The UK construction industry is one of the nation’s biggest polluters. From sourcing and transporting parts and the materials we use to powering essential equipment, the UK’s built environment is responsible for 25% of our greenhouse gas emissions alone.

Part of the UK government’s COP26 pledge was to reduce the country’s carbon emissions by 68% by 2030 and be at net zero by 2050. Given its significant carbon footprint, the construction industry is seeing many green initiatives come into play as the government strives to meet this commitment.

Promote sustainable construction in your property development plans by following these simple tips. With sustainability becoming increasingly important to consumers, it’s a win-win-win situation.

Limit energy consumption

Lots of energy is used during the construction of residential properties, and while this is hard to avoid there are steps you can take to limit energy consumption.

Minimise gas usage by reducing how often you use transport. You can look into storage container hire so that you can deliver house parts in bulk and keep building equipment on-site when not in use. You can also find temporary site buildings with automatic LED lighting to restrict electricity waste.

Use green building materials

Did you know that cement and steel production contributes over 13% of global carbon emissions? These materials are the essential ingredients of everything from buildings and bridges to cars, and the industries creating them are some of the dirtiest on the planet.

Choose green building materials where possible. Look for recyclable alternatives such as cellulose concrete, sustainably sourced timber and other materials and reuse quarry waste like marble and slate. Consider the functionality of the building too, fitting green heating systems where possible.

Reduce on-site waste

It won’t surprise you to know that most unused building materials end up in landfill. Do your bit to reduce on-site waste by repurposing leftover materials where possible and opting for temporary structures over permanent buildings when planning site accommodation.

Consider other types of waste as well and put together a comprehensive site management plan to monitor this during development. For example, incorporate water-saving strategies such as rainwater harvesting and reusing water rather than disposing of it.

Embrace modular building

Pre-fabricated houses helped the UK to get back on its feet after World War II. Using factory-made cookie-cutter pieces, construction workers managed to rebuild over 500,000 homes in a decade.

An enhanced version of this method has been embraced in recent years to make property development more eco-friendly. The separate parts of houses are produced in bulk in a controlled factory setting and then shipped as one to building sites for quick and efficient construction.  Precise automated production and mass transportation lowers everything from energy use to air and noise pollution.