With our planet in its most critical state yet, you’re bound to search for ways to help out however you can. Part of helping the environment is staying on top of the news in fields where eco-friendliness might only sometimes prevail over easier or cheaper materials. The construction industry has been making strides toward becoming more environmentally friendly. With these changes, you can rest assured that, soon, sustainable buildings will be the norm in construction projects and throughout the built environment.
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1. More Sustainable Materials
More sustainable building materials can help the world go greener for future buildings. Concrete is responsible for nearly 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. Fortunately, builders have started to find several eco-friendly replacements for concrete and other materials like it.
Recycled plastic is a great way to have a firm foundation without doing more harm to the environment. Since people are becoming more aware of how the building materials they use are affecting the environment, they might opt for more sustainable designs in their decor choices as well.
If you want to help advocate for better building materials, start using more sustainable options for your home. Objects made of bamboo are excellent to invest in because they’re more robust than typical wood. Another great thing about bamboo is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors.
2. Greater Concern for the Environment
Nearly half of Americans consider global warming a big concern that needs attention, and that number will only continue to rise as societies are increasingly confronted with the devastating effects of climate change. Since more people are growing concerned about the environment, it might pressure corporations to adopt greener business methods.
Some construction companies are taking sustainable buildings into their own hands. The Canary Wharf Group in the United Kingdom has set a goal for 2030 to have net-zero carbon emissions, which will be achieved by incorporating people at all levels and opting for more environmentally friendly construction methods, like high-quality modular construction. Modular structures are built in components in a factory, then put together and assembled on-site. Other companies could follow suit by enacting their own goals to offset carbon emissions. As more companies adopt these processes, they may soon become very widespread.
Whether the structure is for a business or residence, construction companies may also have clients advocating for sustainable building materials and practices. People might even pay extra for those processes to be implemented. The greatest thing you can do is continue spreading the word about greener buildings and keep them in mind for any homes you may build in the future.
3. Better Project Management
Every project needs a manager to ensure processes go as planned. The right manager will be up-to-date on methods and materials that contribute to greener buildings and don’t harm the environment. They’ll know how to implement those processes and materials if the client wants them.
Communication benefits people in every field, and construction is no different. Project managers are great at understanding the client and communicating with them in a way that makes them feel heard. Additionally, they’ll know how to devise a contract that works well for both parties – and that might entail working with certain materials or staying away from other, more harmful ones.
4. More Government Regulations
The Paris Agreement is a binding treaty created back in 2015, in which multiple countries aim to cut carbon emissions for the betterment of the environment. Many countries are trying to target greener building practices with more sustainable materials and processes. The Pollution Prevention Act (P2 Act) of 1990 ensures corporations in the United States must prevent pollution whenever possible, but if pollution is unavoidable, then they must recycle what they can without harming the land.
Governments can put more pressure on construction companies to build responsibly through acts like the P2 Act. The more ambitious countries are in meeting their goals, the more likely they are to meet them and stick to the goals they initially set.
While there may not be a definitive way for you to get involved, educating yourself to be up-to-date on the Paris Agreement can help you understand what struggles certain countries and industries have and how they’re stacking up to the others. Learning all you can about the current environmental regulations where you live can help you make decisions when voting in the future, both in local and national elections.
5. Advanced Technology
Advanced technology has helped people adopt greener methods of building and living. Solar panels are a great way to harness renewable energy and also save businesses and households money on their power bills. One of the other benefits of building with solar panels is that they can keep a building cool by eliminating heat from the sun’s rays hitting the roof.
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Solar panels have substantial utility beyond benefiting the environment. While they might be expensive now, they won’t always be – and prices have dropped considerably already. More technology will come along, and solar panels will likely become an affordable home renovation for individuals who care about the environment. Once they’re affordable for you, consider making upgrades to save your household some money on your energy bills.
Photo by Elifin Realty on Unsplash
What You Can Do: Advocate for a Greener Future
One of the best things you can do for the environment is to use your voice with the knowledge you’ve gained. By educating the people around you about sustainability, you can advocate for the environment and potentially change people’s minds.
The construction industry is finding creative ways to use new materials that won’t hurt the environment, and with more regulations in place, you might see the greenest future yet in the building sector. Stay up-to-date, and you’ll be able to make decisions to supplement the industries working toward becoming environmentally friendly.
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