The construction industry takes one of the toughest tolls on the planet. Green building technologies can increase sustainability throughout all stages of the built environment, from procuring raw materials to demolishing decrepit structures.
Staying on top of what’s possible helps you make the best decisions when designing new buildings or renovating old ones. Fortunately, many eco-friendly innovations also save money, especially in the long term. Here’s a closer look at seven green building technologies transforming future construction and how you can use them in your next project.
1. Alternative Energy Sources
While alternative energy sources may still seem futuristic in the fossil fuel-dominant United States, they already supply 90% of the power needs in Iceland. Other countries have likewise done quite a bit to expand renewable energy use, such as geothermal, solar and wind power.
Geothermal power harnesses the constant temperatures inside the earth to maintain a pleasant indoor climate. In the winter, geothermal heat pumps take heat from the ground and bring it into the building. This process reverses in summer, taking hot air from above-ground rooms to store in underground reservoirs.
Solar panels have improved considerably in how much energy they absorb. The earliest devices only captured about 6% of what was available, compared to nearly 25% today, with that figure expected to top 30% before the decade ends. Batteries have also significantly increased in storage capacity while decreasing in price, making it more realistic to build fully functional operations off-grid.
Wind turbines have similarly evolved. Biomimetic blade technology that imitates the wingspans of eagles and albatrosses operates more efficiently at low wind speeds. Machine-learning algorithms predict weather models more accurately to enhance operational efficiency. Floating offshore wind technology can function in deep water, giving them access to some of the world’s strongest winds while minimizing land-use needs.
Floating technology opens doors for energy collection where previously none existed. According to Mark Miller, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State, the floor of the ocean can be thousands of feet deep, especially in places such as off the United States west coast, where high winds abound. Balancing a 200-meter-wide turbine on a 150-foot stem is no easy feat, especially when you must account for ocean currents. However, doing so opens new doors to energy harvesting.
2. Increasing Solar Applications
Solar technology has advanced far beyond improvements in panels and battery life. Manufacturers now integrate it into various appliances, making it possible for crews to create homesteads with partial on-grid/off-grid functionality while reducing overall emissions and fossil fuel use.
For example, solar-powered electronic locking devices secure gates and protect property while enhancing operator convenience. Residents and guests don’t need to exit their vehicles to operate the lock, which opens automatically to admit them upon entering the correct code or activating the sensor. Several models of solar-powered exterior lights now last long nights, making them ideal security enhancements.
Solar-powered blinds can provide a blackout environment indoors for screen viewing while absorbing a charge. Push a button to roll them up when you conclude your presentation. Floating fountains beautify outdoor landscaping with water features — no power cord necessary. Solar-powered well pumps keep residents hydrated and operate entire landscaping systems without burning fossil fuels.
3. Using AI and Tech to Streamline Processes
Even when crews employ sustainable practices, construction inevitably impacts the environment. However, artificial intelligence (AI) and technology can streamline processes, helping teams discern the most eco-friendly methods. Additionally, it can improve speed, which often decreases overall fossil fuel use, without sacrificing quality.
For example, hydro-evacuation is often the most efficient type of excavation because it removes soil faster than traditional methods while protecting underground utilities and infrastructure. However, air evacuation can sometimes be the better choice for certain soils, especially if crews plan to use the extracted soil as backfill. AI algorithms can analyze specific sites and recommend the best method to use, given the land’s unique topography and intended use.
Another crucial way AI assists in making construction processes more sustainable is in compiling estimates and material selection. Choosing the most eco-friendly materials can be a challenge as crews must consider multiple factors.
For example, teams must run a full cost-benefit analysis, including historical market fluctuations in price, as many building projects take months to complete. They must also determine the environmental and realistic costs of shipping materials long distances. For example, while hempcrete has risen in popularity, certain areas of the country have no manufacturing facilities, and transporting it over long distances raises prices and creates emissions.
You could write a small book on the many ways technology streamlines construction techniques. For example, drone surveillance improves site analysis, enabling crews to identify and build workarounds for potential issues. Automated machinery enhances precision and speed. AI-imaging can evaluate the quality of construction work, empowering crews to identify and address defects before proceeding to the next step, creating environmental and financial cost savings.
4. Cool, Green Roofs and Pavements
The built environment generates a lot of heat. Surfaces such as asphalt and concrete absorb a considerable amount, raising area temperatures and worsening urban heat islands. While green spaces absorb some of the excess, most metropolitan regions lack sufficient balance between the built environment and nature to remain sustainable, and temperatures keep rising. The effect is devastating, especially in places like Phoenix, AZ, where sidewalk temperatures commonly reach 152 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Two innovations can combat urban heat islands — green roofs and cool pavement. Cool pavements can drop surface temperatures as much as 16 degrees. They can merge with existing asphalt and concrete through coatings and grass pavings. These materials work by increasing albedo, or the amount of heat reflected from the surface and decreasing thermal emittance, or how much heat radiates from the surface after dark.
Green roofs provide new spaces for growing things in tightly packed urban locations. They also act as natural insulators, reducing building energy consumption. Such construction uses an underlayment to support a layer of earth suitable for growing things. Farm-to-table restaurants below can harvest much of their organic produce from such rooftop gardens. Workers can use them as a spot to relax and unwind and enjoy the productivity-boosting effects of nature.
5. Reclaimed, Biodegradable and Self-Healing Materials
Construction materials take a toll on the environment from the moment they are mined to when they end up in the landfill after demolition. Reducing the amount taken from the earth and improving its longevity — or ensuring a smooth breakdown when it reaches the end of its natural life — makes a huge difference in overall sustainability.
Reclaimed materials are as they sound — materials taken from old construction and reused in new ways. Such processes require more care during demolition but have a huge environmental impact. Some materials, such as steel, may need no additional processing before returning to use. Others, like wooden mantelpieces, may require only gentle sanding and refinishing.
Self-healing materials can heal nano and micro-level cracks without compromising their chemical or mechanical properties. For example, self-healing concrete uses carbon dioxide (CO2) to heal any cracks that develop. Some forms even absorb CO2 from the air. These materials last longer, as smaller cracks often evolve into larger ones.
Biodegradable materials lessen the environmental impact when building materials reach the end of their effective life cycle. Such materials break down naturally through living processes, like those of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
6. Energy Efficiency Improvements
Even though alternative fuels like solar power offer reduced costs and energy independence from foreign nations, the American government has yet to invest the amount necessary to fuel a rapid conversion like some other countries. Roughly 60% of the nation’s energy still stems from fossil fuels, with 19% from nuclear and only 21% from renewables. The bottom line — improving energy efficiency reduces this fossil fuel use considerably.
LED lighting is one such innovation. It uses a fraction of the power of incandescent and comes in multiple forms, letting builders customize lighting solutions like never before. Smart technology also plays a role. For example, people with smart thermostats can adjust their dial from anywhere by tapping their smartphone, engaging eco-mode from the other side of town or even the globe.
Improved insulation is another innovation that saves power. For example, non-toxic lcynene creates an incredibly effective air barrier, although it has a high upfront cost. Other eco-friendly insulating materials include hemp, denim, wood wool, cellulose and cork.
7. Greywater Recycling and Rainwater Collection
Water is also a precious resource. Greywater recycling collects what runs down the drain from your shower or sink and uses it for applications such as landscaping, reducing the need for using groundwater for such purposes. Rainwater collection systems are easy for even novices to DIY but can provide a reliable water supply for larger buildings when integrated into their construction.
Conclusions
There’s no denying that construction takes a toll on the natural environment. This sector contributes 37% toward total greenhouse gas emissions. The degradation occurs in all stages, from cultivating raw materials to demolition.
However, green building technologies hold the power to transform construction, making it more sustainable. Constructing the infrastructure for renewable energy decreases future fossil fuel use and may someday reduce it to zero. Using AI and technology streamlines processes and minimizes construction’s impact on surrounding ecosystems.
Marrying the natural world with construction slows temperature rise and benefits human health. Improved material choices that draw inspiration from nature tread more lightly on her. Many, like hemp, regrow quickly and biodegrade naturally at the end of their life cycles.
Challenges remain in making such innovations cost-effective and widely used. The more those in the construction sector educate themselves about what’s available, and the harder they push for implementation, the sooner a greener world will emerge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can green building technologies result in net zero?
Net zero aims to balance the carbon emitted with the amount the environment naturally reduces. Green building technologies may enable humans to reach net zero emissions, although they still have a long way to go.
Where can I find green building technologies in use today?
Taipei 101, the Pasona Urban Farm, London’s City Hall and One Central Park are notable examples.
What are the seven Rs of sustainability in construction?
The seven R’s are Rethink, Revamp, Refuse, Reduce, Repurpose, Recover and Recycle, principles embodied by the green building technologies listed here.
