Going Green: Cutting Construction Costs

Going green means becoming more environment-friendly, either in the process of making products or using them. In recent years, there’s been a growing trend among construction companies becoming greener. It’s mostly because of the increasing awareness for the need for renewable energy, better waste management and resource-efficiency. However, it’s also about the construction company becoming more sustainable. By following or leading green trends, construction costs can actually be dramatically reduced in the long run.

Green construction or sustainable building focuses on maintaining a balance between the demands of the construction and the environment. Here are some green trends that can help cut construction costs.

Adopting strategic energy installation

Non-renewable energy and carbon emissions are big concerns when it comes to the environment. Green construction often focuses on making sure that there’s a more efficient use of energy, water and other resources during construction and after it.

Cool roofs are a green technology that’s rising in popularity today. They are specially formulated with new paints or material to ensure an increase in solar reflectance. Compared to the average single roof, cool roofs absorb less heat from the sun by several degrees, so the interior temperature of the building is also decreased. This kind of system reduces the need for air conditioning systems and lessens the need to install cooling systems in the future.

Smart home design, specifically strategic window placement, is also a consideration in construction. The right windows can encourage natural lighting and at the same time allow air to flow through the building. This can significantly reduce the costs associated with lighting and air conditioning. It can also help as a form of passive solar power, where you can use the sun’s rays to heat the house.

Installing solar energy panels for active solar power is also popular to cut costs in energy use.

Use of eco-friendly materials

During the construction process itself, a way to directly cut costs is to use eco-friendly materials.

Green insulation is one of the most popular ways to do this. Insulation is used to control the internal temperature of the building, and it’s done by filling spaces within the wall with material. Because the insulation material isn’t visible anyway, after boarding up and painting the walls, there’s a growing trend of just using recycled materials to line the walls. Any kind of heat-absorbing material can actually be used, but a popular example is cotton insulation. Construction companies and people use recycled denim, like those from old jean scraps, to line the walls. Or you can also use cellulose insulation, which recycles old newspapers and scrap papers.

Biodegradable paint is another green trend that both helps the environment and achieves the right results.

Written by Kent Murdock, owner of Randy Adams Construction in Columbia, MO. Randy Adams Construction is one of the premiere companies for commercial construction in Columbia, MO.