<? $page->post->image->alt; ?>

Changing Practices In An Evolving World

April 1st, 2020

Over the past two decades, sustainable and green construction has evolved from a fringe movement to a booming mainstream status. Building materials and new construction and development, along with the logistics, operation and maintenance of buildings, account for an incredible amount of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. So the question really is can we build responsibly without further depleting the earth’s resources and deteriorating the planet’s environmental make-up? The truth of the matter is yes we can. And with the rise in individuals, companies, governments, organisations taking an interest in changing the ways of the old and embracing new ways, innovation and lateral thinking is key.

The best buildings past and present always show a concern for their immediate environment and how they fit in with the landscape. In todays world all buildings are now expected to have some form of eco credentials and be engaged with sustainable standards. So what is a sustainable or green building?

A building that maintains or improves:

  • The local environment
  • Conserves energy, resources and recycling materials
  • Reduces the amount of harmful and hazardous substances and exposure to animals and humans
  • Conserves the local and global ecosystem through the building cycle and beyond
  • Balances and harmonises the quality of life within the local climate, cultures and traditions

With the rise in awareness of green construction, there are 3 main trends shaping the future of green and sustainable development.

  1. Renewable energy sources, primarily solar, wind and geothermal, continue to grow in popularity and demand as sustainable alternatives to power the built environment. Solar panels are now mainstream and are being integrated into everything from roof, to building façades to road pavers.
  2. Healthier Buildings is proving to be beneficial and popular in an endeavour to improve and increase daylight and air quality. By removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in mainstream everyday building products such as paints, furniture, textiles, carpeting can improve air quality in a building immensely. VOCs are compounds that become gases and exposure can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, headaches and dizziness. Long-term expose can damage organs as well as the central nervous system.
  3. Green & Sustainable Building Materials are those that are made from renewable resources, are recyclable at the end of their life, manufactured using environmentally friendly processes, and made from salvaged, recycled or waste content. Concrete and steel are two of the most commonly used building materials and they account for between 8 – 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Current innovations in the manufacturing processes of these two building materials are helping to reduce those emission amounts.

At Chiodo Corporation, we wish to pave a new way forward. We recognise the changing landscape of property development acknowledging the environmental issues we are facing and looks ahead to the conscious living movement to design spaces that are adaptable and built on the principles of sustainable building practices, integrating with the natural surrounds, being technologically advanced and supporting local communities.

‘The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.’ – Socrates

Harnessing The Energy Of The Elements – Principles Behind Passive Solar Design

Next post
View next post
Back to Media & News