Global warming and a growing energy crisis have many would-be homeowners and building operators demanding greener construction practices and completed structures that are more energy efficient. Although the initial costs are higher than with traditional construction habits, using higher standards not only help protect the environment, they also have the ability to save money in the long term.
Construction is going green in multiple areas, including building materials, energy usage and construction equipment and in innovative ways that not only prevent harm to the environment, but also help reverse it.
Materials
One of the most common and effective ways of implementing environmentally friendly practices into construction is by using green products like recovered barn wood that has been repurposed to build beautiful, rustic wood floors. Home and business owners who prefer new materials, however, often use renewable and local sources, such as wood and plant fibers. Bamboo, for example, is a very green building material because it regenerates itself in a relatively short period of time. Carpets, on the other hand, are on the do not use list, as they are often high in volatile organic compounds.
Energy Efficiency
Implementing clean energy practices is another way construction is going green. One building and home at a time, carbon footprints are shrinking with energy-efficient appliances, water conservation systems, waste decomposition systems and innovative power sources. For example, supplementing the power system in a new home with rooftop solar panels can save up to 50 percent or more in monthly energy costs and usage.
Equipment
One of the most commonly overlooked ways of making construction more environmentally friendly is by using green construction equipment. The reason for this is because several construction equipment manufacturing companies have fallen behind in creating low emission, energy-efficient equipment. Volvo, however, has been setting a new standard in green construction by providing contractors with the option to purchase high pressure diesel injectors and optimized air management systems that reduce nitrogen oxide and NMHC emissions by 38 percent. Furthermore, Volvo makes it possible to purchase biodegradable hydraulic fluids, rather than traditional hydraulic fluids that can inflict significant harm to the environment if spilled.
Innovation
As green construction becomes more prevalent across the U.S. and around the world, some construction companies and imaginative building owners are using innovative new ways of building new structures. They are taking green construction a step further by focusing on restoration to the environment that has suffered at the hands of unfair building practices in the past. Buildings of the future may follow in the footsteps of the Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy, which is a high rise towering more than 100 feet above the city that’s covered in plants and trees that will absorb carbon dioxide emissions and improve urban air quality. If these trends continue — and they will — buildings and homes of the future may work in harmony with nature rather than against it.
As companies and individuals begin looking toward the future and learning to value the natural environment, better methods of conservation and environmentally friendly construction methods will be created. Perhaps the dream of a technologically advanced world that interacts harmoniously with nature isn’t that far off.
About Thomas Stone
I swear I’ve been stopped at traffic lights like that one in the pic.
ha ha… well I’ve not been stopped at traffic lights quite like that yet Max but I have to pass through five sets of lights just to get round the roundabout near where I live. Its dreadful and means most of the time we are all in dead lock blocking each other off.(nightmare at rush hour) Do you think they do this on purpose to increase road rage and carbon emissions because that’s exactly what happens.
Fortunately by the way the traffic lights in the picture are a sculpture which has since been removed (sadly for some) from Canary Wharf London to make way for a new road with real multiple traffic lights on :-) http://londonist.com/2011/12/canary-wharf-traffic-light-sculpture-removed.php
What a fantastic sculpture and yes it is sad that they’ve removed it! Roundabouts are generally more complex than they should be and they seem to be adding more to our town here too. :( Thanks for sharing that article, Karen, and wish you best holding out on road rage on that commute home!
yeah whatever happened to first and second exit keep left and for all other exits keep right and indicate to merge over before your exit? it worked a treat and the rule wasn NO OVERTAKING on the left in case you cut someone off when they are merging to leave the roundabout. No lights just common sense and simplicity. All gone!
I love to hear about green technology and green building practices. I am not sure that I have seen any in practice yet as I still see housebuilders building brand new housing estates with traditional building materials. They dont seem to be publicising they have built with sustainable timber, … they have plastic upvc windows and they don’t publicise that these are built with recycled plastic, they certainly dont cover them with plants and they do not plant enough trees int he area.
It would be lovley to really the first green building firm to actually build a whole group of green homes… I mean proper green homes with green roofs and lush landscaping full of beautiful trees and buildig materials like bamboo, and timber windows and doors made from managed forests.
I have seen any green building estates myself to be honest with you Sue. And in Chester where I live it as barren as anything. New concrete hotels being built with tescos underneath them. They are destroying the soul of our city and many traditional shops will be closing down because of allowing mini supermarkets to tak over the town. There is absolutley no sign whatsoever of vertical green walls or gardens. It’s just a city… a stone and concrete city where wildlife isn’t really invited or welcome. I dont think our councillors even know that green walls or roofs exist. They just haven’t got a clue
The awareness of the natural enevironment, must be raised to a higher level. We need to think green. Every aspect of life should committed to improving the environment and green technology and building materials should be the norm to obtain and use nowadays.. Nice article.