Engineering Smarter: The Science Behind Efficient Building Practices

In recent years, the construction industry in the UK has been focussed on delivering structures of a different kind: those that are built, from the ground up, with efficiency and sustainability in mind. Buildings of this kind tend to confer lower long-term running costs, and impose less of a burden on the natural world. At the same time, they’re more likely to stay on the right side of an increasingly stringent set of environmental regulations.

Introduction to Efficient Building Practices

Construction is a large driver of carbon emissions in the UK. According to some estimates, the industry accounts for around 37% of the world’s emissions. In order for the UK to meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, the construction sector will need to be made more efficient. But exactly what does this mean in practice?

Innovative Materials Enhancing Efficiency

For one thing, the use of more efficient and effective materials is sure to play an important role. You might think of insulating material that retains heat more effectively at lower cost, thereby making a given building cheaper to heat – and less carbon-intensive.

The way that materials are sourced can also play a role in determining how carbon-efficient they are. Even low-tech materials like building aggregate can play a crucial role in supporting thermal performance, and ensuring that the final structure is sound.

Sustainable Construction Techniques

Recent years have seen an upsurge in certain building techniques. Increasingly, buildings are made from modular collections of components. This means fewer bespoke, one-off structures, and therefore plenty of time for construction firms to learn from their mistakes, and refine their building processes. The ultimate result of this is a reduction in waste and error rates, and an acceleration in project timelines. 

It's increasingly possible to install renewable energy systems, like solar panels and heat pumps, into new buildings and existing ones. This can help to drive down demand on the grid, and to improve the efficiency of the particular building.

Leveraging Technology for Project Management

The administrative costs of constructing a new building can also be driven down with the help of digital tools. The widespread adoption of the Building Information Modelling approach has made it easier for architects, designers, and project managers to collaborate with one another during the lifecycle of a given project. 

This in turn can help to ensure that resources, including workers, equipment and materials, are properly allocated, and that the prevalence of error is minimised.

Regulatory Compliance and Standards

Construction firms in the UK must abide by a number of standards for efficiency. In particular, the Future Buildings Standard is set to be brought in in 2025. This will require new buildings to meet tighter thresholds for heating and efficiency, by tightening Part L and F of the Building Regulations. Ensuring that new projects meet the required standard will reduce a firm’s exposure to compliance-related risk.