The increase in sustainable construction practices is continuing to create a future where environmental responsibility and innovation go hand in hand. And while the global demand for building materials grows, so does the need for green building methods.
In this article, we’re taking a close look at the benefits of sustainable practices in construction and highlighting a few of the most effective green building techniques for modern construction.
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The Benefits of Sustainable Construction Practices
Sustainable construction practices are built on reducing inefficiencies and waste. More often than not, being more efficient correlates with creating more sustainable buildings. Here are some of the best benefits of using sustainable building methods:
Energy Efficiency
Perhaps the most powerful benefit of sustainable construction is energy efficiency. Not only will the building have to spend less money on heating and cooling but it will also lead to less environmental impacts in the future. Plus, the building’s value will drastically improve as a result of the extra attention to sustainability, which is a thorough component of modern building codes.
Reduced Resource Consumption
Sustainable building methods also reduce the amount of resources needed to complete a project. This is typically because they draw their materials from renewable and recycled materials, and because of this usage, there is less waste that is produced as a result.
Improved Health
A number of sustainable building techniques also create improved conditions within the building infrastructure and foster a healthier environment. This is typically a result of cleaner air and safer, non-toxic building materials that influence those within a building.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
Many sustainable construction materials can extend the life-span of a building, which thus reduces the long term costs associated with building renovations and repairs. In fact, as building codes continue to shift towards sustainability, relying on sustainable construction ensures that buildings need less modifications in the future.
11 Sustainable Construction Techniques
Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the benefits, let’s explore 11 of the most popular sustainable construction methods that are impacting the construction industry.
1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Building information modeling (BIM) is first on this list. It’s a practice that involves using software and in-depth planning to discover all the ways in which you can use sustainable building practices within the construction process.
2. Passive Solar Design
Passive solar design is another sustainable construction method that uses solar powered energy to regulate building temperature. To do this, construction teams orient the building properly—that is, how the windows are placed—so that the materials become better insulators. The result is a more energy efficient building that also lowers construction costs.
3. Solar Panels
Solar has become popular over the last several decades, and they’re still one of the best sustainable construction methods.
Remember, solar power reduces the amount of energy that property owners use from traditional electricity sources, which reduces the amount of emissions that are created.
4. High-Performance Insulation
As mentioned earlier, energy efficiency is one of the best benefits of sustainable construction, and improved insulation is a major component to achieve these goals.
By using better insulation and relying on better insulation assembly (e.g. continuous insulation) buildings can significantly reduce that amount of air that leaks through building structures.
This quickly reduces energy costs.
5. Energy-Efficient Windows
Similar to insulation, energy-efficient windows are key to improving energy efficiency. Windows are obviously much less insulative than a wall with insulation inside, and large structures often have many windows, so making them as efficient as possible is critical. By selecting stronger, thicker windows, you can also improve the sustainability of a building over time.
6. Modular Construction
Modular construction, which involves using prefabricated materials to construct buildings, is another effective method of sustainable construction
Rather than shipping raw materials to the construction site and constructing them on-stie, modular construction focuses on pre-assembled construction components that are quickly and efficiently installed on-site, which reduces time and energy.
7. Green Roofing
Green roofing is a great sustainable construction technique, and it’s a beautiful way to make use of large roof space. The added vegetation can offer benefits to both the building and surrounding area, or even employees or guests who can visit the area.
Another benefit is that green roofing creates a powerful cooling effect that mitigate urban heat while providing additional insulation and stormwater management.
8. Natural Lighting
Earlier we mentioned using windows to improve sustainability, but using windows for natural lighting is another sustainable construction method to consider.
Instead of using electricity or lighting fixtures, you can reduce the amount of energy resources you rely on by installing windows in strategic and effective locations.
9. Natural Ventilation
Likewise, natural ventilation cuts down on ventilation equipment needs and the energy required to run them. In fact, many modern buildings are designed to use air conditioning systems in tandem with natural ventilation to reduce the energy required.
10. Lean Construction
One of the most modern sustainable construction practices is LEAN construction, which emphasizes using techniques like the BIM and modular construction to minimize waste generation and maximize efficiency throughout the entire building process.
But a huge component of LEAN construction involves using modular temporary wall systems, which we’ll talk about next.
11. Temporary Construction
Traditionally, builders used temporary wall systems built from studs and drywall to contain dust and debris generated by construction activity. While effective, constructing walls with studs and drywall is not sustainable. The resources have to first be cut-to-fit, installed, torn down, when, and then removed as waste.
This is why one of our favorite sustainable construction practices—and one that LEAN construction uses most—is modern temporary wall systems.
These temporary walls are made of prefabricated panels that install easily—up to 5x faster than traditional stud and drywall methods. Not to mention, they are reusable, which means they can be used across different projects and in multiple stages.
Modern Modular Temporary Wall Systems for Sustainable Construction
The go-to temporary wall system is Swiftwall® Pro, which is extremely durable and lightweight, so much so that it can be installed by a lone employee and features an STC21 sound rating.
The system panels feature a non-hygroscopic ABS, textured finish on both sides of the wall for an elegant, finished appearance—perfect for use during renovation projects where commercial activity must continue alongside construction. Swiftwall® Pro can be reused over 20 times and is itself a sustainable product, ready to be recycled when its life cycle completes.
For a modular temporary wall system that features an adjustable height system, Swiftwall® offers Swiftwall® Flex. This system carries all of the benefits of Swiftwall® Pro and can even be used in sterile settings, capable of meeting ICRA Class V conditions.
For the toughest of builds, Swiftwall® Max answers the call. This temporary wall system features non-porous, non-combustible, weather resistant marine aluminum panels that are extremely durable yet surprisingly lightweight, installing 3x faster than traditional stud and drywall systems. Great for high-traffic areas, the system is engineered for load-bearing applications, including wind and seismic applications.
Such temporary wall systems encapsulate the benefits of sustainable construction, where modern materials and engineering not only create sustainable solutions, but ones that improve on the methods of old and increase efficiency.
Find the Best in Modular Temporary Walls for Sustainable Construction with Swiftwall®
Swiftwall®® enjoys contributing to sustainable construction practices and currently makes the best modern temporary wall systems to meet our customers needs and then some.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can use Swiftwall®® to make your construction more sustainable, reach out to our experts today and we’ll be happy to further explore our products to see which temporary wall systems would be right for you and your team.
