46 | OCTOBER 2017
Business
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
WHY CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY-
FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION?
It is estimated that in the next 20 years we will reach our capacity when it comes to our global
consumption of oil. However, demand continually appears to rise as the global production of oil
decreases. Yet the construction industry still requires most of its energy sources from oil-based fuels.
Throughout the Western
world, the construction sector
is reliant upon cheap crude oils
that they can use within pro-
cesses that help to build in the
machines that they use. Surpris-
ingly, within the UK, 50% of all
carbon emissions produced by
machinery and production are
accounted for by the construction
industry.
Attitudes are, however, gradual-
ly starting to change, and aware-
ness regarding how pollution is
starting to impact our planet in
the long-term is being realised.
By passing legislation, the UK
government is now instructing
construction firms to use green
processes when construct-
ing a new house or building.
Post-construction, firms are also
encouraged to incorporate green
technologies within the build to
benefit the environment once
construction is complete.
in the US last
‘ year
alone,
estimated
revenues for
eco-friendly
construction
amounted to
$245 billion
’
The UK could be taking
advantage of this lucrative new
opportunity within construction,
as in the US last year alone, esti-
mated revenues for eco-friendly
construction amounted to $245
billion. Reconomy, providers of
waste management solutions for
recyclable materials and skips
for hire, takes us through how to
provide eco-efficient practices on
any construction site.
Techniques in eco-
friendly construction
If the design and construction
of a structure is to be ecological-
ly beneficial to the environment,
three things need to be considered
before construction begins:
1. Establish whether materials
have been locally sourced or if
they’re renewed; if they aren’t,
can they be recycled in the
future?
2. During construction, is any
energy being wasted? Ma-
chines can often be overused
during the production process,
which leads to expendable
energy that is wasted and can
never be used again. Electric
vehicles and machines with
hybrid-engines should be used
so that when a motor is being
overworked – an electric en-
gine can be engaged to cope
with the load.
3. Finally, once building the
structure is complete, is there
any energy generated within it
that is wasted?
Recycled paper can be utilised
as a form of insulation during and
after the construction of roofing.
Insulation materials are often
expensive. By using a cheaper
and practical alternative, the cost
of producing insulation for one
roof will be minimised drastically
by using already existing materi-
als. Furthermore, timbers sourced
from sustainably managed forests
in the local area can also be used.
As well as reclaimed wood, this is
an alternative to chopping down
trees that are used within con-
struction.
Ecological structures
and their design
Energy-efficient practices and
eco-friendly technologies can be
incorporated into a proposed
structure in many ways, and here
are some examples:
Green initiatives reduce the total
‘ running
costs of a building by one
• Solar energy panels. To gen-
erate electricity within a build-
ing, or domestically to power
boilers and other electrical
equipment, solar energy is fast
become a cheaper alternative
to other forms of domestic
power.
• Drainage systems and water
filtration. With these systems
in place, water can be re-used
when biological waste is treat-
ed safely, which can then be
recycled. Rainwater can also
be collected in specific drains
and storage taps, as opposed
to always relying on water
from a tap.
• Low-energy lighting. Ac-
counting for an energy saving
of 100%, low energy lighting
lasts twice as long as a regular
lightbulb.
third, which amounts to around
53.3% of a building’s running costs
’
Benefitting from eco-
friendly construction
Operating and maintaining a
building can account for 80% of
a building’s overall running costs
throughout the duration of its
lifetime. Green initiatives reduce
the total run