More construction businesses are realizing their pledge to reduce their carbon emission figures to zero in the next few years. One way is by improving their processes. A building assessment isn’t a new concept, but there’s an increasing push for property owners and contractors to implement it before renovations. Learn how it can direct reconstruction decisions in a more sustainable trajectory.
Table of Contents
The Basics of Building Assessments
A building assessment is akin to a health checkup. It examines the property’s components and gauges its suitability and functionality for living. Homes, commercial buildings and other structures are subjected to years of environmental stress. Calamities and extreme weather can erode the foundation’s integrity and make it unsafe for occupancy.
An assessment measures the walls, exteriors, door beams, and columns and rates their conditions based on specific parameters. In addition to the building’s envelope, it thoroughly checks the interior elements and mechanical systems, like the plumbing and HVAC.
Going through this process before renovating has several upsides for contractors and property owners.
Why It Matters on Sustainability
The construction industry is responsible for 37% of global emissions. The various activities involved in a building project have multiple environmental downsides. They cause water and air pollution, deplete natural resources and risk people’s health by releasing tons of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
With the general shift to sustainability, companies are elevating their efforts to minimize their operations’ footprint. This slow, positive change is expected to decrease the industry’s carbon emissions from 75% to 50% of its total output in the coming decades.
A building assessment supports sustainability by providing valuable insights about a site’s life cycle. Contractors can use this information to pilot their eco-friendly choices and actions during reconstruction.
Impact of Building Assessments on Sustainable Reconstruction
Beginning restoration projects with a thorough structural assessment can help contractors outline their next steps, giving them a roadmap for effectively implementing architectural changes. This practice also has other ecological benefits.
More Informed Decisions
Across sectors, data is critical in making sound decisions and achieving better outcomes. It’s no different in construction. A building evaluation gives property owners and contractors a visual baseline to direct their reconstruction activities.
Sometimes, renovation may be a more appropriate approach than demolition. People make better decisions if they understand the site’s general health, like how doctors can accurately diagnose an illness if they know the patient’s medical history.
Efficient Preservation Processes
Reconstruction involves significant alterations to the property. An assessment helps contractors determine which components are moderately damaged, critical and below their functional needs.
Can the plumbing be preserved? Can the floor be improved? Are the beams too weak? The answers to these questions help contractors classify the damage as minor, moderate or severe and plan a more suitable fix. Knowing which sections need repairs versus replacements can save time, effort and resources.
This benefit goes both ways. People who have their homes examined by a licensed and trained professional can better manage their budget for a reconstruction project. They may even save money if they can quantify the extent of the damage based on an expert’s diagnosis.
Opportunities for Resource Conservation
A thorough property assessment pinpoints areas that need extra work and resources to fix. This helps contractors preserve depleting materials. Building wastes resources, like water and soil, which can run out quickly due to overuse and misuse.
Contractors who know the majority of the workload can make actionable strategies to stay sustainable. For example, fixing the interiors would be adequate instead of tearing down the whole structure. A building assessment can guide this decision and conserve resources wherever possible.
Integration of Modern and Effective Sustainable Solutions
A current building report can help contractors troubleshoot unsustainable areas with advanced fixes. Technology improves daily, meaning superior ecological workarounds could be available for everyone every few months. What this ultimately comes down to is better solutions for everyone’s disposal.
One example is the use of LED lighting in a standard home. As it requires 75% less maintenance than older bulb models, it’s a major trend today. People switch because it’s durable, lasts long and is eco-friendly.
However, it could be replaced by a newer innovation, like the organic light-emitting diode (OLED). OLED is organic, making it exponentially more eco-friendly than LEDs that use inorganic semiconductor materials. Its high cost is a limiting factor for broader commercialization, but improving the material systems, making the process cost-effective and reducing efficiency roll-off will change that.
Increased Compliance With Green Building Standards
If you consider certifications like LEED a crucial aspect of your environmental goals, a detailed account of the structure’s flaws and weaknesses will guide contractors in making appropriate changes that will help you meet the standards. They’ll know which resources to tap and what materials to use in restorations to increase compliance with green regulatory standards and get you certified.
Building Assessments Guide Sustainable Decisions
A building report is akin to a business strategy. It’s necessary and useful in reducing the probability of construction mishaps, increasing adherence to sustainability and conserving resources. Consider it if you plan to reconstruct a property before demolition. It can help you in several ways and produce a more eco-friendly building.
