Essentials For Making a Construction Project More Sustainable

Julie Starr • November 29, 2021



Whether you are someone planning on self-build, to someone who works in the construction industry, it is time to make sure that there is an element of sustainability to your project, whether this is by design, the material choice, insulation, and taking steps to reduce the costs of running the home or building once constructed. When you do this, you will have a much-improved home that is durable and long-lasting. 

Many people that self-build or work in construction want to create buildings that can still be there long after they have gone. So what are the things that you can do to make sure that you are building a home or other building that is sustainable and will be more eco-friendly and efficient to run and live in?

Use plenty of insulation

There are many buildings that are simply not built with enough insulation. This can be in the roof, the floor, and in the walls, and goes a long way to reducing how much it will cost to heat the building. The more heat that a building can keep in, the more efficient that it will be to use. You can see the protests that have been going on in the UK around home insulation , as it can be an important tool to help when it comes to global warming as we won’t have to be constantly heating our homes. This isn’t an area to scrimp on, so definitely include it in the planning.

Use renewable technologies once your design is complete

By using eco-friendly builders, they will know some of the technologies that can make a difference and that could help you to choose the right options for the home or building that you are creating. Not only should you think about renewable materials and products that are going to help the building to be more sustainable, such as a large water tank , but also use renewable technologies. Some of the most popular are solar panels, thermal panels, and things such as biomass boilers. You could also think about renewable options like sewage treatment and being able to harvest rainwater.

Make the most of the building’s thermal mass

Materials in construction like concrete and brick do create a thermal mass. This is what can absorb the heat or warmth from the sun, as well as other sources of heat when it is warm, and then ‘release’ them when it is cooler. This can help when it comes to creating a building with a good temperature but is also a sustainable feature of buildings. Many building products that are usually made from insulation materials will help to enhance the thermal mass of the building, which means the building itself can keep the temperature steady in the building. This, along with enough insulation, can help to reduce how much energy is used, making it a much more sustainable building or home.

All of these things, when they are combined with methodology around construction, can help to make sure that performance, comfort, and quality are all delivered on a building project with a focus on sustainability. 

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