Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Techniques for Sustainable Construction

 

A quieter aspect of the sustainability story is the development of construction technologies and procurement of materials, which can minimize waste, resources, and various inefficiencies at building sites.

 

However, green building strategies play only a limited role in obtaining Energy and Environmental Design Leadership (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), headquartered in Washington, D.C, which is why a lot of companies are not focused on them.

 

The USGBC operates on a point system, and to a lesser extent, most of those awarded come from the architecture, position, and orientation of a building and its materials. They all lead to certifications for LEEDs. In comparison, lean manufacturing doesn't win points for contractors but leads to less time spent at a factory.

 

A plan to save time and money will lead to higher productivity for contractors and the good feeling of not creating needless waste. Here's an overview of five techniques followed by Retail remodel services in Orange County that have the greatest effect on sustainable construction.

 

1. Prefabrication of materials in Managed Environments

 

Building as much of a structure as possible in a controlled setting has increased the building efficiency and resulted in less waste. Capable of cutting materials precisely eliminates waste and produces buildings that are sturdy enough to allow builders to use wood framing up to five stories high.

 

2. Managing waste in construction

 

Reducing waste for contractors is becoming more feasible as the haulers have become more sophisticated in recent years. While job sites once had garbage bins for different forms of waste, they now need only one, in many cases, haulers are using pickers to isolate materials.

In small footprint inner-city ventures, making handlers carry materials in a single container makes all the difference, since space is at a premium.

 

3. Manage Environmental Development of Site

 

Prevention of stormwater runoff has been a "big deal" for municipalities and the state and the federal government. Cities don't want a building project that will pump a lot of bad water into and overflow the storm sewer system. Runoff is now contained in the surrounding area by silt fencing. Several "best practice" approaches can be used to treat water on-site and prevent it from flowing into the local sewer system



4. Product Selection

 

Architects and customers looking for LEED can accomplish many points by selecting materials from recycled products and local sources. From green goods like bamboo for floors to wood from vendors certified by the Minneapolis-based Forest Stewardship Council, the materials can be anything. LEED points can also be used to mount water-saving dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets and other aspects.



So, when you are looking for a kitchen and bath remodeling, looking for efficient kitchen remodeling contractors or bathroom remodeling contractors will be a great way to go about!

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Top Trends in the Construction Industry

The construction industry is in a transformation phase. Construction companies across the globe are adopting new technologies, going for innovative ideas, and engaging in exploratory research. Let us take a look at the latest trends emerging in the construction industry.

  • Construction Labor Challenge – The recession in 2008 forced many construction workers to quit and work in other industries, owing to the employee layoffs and lean operations. Since then, the construction labor shortage has been prevalent in the industry. Moreover, the younger generation prefers working in the tech-enabled industries than joining the construction industry. Thus, the industry is taking steps to address this labor shortage by attracting women and minorities in high-profile roles, altering the degree courses in schools, and adopting the latest technology in business to attract the younger generation.
  • Enhanced Business Intelligence - The use of Big Data in the Construction industry helps in harnessing the power of data, combined with new technologies. Data analytics tools and cloud-based software facilitates the process of data analysis.
  • More number of Digital Contractors – Construction companies are digitizing all their processes, from production to operations. Cloud-based construction software and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems help them to make this transition. This transition becomes even more crucial with rising competition and evolving technology.
  • Mobile Construction Work – From bathroom remodeling contractors to new construction workers, all use mobile applications to access and analyze data and drive up productivity. These construction-specific apps utilizing cloud technology have truly revolutionized the construction industry
  • Use of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence – Companies providing home remodeling services, such as kitchen and bath remodeling, are using VR and AI to a large extent. BIM (Business Information Modelling) programs using 3D modeling are also in much demand. Customers highly prefer these technologies as they provide the visualization even before construction begins.
  • Modular Construction in Demand – The use of pre-fabricated parts in homes or construction projects has been quite common. Bathroom or kitchen remodeling contractors have found this technique more convenient. The year 2019 has seen a boom in the use of modular construction and prefabricated facilities. All construction disciplines have adopted it as it helps in finishing the projects relatively earlier (saves 30% of the time) than traditional construction practices.
  • Use of Drones – Drones help in gathering data about the present status of the construction work and also give a clear picture of how much work is left. Drones also help in detecting any accidents and are a part of safety assessments. The ERP systems help in analyzing the data from drones and aid the decision-making process.
  • Significant increase in the use of robotics – Using robots and smart machines have ramped up productivity, efficiency and brought down the waste generation and overhead costs.