Sustainable construction is important, according to a green policy platform report. In 2024 the construction industry was responsible for 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reaching net-zero carbon emission buildings for new builds by 2030 and existing builds by 2050 requires the implementation of stronger practices to improve energy efficiency and address carbon emissions from building materials and construction.

To build sustainable constructions, introducing adequate processes and best practices to design, build, and operate your assets is paramount. The goals are to minimize the environmental impact on the planet and optimize the social and economic benefits by:

Using the right materials

As much as possible, materials should be sourced locally to be more eco-friendly.

To avoid waste and toxicity, materials must be renewable, reused, or recycled materials.

Minimizing energy

Construction systems must be energy-efficient to reduce CO2 emissions. A plan must be created to replace equipment on the construction sites and buildings with more energy efficient alternatives.

Installing efficient lighting, like a light-emitting diode (LED) reduces energy consumption. Lighting represents 17% of all energy consumed in a building.

With good-quality insulation and windows, very little energy is wasted.

Eliminating waste

A good management system should help prioritize reusing materials, choosing recyclable products, designing with deconstruction in mind, and implementing smart construction techniques like prefabrication.

Introducing technology into your processes

AI and IoT help optimize resources and improve building operations.

BIM helps to construct durable facilities that are easy to maintain which will benefit contractors and their clients.

In this series, we will review

• How Does BIM Improve Sustainability? published 01/17/2025
• Why is sustainability important to the construction industry? published 01/24/2025
• How to Achieve Meaningful Profits and Sustainability Through Technology in Construction 01/31/2025

Implementing BIM can be daunting, but Driving Vision is here to help you at the pace you are comfortable with. Get started by getting in touch now