Ways to Make Commercial Buildings Sustainable

As the worldwide population grows, our environment becomes even more prone to destruction from different causes such as pollution and the abuse done to the earth by people. That's why some have developed the idea of sustainability, and you can apply it to almost everything, including the construction industry. Before we dive into this article, you first need to know that sustainability is commonly known as "green construction."

Whether you're constructing a home or a new office building, you may want to consider green construction. This modern environmentally-friendly method of designing your building can help you save a lot of money while also assisting in preserving the environment for the future generation. For most commercial buildings, sustainable strategies range from energy-saving to the holistic approach of addressing broader environmental issues such as water use, selection of durable materials, and careful waste management.

Through this blog, we're going to walk you through the concept of green construction and provide you with ways on how to make your commercial buildings sustainable.

What are sustainable practices?

Some construction contractors designed sustainable or green building practices for lowering the environmental footprint of development. The world's energy waste and overall energy use are also affected by buildings. Because of the increasing awareness and the importance of efforts to make things all around us greener, almost all construction companies and contractors are now employing more sustainable practices in their projects.

Sustainable practices are processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life cycle. It would mean that green building practices must be employed, and builders must use eco-friendly materials.

7 Essential Ways to Make Commercial Buildings Sustainable

1. Use Enough Insulation

You may not know this, but the more insulation you incorporate into your building's structural elements (such as the walls, roof, and floor), the more heat it will retain, and the more efficient the insulation will be in use. When choosing your building's insulation, don't forget to consider using insulation with excellent acoustic properties. You can't cut corners on this because this is one thing that you can't correct later on at a low price. It would be best if you carefully planned things out ahead of time. You can even ask a contractor to help you out with this. 

2. Airtightness

Did you know that fewer gaps in your building's structural envelope mean less heat lost to the outside world? Even the tiniest holes within your home or building can significantly cause issues within the inside. Having good airtightness maximizes the efficiency of the insulation and reduces your fuel bills. When it comes to ventilation, you can choose a passive design, mechanical, or both.

3. Take advantage of the building’s thermal mass

Using materials such as masonry, brick, and concrete in a building can create thermal mass which can absorb warmth from the sun's rays or other heat sources during the day. It then releases it into the home or building when the external temperatures drop, helping to maintain a comfortable environment inside. Natural insulation materials enhance the thermal mass and, if used correctly, can help significantly reduce energy consumption.

4. More natural light

You should reduce the need for artificial lighting in your office if you can. Maximize the amount of natural light in your commercial space through the excellent use of windows, roof lights, sun pipes, etc. The use of performance timber windows and triple glazing can help the building's overall thermal performance. Moreover, the 'solar gain' or heat captured through windows from the sun can be used to help heat a building and also combined with thermal mass to help reduce heating bills.

5. Use green and sustainable materials

There are many different ways of ensuring that the products and materials you use are as green as possible. The choice of natural materials becomes more important as the building becomes more energy-efficient and demands less power. Also, raw materials offer proven performance and are better for the environment.

6. Structural systems

As early as in the design process, you must already choose your structural system. All construction systems can be adapted to meet proper energy efficiency levels, but some contribute more to hit the highest standards. Some of the most popular methods are timber frame, insulated concrete framework (ICF), monolithic clay blocks, and bricks.

7. Renewable technologies

One golden rule is that you must design the building to do the work, and you match the building's energy needs to a certain level. You might lack the power to some areas of the building because of the lack of electrical current going into the building. You won't need to worry anymore because here are some of the popular renewable technologies are solar photo-voltaic panels, solar thermal panels, biomass boilers, and ground-source or air-source heat pumps, which you can rely on. Off-grid sewage treatment and rainwater harvesting are also renewable options.

All of us need to accept that the world is already succumbing to the different kinds of human-made pollutants. One method of combating pollution is because of construction contractors who are looking for ways to reduce contaminants in every building they construct. You can say that they're one of the many people trying to save the world from getting destroyed.

The Takeaway

Lastly, moving towards a greener environment is an excellent investment not only for your building but also for the future health of the environment and humanity's future. Green buildings help reduce the environmental impact, improve the health of those that reside in it, and reduce waste. Moreover, you will also be able to save money. Sustainable or green construction saves money and energy, minimizes waste, and is a step to ensure our environment's sustainability in the future.

Best Access Doors is a company that can assist in making your commercial building sustainable. With the use of our quality line of access doors and panels, you can expect our products to grant you several benefits that you'll enjoy. Visit https://bestaccessdoors.com/ and check out our LEED-certified access doors and panels to start your sustainable construction.