Low Carbon Construction: Making Educational Establishments Greener

The increasing quality, sustainability and improving visual aesthetics of modular buildings has proved to be a game-changer in the construction industry and created the need to consider modular construction for just about any structure or development. This is particularly true in the educational sector where the process offers all the benefits of a traditional build at a fraction of the time & cost and designed to complement existing buildings. Add in the sustainability, energy efficiencies in both construction and use along with the waste reduction and reduced disruption and a compelling case is revealed.The massive choice of internal and external finishes available often surprises our clients and only reinforces the importance of considering modular.

In this article we detail how choosing Springfield for your new buildings can provide a helping hand in the UK meeting its net carbon goals much sooner.

Modular Construction And Off-Site Construction Sustainability Benefits

We have previously discussed how sustainable off-site construction of modular buildings is, but to give a recap, some of the benefits of opting for off-site construction methods include:

• Reduced lead time: advanced modular techniques can halve build times, which also means a reduction in noise pollution as builds are much quicker.
• Reduced construction cost: modular construction enables site work and building processes can be completed simultaneously which reduces labour costs and build times.
• Reduction in material waste: eco-friendly materials are often used, and waste is recycled for future projects wherever possible.
• Reduction in energy use for construction: Since construction happens in a controlled factory setting rather than on-site, overall energy use is decreased in the course of making a modular structure. Additionally, on-site energy expenditures are significantly lower, as construction times are substantially decreased with modular buildings.
• Reduced transport-related impact: 39% of global carbon emissions result from the construction field, and much of that is the result of inefficient transportation of labour, equipment and materials. By reducing overall transportation needs and optimizing the delivery of modules, modular construction is able to reduce total deliveries to building sites by 90%.
• Support for the reduce, reuse, and recycle initiative: unique to modular buildings is the ease with which they can be disassembled, either to be reused in other locations and configurations or recycled for new projects.
• Green fixtures, fittings, and finishes: modern modular designs can be made to include many eco-focused features, like dimmable LED lighting, solar water heaters, occupancy sensors, batteries for energy storage and triple-paned windows.
• Reduced disruption to surrounding communities: buildings are manufactured in well-managed factories and can be delivered and installed when required, in a much speedier fashion than a traditional build.
• Increased adaptability to existing surroundings: your modular building can be designed with existing structures and surroundings in mind, not turning green spaces into a concrete block.
• Increased energy-efficiency within the buildings: modular buildings maintain their temperature very well and require less heat or air conditioning than a traditional building.

Therefore, within the education sector, and with higher education facilitates in mind, it is worth considering modular, off-site construction for a low carbon campus.

Environmentally Conscious Buildings For The Education Sector

Environmentally conscious construction is music to our ears at Springfield, as we are keen on doing all we can to consider our carbon footprint when conducting our building projects.

If you’d like to know more about Springfield stance on sustainability, take a look at our sustainability page. Further, if you’d like some more information on projects we have previously successfully delivered, explore our case studies, testimonials and brochure. Or, to get in contact with our expert team for a friendly discussion, give us a call on 01744 851 958, fill out our contact form or request a call back we would love to work with you on your educational building needs.