The construction industry is booming worldwide in lieu of the rising population, with more and more need for housing.
However, this rising need for housing is also an alarming factor for the environmental conservation and sustainability of resources.
Construction has a significantly consequential impact on the environment. Given that most urbanization is done on barren land cleared after deforestation, carbon emissions have drastically increased in the past decades, a fact which cannot be ignored.
To ensure the sustainability of coming developments and conserve the environment for future generations, a few elements have been incorporated into construction to make buildings sustainable. These are a total of 7 elements, each an important feature that assists in sustainable construction.
All these elements must be considered from the early stages of the development of any building.
Understanding Sustainability in Construction
Sustainability refers to reusing and recycling materials to reduce overall resource consumption. When building new structures, materials are used in masses, resulting in the use and waste of more resources.
Sustainability in construction is a goal to reduce the industry’s overall impact on the environment. It is important to note that sustainability cannot be implied on buildings when the development is complete. Similarly, it does not end upon its completion. For example, there are several houses for sale in DHA Phase 8, Karachi, perfect for people looking for sustainable residence in Pakistan.
Instead, it means that all the elements incorporated in a sustainable building should have a positive influence on the building’s environmental impact.
The 7 Elements of Sustainable Buildings
To make buildings sustainable, there is a set of elements that are to be followed. These features are excellent in their contribution towards building a greener and more environmentally friendly landscape and reducing overall carbon footprint.
- Sustainable Design
- Indoor Air Quality
- Conservation of Water
- Sustainable Building Materials
- Energy Efficiency
- Waste Reduction
- Durability
1. Sustainable Design
Mindful planning and design is a crucial aspect of any building design, especially for sustainable buildings. This is because building design directly impact energy consumption and pollution.
The earlier you incorporate sustainable designs and construction practices in your blueprint, the better results you’ll get in the form of a sustainable building.
Not only this, but by keeping track of the design, you can experience the long-lasting performance of the building and keep it intact without harming the environment for decades to come.
2. Indoor Air Quality
Ventilation of fresh air in your house is as important as cleanliness, without which the environment within can become polluted. Whilst designing sustainable buildings, it is important to carefully consider quality ventilation for air to pass through.
Fresh air helps reduce the effect of high temperature as well as brings down the humidity levels – making the environment cleaner and more hygienic.
In case you want to improve air quality in your sustainable building design which is already underway to being completed, you can opt for heating systems that minimise particle exposure.
Other than this, you can also ensure an effective ventilation solution through extractor fans and windows. Combining these two will ensure great air quality and help in removing air pollutants.
3. Conservation of Water
Water is undeniably the most precious resource on Earth, and recent changes in climate and the impact of population growth have drastically impacted the supply of fresh water.
The growing scarcity of water has become an alarming situation for the construction industry as well since a large portion of water is used here.
One of the key elements of sustainable building designs is the need to manage water, and to work on sustainable practices to reuse water. For example, there are many houses for sale in Bahria Town Precinct 35, Karachi that come with proper water conservation systems.
Following are some steps you can follow to use water for the construction of sustainable buildings:
- Consistent tests to check for any leaks
- Prompt repairs in case of leak detection
- To reduce the flow of water in toilets, showers and kitchens, you can incorporate the use of pressure-reducing valves for your building
- Don’t compromise on the quality of pipes. Durable pipes help minimise leakage
- Monitor water consumption in different areas with sub-meter
4. Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable building materials or natural building materials are an excellent resource to make your buildings sustainable.
These materials are naturally found and have no direct impact on the environment. Moreover, these do not use any other resources for their manufacturing.
In addition to saving money, sustainable materials help you in contributing to save the environment.
Following are some of the popular natural materials:
- Replacing Steel with Timber
- Using Concrete reinforced with Natural Fibres
- Geo-Textiles, manufactured from Crops
- Straw Bales
5. Energy Efficiency
By increasing energy efficiency, less fuel is consumed, resulting in lesser costs. This simultaneously reduces CO2 emission, adding its part to reducing the impact of global warming.
To make your building sustainable, there are some energy-efficient practices that you can imply. These have been listed below.
Energy-Efficient Technology:
Thanks to modern advancements in technology, eco-friendly technology helps conserve energy from sources scuh as lighting, heat, etc. This is especially helpful for appliances that use a lot of electricity like air conditioners and refrigerators.
Energy-Efficient Materials:
Examples of energy-efficient building materials include insulating concrete forms, low-emissivity windows, insulated panels, etc.
Energy Efficient Building Methods: Insulation, Quality of Air, Heating and Cooling System.
6. Waste Reduction
If you’re planning to make your building sustainable, then using low-impact materials is the key to waste reduction. These materials will help you in reusing and recycling materials for your building construction.
7. Durability
Planning and executing the construction of sustainable buildings has many positive environmental and economic advantages.
Using durable materials means there is no need to replace or repair the building as frequently since these materials require fewer maintenance.
These key elements of sustainable buildings can significantly benefit in creating an immense impact on the environment, leading to multiple positive outcomes.