The construction industry is a polluting industry. The good news, though, is that there are many ways to make this industry sustainable and create a more sustainable construction site.
Significantly reduce energy consumption
When you build on a construction site, you know that a lot of energy is needed for equipment, for example. Yet there are several ways to reduce energy consumption on your construction site.
We offer some tips to reduce energy consumption on your construction site.
- Use energy-efficient equipment: Low-energy equipment, such as energy-saving machinery, can help lower energy consumption on building sites.
- Utilise renewable energy: Solar panels and wind turbines, for example, can be used to power your construction site.
By reducing energy consumption on your construction site, you also reduce carbon emissions. The result? You save money and contribute to a greener future in the construction industry.
Choose more sustainable building materials
The second way to create a more sustainable building site is to use sustainable materials. But what are sustainable materials? Sustainable building materials are materials that are environmentally responsible throughout their lifecycle. Think of materials that can be sourced from renewable sources, reused or recycled. In this way, you can reduce the environmental impact of your construction site.
Here is an overview of materials you could choose for your construction site:
- Recycled materials: materials such as glass, plastic and metal can be recycled and therefore have a lower environmental impact. For example, you could use our recycled footing to put your temporary fences in. In this way, you not only create a stable fencing line for your construction site, but also a more sustainable one.
- Low-carbon concrete: concrete is a widely used construction material, but is responsible for a large proportion of carbon emissions. You could use low-carbon concrete instead, which can made by reducing the cement or using alternative materials.
- Timber from sustainable forest: timber is a renewable material that has a lower environmental impact when it comes from sustainably managed forest.
- Reusable products: Using reusable products also makes a significant contribution to reducing environmental impact. Did you know that you can use our temporary fences on multiple projects? This therefore makes them a more sustainable solution for your construction site. In addition, you can hire temporary fences from us and for this we also repurpose a temporary fence. You may not receive a new product when you hire from us, but in this way you contribute to a more sustainable future.
In short, construction sites can reduce their environmental impact by choosing sustainable building materials. In this way, you can contribute to a more sustainable construction industry.
Minimise waste and water usage
Construction sites generate a large amount of waste and use a lot of water. Minimising waste and water usage on construction sites can reduce the environmental impact.
There are several ways to minimise waste. Reusing waste is – as far as we are concerned – the most familiar way. Recycling construction waste, for example concrete, metal and wood, can help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in nature. Other strategies to reduce waste on a construction site include:
- Develop a waste management plan: this plan should outline how materials will be managed and disposed of on the construction site. It identifies opportunities for reducing, reusing and recycling waste.
- Order the right amount: over-ordering materials often leads to waste. This reduces the amount of leftover materials and therefore waste.
- Source materials carefully: another way to reduce waste is by carefully selecting materials. If possible, choose reused of recycled materials or materials that are sourced sustainably. You can also choose materials that are delivered in reusable containers or recycled packaging materials to help you reduce waste on your construction site.
Water is essential on construction sites, but you can minimise water usage to reduce the environmental impact of your construction site. By implementing a water management plan, you can reduce the amount of water consumed. In this plan, you could include, for example, collecting rainwater or using water-efficient landscaping.
Reduce noise pollution
Construction sites can be noisy. It is therefore important to reduce noise pollution for passers-by and nearby residents. Noise pollution can also impact wildlife, disrupting their habitats. One way to reduce noise is to cordon off your construction site with noise control barriers. These barriers are attached to your temporary fences and reduce the noise that escapes the construction site.
Educate your employees
Finally, educating your workers about sustainability on construction sites can help to increase awareness. By educating your employees about the importance, construction sites can be more sustainable environments that can help reduce environmental impact.
