Sustainability is the watch word of the day in the construction industry.
Construction sites and particularly the manufacturing processes used to create the materials that are used on these sites contribute massively to the carbon emissions produced across the globe.
That said, the industry is also essential to the future of mankind, creating homes to live in, infrastructure to connect the world, and much more besides.
So, we have a problem. An industry that must continue to grow and an impact on the planet that must be reduced if we are to tackle the climate emergency.
There is no one fix all solution to this problem but one thing that cannot be disputed is that the construction industry needs to change to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
One of the best ways to do just that is to move to more sustainable materials in the construction process and this is certainly something that has become more and more common in recent times.
In this article we will look through some of the best sustainable materials that can be used in construction projects, without negatively impacting on the durability, safety, or appearance of the finished structure.
Green insulation
Green insulation has a two-fold positive impact on the construction industry. Firstly, it is far more sustainable to produce than traditional insulation and is created from recycled materials such as old Demin or newspapers.
Secondly, it helps to create more energy efficient properties meaning that the new occupants, whether business or domestic, will required less heat energy and therefore have a much smaller carbon footprint themselves.
Energy Efficient glass
Similarly to green insulation, energy efficient glass will help to keep heat within a building during the cold winter months and keep the inside cool during the summer.
This will again help to keep the use of fossil fuels to a bare minimum. Home heating is one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and by helping to take this issue, the construction industry will be able to offset some of the emissions produced in the manufacturing process.
Electric car chargers
All detached new build properties in the UK must now be fitted with an electric car charger. This is something that construction firms responsible for the build have had to adapt to quickly and many builds also include other renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and air source heat pumps.
Building Site Security
Stolen or damaged materials are a serious threat to construction businesses in the UK. Not only does replacing lost goods cost them a whole lot of money, but it also means that more materials have to be manufactured. Reduce this threat and you reduce the emissions produced in production.
For this reason, many construction companies are investing in the latest security technology and construction site monitoring equipment such as CCTV towers and biometric entry gates.
If you run a building site, this is not only effective in reducing your carbon footprint but will also help you keep your project on schedule and under budget.