Sustainable Construction According to Rusty Tweed

Sustainable building has taken some twists and turns in the last few years. It used to be viewed by the general public as a waste of time and money. Not many companies were going green in their offices due to cost and other implications. Today, we’ve changed that tune. We have invested in researching how much it will cost us if we do not comply. It’s proven to be beneficial for the environment and the bottom line, and the points here will show you how much and why, who it benefits, and those on all sides of the dice in the sustainability game.

It costs less to build 

Why? Simply put: If a building uses less power and water when in use, the cost of those systems is greatly reduced. They can also be built faster than a typical build. These buildings are also worth more and the property resale value skyrockets, which is great for developers and investors like Rusty Tweed, who know that sustainability is worth the premium price tag.

It saves companies money with sustainable office buildings

According to investors like Rusty Tweed, companies that choose to build these types of office structures will get an enormous return. It will affect what’s most important to any company to stay alive, and that’s the bottom line, but it will do so in unconventional ways. The most effective way is by positively affecting the health and wellbeing of the occupants. Employees love an open atmosphere to work in that’s healthy and will tend to stay productive in this sort of environment.

Encourage improved productivity

This happens when there’s a more casual and open atmosphere. That’s typically accomplished by installing large skylights and installation of ergonomic workstations, as well as using plenty of oxygen cleaning plants. This also works on the brain positively and allows the employees to concentrate on completing tasks. 

Encourage health benefits

Pumping in natural fresh air instead of recycled air that’s more polluted is one way of minimizing germ transference in the workplace. This means less absenteeism and you may eliminate temporary workers that cost twice as much. That’s a hidden issue that no one talks about, but most large companies use temporary office workers instead of having to pay permanent employees benefits. If you minimize or eliminate excessive absenteeism and turnover by caring for your employee’s health and morale, you can expect greater performance. 

Sustainable buildings use renewable material and minimize waste

Today, it looks bad for a company to create so much construction waste when there are tons of renewable resources like sand, used coal and waste from prior demolition projects. They can use all of this for every phase of building, including decor. The most important thing is that it reduces the environmental footprint of the company and that’s what people will scrutinize today. 

Capture the natural power of the sun, water and wind

Our planet provides us with an ebb and flow of natural forces. We can harness those energies and use them to our benefit in sustainable construction. Rainwater can be collected, wind and solar can give us power. With those three elements, we have a complete green environment that works like a well-oiled machine.

Proper waste control

When constructing a green building, it’s not enough to just use green material. You have to make sure that none of the natural energy is wasted. You must have perfectly sealed windows, doorways and insulated walls and ceilings as well as air conditioning ducts. If anything leaks, then the process itself is wasted and will be felt by the occupants. In some buildings, water heaters must run on solar power and the use of photovoltaic panels is a staple.

Reduction of noise pollution

Noise pollution is a big strain on the health and wellbeing of workers and tenants. There are green ways to stop that as well. One way that aids the inhabitants and the planet is planting trees that are hearty enough to absorb noise. It’s a great landscaping idea for buildings that are in more congested cities and near highways and main streets.  This serves a twofold benefit. Trees will also clean the air around the buildings and are a beautiful aesthetic addition to the neighborhood. 

Reduction or elimination of the silent killers

There are many ways to save lives and enhance the quality of life of those that live, work and play in a sustainable building. 

Paint on the walls today may not contain lead unless the building was constructed before a certain year, in which case owners with an eye on sustainability should act quickly to replace this hazard. We can use vegetable-based paints that don’t continue to leech chemicals and cancer-causing carcinogens in the air over time. This happens well after the paint dries. Paint also collects pollutants from the recycled air we breathe each day at work or at home where we want to feel safest. 

Carpeting is still used in many buildings. Why? Because tile costs a lot and damages easily.  Carpet is still cheap to replace and it’s easier to install. It’s also used to absorb noise in the halls and floors of apartments and condos. However, there are soft, fake wood flooring options that float atop the underlay and are made from healthier alternatives. Carpeting leeches like paint in some cases and will always harbor germs and allergens. 

So, bottom-line, having a sustainable building stops that sick-building syndrome in its tracks.

As you can tell, the case for sustainable construction is one that you can’t really argue with. It costs less in construction costs, is great for the investor, developer and the occupants. It’s the wave of the future that we have to fight for.