The Choices You Make in Your Home Construction Have a Huge Environmental Impact. Here’s What to Consider
Over the years, the United Kingdom has witnessed a surge in home construction. It’s great news for the construction and real estate industry. However, an increase in such construction activities also leads to harmful environmental impacts.
Recent reports from the UK GBC indicated that nearly 25% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions are a result of increasing construction activities. The burning of fossil fuels and huge amounts of CO2 emissions occurring during construction is a cause of concern for many.
An increase in construction activities adversely increases air and water pollution across the country; not to mention, the rise in complaints of noise pollution that one experiences in the UK. And of course, it contributes to climate change, which is impacting everyone on the planet.
The great news is that this hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. The government has taken an increasing interest in regulating construction activities and enforcing stricter regulations. In fact, several construction firms have received large fines owing to violations of regulations.
On an individual level, you can consider taking active steps to minimise your impact while building your house. This would help you avoid legal fines as well as build a sustainable and green environment.
Read on to know more about it.
How to Minimise Your Impact During Home Construction
There are sustainable alternatives to ensure you can reduce your contribution to pollution. The cherry on the cake is that these methods are not only effective but also green and efficient in their approach.
So, how can you minimise the impact of harming the environment while constructing your new home?
Read on to find a few effective measures you can adopt.
1. Choosing Better Windows For Your New House
A sustainable way to help the environment is to switch to better window solutions. For instance, windows that are rated above A are a great solution to reduce energy consumption. On the Window Energy Rating scale, an A++ unit can help in reducing the carbon footprint by nearly 0.4 tons, which is close to saving 100 pounds a year.
While this may seem trivial, it really adds up over time.
Consider making your windows and doors from certified sustainable sources that tightly seal the warmth of your house in winter and avoid gaining heat during the summer.
Usually, the kitchen space is where the most amount of heat gets trapped. A better alternative for sustainable windows in custom kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms is timber. It’s durable in nature and helps maintain the temperature indoors.
2. Working On Your Heating
A simpler solution to change your heating at home is to opt for heat pumps. Thermal energy systems help in spreading warmth across your house, in a shorter period of time.
Not only are these effective but also cost-efficient. They drastically help reduce the extent of CO2 emissions that are usually observed in regular heating systems.
3. Using Smarter Appliances
Advances in technology have paved way for energy-efficient lighting and heating options for all. To add to this, cooling and water heating systems are widely available in the market and are extremely cost-effective.
Be it New York or Northampton, using cost-efficient kitchen appliances in your kitchens is always a brilliant idea. They help in saving money on your energy bills and last longer. Thanks to the changes in technology, they are well adapted to cater to smarter and more eco-conscious consumers, making them a great addition to your house.
While purchasing smarter appliances for your house, ensure they are certified with the highest energy rating. The items rated higher are far more environmentally friendly than the lower-rated ones.
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4. Making Use Of Solar Energy for Home Construction
Modern homes are now considering better sources of energy that are environmentally friendly. While designing your new home, you can always incorporate solar panels. Although the cost of installing solar panels might be slightly higher, they help in reducing your energy bills in the future.
And modern constructors can use solar panels while building their new homes.
Harnessing renewable energy sources such as battery storage systems is an effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. If you have a pool, then you can consider renewable energy sources such as ground heat pumps that are effective water heating solutions on a budget.
5. Consider Better Site Accommodations
During the construction period of your house, consider using a temporary site accommodation. These customised anti-vandal sites are highly innovative in nature, not to mention cost-effective, and meet the needs of workers, contractors and managers at the site.
Needless to say, they are the best solution for constructing your house, office or even recreational space. If you are looking for a low-cost yet sustainable alternative, then on-site accommodations are your best option.
6. Using Greener Building Materials
Construction activities need not always actively use harmful materials. Building a green home is easier when you switch to non-toxic construction materials that are usually made from renewable sources. For example, switching to non-oil-based paint is a better alternative as it’s less harmful to the environment.
The use of renewable sources such as bamboo is a great alternative as it’s long-lasting and environmentally friendly. Ensure that you buy materials from certified sustainable sources.
7. Landscaping
Adding more greenery around your house is a great way to enhance your local air quality. You can consider planting large canopy trees and vine-covered landscapes to add to the aesthetics of your house.
Making use of drought-tolerant plants across different regions of your garden can help minimise the use of water (xeriscaping). Opting for plants and trees that naturally improve the air quality and require minimal maintenance is a great solution for new houses.
8. Conservation of Water
Installing an effective water conservation system at your house can help reduce the wastage of water. Regularly maintaining the fixtures of your bathroom and kitchen can help in avoiding water leaks.
Additionally, you can also look into building a rainwater harvesting system in your new home to easily collect and store rainwater. After all, water is an expensive and scarce resource in our world.
What Are the Biggest Environmental Impacts of Your Home Construction?
Increase in Air Pollution Levels. The highest contributor to the environment while constructing a new home is air pollution. This arises from clearing the land, using diesel engines and actively using toxic materials during construction. There are also heavy levels of dust from materials such as cement and stone, demolition activities, and the to-and-fro of site vehicles. Needless to say, breathing in this air is dangerous for individuals, especially for senior citizens and people with asthma.
Aids and Abets Water Pollution. Contaminated and polluted water from construction sites often ends up around the entire neighbourhood. This water may even be discharged into a nearby river or lake, increasing the risk of illnesses.
This water contains harmful chemicals such as diesel, paint, cement and solvents that can adversely affect aquatic life. In fact, chemical pollutants are notorious as they often get soaked into groundwater, thereby affecting the quality of drinking water.
Adding To Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Manufacturing and construction activities are huge contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Active burning of fossil fuels and an increase in the level of CO2 produced while building a house can adversely affect the environment we live in.
Studies show that more than 50 tons of carbon gas is actively generated on average when a house is built in the UK. The majority of this is due to the manufacturing of steel.
Increasing Use of Limited Resources. Over the years, we have taken precious resources for granted, believing that there’s an endless supply of them in nature. Continual use of these resources with no regulation would soon lead to extinction.
Unfortunately, construction activities are highly dependent on these products, and this needs to reduce. However, there’s a long way to go before we witness substantial progress in this aspect.
Frequent Transportation of Materials and Labourers. Frequent movement of raw materials and labourers actively contribute to the overall increase in CO2 levels, especially during construction. While building a house, we rely heavily on sourcing raw materials from different places. In addition to this, calling in labourers and workers on a daily basis adds to the increase in harmful emissions.
While this activity may often go unnoticed by many, they are an active contributor to the increase in pollution levels and harmful emissions. The impact only gets worse when measured on a large scale while calculating construction activities across several houses.
To Sum It Up
The increase in construction activities across the globe has adversely affected the environment. The rise in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution has heavily impacted the environment we live in. Although you cannot completely eliminate this, you can take active measures to reduce the damage caused when constructing your home.
Relying on renewable sources of energy is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Opting for solar panels and effective heat systems can reduce your energy bills significantly and positively impact the environment.
Understanding the influence you have on overall efficiency will help you make greener choices and be responsible and sustainable.
Be sure to consider this and partner with sustainable contractors who care about their environmental impact as much as you do!
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Have you built your own home, or are you considering it? Let me know in the comments below.
Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to see what you can do to help slow climate change – click here (it’s free)
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Your discussion of the adverse effects on air, water, and noise pollution highlights the interconnectedness of these issues. It’s undeniable that construction activities have far-reaching consequences that impact both local communities and the planet at large.
I’m glad to hear that the government is taking steps to regulate and enforce stricter regulations for construction. It’s heartening to know that these concerns are being addressed on a larger scale. The mention of construction firms receiving fines for violations is a sign that accountability is being taken seriously.
Your suggestion for individuals to take proactive measures to minimize their impact during home construction is an excellent one. It’s a reminder that we all have a role to play in building a sustainable and green environment. I appreciate how you’ve provided both a broader perspective and actionable steps for readers to consider.
Thank you for shedding light on this important topic. Your post is a call to action for us to be more conscious of the impact of our choices and to work collectively towards a greener future.
Absolutely! Thanks for your comment Cherry.