Building for sustainability is a trend on the rise, and it’s only due to keep growing from here. With the global consciousness around climate change always expanding, homeowners and commercial property owners alike are thinking green. What does that look like in practice?
On a macro level, the United Nations is putting global teams to work, pushing the envelope for sustainable infrastructure. On a micro level, construction teams like ours have the opportunity to innovate on more sustainable ways to source, build, and plan in ways that benefit the environment.
This leads to some incredible advancements, but the real work is done in the day-to-day changes. The small, incremental shifts that push an industry forward, and today, that’s where we’re focusing our spotlight. Read on as we unpack three sustainable building practices in NZ that companies like ours are embracing to move the sustainability movement forward, one home at a time.
Climate change is accelerating, and natural resources are becoming ever more scarce. The way we design and construct buildings can have a lasting impact, not just on the planet but on the many generations of people who will live on it. Building sustainably lays the groundwork for lower carbon emissions and resource preservation, helping Aotearoa to remain as green and thriving as it has always been.
Not to mention, building sustainably contributes to wider community initiatives around the country that care about the health of everyone living and working in these spaces. In short, it’s worth taking the time to stay on trend with every new shift in this space.
First and foremost on our list of sustainable building practices in NZ is a commitment to building with sustainable products. As a smaller island country with increasing governmental pledges to reduce waste and protect the local ecosystem, these promises are filtering into the construction sector via our material choices.
The materials we use in construction make a huge difference to the overall environmental impact of a project. Sustainable building products can come in many forms, from recycled materials to responsibly sourced timber.
Some standout sustainable materials used in New Zealand construction at the moment include:
The power of choosing the right materials echoes throughout the entire building process. Environmentally beneficial materials create healthier spaces for us to live and work in, they shift the balance of priority in supply chains around the world, and they do far less damage during their lifecycle.
New Zealand has an emerging benchmark for both commercial and residential design and construction. The former is known as the Greenstar, while the latter is known as the Homestar, and both certifications highlight a growing environmental commitment in New Zealand’s building sector.
These certified buildings go above and beyond the standard New Zealand Building Code, creating healthier, warmer, drier, and more comfortable homes that use less power and water. Some features you’d likely see in one of these buildings include double-glazed windows, waterproofing, and energy-efficient installations to reduce overall consumption.
But why is it important that these certifications exist in the first place? Rewarding sustainable building practices in NZ with certifications and increased value will drive more property owners and building companies to join in. It expands the motivation to invest in sustainability beyond the environment alone, inviting people who are interested in improving their resale value or getting a leg up in the market to contribute positively to the environment.
In a similar vein, a major trend in modern sustainable building practices in NZ is striving to contribute to the environment with the build (and beyond). There are builders and property owners – both commercial and residential – who are seeking ways to graduate beyond a carbon-zero approach. With the right strategies, you can build a home or commercial property that is not only carbon neutral but carbon negative. It contributes to the environment in a positive way, whether that be by selling solar power back to the grid, collecting rainwater for greywater and drinking water, or even reforesting large patches of land with native greenery.
There is so much potential to give back to the environment through the way we build the places we need to live and work in each day. If you are jumping into a new build or renovation and sustainability is front-of-mind for you, this is your chance to consider ways to bring that green mindset to your next project.
What is the key to embracing these sustainable building practices in NZ? Partnering with a construction company that can deliver on everything you’re after both environmentally and practically.
At QBS, we build for the modern customer. Our team of commercial and residential builders brings a wealth of knowledge to every project, no matter where or how you’re building.
Bring us your vision, and we’ll bring it to life. Enquire today.
