On Jan. 7, New York presented a bill that shook textile manufacturing companies. The Assembly Bill requires production professionals to report at least half of their environmental impacts from raw materials and distribution. Many people immediately recognized the implications outside of the fashion industry.
The law may also impact construction by tracking materials and their contributions to climate change. Various ecological regulations fail to target builders specifically, but researchers expect them to be the next area of focus. The current environmental regulations are also pushing construction professionals to prepare for green building practices.
Environmental Regulations
There are a couple of key sustainability laws impacting the construction industry. Environmentalists initiated the Clean Water Act in 1948 to control pollution levels. Today, the law defines wastewater quality standards that prevent contaminants from reaching natural water sources.
The act directly impacts builders because many construction materials contain toxins that pollute local water sources. Oil, paint, wastewater, concrete washout and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can pollute streams, lakes and the ocean through runoff. Contaminants that reach natural water supplies harm marine species and habitats.
Another law affecting the construction industry is the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency developed it in the ‘70s to target local air pollution and emissions. The law regulates the number of greenhouse gas emissions refineries and energy producers may produce.
The Clean Air Act directly impacts builders by limiting their access to fossil fuel energy sources. It also increases electricity and fuel prices, which affects construction project fees. Builders can adopt sustainable practices to abide by sustainability regulations.
Sustainable Materials
One way builders are reducing their surface-level and atmospheric pollution is by using sustainable materials. Environmental scientists developed low- and non-VOC paints and sealants to target air pollution. When VOCs pollute the environment, they create ground-level ozone.
Ground-level ozone raises local temperatures by producing concentrated greenhouse effects. It also adversely impacts individuals’ health by causing bronchitis, asthma attacks and lung diseases. Sustainable paints and sealants reduce harm to environmental and human health.
Builders are also replacing traditional wood flooring materials with natural rubber. Manufacturers that extract the rubber from Hevea trees leave the plant intact. Vegetation continues to grow after the extraction process, which protects natural habitats and natural atmospheric conservation.
Decreasing the construction industry’s reliance on wood is essential to reducing atmospheric carbon emissions. Trees absorb and filter emissions on Earth’s surface. One tree can collect and process around 48 pounds of carbon annually, which minimizes climate change.
Vegetation also absorbs and filters runoff. Builders that reduce their reliance on wood decrease the effects of water pollution on marine life.
Electric Heavy Machines
Caterpillar manufactures most construction equipment and is creating sustainable heavy machines. The company unveiled its electric excavator model in 2019, which contains a 300-kilowatt-hour battery to support long-term use.
Electric machines create zero tailpipe emissions, unlike diesel-reliant equipment. Individuals can also power their excavators with renewable energy to additionally lower air pollution.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Construction professionals can minimize long-term pollution by installing energy-efficient systems. Many builders use smart thermostats to reduce electricity loss and emissions. The appliance connects to conventional heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
It uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to access weather predictions in real-time. The smart system recognizes similarities between outdoor and indoor temperatures and adjusts HVAC run times to reduce energy loss. Smart thermostats also connect to motion detection sensors that divide buildings into different zones.
Another sustainable system reducing pollution and resource exploitation is smart sprinklers. The technology accesses weather predictions using a Wi-Fi connection. It decreases the frequency of watering when it recognizes high-precipitation seasons.
Smart sprinklers reduce overwatering, which prevents runoff. Regulating watering cycles also decreases freshwater exploitation.
The Benefits and Challenges of Adopting Sustainable Building Practices
Various benefits and challenges of green construction influence its impact on the industry. One limitation preventing the sector’s expansion is its steep upfront costs. Transitioning away from pollution-producing building materials and equipment is expensive, but it also helps builders save money on future projects.
The transition additionally helps construction professionals meet eco-consumers’ needs and expand their business opportunities. Researchers discovered that about 35% of customers choose to purchase sustainable goods and services over ecologically harmful alternatives. Builders can gain a leg up on their competitors by appealing to sustainability-focused clients.
Sustainable building practices also set construction companies up for the industry-specific regulations to come. Professionals predict that the government will begin establishing construction sustainability bills modeled after those governing the fashion industry.
How People Can Support Green Construction
Individuals may influence the market by hiring sustainable contractors over non-LEED certified builders. They can also ask their construction professionals about their access to low-impact materials and hire a professional to install smart systems in their homes.
Consumers can promote air and water conservation by supporting eco-friendly builders.
