Constructing an eco-friendly structure

Within the next 20 years, it’s said that our planet will reach its peak regarding oil consumption. However despite this, the demand for oil increases each year, as the global production of oil decreases.

This problem that continues to grow, will certainly impact the way buildings will be constructed in the future and therefore, planners will need to look for eco-friendly alternatives that can benefit the structures and at the same time, bring costs down.

When constructing new structures, most of the machinery required, if not all, require fossil fuels and crude oil to power them. The reason for this, is that without them, the construction process would not be able to function in its current form. This is however, having a detrimental impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Within the UK, 50% of carbon emissions are accounted for by the construction industry and machinery within the production process.

On the positive side of things, attitudes across major cities are beginning to change towards our environment, as we become more aware of the issues impacting it. Therefore, eco-friendly practices within the construction and have been growing because of this, and although in the US this market has estimated revenues of $245 billion, UK firms could also be taking advantage of these environmentally friendly practices.

Skip hire specialists, Reconomy explain further on how eco-friendly practises can be implemented, when constructing a building and what they can do after the project to help tackle climate change.

Constructing an eco-friendly structure

The core principles that need to be taken during the construction of a build, so that it is benefitting the external environment are:

1. What needs to be established, is whether energy is being wasted during construction. During the production process machines can more than often be overused. This leads to energy that is wasted that can never be used again. So that a motor isn’t overworked, electric vehicles or machines with hybrid-engines should be used so that when a motor is overworked – electric engines can help power and support the overall load.
2. Once the building is complete, what energy is being generated within it, and is it being wasted?
3. Furthermore, assess whether materials for the construction of the structure have been locally sourced – if they haven’t, a decision has to be made on whether they can be recycled in the future.

For the roofing of the structure, recycled paper can be used instead of new insulation that has been produced and purchased for the roof. By using cheap and practical alternatives – insulation that is produced for individual roofs will be more cost effective when using pre-existing materials. By using timbers that are sourced from sustainably managed forests within the local areas, this avoids when to chop down trees that will not be replanted.

Environmentally friendly structures

Based on making the most of the buildings structure, these eco-friendly techniques can help to save costs, and be energy-efficient within the structure’s design.

• Drainage systems and water filtration. When biological waste is treated safely, water can be re-used within a build. Rainwater can also be utilised and collected into specific drains that recycle it, so it can be used instead of water from the tap and used in outdoor spaces such as gardens and courtyard spaces for plants
• Low-energy lighting. Low energy lighting can last twice as long as regular lightbulbs, which accounts for an energy saving of 100%
• Solar energy panels. Solar energy is fast becoming a cheaper alternative as opposed to other forms of commercial power. When using them within a buildings power supply, this can account for a significant saving in energy costs. A building will also cover a large area, which meaning that many solar panels can be used, maximising the amount of electricity that can be generated in this energy efficient way.

The benefits from environmentally friendly construction.

The day-to-day running of structure can account for 80% of build overall cost, which can be expensive. Reducing the total running costs of a build by a third, green initiatives can help reduce these costs to 53.3% of overall costs.

When it comes to the architectural design of a building, daylight should always be thought about. This is because daylight helps to save on artificial lighting costs. Furthermore, it is considered by many that the ‘indoor environment quality’ of a build can be improved when natural light is abundant – this is because it creates the illusion of more space within a more natural feeling environment, benefitting the health of occupants that are present within the building.

Once the construction part of building has begun, long-lasting materials that can be recycle should always be considered. This means that fewer new materials will be used during construction, helping to reduce the overall cost of the build – and less energy is consumed in order to produce the new structure.

To tackle climate change, construction firms will have to use these materials and techniques within their construction processes. By producing homes that are greener, more environmentally efficient and conceptualised with the long-term future of the planet in mind, this will ensure that buildings are constructed in a sustainable way for generations to come.