The Future of Green Building in Construction

Now is the time to think about green and sustainable building for the future in construction. Green building is a growing aspect of the industry. To put this in perspective, a U.S. Green Building Council study from Booz Allen Hamilton expected spending on green construction to hit $224.4 billion in 2018. Between 2015 and 2018, it also generated an estimated $303.4 billion GDP, created 3.9 million jobs and provided $268.4 billion in labor earnings. Learn how going green on the jobsite can be simple. 

Green Goals Start Before the Jobsite

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, green building is a method of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible throughout the building process from design to deconstruction. For starters, there is a lot that can be done before construction even starts to set yourself on the right path, such as using locally sourced or renewed materials. Implementing green tactics during the design stage is something architects should consider. During the construction process, you should also take a look at the amount of energy that is being expended, and how much of it is expended wastefully. For example, are you over-reliant on a few heavy types of heavy equipment? If a heavy equipment is operating at a lower efficiency because it’s being overused, it’s wasting energy.

Green Building & Environmentally Sustainable Initiatives

In addition, there are some exciting innovations in green construction, such as biodegradable materials. This helps make demolition a far more eco-friendly process, with materials like biodegradable fiberglass insulation and even hemp fibers make for stronger foundations. One major way that people can cut down on energy expenditures is by using “cool roofs.” These reflect sunlight in a way that minimizes warm or cool air from escaping through the roof. As anyone in insulation can tell you, this is one of the biggest contributors to large energy bills. There are other ways to avoid wasting energy out of the construction stage as well. Recycled paper can be effective insulation if utilized properly.

At this point, we can talk about some of the conventional green initiatives people are implementing in green building nationwide. In many cases, going green is a matter of doing small things to make a larger difference. Are there water filtration and drainage systems that can cut down on wasting water in bathrooms? How about using LED lighting or solar energy? 

Small Things Make All the Difference

Tackling things like the carbon footprint and wastefulness are important, but it also bears mentioning that one of the biggest ways that you can support green initiatives is by doing so indirectly. What does this mean? Try targeting inefficiency in all its forms with your construction company, by going paperless, lowering man-hours and energy expenditures in useless ways. The busybusy app is a perfect way to reach these goals. By keeping track of your employees paperless, with the busybusy app, you gain insights into what your employees are working on and which equipment is in use on a given jobsite, you have a constant stream of data to show where you can cut down—a perfect complement to your own green initiatives. Schedule a demo today!