From drones to green technology and innovation that is designed to help make construction sites safer places to work, tech has a huge impact on the construction sector. Not only does it provide ever-more efficient options when it comes to the way that projects are completed but it’s also increasingly vital with respect to achieving sustainability goals and making targets, such as the net zero building, a reality.
Sustainable construction practices rely on advances in tech
Sustainable construction practices – those that reduce the impact that the construction sector has on the environment – are at the top of the agenda today. Reducing energy consumption and minimising waste have been objectives ever since the idea of sustainable construction practices was first aired in the 1980s – but it’s only today with tech-driven innovation that we really have the resources to start making change happen. These are just some of the ways in which technology is providing more sustainable options for construction in 2022.
- Biodegradable materials. A better alternative to plastics and a way to reduce the contribution construction makes to the 400 million tonnes of waste that is produced in England and Wales every year.
- Plasma rocks. These are made from recycled landfill waste.
- Electrochromic smart glass. An innovative option to better manage heat and cooling systems, as well as the use of natural light.
- Cigarette butt bricks. These integrate waste cigarette butts as an alternative to cement, reducing the pollution produced when the butts are disposed of and minimising cement waste.
- Green roofs. An option to reduce energy costs and improve air quality in urban locations.
- Super hydro-phobic cement. This is cement that can absorb and reflect light so that it’s a viable alternative to street lighting.
But are net zero buildings really an option?
The short answer is: yes. It’s entirely possible that all new buildings could be net zero by 2030. A building that consumes net energy essentially gives to – and takes from – the energy grid so that the eventual outcome equals zero use. These are some of the ways in which technology is helping the industry to work towards this on a global level:
- Widespread electrification – for example, replacing gas-fueled furnaces and hot water heaters with electric heat pumps.
- Passive homes – these work with better insulation, eliminating air leaks and using natural ventilation and daylight, which are free passive qualities.
- Developing innovative materials – such as mass timber, which is made of glued together strands of wood.
- Small tweaks to interior design – comprehensive interior insulation, more of a focus on natural light and radiant floor heat, for example.
- Cutting edge innovation – such as the chilled beam air conditioning system, which uses just a fourth of the energy of the conventional HVAC systems.
Technology is increasingly providing options when it comes to achieving net zero buildings – with some pretty positive outcomes. One of these is the fact that there could be significant energy savings in switching to more sustainable materials and approaches, something that will benefit businesses and consumers alike.
The specific use of drone technology
Drones have sometimes had a bad rep in the past – but when it comes to helping the construction sector to achieve sustainability goals they have a lot to offer. However, it’s not just about the environment, as this technology also has the potential to impact the bottom line too. Forecasts indicate that drone technology will uplift GDP across manufacturing and construction by more than £8billion by 2030. So where, and how, is drone technology likely to make a difference in construction?
- As a green aerial technology that can be employed to move materials from one location to another (e.g. from depot to site). Projects are already in play to test this out, such as the Dock to Dock collaboration between government and industry.
- Data capture to improve sustainability. Drones can be used to effectively capture data in ways that would be impossible for humans to achieve manually. This includes gathering comprehensive thermal data that can be fed into solving building issues and defects and putting measures in place to avoid energy wastage.
- In the early stages of planning. Drones are increasingly being used to carry out aerial surveys so that the number of site visits can be reduced and there is more information on biodiversity and geographic features of a landscape to integrate into planning considerations.
- To improve site monitoring. This provides essential input into the way a site is being run, not just to help ensure sustainability objectives are being met but also when it comes to working out why delays are happening or helping to overcome obstacles that are causing waste or resource depletion.
And finally, a note on site safety
When it comes to site safety, this is one area where technology has a great deal to contribute whether that relates to preventing accidents or helping to ensure that positive morale-boosting practices are in place. There are some very good reasons why construction businesses simply can’t overlook site safety today, especially given the wealth of tools that are now available to ensure standards are high.
- Productivity on site. Any workforce functions better when it feels taken care of and positive site safety is key to ensuring ongoing engagement between the business and staff.
- Reputation and compliance. Failure to meet health and safety regulations and guidelines can be costly financially and also when it comes to reputation. Those businesses that don’t prioritise site safety can find themselves struggling to attract clients – and workers – who don’t want to be associated with a reputation for a lack of safety on site.
- The true cost of workplace injuries. This ranges from damages as a result of a legal claim to having to replace staff at short notice or rush-hiring the wrong people who then impact negatively on productivity and team morale as a result. The delays that can result from injuries can also be incredibly costly, whether that relates to damage to client relationships or penalties imposed for not hitting specific milestones on time.
New technology is changing the construction industry, providing the potential for innovation and growth to help meet sustainability goals – and to make it a safer and more productive place.
