Green Technology Construction: Types and Benefits of Sustainable Construction

Green buildings witnessed a 10% or greater increase in asset value in the United States. Client demands and healthier buildings are two primary reasons for the increase in green technology construction across the country.  

Being a result-oriented business owner, it’s a great opportunity for you to adapt to green construction practices and technology. 

But what are the basics of green construction? What benefits can you avail from a construction business?

Here, we will cover all about green technology construction in this article.. 

So, without further ado, let’s find out.

Definition: Green Construction Technology

Green building technology uses advanced technologies to develop buildings with minimal impact on the environment in all the lifecycle stages: from design, construction, operation, maintenance, and renovation, to demolition.

According to the USGBC, “While there are different definitions of green building, it is accepted as the design, planning, construction, and operations of buildings. 

But with different central, foremost considerations like energy consumption and water use, natural air conditioning, indoor environmental (HVAC) quality, material section and the building’s effects on its site.”

Using green technology in construction is linked with software, items, or methods used for constructing green buildings. It can have a lower-than-average impact on the planet.

Green construction focuses on reducing water, energy, and materials after the building is built. It also uses smart energy-saving technology to build zero-energy homes with fewer greenhouse gases impacting the environment.

Using aggressive estimations, you can also use the lean construction method to reduce waste on a construction site. It can save money and reduce the project’s environmental impact. 

Multiple holistic methods can be used in green construction to reduce construction projects’ carbon footprint. Being a construction business owner, you should focus on sustainable construction technology that can be cost-effective and durable to be worth investing in.

For example, the fuel used to deliver all items and employees to construction sites and between sites daily isn’t low or cheap. Integrating technology like a route planner to minimize fuel consumption and have positive environmental benefits can help you take a greener construction initiative.

What are the Different Types of Green Building Technologies?

Green building technology involves analyzing different aspects of the construction process and improving its impact on the environment with sustainable and eco-friendly means. 

Multiple green building technologies are used to ensure sustainable building structures. We have compiled a list of prominent green building technologies for your construction business. 

1. Net zero concepts

Net zero or zero energy green buildings are built to operate independently of the standard electric grid. 

They can produce their power using renewable energy sources. Also, “zero” refers to both energy consumption and carbon emissions. Such buildings consume zero net energy annually and do not produce carbon emissions. They rely on renewable energy supplies like wind or solar power.

2. Low-emitting materials

Selecting green building materials to improve the overall environment and your client’s health can improve your green construction results. You can achieve green building credits from Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment.

Low-emitting materials credit applies to different products like:

• Interior paints and coatings 
• Flooring
• Composite wood
• Ceilings
• Walls
• Interior adhesives and sealants
• Thermal and acoustic insulation

The credits also apply to commercial and residential furnishings. Using eco-friendly low emitting material in your construction process can deliver good indoor air quality to help people with environmental sensitivities.

3. Solar power

Solar power is one of the most effective sustainable green building technologies used in the construction industry. In green construction, it is being utilized in two ways:

Active solar power 

The system uses functional solar systems that absorb direct sun’s radiation and provide heating and electricity provision. It also helps in minimizing the need for gas or electricity. But the upfront installation costs are higher.

In the long run, the solar system saves your clients’ energy bills and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

Passive solar power 

The system design uses the sun’s rays to warm homes with the help of strategic placement of windows and heat-absorbing surfaces. 

The windows allow solar energy in and the heat absorbed minimizes the need for keeping the house warm during the cold winter months.

4. Green insulation

Energy-efficient heating keeps a building warm if sufficient thermal insulation keeps the heat inside. 

Also, insulation is one of the greatest concerns for the construction of buildings and homes. But many construction business owners don’t understand that the insulators are simply wall filters that don’t demand expensive and highly finished materials.

Before choosing the best insulating materials for your construction projects, you should consider some prerequisites.

• Sensible fire-proof
• Non-absorption of moisture
• Degree of insulation requirement
• Costing of the insulating material

Using green insulation is an effective, sustainable construction technology to eliminate the need for high-end finishes.

5. Smart appliances

As homes and commercial buildings consume a lot of energy, using smart appliances for green building construction is becoming important.

SmartGrid refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines are a few smart appliance technologies. 

These green technologies appliances can help you provide your clients with an improved experience and eco-friendly structures.

Do We Really Need Green Building Technologies?

Over 332.18 million people live in the United States, and the increase in numbers boosts the demand for energy consumption and living space. It can cause more non-renewable energy usage and increase harmful environmental impacts.

Being a construction business owner, you can adapt to green building technologies to offer futuristic and eco-friendly solutions to your clients.

Green building construction is the best solution to unsustainable growth expected in the country and construction industry. 

So, transform your construction business toward:

• Protecting client’s health
• Improving employee productivity
• Lower carbon footprint
• Reducing the overall impact on the environment
• Better indoor air
• Conserving and reducing the use of water, energy, and other fast-depleting resources

Green building technology can also help you improve your construction business image and enhance the existing construction business ecosystem.

But, before you use green technology construction, understand the green building construction cost.

How Much Does Green Building Construction Cost?

Green buildings are expensive to construct, design, and maintain. Most green technology is highly priced, so using environmental construction methods has a higher cost. 

Sustainable raw materials and design time are the two causes for the increased construction cost of green building construction. 

But, there are a lot of misconceptions about pricing among different construction business owners that restrict them from transitioning from traditional to green construction practices.

Data shows over 60% of people believe that the cost of green building processes and practices is higher than a conventional building. But, a study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development highlights that the cost of installing green building technologies and features is overestimated.

The research participants perceived the upfront cost of a green building to be 17% higher than the original cost of a traditional building. 

But the US Green Building Council states the initial cost of a green building is 2–3% higher than its non-green buildings.

The overall value is approximately $3.00-$5.00 per square foot, which doesn’t seem to be extremely expensive as conventional buildings.

Now, let’s look at its benefits for your construction business.

Benefits of Green Technology Construction

Green construction technology can give you a competitive edge. It reduces your impact on the world and improves the life of the building you constructed. Here are other benefits of adapting to green building construction practices.

1. Improves business positioning

Once you adapt to a greener and eco-friendly construction approach, apply for different certifications to strengthen your credibility.

Constructing LEED-certified buildings highlights your business’s passion and commitment to sustainability. It can improve your brand’s positioning and help you attract more eco-friendly clients.

Over 80 million tons of waste are eliminated from the waste process because of LEED-certified projects. Once you receive gold-level certifications for your buildings, they’ll generate 34% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

You must meet specific requirements while constructing a building to meet the LEED requirements.

2. Delivers long-term sustainable results

Green construction projects use longer-lasting, sustainable materials like stone, metal, and brick. It increases the durability of the structures.

Apart from extending the life of the building, you can reduce maintenance needs and lower costs in the long run. 

Using sustainably harvested wood and biodegradable material helps reduce the structure’s carbon footprint.

It can help you improve the quality of your construction results, increase client satisfaction, and strengthen your position in the industry.

3. Outshines competitors

Going green can be a differentiator for your construction company. More clients and owners will care about the green construction initiatives you bring to the table.

With the rise in the value of green building, customer demand, and industry efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, you can be at the forefront of a new green drive.

Using green construction methods can help you stand out through the innovation shown in the construction and design of eco-friendly buildings.

4. Makes your project future-ready

Using green construction methods and technology to build structures can help to improve the life of the future resident in multiple ways. 

For example, using bamboo or cork, green flooring minimizes the environmental footprint and leaves home less toxic because of a lack of artificial fibers and chemicals. 

Green construction methods create a high air quality space for people working and living in the building.

5. Minimizes the harmful environmental impacts

Green construction methods use lesser materials and energy. It also contributes less waste to landfills to create zero-energy buildings. 

You can reduce the environmental impact by adapting to lean construction, which is the idea of reducing waste on a construction site. 

During lean construction, you eliminate up to 5% of waste from 10–-15% of waste generated in the traditional construction process.

The material reuse and recycling with more accurate estimating can improve the quality and sustainability of your green construction initiative.

Also, during material and workforce transportation to the construction site, you can minimize fuel use and avoid harmful carbon emissions.

Integrating software like Upper Route Planner can help you implement green technology.

Upper Route Planner is an excellent way to minimize miles driven and reduce the fuel consumed by your vehicle. 

Let Upper Help You Move Toward Sustainability

Upper Route Planner is an advanced route planning software to help you schedule your green construction material deliveries within a few clicks.

You can automate the delivery process with its unique features and find fuel-efficient routes. With lower fuel consumption, you can minimize the carbon footprint of your delivery vehicle and adapt to more sustainable construction business processes.

It can also streamline your last-mile delivery processes and minimize the route planning time by 95% to improve your business schedule, efficiency, and profit.

Irrespective of the construction business scale, Upper Route Planner can assist you in bypassing the complexities of delivering your workforce and material.

So, what’s making you wait? Get a free 7-day trial to improve your construction business efficiency and adapt to clean work processes. 

Takeaways

Green construction initiatives are rising across the country, and businesses are adapting to different strategies and processes for sustainable future development.

It can help you reduce the environmental harm done in the traditional construction process, transform your brand’s image and help you stand out from other construction companies.

Apart from using different green technologies and strategies, you can take advantage of route planners like Upper to minimize fuel usage and the carbon footprint in construction material deliveries.

Access the free 7-day trial and transform your green construction incentive.