Construction is an industry that has seen countless innovations since the turn of the century. As buildings became more efficient in planning, designing, and finishing, another trend seemingly emerged. Green building, or the concept of reducing resources and raw materials while ensuring energy efficiency, started to gain traction. This made it possible to transform existing structures without starting from the ground up. It also highlighted important practices that shape our perspectives on the environmental impacts of building.

What is Green Construction?

Green building or green construction is a resource-efficient way of building new buildings with a reduced environmental impact. This approach considers design, maintenance, operation, renovation, and demolition. While not all of these aspects need to come together to ensure green construction, their processes have strong staying power, turning this trend into a staple in many projects.

Comprehensive Rating Systems

One way to benchmark green construction and buildings is through rating systems. With comprehensive analytics, professionals can determine the “greenness” of a structure. Certifications like LEED examine efficiency and cost-savings, helping to set standards for similar initiatives. 

Rating systems evaluate a building’s sustainability using several key criteria, including the site’s location, water use, materials, energy efficiency, the project’s size, and indoor environmental quality. 

Site Location

Site location is crucial in determining if a building can be considered green. After all, one of the main issues green construction solves is urban sprawl. Beginning construction at an existing structure reduces the impact on the surrounding ecosystem and, thus, the adverse effects of new construction.

At CLV Group, our projects focus on transforming existing sites into residential buildings. In downtown Ottawa, our under-construction project at 360 Laurier Avenue West is an office-to-residential conversion aiming to promote convenience and environmentally friendly living for residents who value community and easy access to amenities. 

Water Use

Green construction has a strong understanding of water usage and builds water-saving devices into its design.

Conserving Water During Construction

During construction, there are various ways to reduce water use. These include:

• Low-pressure or water-efficient hose nozzles
• Sweeping surfaces when possible rather than hosing
• Washing tools and heavy equipment in buckets or water recycling systems

In addition, protecting surrounding waterways is crucial to mitigate the release of toxic building materials like paint, solvents or oils. Construction crews prevent these issues by:

• Covering storm drains
• Using mulch or control blankets
• Installing fences
• Using eco-friendly cleaning products

Conserving Water Post-Construction

Water usage after construction is complete is generally most consumed by landscaping. Watering grass, flowers, and shrubs to keep the surrounding area aesthetically pleasing is still possible. This can be done through smart irrigation technology, which measures weather conditions and soil moisture to determine when certain zones require watering.

In addition, it is recommended to find drought-tolerant plants, including ornamental grasses, which thrive without much water.

Building Use

When construction is complete, buildings typically plan for the installation of appliances and plumbing devices that are low-flow or conscientious of water use, such as washing machines, low-flow toilets, and efficient dishwashers.

Materials and Resources

According to the Government of Canada, the construction industry generates roughly 4,000,000 tons of waste annually through construction, renovation, and demolition. The global construction industry accounts for 30% of global waste, making it imperative to reduce and reuse materials, if possible, to lower that percentage.

Repurposing vacant buildings is a great way to do this. Using existing exterior and interior structures means no need for brand-new materials to a fault. This dramatically reduces potential waste and reuses materials and resources. Examples include office-to-residential conversions like the 360 Laurier. This prevented thousands of tonnes of concrete from being wasted, potentially reducing over 50% of the carbon required for a ground-up project.

Energy Efficient Construction

Opting for energy-efficient solutions can ensure a green building project is comprehensive from all angles. 

Implementing Renewable Energy Sources

Finding an optimal way to power the building once it’s finished is key to ensuring its sustainability in the long term. Popular renewable energy sources include:

• Solar: Implementing solar panels is relatively straightforward, as most building roofs are empty spaces that can be leveraged easily. Even if the roof only receives sun during morning or afternoon hours, advancements in technology have improved efficiency for these systems.
• Geothermal: The opposite of solar in many ways, geothermal energy harnesses the Earth's subsurface temperature to regulate the temperature of a building. This solution tends to be more costly but more efficient and long-lasting.

Conserving Energy

Energy efficiency isn’t just about getting energy from renewable sources; it’s also about being able to use it effectively. Here are some general conservation methods and approaches worth considering:

• HVAC: A building with adequately sealed windows, doors and floors that can trap interior air conserves energy in the long term. 
• Appliances: Opting for energy-efficient appliances can help decrease the building's overall energy consumption. 
• Smart Technology: Installing innovative technologies, like smart thermostats, throughout the building can decrease energy consumption. 

CLV Group has opted to install numerous technologies that align with green initiatives. These include, but are not limited to:

• Energy Star appliances
• Solar lights
• High-efficiency boilers

Project Size

Over the years, square footage has increased while family sizes have shrunk. Ensuring homes and buildings are of respectable sizes reduces the materials and energy required to construct and power them, including insulation, electricity, and flooring.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

According to the Government of Canada, Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. As a result, it’s critical that those environments are healthy and contribute to a higher quality of living. Simple, yet effective, ways building projects can ensure IEQ is taken into account include:

• Zero-VOC paints
• Improved ventilation
• Moisture-resistant products

A Greener Future

Green construction is not a new concept. However, like everything related to our connected world, it’s constantly evolving. It is no longer enough just to consider green initiatives, but to implement them in projects in thoughtful ways. As our urban centres grow ever denser, determining how to maintain ecosystems and reduce waste has never been more important.