In May we saw an environmentally friendly movement on sustainable initiatives as far away as Finland. Owners looking to leverage solar and water construction along with carbon-neutral building materials, are discovering more sustainable construction practices.
Automation in construction is proving not only worthwhile to help offset the industry's labor shortage, but it's also attracting fresh talent—enhanced productivity and increased profits are just icing on the cake!
And trauma-informed design within the K-12 school environment is a healing concept to explore before beginning your next project.
Current Construction Practices Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions...Are You Doing Your Part to Build Green?
The greatest energy demand in the US comes from residential and commercial buildings—accounting for 39% of total US energy consumption, the majority of which are still non-renewable and contribute to climate change. But there’s good news: embracing sustainability yields financial benefits. The global economic benefit of a low-carbon future is estimated at $26 trillion by 2030.
So it should come as no surprise that many organizations have energy-saving goals that require several sustainability methods to achieve. Two key areas that project owners are exploring are solar and water construction—in coordination with carbon-neutral building materials, which can help them achieve sustainable construction practices.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Now more than ever, CIP owners are motivated to incorporate sustainability into their projects due to rising fuel and energy costs, and infrastructure driven requirements. However, in order to take advantage of sustainable construction practices, owners may need to educate stakeholders on the long-term benefits and implement systems that effectively support sustainable operations.
Related Resource
Blog: What is Sustainable Construction? Building More with Less
In The News
This Finnish town will be carbon neutral by 2025—that’s 10 years ahead of Finland’s national goal to achieve the same status. Here’s how.
Construction begins on the largest floating solar project in the US; an 8.9-MW floating solar installation in Millburn, New Jersey. Click here to learn more.
Automation Technologies Can Help Offset Construction Industry Labor Shortages
Did you know that robots on job sites can lay bricks, pave roads, install drywall, excavate, and lay pipework? And how about flying drones...are you aware that they can perform surveying duties, site inspections, and also monitor for site hazards and safety concerns?
Embracing automation is not just a way to mitigate labor shortages, it is also a way to attract more workers to the construction industry.
New technology and automation in the industry will attract Millennial and Gen-Z workers—who are not only comfortable with technology but generally thrive when applying emerging tools and tech in their job roles. Owners and construction companies that use the latest automation will have an advantage over non-adopters when it comes to attracting new talent.
The future of construction is not where robots and drones replace the workforce, but rather a collaborative environment where robots work alongside humans to ensure job sites are safer, the work more efficient, and the project results more profitable.
KEY TAKEAWAY: The construction industry will always be centered around people; however, automation will play an important part in the future of connected construction systems.
Trauma-Informed Design Choices: Designed to Heal
Before the pandemic, it is estimated that the majority of children in K-12 schools had experienced at least one traumatic event, with 1 in 6 students reporting 6 or more exposures to trauma.
And on May 24th, 2022 at Uvalde, Texas the unthinkable happened, an active shooter at an elementary school.
Children who have experienced trauma are more likely to struggle in school, have decreased attendance, face behavioral or emotional problems, and have increased difficulty learning.
By designing and building schools to acknowledge the varying needs of traumatized children, trauma-informed design partnered with trauma-informed care can support these students to make them feel safe and seen while simultaneously helping their healing process.
KEY TAKEAWAY: It's painful that this type of design is needed at all; however, trauma-informed design in the construction project plans may be a new concept for capital improvement project owners or school systems in charge of designing or renovating schools to consider incorporating.
The Definitive Guide to Digital Transformation for Owners of Capital Improvement Programs
Download our Definitive Guide to Digital Transformation for Owners of Capital Improvement Programs and learn why leveraging an advanced digital construction management solution like e-Builder Enterprise—which is designed for owners like you—will effectively aid in managing the funding, tracking and reporting of your infrastructure-related projects. Get your complimentary guide.
