Firethorn Trust, a leading commercial real estate investor and developer, has broken ground at Barnsley340 – a 24-acre logistics development in South Yorkshire. The 340,300 sq ft logistics unit is being delivered by Glencar, a construction company specialising in industrial, logistics, distribution and manufacturing, and will be ready for occupation
One of the UK’s leading interior fitout and joinery specialists, Northern Ireland-based Mivan, has announced a record order intake in excess of £100m following an increase in demand for its services, particularly in the 5* hotel and premium residential sectors in London. Turnover for 2023 is now set to be
Considerations for facility owners and operators… While it may seem counterintuitive that fire is even a risk in spaces designed to maintain cold temperatures, cold storage in fact presents a huge fire hazard for warehouse designers and builders, life safety installation companies and facility owners. In this article we cover
McLaren Construction has been appointed to Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, as part of a select collaboration of contractors working towards improving the future of the UK construction industry. Valued at a total of £1billion, the new iteration of the framework, which is the second instalment of the original
This week is National Apprenticeship Week (NAR) and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) is supporting the annual week-long celebration of that most enduring route into work, the apprenticeship. With the UK facing a skills shortage the popularity of apprenticeships is on the rise, particularly in sectors like construction, and that’s
Modern construction is heavily involved in the fight against climate change. Through the use of innovative technologies and modern building materials, buildings can be made more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Sustainable construction in an era of the increasing climate crisis has become a universal obligation and not just a fad.
Residents and workers in the North of Tyne are being urged to take part in a survey on the future of construction and opportunities related to housing retrofit in our region so that our workforce has the relevant skills to deliver housing decarbonisation to address the climate crisis. The Energy
For a while now, the construction of homes and buildings has become more focused on sustainability and green products. However, it isn’t the same for every design. Some prioritize profits over sustainability, and others put sustainability first, or adopt a healthy blend. Wine is one area that was somewhat overlooked
Firethorn Trust, a leading commercial real estate investor and developer, has broken ground at Barnsley340 – a 24-acre logistics development in South Yorkshire. The 340,300 sq ft logistics unit is being delivered by Glencar, a construction company specialising in industrial, logistics, distribution and manufacturing, and will be ready for occupation in Q3 2023. Sitting within the established Gateway 36 development, Barnsley340 will offer increased connectivity across the Yorkshire region, located just a two minute drive from Junction 36 of the M1. With a net-zero carbon construction, Barnsley340 will also boast BREEAM “Excellent” and EPC “A” ratings, with 15% rooflight coverage, 32 EV parking points and LED lighting featured throughout. A Photovoltaic ‘ready’ roof structure will also provide capabilities for 100% PV coverage. Paul Martin, Development Director at Firethorn Trust, said: “Barnsley has become a highly sought after area for growing logistics businesses, and we are proud to be delivering another modern, market-leading scheme that will support economic growth, whilst improving connectivity across the region. “Having formally marked the beginning of works on site with Glencar, we are now looking forward to unlocking the site’s full potential and swiftly bringing the project to completion.” Also commenting on the project appointment, Pete Goodman, Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North, added: “Barnsley340 is the third high profile project appointment Glencar has received from Firethorn Trust in the last 12 months and we are absolutely delighted to once again be working in partnership. “Observing at the breaking ground event, you can see the high quality nature in terms of how the site is being developed, with steels to rise out of the ground very soon. We very much look forward to working with the project team and delivering an outstanding result.” With a best-in-class specification, BREEAM excellent target rating and delivered as net-zero in construction the development will deliver a prime logistics site that is built for the future and the varying needs of a broad range of occupiers. Less than one mile from J36 of the M1, Barnsley340 fronts the Dearne Valley Parkway, providing direct motorway access to Leeds, Doncaster and Sheffield. For more information, contact the scheme’s agents, Gent Visick and Knight Frank, or visit www.barnsley340.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the UK’s leading interior fitout and joinery specialists, Northern Ireland-based Mivan, has announced a record order intake in excess of £100m following an increase in demand for its services, particularly in the 5* hotel and premium residential sectors in London. Turnover for 2023 is now set to be over £70m. The business is also on target with its strategic growth plan to increase turnover to £100m by 2025. 100 new jobs have just been announced to support Mivan’s continued expansion and the next phase of a multi-million-pound capital investment programme is also underway. John Cunningham, Chief Executive of Mivan, said, “This strong performance is down to our clear strategy and a really exceptional team across the business and at every level. This has resulted in a high level of repeat business from the UK’s leading developers and contractors. We have a healthy balance sheet, have diversified into a wide range of sectors, and have developed an international reputation for our specialist fitout services.” “It is great to see so many world-class developments being fitted out with bespoke joinery manufactured in Northern Ireland. As a result, we remain on target with our ambitious growth strategy and will continue to invest to the benefit of our customers and stakeholders.” The record order intake includes: Mivan has recently completed its latest contract on The World – the largest, private residential ship on the planet – to fitout its luxury apartments and public areas. Over the past 12 years, it has delivered around £20m of contracts on this vessel. Mivan’s commitment to investing in state-of-the-art technology for bespoke joinery manufacture at its 110,000sqft factory in Antrim continues. Its latest investment totals around £1m and includes the addition of new on line dryer for its automatic spraying equipment and a 6m five axis CNC machine, which will be installed by Spring 2023 to further improve capacity and efficiency. Mivan has also invested heavily in digital construction technology and 3D modelling to enhance client engagement and collaboration in the design process, streamline manufacturing, and facilitate site installation. Established in 1975, Mivan specialises in the creation of luxury interior spaces – from historically significant buildings to high specification residential, 5* hotels and cruise ships, as well as museums, stadia, and offices. It employs nearly 200 people and offers a range of services to developers, major contractors and in the marine sector – in-house design development, bespoke joinery manufacture, project management and installation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Considerations for facility owners and operators… While it may seem counterintuitive that fire is even a risk in spaces designed to maintain cold temperatures, cold storage in fact presents a huge fire hazard for warehouse designers and builders, life safety installation companies and facility owners. In this article we cover the risks, considerations and best detection products when thinking about life safety for cold storage warehouses. In the last year, the UK’s cold storage industry capacity has topped 40 million cubic meters, for the football fans amongst you that is the equivalent to the bowl volume of 35 Wembley Stadiums. This is being driven by consumer demand and big business for perishable goods and pharmaceutics, making cold storage an essential cog in the UK economy. From a feasibility point of view however, cold storage is substantially more complicated and more expensive than dry storage because of the regulations around refrigerated freight. Plus, the very nature of the materials used in cold storage, means it presents a higher risk factor when it comes to fire. So as the demand for refrigerated products grows, so does the need for better fire safety. Why no two cold storage units are the same Cold storage areas vary in size, usage, and ambient temperature, meaning that any fire detection equipment or system must be specifically designed to each warehouse. You may be surprised at some of the products that may need cold storage. There are the obvious ones like perishable food (vegetables, fruits, meat and seafood, dairy products), but what about flowers and plants, biopharmaceutical products and did you know, even some artwork needs to be kept at low temperatures. Understanding the unique circumstances of the product is essential for cold storage fire safety. A bespoke fire risk assessment will determine the life safety system needed to maintain optimum fire security 24/7, protecting the goods, equipment and most importantly staff operating within the building, but this can be a complicated task to map out and assess for the responsible person. So, where to start? What are the fire risks in cold storage warehousing? Besides arson attacks and carelessness from people on site (think discarded cigarette butts), fire risks within cold storage mostly arise from electrical or mechanical faults in the conveyor systems which transport the goods around the building, wiring that is housed in the roof or faulty lighting systems. The fuels which power the evaporative condensers used to sustain the low temperatures in cold storage warehouses is highly flammable so must be stored safely, and the machines themselves can also be a major contributor to fire risk. These machines remove air moisture to extremely low levels of humidity to keep the warehouse cool, which can create an increased risk of static electricity and in the case of a fire could accelerate the spread of flames. Cold storage fires have the potential to be devasting, posing a threat to life, destroying business operations and be detrimental to the supply chain. Even small fires can cause huge damage to a refrigeration business – a rise in temperature due to cooling plant down-time following a fire, can lead to stock being damaged. The strict laws around downtime requirements make it even more important to choose the right method of fire protection. There are also considerations to be made around smoke damage, as any stock exposed to low levels of smoke over an extended period can quickly become contaminated and therefore not fit for human consumption. Of course, the issues are further compounded by the fact that modern technology now means that an increased number of warehouses are automated almost 24 hours a day, meaning very few or no personnel are on site. This makes visual identification of a fire incident unlikely, so the safety of the building is completely dependent on automatic fire detection systems – making it imperative that the system in place is up to date and well maintained. What can be done to prevent a cold storage warehouse fire? Dangerous scenarios are preventable when fire safety experts have been consulted, the correct life safety equipment is installed, the electrics and mechanical devices in use within the building are well serviced and the correct health and safety regulations are followed. Essential action when you consider preventable fires in the UK warehouse industry costs our economy upwards of £230 billion each year. A risk assessment, when carried out properly and thoroughly according to law (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005), is the first place to start. It is also advisable to get an independent audit by a consultant or insurer as this will help ensure any fire strategy for your cold storage facility is robust. Many modern warehouses now include firewalls which are a cost-effective solution to manage the risk of fire. Smart warehouse managers should also consider the safe storage of waste and other flammable materials to stop the spread of fire if it were to break out. Keeping these materials in a designated safe storage area will reduce the risk of them causing a fire. The best way to save lives of course, is to ensure automatic fire detection is in place, across your entire cold storage facility. With special attention paid to vulnerable areas. Fire specialists can advise on multiple fire detection solutions that are ideal for warehouses, but it is important to ensure that the right one for your scenario is installed. Why air sampling fire detection is a good option for cold storage warehouses There are multiple fire detection systems that can be used to protect warehouse storage, but when it comes to cold storage, you need to plan and design appropriately. Beam detectors which are commonly used in large warehouses can frost over in a cold storage situation, there are options in the market now which include heated optical elements to negate this however they might not be a device to solely rely on. Point detectors would also frost over and wouldn’t necessarily provide the appropriate cover. Flame
McLaren Construction has been appointed to Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, as part of a select collaboration of contractors working towards improving the future of the UK construction industry. Valued at a total of £1billion, the new iteration of the framework, which is the second instalment of the original framework launched by Pagabo in 2019, will run from January 2023 until January 2027 – bringing together 94 contractors across the country. The Medium Works Framework is a compliant and collaborative route to market for the public sector, which has seen over 160 projects procured through it to date. Aligned with all of the gold standard principles of procurement, the framework ensures suppliers work to the highest standard of industry practice for all built environment projects. As part of the partnership, McLaren Construction will deliver works ranging from £5million to £10million as part of Lot 4, in the regions of the Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, North West, East Anglia, London and the South East. Using the latest measurement software created by the UK’s leading social value business – Loop, for every project procured through the Pagabo framework, McLaren Construction will be able to demonstrate and report back on the social value generated through its activity. In order to be successful, McLaren needed to demonstrate the firm’s commitment to social value, providing evidence of value for money and delivering quality builds on time and to budget, alongside the digitalisation of its practices with the adoption of new technologies. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “While nationally, we have delivered many public sector works, our appointment to such an industry-leading framework is a prestigious win for McLaren, and a testament to our expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality works that maximise social value within the communities in which we operate. “The next generation framework is at the forefront of the construction sector, in terms of collaborative procurement and as a provider of innovative industry technologies, we are looking forward to playing a pivotal role in supporting the significant regeneration of communities, not just in the Midlands, but across the rest of the UK too.” Public sector schemes recently completed by the McLaren Group include the West Midlands Ambulance Service site – home of the UK’s first electric ambulance fleet in Brierley Hill, Castle Quay Waterfront CQ2 development in Banbury – a mixed-use leisure, entertainment and retail development, delivered on behalf of Cherwill District Council, and Crown House – an affordable housing scheme in Barking, delivered through the Be First London Development Framework. Other public sector projects which are currently in the construction phase include Industria – a multi-storey industrial development in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, also being delivered through the Be First framework, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich – where McLaren will be delivering vital mechanical and engineering upgrades on behalf of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. Matt Cova, managing director at McLaren Construction South, said: “This is a great achievement and will allow the business to focus on a reliable pipeline, with certainty of workload in the region that complement the existing frameworks that we work on, key target sectors and the relationships that we have.” Tom Retallick, framework manager at Pagabo, said: “We’re delighted to welcome McLaren Construction and a further 93 suppliers to the newest iteration of our Medium Works Framework. It will provide a compliant and collaborative route to market for public sector clients on all of their medium-sized construction projects and we’re glad that McLaren Construction could be a part of this.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This week is National Apprenticeship Week (NAR) and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) is supporting the annual week-long celebration of that most enduring route into work, the apprenticeship. With the UK facing a skills shortage the popularity of apprenticeships is on the rise, particularly in sectors like construction, and that’s hardly surprising given the advantages a modern apprenticeship offers for both jobseekers and employers. Though many apprenticeships are taken up by young people places are available to anyone over the age of 16 and there’s no upper age limit. Christian Atkinson is 36 and he’s been an apprentice with WCHG for more than a year, having left his job as a support worker to pursue a career in joinery. In October last year Christian was nominated for the Apprentice of the Year award at the Construction Apprenticeship Awards 2022. Christian said: “I was incredibly proud when I found out I’d been nominated. I’m following in the footsteps of my grandad, who was a joiner for Manchester Council, and I hope taking up an apprenticeship at 36 will show others it’s never too late to follow your dream. “I think to succeed in an apprenticeship you have to have confidence in your abilities, and know what it you want to achieve from your time as an apprentice. For me no two days are the same in my job, and I love learning new skills each day and having a laugh with my colleagues at the same time. I’ve even told my son, if he wants a skill for life, get an apprenticeship.” Paul Butterworth, Executive Director of Assets at WCHG, said: “In terms of building a career and furthering your education an apprenticeship very much offers the best of both worlds. “An apprenticeship is a real job where you’re a paid employee with a contract of employment, just like any other employee. But as an apprentice you also attend college part-time and work towards nationally recognised trade qualifications, and your employer will support you throughout the whole process. “So, as an apprentice, you’re both earning and learning and gaining valuable, hands-on experience right from day one. “As an employer we also benefit by recruiting apprentices. Not only are we able to recruit bright, dedicated people into our business, it also helps us develop a talented workforce that’s equipped with skills for life. At WCHG we have a business head and a social heat, and it’s fantastic to see apprentices coming into our company and succeeding, not just in their chosen carer, but in life too.” Apprenticeships at WCHG In the last 10 years more than 100 people joined WCHG through our apprentice/trainee programs. In 2021/2022 there were 14 apprentices working at WCHG, all fully supported by our employment team. This included: WCHG now recruits apprentices from six different trades (up from three last year) and so far in this financial year we’ve already enrolled a further nine new apprentices, with more to follow. Recruitment for WCHG apprenticeship positions usually takes place during the summer months and places are advertised on the WCHG website, as well as through local schools and colleges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Modern construction is heavily involved in the fight against climate change. Through the use of innovative technologies and modern building materials, buildings can be made more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Sustainable construction in an era of the increasing climate crisis has become a universal obligation and not just a fad. Modern architecture must take ecological aspects into account, as the principles of sustainability are increasingly being followed by architects as well as investors, contractors and end users. Which specific solutions make modern construction contribute to the fight against climate change? Use of highly insulating building materials One way to combat climate change is to use building materials with high thermal insulation. This enables buildings to maintain an adequate temperature, significantly reducing the energy required for heating and cooling. In addition, such building materials are often made from recycled raw materials, which further contributes to reducing the use of limited natural resources. Aluminium, glass and wood are building materials that are now a cornerstone of green construction. Good-quality timber is safe for the environment and is ideal for the construction of buildings. Its proper processing and impregnation make it a highly durable raw material (also fire-resistant). Glass can be processed almost endlessly by melting and refining. Its production does not consume a large amount of energy. It is completely non-flammable and corrosion-resistant. Aluminium, on the other hand, is the most environmentally friendly metal for the construction industry. It is recyclable without any loss of properties or structural changes and, most importantly, only 5% of the energy required to produce the virgin metal is used in the process. In the UK, the recycling rate of aluminium packaging in 2021 was a record 68%. This was a record result, demonstrating the ever-increasing public awareness of environmental issues and the widespread benefits of aluminium recycling. There is a huge demand for aluminium scrap in the construction industry, which is why initiatives such as the Council for Aluminium in Building’s ‘Closed Loop Recycling’ programme are emerging to continuously improve aluminium’s sustainability credentials. Closed-loop recycling is not yet compulsory in the UK, but all CAB members are welcome to join. In addition to the ecological aspect, aluminium is also a material that ensures appropriate parameters in terms of thermal insulation and resistance to unfavourable environmental conditions. ‘It is safe to say that we not only follow sustainable construction trends, but we pioneer them; we co-create the direction of further development in architecture and construction. Our products, which are manufactured largely from recycled aluminium materials, are used in the most prestigious investments in Europe and around the world’, says Tomasz Grela, President of the Management Board of Aluprof S.A. Aluprof’s development strategy for 2021–2025 includes moving towards climate neutrality, reducing the carbon footprint and increasing the share of recycled aluminium in production. This share is set to be 75%. It was 65% at the end of 2022. Care for the building’s surroundings The ecology of modern buildings is also influenced by concern for their surroundings. Permeable green solutions are used, giving direct access to the soil, so water is effectively filtered, relieving the pressure on the sewage network. Underground retention basins or ponds store rainwater, which can be used for cleaning or irrigation of greenery. Building roofs are also increasingly often covered with greenery. Green façades and living walls creates additional space, which, when covered with vegetation, produces oxygen and also filters the air of harmful particulate matter and carbon dioxide. The layer of greenery present on the building creates shade and absorbs solar radiation, which improves the thermal comfort of the occupants and reduces the need for cooling. The Forge office building in London An example of a modern building that stands out for its responsible and innovative approach to environmental issues is The Forge. It is a modern office building located in the London Borough of Bankside. It is the first commercial building in the UK with zero carbon emissions both during construction and later during operation. The building is BREEAM certified at the Excellent level. The construction method is another innovation of this development – thanks to the use of prefabricated components and repeatable processes, its construction was fast, precise and more environmentally friendly. The result is a structure that uses less material, generates less waste, and achieves a 19.4% reduction in carbon emissions. A unitised curtain wall façade designed by Aluprof in the MB-SE 120 SUM system was used in this innovative, environmentally friendly investment, which can inspire architects and designers from all over the world. One characteristic feature of this system is the vertical fins that act as light breakers. The entire prefabricated façade consisted of 986 parts, the largest of which measured 3 m x 4.76 m. Sara Kulturhus – the world’s tallest wooden building Another world-famous gem of architecture and sustainable building is the Sara Kulturhus, the world’s tallest wood and aluminium building, located in northern Sweden. The building is made mainly of timber, aluminium and glass. The Scandinavian traditional wood building has been combined with modern engineering solutions, making the building a benchmark for sustainable design and green construction. The lower part of the building, which houses a community centre, was made of prefabricated CLT elements reinforced with concrete panels. The glazed façades were made using the Aluprof MB-SR50 HI+ system, specially adapted for this development, which offers incredible panoramic views from inside the building. The system has an A+ certificate from the PHI Darmstadt Institute, which means that it is recommended for the construction of passive buildings. The external façade of the building’s upper floors was made from an Aluprof aluminium system specially designed for this development, which was certified by BVB and rated GOLD/BREEAM SE. The triple-glazed internal aluminium windows and doors were made in the Aluprof MB-86 SI system, which is characterised by high strength and good thermal insulation. As a whole, it provides the facility with high energy efficiency and structural durability. Let’s build a better future Implementing energy-efficient solutions in modern construction is
Residents and workers in the North of Tyne are being urged to take part in a survey on the future of construction and opportunities related to housing retrofit in our region so that our workforce has the relevant skills to deliver housing decarbonisation to address the climate crisis. The Energy Democracy Project in conjunction with the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) want to hear the views from people across the region about the future of the construction sector in the North of Tyne. While newly constructed buildings are more energy-efficient, it is estimated that 80% of the homes we will live in by 2050 have already been built, so a major priority is decarbonising our current building stock. Retrofitting homes has the potential to create multiple benefits – linking action on climate change with improving current homes and addressing health inequalities as well as creating jobs and supporting local economic regeneration. The Future of Construction in the North of Tyne Region survey can help inform the NTCA’s work on the potential of the construction sector in our region to generate new, good-quality ‘green’ jobs and the opportunities related to retrofit for our transition to net zero. Leading the project is Dr Helen Coulson, Just Transition Project Coordinator at the Energy Democracy Project. She said: “We know from our Just Transition stakeholder interviews that retrofit has the potential to create new local ‘green’ jobs across our region – but we need to ensure that our workforce has the relevant skills to deliver housing decarbonisation. At the moment, there is a shortage of retrofitters, in both professional and trade roles. “We need homes that keep us warm and help lower emissions. One of the biggest challenges that we face over the next decade is making sure that our homes are fit for the future – and this will entail upgrades to the majority of homes to reach required energy efficiency standards. That is why it is more important than ever to open a space up for citizens to tell us what obstacles they experience when considering retrofitting their home, find out if they are interested in learning new skills or upskilling to work in building retrofit, and what they would like to see the NTCA do to support the retrofitting agenda and help achieve a zero-carbon built environment. “Getting a comprehensive view of people in the North of Tyne about the opportunities and challenges related to housing retrofit will help to ensure our work will be evidence-based and decision makers locally are aware of what support and actions are needed to address climate change and improve the quality of life of residents.” The survey is open to everyone who lives in the region, not just those working in the construction industry, so we encourage anyone with an interest in making properties more energy efficient to fill out the survey, have their say, and ensure their voice is heard. The survey can be found at https://bit.ly/3Y5p6iZ The information we collect from the surveys will directly inform the North of Tyne Just Transition project and report (to be published later this year). For more information about the project, please contact the team at helen.coulson@northoftyne-ca.gov.uk and ben@energydemocracyproject.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
For a while now, the construction of homes and buildings has become more focused on sustainability and green products. However, it isn’t the same for every design. Some prioritize profits over sustainability, and others put sustainability first, or adopt a healthy blend. Wine is one area that was somewhat overlooked in terms of sustainability. But there are now a few companies that are making an effort to create eco-friendly and green wineries with their construction, and many people are getting behind it. Why Wineries? Research has shown that wine has a fairly big carbon footprint. However, it is difficult to change when most of the carbon footprint for wine comes from the way it is produced and shipped. This means the buildings and the processes themselves have to be adapted. While making sense, it is often overlooked. After all, to harvest wine, you need a lot of space, a lot of machinery, and very cool rooms to keep the wine from being spoiled. The process also uses a lot of glass and plastic, as well as wax and cork to create the wine bottles. Transportation is also a large part of wine-making’s carbon footprint, but it isn’t as easy to eliminate. However, some businesses are working to reduce transportation problems by doing things such as sourcing locally. Though many don’t want to limit distribution and hurt their sales numbers, collecting from local places supports nearby businesses and reduces the distance every component has to travel to get to the winery, which eliminates a lot of greenhouse gasses before the products are even sold. How Are They Making a Difference? New wineries are starting from the ground up, including the buildings themselves. Their new construction is being made from straw that is then compressed to make bricks that aren’t dependent on as much carbon. They also are further reducing emissions by sourcing local sand, clay, and stone while also repurposing wood from their wine barrels. Some wineries are working to reduce the plastic in their new constructions, opting to use tile instead. Concrete is also often a eco problem, because it is used for a lot of flooring thanks to its durability and ability to handle some abuse with ease from things like big vehicles or items being dropped on them. Current options to replace concrete (this said carbon, but I think you meant concrete since that was the subject) are biochar, which is burned wood leftovers. In addition to new buildings, wineries are working to reduce their carbon footprint in other ways such as using solar panels, gathering resources from local companies, and relying on the earth for cooler rooms without as much need for rooms dedicated to cooling via electricity. Knowing that wineries are working to make a difference is a huge relief to many wine lovers. This means they can continue to support the environment while drinking their favorite bottle of red, or white. That means you can still go on that wonderful wine cruise you’ve been planning for years. And if you’ve ditched your car to be even more sustainable, don’t worry, you can use a car service to get to any port of NY transportation where your cruise will depart. If you want to support these businesses making an effort to go green, there are lists everywhere of the most sustainable wineries by location. Many of them are in California, but you can find them all over. Finding the Balance New homes, apartments, and buildings are being built in the United States all the time. While this is beneficial in many ways, it does create a problem when it comes to sustainability. About 39% of all greenhouse gasses are said to come from construction, with 11% of that from the manufacturing of materials. So any time that a new building is created, you are hurting the planet, even if you are attempting to be sustainable. Thankfully, new ideas are coming out all the time to reduce the footprint buildings have. There is always more research to be done and changes to be made, but creating sustainable buildings is an amazing goal. All around the world, we are seeing construction change. Instead of basic square homes or tall skyscrapers that cut through the landscape and look cold and unfeeling, we are now seeing large complexes that include green spaces, and homes built with solar and rooftop gardens in mind. There are all sorts of ways to reduce the carbon footprint on new construction. One of the biggest is reducing the amount of materials that have to be transported over long distances. If construction companies and designers can focus on using local materials, the damage to the environment can be reduced, and still allow unique designs to be implemented. However, sometimes these designs can seem more expensive initially and so they are often not used. You can also use cleaning materials that are more green or eco-friendly; find ways to reduce water consumption via more eco-friendly materials and appliances; and use better smart lighting that turns off to save both energy and the environment. Not only does incorporating nature back into construction and design create unique pieces and buildings that are highly desired, but it allows the opportunity for new and improved architecture and health benefits to those that live there. It doesn’t have to be just one type of building either. Research has shown that residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and educational buildings all profit from the use of green space and green designs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
