There are some big changes coming to the construction industry, both on a small scale for home improvements and for large commercial buildings. Tough targets have been set by governments to reduce atmospheric carbon levels and live more sustainably.
The construction industry is responsible for a large amount of our collective carbon footprint. Now, developments big and small are now going to have to be planned and executed in a way that is sympathetic to the environment. Here are some of the ways land and buildings can be developed sustainably.
Create Spaces For Wildlife
Modern developments of existing structures or vacant land need to be sympathetic to the environment and assess their impact on local biodiversity as well as their carbon footprint. In November of 2021, the Environment Act was passed into UK Law. Among the many new requirements that construction developments must adhere to, one of the most important is known as biodiversity net gain or BNG.
Every current and new development must assess its impact on local biodiversity and create provisions, either onsite or offsite, that will enhance the quality of habitats in the area for local wildlife. Essentially, the negative impact a building site has on the local environment must be offset by positive impacts that are a part of the building plan. The objective of the provisions is to create a 10% net gain in biodiversity from new developments so local ecology grows alongside commerce and residential developments.
With the help of Biodiversitynetgainplan.co.uk, you can have rapid assessments performed, preventing any costly delays. Their qualified ecologists work hard to ensure your project will meet the biodiversity net gain planning conditions, allowing you to get on with your build while also being sympathetic to the local environment and encouraging its growth.
Make Power Generation Part Of The Plan
Onsite power generation is going to play a big part in the industrial, commercial, and residential buildings of the future. Solar power, wind power, and even geothermal power can all be used in modern architectural design to reduce the carbon footprint of a building project. It can also add a huge amount of value to the finished property, which is incredibly important in the residential sector.
Solar power is becoming much more common, both on existing properties and in the plans for new buildings. The panels are reliable and have a long service life, often similar to the roofs they are installed upon. They are low maintenance too, helping to make them a more popular choice over wind turbines.
When solar panels are installed alongside large-scale battery storage it becomes possible to use electricity generated from the sun in the daytime at night. This makes on-site solar power much more practical for residential applications. For larger projects, you may need to combine more than one renewable on-site power source to give you the amount of electricity the building will need. Smaller-scale wind turbines can be very effective in the right location.
Build Using Sustainable Materials
One of the world’s worst polluters is the concrete industry. This single building material can generate huge amounts of atmospheric carbon, not just during its production but also from its transportation and mixing. There are low-carbon alternatives to concrete that are changing the way buildings are designed and constructed.
Hempcrete is one of the most popular alternatives to concrete and is being used in both residential and commercial construction already. Hemp fibres have been used for centuries in everything from rope to paper, and now it is being used as both a concrete-like building material and as bricks.
Recycled building materials will have an important role to play in the sustainable construction of the future. Steel can be quickly and easily recycled using a minimal amount of energy, making it a more sustainable alternative to using fresh steel.
Recycled plastics can also be used in roofing, damp proofing, and cladding. Glass from recycled bottles is already widely used in insulation, both in residences and in public and commercial buildings.
Incorporate Energy Efficient Heating Solutions
Heating is responsible for a large part of any construction’s carbon footprint. When designing buildings sustainably, how the building is heated needs to be a part of the plan from the beginning. Incorporating low-power, low-carbon heating and insulation solutions can reduce the impact constructions have on the environment across the lifetime of the building.
Integrating insulation into your building plans can help you to design an incredibly energy-efficient building and reduce the demand for heating. Combining insulation, double or triple-glazed windows, and ground or air-source heat pumps reduces drastically reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and maintain the temperature in a space.
Even large, open spaces such as shopping centres or supermarkets can be kept warm while using a minimal amount of energy. Heat pumps use electricity, not natural gas, which means they can easily be powered by renewable energy sources like onsite solar. This further increases the sustainability of the project and reduces the carbon footprint of building operations.
Collect And Recycle Water
Water has always been a precious resource. Though the surface of the planet is mostly covered by oceans, freshwater and groundwater supplies are running short. Our drinking water sources are being drained by the increasing expansion of our cities and towns. Construction works can use a lot of water, and the buildings themselves can also consume a lot of freshwater during their operational life.
The sustainable buildings the future demands need to take water collection and recycling seriously. Rainfall can be harvested and used for cleaning and for flushing toilets, reducing the demand placed on mains water supplies. Water from handwash basins, baths, and showers can be used again to water plants and lawns. Getting multiple uses from the same water will be a key element of protecting our water sources in the future.
These methods, materials, and strategies are all going to have to be used to design and develop the sustainable homes and commercial buildings our future demands. To protect and preserve the planet for future generations we are going to have to change the way we build.
