18 Green Building Innovations to Consider for Your Jobsite
Date Posted: November 13, 2019
Posted In: Ideas,
From Construction Business Owner: More often than not, construction companies are being urged to look to the future and consider changes to help environmental protection and sustainability.
According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), buildings consume almost 40% of the total U.S. energy consumption and generate 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, building projects consume 50% of our resources from nature, often leading to added costs, delayed construction times and wasted materials.
To combat this drain on our resources, buildings are being designed to be more sustainable, ecofriendly and smarter. These “green buildings” follow strict resource-efficient models of construction and include specific features, such as sustainable materials, renewable resources, green roof systems, improved acoustics, clean indoor quality and biophilic spaces. The environmental and economic benefits are significant—around 25% less energy usage, and a 20% drop in maintenance costs.
But where does a contractor start in terms of helping climate change and offering a more ecofriendly service?
Luckily the cost of sustainable building materials and products is continuing to drop, making green building not only be cost-effective for construction, but also the best solution for solving our environmental and health issues.
Materials are being engineered to be smarter, stronger, sleeker and easier on the planet. For example, the BIQ House in Hamburg, Germany, provides a perfect glimpse of the future. Built with living algae, the BIQ can harness its own electricity. Not only do its aesthetics call to mind impressive sci-fi buildings from pop culture, but its impact on the environment holds much promise for a sustainable future.