Know how you will save much more than you invest when you embrace Green buildings
Sustainability, green building practices, environment-friendly are not just buzzwords. Know that getting smart about the sustainability quotient in your construction practices can help you not only save costs but also minimize the carbon footprint of your projects. Given the conversations around sustainability, you can be forgiven for thinking that it’s just a feel-good, marketing expense. But be informed that sustainable building practices, besides attracting environment conscious clients, offer impressive savings and returns that extend far beyond your initial investment, according to the World Green Building Council (WGBC).
What Does Sustainable Construction Practices Entail?
Adoption of materials, products and techniques that depend less on natural resources and focus on the reuse of the materials in building construction, thereby reducing construction wastage as well.
How To Be Sustainable While Constructing And Still Save On Costs?
Successfully executing sustainable construction starts from the planning and design stage. Building design professionals should start out by carefully studying material specifications and choosing those with lower embodied energy, thereby reducing the use of natural resources.
Which Are These Sustainable Materials and Practices, How Do They Help?
- Use of Fly ash/ GGBS in concrete as partial replacement of cement results in highly durable concrete, reduces carbon foot print and is economical too.
- In case of redevelopment projects, concrete from construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) can be used effectively as a filling material in foundation of building and road projects, thereby minimizing costs by reuse of materials.
- Glass facades of old building can be removed to recycle glass portion and aluminum section to produce new high-tech glass facades, resulting in substantial savings.
- Using recycled steel leads to major savings as it can be recycled repeatedly without degradation and loss of quality.
- Fly ash bricks and AAC blocks reduce the weight of structure leading to economical designs.
- Use of GFRP glass fibers reinforced bars made from recycled plastic make the structure light and enhance the life span of building.
- Recycling waste water on the construction site and use of curing compounds means that Builders spend less on water charges and spared from overpriced private water suppliers.
Such practices are illustrative of the remarkable dual benefits of cost savings and green impact that Developers can avail by researching the intricacies of sustainable construction. Not just this, there are more advantages that Developers can pass on to the ends user, thereby not just strengthening their green building practices but also creating a satisfied client base that empowers their brand.
What Are The Added Advantages For The End User In Green Buildings?
- Energy Savings –
Efficient lighting fixtures and HVAC systems, insulation techniques, and other aspects incorporated in LEED certified, green buildings result in 25-30% less energy consumption that conventional ones.
These savings alone energy savings alone typically exceed any cost premiums associated with their design and construction within a reasonable payback period, as per WBGC.
- Lower Water Use –
Green Buildings, when planned efficiently can end up using 40% less water owing to measures mandated by green ratings like LEED like rainwater harvesting and efficient water fixtures.
- Reduced Maintenance Costs –
We saw that using construction materials that are recycled or sourced sustainably score high on durability, thus requiring less spending on their upkeep during the building’s lifecycle.
- Increased Asset Value –
Clients can be assured of an increased marketability of their properties in Green rated buildings as there is a definite link between such buildings commanding higher rent and princes in some markets as per WGBC.
Still Worried About Higher Investment Costs When Compared To Conventional Buildings?
Developers can take heart in the fact that there has been an overall reduction in design and construction costs world over with the supply chains for green materials having matured and the industry has become more skilled at delivering green buildings, as per a report by WGBC.
How Do You Actually Practice Sustainable Construction?
CQRA experts are at your service to handhold Developers and Construction Managers to achieve all their construction milestones while paying close attention to Quality, Safety and Environmental aspects. Contact CQRA now so that your next project can incorporate Sustainable Construction Practices successfully.
