4 Ways Sustainable Construction Makes Good Business Sense

The construction industry has the ability today to build sustainably. Not only does this enable positive impacts, it saves time and money in the process. Emerging sustainability requirements help construction companies improve performance and efficiency, while teams can have better productivity and more control over project scope, schedule and cost.

Sustainable construction practices can positively impact everyone involved—from owners and contractors to end users.

Here are 4 ways sustainable construction makes good business sense.

1.  Competitive Advantage

An increasing number of building owners are specifying requirements and even incentives for construction companies to include sustainability components in their projects. By complying with these requirements, your company will not only qualify for current work but will be in a better position to get more work in the future. Using sustainable practices gives companies a competitive advantage, and sustainability becomes part of their culture.

Learn more about products on the Autodesk Construction Cloud platform in the free Graitec Group eBook: “The Importance of a Common Data Environment.”

2.  Lower Costs

From beginning to handover and beyond, building projects that involve sustainable practices typically have lower resource costs. As described in an article on sustainable buildings by Iberdrola, costs on sustainable projects can be 20-30% lower than traditional projects. Energy saving appliances, low flow plumbing fixtures, and other sustainable practices can help facilities managers and users monitor and control their resource use.

3.  Less Wasted Time

Benjamin Franklin reportedly wrote, “Time is money.” The current era of labor shortages punctuates that statement. By saving precious time, technology can enhance sustainability efforts. One example is building information modeling (BIM). Projects using BIM processes report better decision-making. Using BIM, issues can be identified before construction begins, reducing rework and waste. Virtual collaboration among architects, engineers and construction workers saves time, travel and boosts productivity.

A construction platform like Autodesk Construction Cloud has powerful predictive analytics and seamless workflows to boost worker efficiencies. AI-powered technology helps save time and develop designs quicker, while smart applications give insights into projects. Data accessibility, cloud capabilities, and technologies like offsite fabrication and modular processes help decrease project inputs and optimize worker time for a more sustainable project

4.  Fewer Wasted Materials

Construction waste usually ends up in landfills. Waste reduction is a key part of sustainability efforts. In 2020, ArchDaily published an article about Design for Disassembly, which described the concept of designing a building so it can be dismantled in whole or part at the end of its life to recover/recycle components and materials.

Material reuse on an active jobsite is another way to save money on wasted materials, as well as the cost of materials on the next project. Salvaging unused building materials and using them where possible saves money, while making projects more sustainable.

Construction companies have greater opportunities than ever to employ sustainable building methods and technologies. More and more company leaders are finding that sustainable construction practices make good business sense by saving time, reducing waste, lowering costs, and resulting in a competitive advantage.

Download the Graitec Group eBook “Sustainable Impact of Lean Construction,” and learn how construction companies make economic sense out of sustainability.