How Construction Companies Can Help Reduce Their Environmental Impact

Lessening the impact that industrial construction can have on the environment—mainly due to public demand and financial incentives offered by governments—has forced many construction companies to look for alternative methods when working on a construction project. This article takes a look at some of the things now used by such companies to build constructions which can be called 'green buildings' or 'eco-friendly' constructions.

Eco-spill Pallets

Many construction companies use eco-spill pallets on their construction sites. These pallets are usually made from recycled plastic, are tough and fairly inexpensive, and are used to store drums and chemical liquids and containers on. Any leaks are caught at the base of the pallet, rather than seeping into the ground and damaging the environment.

Reduce Waste

During the construction period of a building, any waste materials were traditionally put aside and hauled off to landfill. Today's environmentally aware construction company will be fully informed about reducing the overall amount needing to go to landfill, by reclaiming and reusing material.

This may be materials like wood (such as plasterboard or drywall) as well as steel parts. Many construction companies will have on-site composting bins to further reduce materials going to landfill sites.

Concrete Alternatives

Another area looked into by construction companies is the use of concrete. For building projects which are suitable, alternatives to concrete can be used. These include honeycomb shaped blocks—these are popular in European countries.

Another alternative is recycling aggregates, and shaping them into solid blocks. Again, these aggregates can sometimes be recovered from the construction site itself. Producing concrete accounts for a small percentage of all carbon emissions, so less concrete required by construction companies means a reduction in the amount of carbon being produced when manufacturing the concrete.

Using Lime

Lime has been used since Roman times, but faded out of general use when traditional cements became more popular. Lime is a fairly renewable resource (from calcium deposits), and there are many large calcium deposits worldwide. Lime can be used to form a putty type substance for sealing, a mortar for general masonry work, as well as for rendering brickwork.

Lastly, lime putty can be mixed and diluted with water and pigment to form a color wash which can be used on internal or external walls. Some companies mix a little amount of standard cement to the lime mortar, giving a stronger mortar when dried.

Companies wishing to reduce their impact on the environment when constructing new buildings can also source and use recycled glass, as well as recycled roofing materials. Using materials which are recycled or renewable has also shown to cut down on irritant conditions, such as eczema and asthma, for the occupants of the buildings.