Sustainable construction: what you need to know about green building and net zero building trends

With much of North America blanketed by smoke from Canadian wildfires in recent weeks, it’s getting much harder to deny climate change's effects. While we might have different opinions about what is causing it and what we can do about it, there’s no denying that things are changing fast, and it’s making things a little uncomfortable.

Climate scientists have been warning about the effects of climate change for a while now, but the rapid acceleration of real, tangible effects of this global problem has made it a much bigger concern for a lot more people.

There’s no single solution to the problem, though, but the good news is that there are real steps we can all take to make our buildings greener and better for the environment. Here’s what you need to know about green building, net zero building trends, and how building some green options into your construction estimating software could help your bottom line.

Who Cares About the Environment Anyway?

If you’re not one of the people who are worried about the environment and all the changes that are happening, you might be wondering how many people do care.

You’d probably be surprised to find that studies have shown that 74% of adults in the UK are concerned about climate change, and 54% of adults in the United States feel the same way.

Similar statistics from around the world prove that at least half of all adults are worried about the environment right now, and as we all see more and more real effects of rising temperatures, that’s only likely to increase.

More Government Commitment to Fighting Climate Change

The other important thing to note is that even if some people are not concerned about climate change, governments definitely are.

We’re seeing more and more legislation from governments worldwide that is designed to reduce emissions and try to put the brakes on climate change. Some of that is directly targeted at large polluters and fossil fuel burning, but there are a lot of other laws and regulations that aren’t as direct.

Add to that incentive programs for installing energy-efficient windows and doors, better heating and cooling systems, and more, and there’s a definite push to encourage people to make better environmental choices.

Not So Easy to Reverse

There’s a lot of discussion and even arguments about what climate change is, how bad it is, what causes it and more. However, while there’s definitely room for debate, there is one thing we can all agree on. It’s not just going to disappear. At least not anytime soon.

Even if we stopped doing everything that scientists say is causing climate change today, we’d still be lucky if we could even halt climate change where it currently is. Since we won’t be doing that, and it’s just not possible in our modern, resource-hungry world, most of the efforts out there are to slow the progression while we come up with alternate solutions.

So, no matter where you stand on the issue itself, you can be sure that you’re going to be hearing a lot about climate change, green building, net zero, and sustainability for a long time to come.

What Is Green Building?

Whether it’s because of their own concerns or because of changing building regulations, there’s a good chance some of your customers are actively seeking green building options. But before you add these options to your construction estimating software, kitchen estimating software or remodeling estimate software, you need to understand what green building is.

The good news is that there are lots of organizations like the U.S Green Building Council that have lots of in-depth information about green building, but there are a few basic elements to this type of construction:

• Reducing waste
• Choosing sustainable or recycled materials
• Designing homes and buildings that are energy efficient
• Sourcing products and services locally, wherever possible, to lower emissions from transportation
• Designing buildings and structures to work with the environment, rather than destroying natural features

There are many other ways that contractors, construction companies, architects and building materials manufacturers can design and construct homes and buildings to be more environmentally friendly.

In fact, there are even products out there now that are manufactured from plastic waste or recycled steel. All of these products, as well as the building methods used to construct or renovate homes, contribute to how “green” the finished product is.

What Is Net Zero Building?

You might think that green building and net zero building are the same thing, but they aren’t. While they are similar, they are slightly different. While green building focuses on a wide range of things, we can do to make homes and buildings more environmentally friendly, net-zero building is highly focused on energy efficiency.

This usually starts by designing a building that is as energy efficient as possible, using well insulated windows and doors, optimizing light and airflow and more. It usually also includes some kind of power generation and storage, like solar panels, and might incorporate other things like living roofs to offset carbon generation. A net zero building is a building that offsets its entire carbon footprint through the design, construction and materials used.

How Can You Build Greener Options in Your Construction Quotes?

With so many people already concerned about climate change (and those numbers are only going up!) It’s fair to say that construction companies that offer greener, more sustainable building options to their clients will do well now and in the future. Even if you aren’t already offering these things in your construction estimates, it’s relatively easy to start building a few options into your service offerings.

Contact large concrete companies and find out about their eco-friendly options. Many of these companies are now offering so-called “eco-concrete” that uses less C02 than standard concrete. Buying lumber from sustainable sources is another great way to build greener homes, as is choosing composite alternatives to plastic and vinyl.

If you routinely install equipment like HVAC or install new windows and doors, there are countless suppliers out there who have better, more energy-efficient options, or even some that are made from recycled materials.

There are even flooring options, like bamboo, that are more environmentally friendly than traditional hardwood or modern vinyl flooring. It does take a little more time and research to find all these options, but there are plenty out there, and since they are always in demand, it’s worth adding them to your material options.

How Your Construction Estimating Software Can Help You Offer Greener Options

If there’s one thing every construction estimator already knows, it’s that people love options. If you let them, every customer you give construction quotes to will want at least a half dozen options before they make a choice. Smart construction estimating software can help.

Construction estimating software like Bolster is designed to create multiple options for your customers with every construction estimate you do. Instead of manually editing the materials for each of those options, the smart database uses preprogrammed material options to build nearly instant itemized quotes.

Even better, Bolster’s one-of-a-kind construction estimating software gives all of those options to your client in one easy-to-navigate cost proposal. So they can choose and upgrade any or all of the base options you provide with their ideal choices. If you want to start marketing your services to green-conscious customers, all you have to do is add those products to your options database, and you can offer them to every customer or to select clients that are interested in those products and systems.

Better yet, because Bolster uses smart web crawlers to create an always up-to-date price system, your kitchen estimating software, bathroom estimating software, and remodeling software won’t need to be updated all the time. Simply create your assemblies and options, connect directly to your supplier websites, and the system does it all for you.

Climate change is changing the way we live, work, and interact with the environment. Green buildings and net zero buildings are changing the way we design and construct homes and buildings. Isn’t it time your construction estimating software changed too?

Bolster is the most innovative modern contractor estimating software on the market. It’s designed to be completely flexible and customizable at every step of the way. If you’re ready to change the way you build, contact our team. Let’s talk about how we can help you go green and do everything in between better, faster, and more accurately.