Sustainability and construction have sometimes been in sync. However, things are changing. By 2021 Autodesk revealed that over 82 percent of architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) companies employ a dedicated sustainability group in the place, which is 74 percent. AEC companies are directly investing in new technology to increase sustainability.
In addition, sustainability in construction has been a standard for construction proposals. Most construction companies claim customer retention is the primary reason for their sustainability-focused approach. Sustainable planning and thinking have been proven to increase efficiency and decrease consumption. Three-quarters of construction companies say that their sustainability efforts led to improved utilization of resources.
The benefits of sustainable building are huge, but implementing them can be challenging. AEC companies are looking at technology to guide them on a sustainable path. Here are a few instances of technology that have facilitated efficient and sustainable construction and operation.
Energy Analysis Plug-Ins Achieve Net Zero Energy Design
After a struggle to keep funding, the concept for the Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, located in Washington, DC, could be a success. This Perkins Eastman team, led by architect Omar Calderon Santiago, took a holistic approach to design, considering the environmental, technological, economic, social, and other factors at every step of the process. Sustainable goals focussed explicitly on the interplay between well-being and energy.
The team employed a mix of 3D modeling with SketchUp and analysis of daylight and energy with the Sefaira plug-in for SketchUp and Climate Studio to achieve a net zero energy rating for the school. These tools allowed the team to ensure occupant comfort with an in-depth study of thermal comfort, daylight, acoustics, and air quality without sacrificing an intelligent design. In the past, Perkins Eastman relied on external consultants to analyze energy and innovation. However, thanks to SketchUp’s Sefaira program, it is possible to maintain all of their plans within the same program and concentrate on maximizing efficiency.
Sustainable Stats:
- Attained net zero energy status through seeking a 19.9KBTU/SF/yr PEI–a 72% increase from baseline with no PVs (PVs) and a 100 percent improvement with PVs.
- Well-lit and well-designed spaces that can have a spatial daylight autonomy (sDA) that is 66.4 percent for all frequented areas and just 3.4 percent Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE)
- Earned LEED Platinum Certification
Detailed BIM Modeling Reduces Material Waste
Concrete construction companies Wayne Brothers is no stranger to the possibilities in BIM (building information modeling). The company started employing Tekla Structures in 2012 to create models of its commercial and industrial projects to improve the quality of work and speed up design. Utilizing the precise BIM modeling of Sierra Nevada’s East Coast Multi-Structure Brewery project allowed the team to reduce the amount of rebar material wasted dramatically.
The structure for the fermentation tank, which was a 12,000-square-foot concrete structure with hundreds of blocks and embeds outs, needed careful planning to avoid mistakes, rework, and waste. Tekla could be used to outline the rebar and manage work activities. There was no second-guessing. The 3D model cut one week off the three-month timeframe and prevented discordances in the rebar due to detailing or fabrication mistakes. In this kind of project, there would be 10 to 15 percent of rebar wasted. However, this was cut by less than 1 percent, less than two tons from 300 tons of steel.
Sustainable Stats:
- Rebars from the project were reduced to less than one percent, rather than the standard 10-15 percent
- Earned LEED Platinum Certification
Machine Control Technology Reduces Emissions and Resource Consumption
In the year 2000, Aldridge Electric was tasked with creating, fabricating, and installing millions of feet of conduit, cable, and maintenance holes for the brand-new Dekalb Data Center project in Dekalb, Illinois; they knew that the project would require a lot of budgeting and planning. The project team employed BIM models to conduct design reviews, clash detection, and prefabrication options in the office. They also looked at the machine control equipment in the field.
Trimble Earthworks systems on excavators and dozers seamlessly integrate into the company’s workflow that is connected. 3D models are uploaded onto Trimble Business Center and then to the machines. Through the machine control equipment, the work on site is done with the highest degree of precision. Workers install objects to within a half-inch accuracy. This made excavators more efficient and decreased the need for rework. It also reduced the amount of fuel and emissions. Ensuring the work is done correctly the first time with machines that control the device limits the amount of time and energy required to complete the job.
Sustainable Stats:
- Machine control devices enhanced the installation accuracy, reducing the fuel used and emissions.
- The completed data center will be among the most efficient in the United States, running on 100 percent renewable energy and using water at 80% less than a typical data center.
- Created to help LEED Gold achieve Certification
Offsite Fabrication Reduces Emissions and Increases Efficiency
A 2021 study from Hanyang University in Korea found industrialized construction can reduce the carbon footprint by forty% compared to conventional methods. Cooper Electrical Construction Company and many others realized this benefit when they stepped up their prefabrication efforts to meet the fast-paced schedules of projects and beat the market competitors.
The top electrical, instrumentation, and controls contractor selected Trimble SysQue detailing software. Compared with Autodesk Revit, SysQue created more detailed designs with natural components. The models were clear enough for a confident fabricate offsite and scale production. Utilizing SysQue has allowed the business to shift 60 percent of the fieldwork associated with cable tray fabrication and conduit from their job site to their fabrication facility offsite. Alongside reducing emissions from offsite fabrication heeds, Cooper Electrical has seen immense efficiency, safety, and quality improvement.