How Technology is Shaping Sustainable Construction

The construction industry has evolved exponentially over the last decade, with much more of a push for businesses, particularly larger ones, to focus on green construction and building a more sustainable future. Advancements in technology have helped to contribute significantly to this significantly, changing traditional practices to both become more environmentally friendly and also more efficient and productive. We’re here to talk about some of the main ways this has become possible, along with the technology that’s gotten it there.

Optimising Energy Through Solar

Something that has helped green construction evolve so significantly is solar energy. The use of solar panel systems on everything from generators to vehicles within construction is becoming more prevalent, helping to cut costs and make the industry more eco-friendly. Many businesses are still reluctant to switch over from traditional diesel machinery, despite how much worse it is for the environment, over efficiency concerns.

However, with increased pressure from all directions to make construction more sustainable, particularly for larger companies, looking to implement solar technology across projects wherever possible will likely be pushed as more of a focus. Some businesses are moving in a positive direction, for example by having electric vehicles, but then will still utilise diesel generators and machinery across the rest of the project.

Automated Solutions

Something else that is helping to make construction more sustainable is automated solutions. Automated solutions come in different forms, with the first being improved planning software for construction projects. Not only does this help to make projects more efficient and cost-effective, but it also helps to reduce the amount of wasted material, which is obviously positive for the environment. Streamlining project timelines and reducing human error are key, largely to reduce the likelihood of projects needing to be restarted.

Another form of automated solution is the use of robotics within the construction industry, again helping to reduce human error and improve efficiency. They can be used in all sorts of different ways depending on the size of the business and the budget; however, often the tasks will involve things like material handling, bricklaying and welding. The improved accuracy of the work again leads to less wasted materials and also time.

One other example of an automated solution is drones. From site analysis to planning, resolving potential issues and finalising designs, drones can generally reduce the need for transportation, especially on large projects, to reduce the carbon footprint of projects. Drones also provide a non-intrusive way to assess the impact on surrounding areas to prevent damage to wildlife and the local environment.

Sustainable Building Materials

Another significant focus for the industry in terms of sustainability has been the focus on sustainable building materials. From recycled steel to reclaimed wood, ashcrete to hempcrete, bendable concrete to bamboo, rather than focusing on traditional materials, more time and effort is being put into researching sustainable building materials. The extent to which these materials are being implemented is mixed, as in many cases for larger projects, it’s much more cost-effective to buy the traditional materials.

For construction businesses that are focused on sustainability specifically, these building materials are transforming the way that these companies can function and the impact they’re having on the environment. Again, as more pressure is pushed onto companies to become more sustainable, a shift should occur.

Another example of sustainable building materials that is heavily driven by technological advancements is 3D printing. 3D printing is more sustainable as it naturally involves less energy and material waste, so it has become a priority in terms of development in the world of sustainability. 3D printing is now being used to build a range of materials, most commonly concrete or mortar, although there is also now more recycled plastic, mud or even rice being used to create building materials. This is a relatively small range of materials, however, it’s absolutely a step in the right direction. Considering 3D printing has only been used in the last 10 years at all, the fact that houses are now being built using this technology is pretty incredible, and looking at what could happen over the next 10 years from a sustainability perspective is exciting.

Leveraging Real-Time Data

Lastly, real-time data is really important for sustainable construction. With improved data on energy consumption, air quality, water usage and material excess, any potential sustainability issues can be quickly identified and addressed to reduce the overall impact of the project. This also has overall efficiency benefits, for example with improved real-time data in terms of error codes on plant hire machinery like roller hire, the downtime on projects is reduced, which has a knock-on effect in many other areas. When you have more comprehensive data in general, you’re able to manage everything more effectively, make adjustments and improve the sustainability of your construction practices.