i) Energy ii) Materials iii) Waste
Energy – Solar panels are a great sustainable construction technique. If they are placed in the right areas and face at the right angle these solar panels can harness a lot of energy from the sun. This energy can then be used to heat water, power lights or any other form of appliance which needs electricity. There is an initial cost to purchase and install the solar panels which can be steep but over time with the electricity you save from using them you will make your money back and more. For a business to be seen using sustainable construction techniques like the use of solar panels it will give them a good public image and people will be more inclined to use them for their service.
Materials – SIPs or Structural Insulated Panels are a good sustainable construction technique. SIPs are large panels that when all fitted together make a house. They are pre-fabricated off site to exact measurements so everything slots together perfectly. When they are brought onto site because they have been made to fit perfectly off site all the contractor needs to do is slot them into place like a large jig saw puzzle. With these panels being made to exact dimensions it means less materials are being wasted on site and it also means that less machinery etc. is needed onsite to construct the finished product so this reduces the overall pollution and wastage of materials.
Waste – Reusing bricks is an excellent sustainable construction technique. In the construction of a building so many bricks are wasted. It may be that the QS has bought too many or just that there are some leftover but these bricks are still perfectly fine to use. In some cases contractors may hold onto these left over bricks and use them on their next