How can the construction industry implement energy solutions?
Every day, energy is used in both commercial and residential building projects. 37% of all process-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2021 came from the industry.
It is heavily the duty of builders to embrace and apply more environmentally friendly construction methods. However, creating demand is equally crucial. Further, customers will directly support businesses’ success if they begin to demand more environmentally friendly energy solutions from them.
Best Energy Solutions for Construction
Integrative Planning
Integrative planning is a useful energy solution that emphasises making better use of the resources at hand. Construction can also benefit from this tactic, but it also applies to other industries like transportation.
Take concrete, for example. Cement needs a lot of energy and water to heat and chill. One tonne of cement mixed using the conventional method can yield one tonne of carbon dioxide. By choosing alternative constructions, such as permanent wood foundations, this can be avoided.
Prefabricated Components
Already on the market, prefabricated components are a good energy option. It makes it possible to reuse building supplies that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Since everything is already pre-calculated, it also removes the possibility of overusing your resources.
Prefabricated buildings, such as manufactured homes, are constructed swiftly. Prefabricated building produces 15.38% less trash than conventional construction methods. It is unquestionably a respectable choice for roofing, walls, or even an entire structure. The primary cause of the rising demand for prefabricated houses is the rise in mortgage rates and home prices.
Solar Fuel
The process of using solar energy and combining it with carbon dioxide and water to create liquid fuels is known as solar fuel production. This technique can reduce dependency on diesel and other hazardous gases because the solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface in an hour can provide the world’s energy needs for an entire year.
The impact of solar fuel production on the building and manufacturing sectors is encouraging, even though the concept is still being worked out. Moreover, it can replace hydrocarbons like ethanol and methane. Locating and utilising these renewable substitutes is essential to reducing long-term dependency on fossil fuels.
Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is an environmentally friendly, renewable energy source. Due to its favourable environment and abundant resources for producing this kind of energy, Australia is aiming to become a major supplier to Asia. The government of Australia is investing A$525 million (US$347 million) to build eight hydrogen centres throughout the nation.
Green hydrogen systems will be used industrially in the mining and manufacturing of electric vehicles. Hyundai has promised to produce 500,000 fuel cell-equipped hydrogen cars by 2030. In essence, vehicles will no longer just operate on electricity; instead, they will run on compressed, clean hydrogen tanks.
Geothermal Heat
Including a geothermal heat pump is another sustainable energy source that can be useful during the building process. In the residential sector, 42% of energy use was for space heating, with natural gas being the primary energy source for the majority of houses. Households can use the excellent heat source provided by the earth’s interior to adjust the temperature within their dwellings.
Although installing geothermal heat pumps in new construction is advised, they can be retrofitted into older buildings to increase heating efficiency.
Automated Lighting and Sensors
Investing in sensor technologies and automated lighting systems is a good approach to cut down on energy usage on building sites. Energy conservation is a simple and quick process when LED lighting is used in place of the current lightbulbs and fixtures.
LED lights are a dependable choice for long-lasting efficiency because they are significantly more durable and consume a fraction of the energy of conventional incandescent or halogen bulbs. Sensors can identify any issues (such over-luminance) and function independently of any primary control unit. This allows for preventative maintenance to avoid service interruptions brought on by malfunctioning equipment.
Conclusion
Using renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, is in line with the worldwide movement towards a sustainable future. By using these alternative options, construction sites can significantly reduce their energy use and environmental effect.
Even with obstacles like limited space and sporadic power production, creative fixes and technological developments keep making the viability of integrating renewable energy at building sites more likely. Achieving sustainability targets will surely depend on the integration of solar and wind power as the construction sector develops.
