3 Useful Tips for Eco-Friendly Construction
Regardless of the scale of your construction project, it’s important to adopt environmentally safe practices. By using eco-friendly construction methods, you can meet your needs without undermining the environment for others.
Here are some tips for eco-friendly construction:
#1 Use Sustainable Building Materials
Use biodegradable or recyclable materials for construction to reduce your environmental footprint. While recycled glass, wood, and plastic can be as reliable as their regular counterparts, they have lower energy and pollution costs. However, such material can be expensive.
You can reduce your ecological impact on a budget with certain traditional materials like concrete that have recycled versions. Recycled concrete can be as strong as regular concrete, is sustainable, and is also affordable. A recycled version of the concrete was even used in the construction of the One World Trade Center in New York.
#2 Work with Eco-Friendly Contractors
Consider working with a company that believes in sustainability to lower your impact on the environment. Learn more today about how the biggest concrete cutting and coring contractor in Western Canada has adopted industry-leading eco-friendly practices to make the world a better place. The impact of this is huge because this family-owned and operated business serves countless residential and commercial customers. Their projects range from basement windows and driveways to bridge repairs to airport runway construction.
One of the ways they make the environment safer is by recycling slurry. This harmful mixture of water and concrete solids is a by-product of concrete cutting and coring. If disposed of through drains, it can create water blockages. Moreover, if it reaches lakes, rivers, or oceans, it can harm marine life.
Environmentally conscious companies recycle slurry by dehydrating it down to manageable dust, before compressing it into recyclable blocks.
Always work with a reputable contractor for your concrete needs. This way, you’ll ensure that your finished project lasts decades, reducing the need for energy-intensive renovation. Moreover, many professionals use the latest equipment, which is usually energy efficient, as well as biodegradable materials.
#3 Design Smartly
With just a few small, clever, and inexpensive steps, you can reduce your environmental impact and your energy bills. Take advantage of technological advancements such as energy-efficient light bulbs, appliances, and smart home technology to lower your energy costs further.
Also, when constructing a house, try to have your windows strategically placed to take advantage of the direction of the breeze. This will reduce the need to use expensive air-conditioning in the summer.
If renovating, use energy-efficient windows to minimize heat loss for further energy savings.
Some contractors offer Sliding Egress Windows for basements and galvanized window wells.
The environmental benefits of energy-efficient windows are many.
- For one, they improve the flow of natural light into the basement, reducing energy costs.
- They also ventilate well, reducing the need for air-conditioning.
- Basements tend to suffer from extreme temperatures. However, these windows keep basements warm in the winter by preventing heat from escaping and cool in the summer by preventing heat from entering.
These are a few ways to reduce the environmental impact of your construction project. If you partner with an experienced, skilled, reputable, and environmentally friendly contractor, you’re likely to have even more sustainable options.
