Green Construction and Affordable Housing

Green Construction for Sustainable and Affordable Housing

Building sustainable structures has long been an agenda that helps in building sustainable cities. Buildings alone are responsible for 30% of the total greenhouse produced by the cities of the world. So architects have been going for green construction at residential and commercial buildings. It means less carbon emission and more energy conservation. Turned out, it benefits other areas too, namely making the housing sector more affordable.

What is Green Construction?

Every construction adversely impacts our environment. Green construction means reducing that impact through sustainable design and construction practices and creating a balance between luxury and negative environmental output. It also looks to reduce the operational cost of buildings and promote a healthier lifestyle.

We can capture the core components of green construction practice from these points:

Biodegradable and Sustainable Materials

Construction materials use up a lot of energy when manufactured. They also release a significant amount of carbon into the atmosphere. Green construction looks to use materials that have a low carbon emission rate. It also uses naturally degradable materials so that building wastes don’t end up in landfills.

Construction Waste Management

A construction project can produce a huge amount of waste and lead to serious environmental harm. In sustainable construction practice, recyclable materials are used extensively. Techniques like modular construction are also used to prevent on-site hazards- both environmental and human.

Energy Efficiency

When it comes to green construction, a lot of focus goes to reducing the energy usage of structures. Installation of a better insulation system, cool roofing, and energy-saving appliances feature in sustainable buildings.

Water Preservation

Achieving environmental sustainability through the mindful use of natural resources like fresh water is another element of green construction. Preserving rainwater, using smart plumbing solutions to reduce water consumption are some commonly used methods.

Renewable Energy Usage

Along with cutting down on energy usage, green construction emphasizes on using clean and renewable energy. Harvesting solar power by putting panels on the roof and walls has been more commonplace. And it’s getting cheaper by the day.

How It Helps Affordable Housing

The steep rise in construction cost is one of the reasons that the price of housing is going out of reach for middle-income people. With green construction methods, construction companies can downsize this cost. Low cost, durable, and renewable building materials can help achieve affordable housing.

For example, a hollow concrete block is five times cheaper than regular brick. It is also environmentally friendly as it uses much less energy than regular brick. Moreover, it gives better insulation to the structure. Thus cuts down on thermal expenses as well.

With the increasing focus on environmental well-being and healthy living, people now look for facilities that complement the drive. Study shows that when a building attains a high environmental performance, it also attracts a 17% higher occupancy. Imagine a structure that can generate a considerable portion of its power through solar energy. It certainly relieves the pockets of the residents.

Green construction reduces the operating cost of the building too. The buildings that are LEED-certified- a highly prestigious certification for sustainable buildings- cost 20% less for maintenance. It also uses 25% less energy and has a water usage rate that is 11% lower than traditional constructions.

Green building is gaining momentum, and it is safe to say that the value of green construction will increase highly with time. As more innovation comes in, green construction will get less costly with each passing day. So if more investment comes in this sector, it will be a win-win for both realtors and property seekers.