It’s no secret that the construction industry has an adverse impact on the environment.
According to some recent researches, the construction sector contributes to –
· 23% of Air Pollution
· 50% of Climate Change
· 40% of Water Pollution
· 40% of Worldwide Energy Usage, and
· 50% of Landfill Waste.
With the rapid growth in the construction sector, the CO2 emission by Commercial buildings is expected to rise by 1.8% by 2030.
The combustion of fossil fuels generating carbon dioxide in a huge quantity can pollute the environment and make it difficult for people to breathe in the fresh air.
Studies show that there are 3 major areas where we get the most carbon pollution –
Vehicles that we drive
the building that we live in
And the electricity that keeps us going.
Understanding how we can stop the CO2 emissions while all these factors are supported by each other is important to keep the future pollution-free.
Let’s Start with Understanding the Carbon Footprint of a Building
The carbon footprint of a building is the amount of CO2 produced during its construction activities and operations. The carbon footprint affects new construction as well as the existing ones.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States, residential and commercial buildings account for 40 percent of energy consumption.
There are a lot of contributors that increase the value of building’s carbon footprint –
Electricity Supply – Use of Solar Renewable Energy can reduce CO2 emission.
Water Supply – Stop the use of Fossil Fuels to pumping to the building.
As a result of this realization, it’s very much important to find smarter ways to protect the environment.
Fortunately, the efforts and changes to protect the environment against the negative impacts of the construction sector will also help in improving the quality of materials used for building constructions.
Henceforth, the construction firms will have significant benefits from this.
3 Ways to Fix Environment Damage through Building Constructions
Here’s a look at some of the most effective ways through which the construction companies can help save the environment while benefiting themselves in the long run.
1. Eco-Friendly Designs of Commercial Buildings
During the design planning phase of any construction project, companies do have choices to go eco-friendly and plan accordingly.
For example – They can go with the recycles or natural building materials that induce less amount of CO2 gas during the manufacturing process.
In fact, the architects and designers must also choose the durability of a building or structure over others to uphold the environment.
Considering a futuristic approach, they must transform themselves from enablers of a carbon hungry industry to innovators who can design low embodied carbon buildings that protect the environment.
The use of renewable energy sources like solar panels, smart appliances and HVAC systems, and strategic window placement could be promoted to maximize the use of natural light.
2. Green Construction Practices
Once done with the designing process, there comes the time to unleash new opportunities
for sustainable constructions.
Starting with the noise pollution could be the best move. As people living near the construction sites feel a lot of noise coming through the machines and construction practices being used at the site.
To eliminate this pattern, companies can opt for noise-free equipment or fuel-efficient models. They can also go with recycling or reusing the waste materials for filling local landfills.
3. Long-Lasting Building Functioning
Adding operational efficiency to the buildings’ lifetime can reduce the negative impacts on the environment to a greater extent.
To promote this approach, companies can conduct some knowledge transfer sessions to educate the building occupants and facilities management staff on eco-friendly policies.
The better the approach, the better would be the execution.
Other than these ways, reducing the carbon footprint is an equally important step to refresh the design process. Though, it requires a hard look at the architectural design process and a reconvening of design principles that were once integral to this profession.
By strategically following the above ways, we can reduce the emissions of CO2 and protect our environment with major climate changes.
How does Qi Square help to Reduce the Impact of Carbon Footprints?
At Qi Square, we understand the impact buildings have on our environment and thus, we are committed to working on reducing the carbon footprint from all our projects. We start by conducting our signature 'Virtual Energy Audit', which is the most important assessment in boosting the building’s carbon footprint.
Our team is pertinaciously working towards bringing a revolutionary environmental change with every project we deal in. Our recently launched 'BtrLyf.com' platform helps anyone do virtual audits through open data access and also connect to sustainable building solutions/experts.
For your specific questions about how to reduce the carbon footprint of your project and how a building’s carbon footprint impacts the environment, connect with us. Our experts will guide you through it with suggestions that you could implement.