Sustainable building restoration can present both environmental and cost advantages for building owners. Although replacement might seem like the only option, using sustainable building restoration materials and practices is becoming the preferred method over replacement. Here’s why.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Using eco-friendly materials can reduce the environmental impact of restoration. Selecting recycled and locally sourced materials is a good place to start when creating sustainable building envelopes. However, the materials should also help optimize length of service, while also ensuring they minimize impact on the environment.
Environmental impact also encompasses the following:
- Material sourcing and manufacturing’s impact on global warming
- The depletion of natural resources
- Human toxicity levels
- Energy use and production of greenhouse gas emissions used to acquire building materials
- Green manufacturing processes
- Reduced packaging
- Reduced transportation through local sourcing
- The amount of energy used during the installation process
- Potential to reuse/recycle materials during the next restoration process over disposal at landfill sites
Sustainable building restoration eliminates the use of materials with shorter service life, that contribute to natural resource depletion, and/or that produce pollutants in the manufacturing or delivery process. Reusable materials are also preferred to reduce waste.
Savings Through Energy Efficiency
Sustainable restoration can improve a building’s energy efficiency. Creating building envelopes that not just improve energy efficiency but also protect the interior from costly damage helps greatly reduce energy consumption. As mentioned above, length of service for materials and restoration processes helps reduce resource consumption and, in turn, energy. Sustainable restoration uses passive design measures and features such as:
- Spectrally selective glazing
- Thermal insulation
- Solar shading devices
- Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
- Passive ventilation
- Airtightness
Exceeding applicable energy performance standards ensures you also see longer-term energy savings.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Sustainable restoration can often be more cost-effective in the long run. The more resilient the building envelope, the more savings you’ll see in the long-term. For example, designs should consider the impact of severe weather changes that contribute to damaging winds, moisture and severe temperature changes that contribute to envelope damage. When these changes are taken into consideration, the materials used not only provide long-term energy savings but also reduce costs by minimizing damage potential and maximizing envelope life cycles.
Daylighting is also a very eco-friendly way to save energy and reduce costs in the long-term. Using high-performance glazing systems allows you to both maintain healthy, energy-saving light transmission and better manage energy flow.
Attract Eco-Conscious Tenants & Customers
Sustainable restoration appeals to environmentally conscious customers and tenants. People are more aware of issues such as sick building syndrome caused by poor indoor quality. Companies renting office space are committed to providing safer, healthier work environments for their employees, which means sustainable building restoration practices become more important to attract eco-conscious tenants. Whether you operate or rent retail or restaurant space, sustainable buildings also help attract eco-conscious customers.
Therefore, increased airtightness should not just help control energy losses but also improve ventilation and indoor air quality. Daylighting also creates softer, healthier light while providing exposure to sunshine to improve mood.
Sustainable building restoration is often the right choice whether you want to reduce your impact on the environment or reduce costs and attract paying customers and tenants.
At WellDone Inc., a building restoration company specializing in building improvements for commercial and multi-unit residential buildings throughout the GTA, we have the expertise to assess and complete your building restoration projects. If you want more information about our building restoration services, reach out to us today.