to construction sites. Because they’re built in a factory and not on the job site, there is less waste.
Green Building Materials – Green building materials are another popular choice for construction sites. Green building material is anything sourced from renewable sources that’s also recyclable. This way, when the building has reached its lifespan, the green materials can be remanufactured to reduce harmful wastes.
Zero Energy Construction – While it might sound contradictory, it’s possible to create zero-energy buildings that produce as much energy as they consume. This gives them a net-zero impact on the environment. Builders who use these techniques create better structures that work with the environment instead of against it.
Durability – Finally, creating more durable, resilient buildings will help the environment. Climate change is increasing the troubling weather on this planet, so stronger buildings are necessary to survive not only today but into the future. Buildings are considering risk mitigation within their building process to help when disaster strikes.
Building a Better Tomorrow
The construction industry has a unique opportunity to build a better world for the future. While the industry has made a mess of the planet in the past, change is possible. As long as more businesses are thinking about their impact on the environment and the local ecosystem, positive change is on the horizon.
Eco-friendly construction is a new sector in itself, and hopefully, it will catch on as more people begin worrying about the effects of climate change. While the change won’t happen overnight, every step counts.
Courtesy of Ashley Lipman at The Blog Frog Team www.theblogfrog.com
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