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Construction helps buildings and carbon emissions go up. Nearly 40 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions come from the construction sector.
Yet, construction professionals can take simple steps to bolster sustainability in construction. They have to know about what environmentally responsible construction looks like.
How can you begin your sustainable construction project? What do you need to do in terms of machinery and materials? What are some concrete alternatives?
Answer these questions, and you can limit your carbon footprint in all of your construction projects. Here is your quick guide.
Planning Out a Construction Project
You must consider the impact of your project on the environment. Make sure that your building does not impact land and water resources, including for animals. It should not damage habitats or mobility patterns, especially for birds.
Replant every tree that you tear down. You do not have to replant them in the immediate area, but you should close the old trees as soon as possible.
Talk to the local parks and resources department to see what you can do to minimize environmental damage. You may also want to talk to local activists, especially to smooth over PR operations.
Using Machinery Efficiently
Machinery may need to idle from time to time. But you should do your best to avoid excessive idling and fuel use. Turn off any machine running for ten minutes or that has no operator at the helm.
Select machinery made from green materials. Some companies are recycling scrap and old parts to make new products. This is especially the case for power tools, but you may find some heavy machinery with recycled parts.
Minimizing Waste
At a minimum, you should find materials that use little packaging. The packaging for the materials should not use plastic or chemical components.
Suppliers are moving for environmentally friendly packaging. They use recycled paper and cardboard to create boxes or containers.
Anything that you can recycle should get recycled. Easy-to-remove items like doors and fixtures can get salvaged. Wood cutoffs used paper, and packaging materials can get returned and reused in other products.
Using Alternative Construction Materials
There are many alternatives to concrete that don’t require waste and chemical processing. lc3 concrete is made from limestone and calcined clay. These materials do not contribute significant greenhouse gas emissions, but they form a resolute kind of concrete.
For smaller projects, you can use straw bales and bamboo. You can reinforce these materials with rammed earth and wood for sturdy walls.
How You Can Achieve Sustainability in Construction
Companies must maximize sustainability in construction. You should start by charting where natural resources are. You should go out of your way to preserve land and water, especially for habitats.
Turn machines off when they are not in use. Find machines and products that minimize waste, including in packaging.
Concrete sends a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Use concrete made from limestone and other materials. See if you can shift toward straw bales and less harmful resources.
You need to take many steps to fight carbon emissions in construction. Find out more by following our coverage.
