THE ROLE OF ENGINEERS IN DRIVING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES

Engineers are integral to the development and success of sustainable construction projects. The decisions they make, technologies they use and plans they lay have sustainable construction practices at their heart, making for a more environmentally friendly construction industry overall.

Let’s take a closer look at the role these engineers are playing in driving sustainable construction practices, and how the choices they make are reshaping our future…

How Engineers are Driving Sustainable Construction Practices

Sustainable Design and Planning

For construction engineers, driving sustainability begins at the earliest stages of a project. The planning and design phases allow engineers to integrate relevant sustainable initiatives that meet today’s demands without compromising future resources.

For example, they can plan to use energy-efficient heating, cooling, and lighting systems that reduce operational energy use, making for more sustainable projects overall. They may also employ techniques like passive solar design to harness the natural elements.

By focusing on sustainability in these initial stages of construction projects, construction engineers can ensure these initiatives are implemented successfully.

Innovative Material Selection

As construction engineers play such an integral part in so many construction project decisions, they can also dictate material selection. With sustainability in mind, construction engineers have the opportunity to select construction materials that work in favour of environmental protection.

Materials such as recycled steel, low-carbon concrete and cross-laminated timber help alleviate the environmental burden that comes with the extraction, production and disposal processes involved with the use of more traditional materials. Construction engineers can play a significant role in driving sustainable construction practices by opting to select materials that have lower embodied energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The more widespread this initiative becomes, the better the construction industry becomes for the environment.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency

Striving for sustainability isn’t just about the construction process itself, but how those projects function after the process is complete. Construction engineers can optimise sustainability by designing and constructing buildings that consume minimal energy while simultaneously maximising functionality.

For example, by implementing advanced energy systems such as high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting and energy monitoring technologies, construction engineers can help reduce buildings’ operational energy demands.

And, of course, engineers also support this sustainable practice by designing and implementing renewable energy systems, like solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal systems, meaning buildings can generate their own clean energy and perhaps even achieve net-zero status.

The Future Role of Engineers in Sustainable Construction

The continued evolution of sustainable construction will rely heavily on engineers and the decisions they make. The demand for sustainable buildings is growing, and to keep up with this demand, the industry will require a workforce that utilises their skills, experience and knowledge to put sustainability at the forefront of the industry’s priorities.

Here at Mackinnon & Partners, we’re playing our part in driving sustainable construction practices by sourcing and selecting top-quality construction engineer candidates to support the industry on its sustainable journey. For more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Construction Engineering Recruitment Team.