What You Need to Know about Sustainable Construction

Sustainable construction, also known as “green” construction looks at sustainable design by architects and other designers keen to reduce the environmental impact of a building over its entire lifetime. It also addresses the use of sustainable ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘green’ building materials – products that have been developed for use without causing damage to the environment.

In the past, constructing sustainable buildings was often seen as an indulgent statement and prohibitively expensive but with the advent of new building regulations and a focus on energy efficiency and climatic change, more and more companies are addressing their corporate and social responsibility and incorporating some sustainable credentials into their business practices. It often includes ‘in house’ training programs that aim to educate building professionals in the use and installation of new sustainable products and technologies.

Consumers too are more ecologically aware and interested in sustainable living. As such, they are building sustainability into their designs and specifying more sustainable building products in their projects. These range from timber construction and durable roofs to internal fittings such as sustainable flooring, renewable energy sources, and heating systems. Recycled materials such as gutters made from 85% recycled plastic bottles is a testament to the latest products coming to market to meet these demands.

Such construction is often overseen by service contractors who specialise in sustainable construction methods, but as attitudes change and more and more building professionals are making it their business to change their working practices, new business opportunities are arising as a result. It is a high likelihood that environmentally friendly construction methods will be more common in years to come. It is, in part, driven by government initiatives to ensure that builder are building sustainable homes. Sustainable construction advocates sustainable development and aims at zero carbon homes in years to come.

It remains to be seen as to how quickly these developments will be fully implemented, but suffice it to say that sustainability in construction is certainly here to stay. The fact is that sustainable building starts with you and me. If the consumers adopt the concept of building sustainable homes, the builders and contractors will have to submit. The best way to ensure that your proposed design is sustainable is to have experts look at it and give a recommendation. It is also the process of getting a BESS planning permit.

If the experts find that your design is sustainable, then you will be handed in the permit. If your design is not fully compliant, then, the experts will help you make some changes to make your design sustainable before the construction commence. After the changes, you will then have your planning permit and go ahead with your home construction. See this page for more information on planning permits and sustainable designs.