The construction industry has been one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental pollution. As the world becomes more aware of the need to reduce our impact on the planet, sustainable building practices are becoming more and more popular. Sustainable buildings are designed and built with the environment in mind, using materials and methods that minimize pollution and conserve resources. In addition to being environmentally friendly, sustainable buildings can also be very cost-effective, since they often use less energy and water than traditional buildings. As a result, sustainable building practices are becoming increasingly adopted by developers, property management businesses, and property owners who are looking to reduce their environmental impact and save money.
Below we’ll recap some of the key highlights and take a deep dive into how the learnings can be leveraged to help multifamily and single-family property management operators and owners prepare for the future.
What Makes A Sustainable Building?
A sustainable building is one that is designed and built to reduce its negative impact on the environment. To be truly sustainable, a building must take into account all three pillars of sustainability: the planet, people, and profit. This means that the building must be designed with the environment in mind, using materials and techniques that minimize its impact on the planet. In addition, the building must be designed to support the people who will occupy it, with features that promote comfort and health. Finally, the building must be designed to be economically viable, with operating costs that are reasonable and manageable. By taking all three pillars of sustainability into account, a building can be truly sustainable.
Benefits Of Sustainable Buildings
The benefits of sustainable buildings extend far beyond just having a lower carbon footprint. Here are just a few of the additional ways they provide value:
- Better for the environment: By reducing usage of energy sources that pollute the environment, sustainable buildings contribute to keeping the planet clean and reducing carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.
- Lower maintenance & operation costs: Sustainable buildings incorporate unique features that really ensure efficient use of resources, such as water and electricity, which drives down utility costs.
- Healthier: From lighting to thermal conditions and air quality, sustainable buildings enhance indoor environments and are better for our health.
- Reduce water usage: The installation of efficient plumbing fixtures can reduce water waste. In addition, alternative water sources such as rainwater can cut back on overall water usage.
The Role Sustainability Plays In Health & Wellness
In recent years, health and wellness have become a major focus for many people. From fitness and nutrition to mental health and stress management, there is an increasing emphasis on taking care of oneself. This trend has also spilled over into the world of real estate. As the pandemic has shown, people are more interested than ever in living in safe and clean environments. Property management businesses have responded by making health and wellness a top priority. From implementing new cleaning protocols to offering on-site fitness facilities, they are working to create spaces that promote physical and mental wellbeing. James believes that this trend will continue even as buildings begin to reopen. In the wake of the pandemic, people have become more conscious of the importance of taking care of their health. As a result, health and wellness is likely to remain a top priority for both residents and property management businesses in the years to come.
Technologies Paving The Way For Sustainable Buildings
Technology is changing the way that multifamily properties and single-family homes operate. The innovative new technologies introduced here can revolutionize your business, providing you with more opportunities for revenue growth while creating a better environment in which to live or work.
- Predictive maintenance systems: Uses the building’s data to forecast when and where maintenance issues may arise in the future — such as pipes bursting due to water leakages or heat escaping in winter — so you can prevent them before they happen.
- Utility management software: Solutions like AppFolio Utility Management use real-time data to quickly detect abnormal usage spikes and leaks, so you can fix issues fast. It can also benchmark your building’s usage against others and identify savings opportunities.
- IoT sensors: Monitors the energy and environmental conditions of a building to provide valuable insight into operations, so you can make better-informed decisions.
- Digital twin: A virtual copy of a building, a digital twin allows you to add in all past and present data that you have available, which the system uses to find opportunities for energy savings and improvements.
- Smart meters: Records data on utility use within the building or single-family home that allows property managers to gain visibility into utility usage patterns and how they can modify behavior to reduce their energy and water consumption.
- Individual smart thermostat controls: Allows for flexible programming of the building’s HVAC system through geo-fencing technology, so users can easily adjust the temperature for specific areas. This kind of technology is available for both large-scale multifamily apartment complexes and single-family homes.
- Smart dispatch elevator: For buildings with multiple elevators, a smart dispatch system can group passengers for the same destination into the same elevator reducing wait time and energy consumption.
- Rainwater harvesting systems: Collects and stores rainwater on the roof of the building, which can be redirected to use for other purposes, such as landscaping and cleaning to cut back on water usage. For single-family homes, a rain water harvesting system could be placed in the backyard to be used for gardening or lawn care.
- Living walls: Plants embedded on the side of a wall can provide oxygen and remove pollutants within the air whether they’re inside the building or on the exterior, greatly improving the air quality.
- Solar panels: While this technology has been around for a while, new improvements are driving down the cost and increasing the amount of energy each panel can collect from the sun in a given period of time.
- Solar hot water heater: Ideal for single-family rental properties in sunny locations, solar hot water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat a home’s water supply, greatly reducing energy consumption and cost.
- Dual flush toilets: Toilets can account for up to 27% of the water use in a single-family home. By switching to a dual flush toilet you can reduce the amount of water your residents use and cut back on utility costs.
Prepare Now For The Future
As more and more people become aware of the need to live sustainably, green technologies are becoming increasingly popular. And there’s no better place to implement these technologies than in multifamily properties and single-family homes. By doing so, you can not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also improve the quality of life for your residents. Additionally, you’ll be able to uncover insights that will help you further drive down your utility costs. New green technologies are being created all the time, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest advances. But if you embrace sustainable building technology now, you’ll be well ahead of the curve and reap the most benefits in the long run
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