Based on recent market trends and activities, the real estate sector, much like other industries, has slowly started leaning toward sustainable design. This means implementing eco-friendly features in their commercial and residential projects. With the rising concerns of environmental degradation and climate concerns, the real estate industry has been going through a positive transformation as it focuses on making its projects sustainable. Today, the focus on building real estate projects is no longer based on just profits but also on reducing carbon footprint, developing a social impact, and providing an overall healthier living environment in their projects.
In recent years, there has been a surge of sustainable projects in the world, with implementations of energy efficiency designs to green rooftops. There have been new and creative strategies being used in recent projects that significantly reduce the environmental impact and focus on improved and better living spaces. But before proceeding any further with the topic, let’s first understand how traditional methods of construction and building homes have gradually been detrimental to the environment.
- Energy Consumers – Traditional buildings use a lot of energy for heating, lighting, and cooling. This leads to problems because of its dependence on resources which ends up polluting water plants.
- Water Challenges – Ideally, the construction of any project, be it commercial or residential, uses a lot of water.
- Material matters – Building materials like concrete and steel require a lot of energy to produce. Even mining can be harmful to the environment.
Solutions with sustainable practices
While real estate with its traditional way of construction has been a problem, now all of that is changing towards a positive shift. With the advancement of sustainable practices, there has been a gradual shift toward environmentally friendly construction. The new way of building projects is not just environmentally friendly but also cost-effective. Here are some of the new-age techniques of construction.
Implementation of Eco-Friendly Material
In modern times, there has been a lot of emphasis on using plastic bottles and scrap metals, which are helpful with sustainable real estate development. These materials can be highly instrumental in reducing waste and giving them a new life. Moreover, locally sourced materials like sustainably managed lumber can help in reducing transportation pollution. Today, a lot of real estate builders have been focusing on modern insulation material, which provides a comfortable indoor environment throughout the year. This reduces the need for heating and cooling, which not only saves money but also saves energy, resulting in lower utility bills.
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Resources
Today, solar panels are becoming one of the major sustainable energy sources for electricity. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power lights, gadgets, and water heaters. Moreover, some residential projects have also started implementing wind turbines and geothermal systems, which have started generating electricity and using the natural heat of the Earth. Another great addition has been smart home technologies. With features like motion sensors and smart thermostats, it can optimize energy usage by turning off lights in empty rooms and adjusting temperatures. It overall uses energy consumption and lower utility bills.
Water Management & Conservation
Today, while real estate development is on the path towards sustainability and greener living, it would be incomplete without proper innovative water management solutions. Some buildings have already begun implementing water conservation through adding a system that collects rainwater and harvests plants or flush toilets. It also features techniques like greywater recycling, treating water from showers or sinks to use. All these healthy practices reduce energy consumption and utility bills.
Conclusion
Eco-friendly features in real estate have a lot of potential to not only provide a better way of living to its residents but also be cost-effective for the builders, which can lead to more profitable margins. Environmental concern has been a serious issue in the landscape of the real estate sector but with smart and sustainable features, the real estate industry can influence a positive change in the world.