Innovative Housing Solutions for More Sustainable Builds in The Multifamily Industry
The pressure put on property investors, developers, and builders in recent years regarding investment in more sustainable practices for the real estate industry has been immense. They all agree that green buildings are generally accumulating higher costs and more work, however, they cannot argue that these types of sustainable properties come with many positive benefits as well such as better energy efficiency, return on investment, and greater resale value. We have seen an increase in renters who gravitate towards more eco-friendly buildings and energy-conscious homes which is why it is so important for industry leaders to listen and respond to the demand for going green in real estate.
When it comes to multifamily properties, where several housing units are contained within one building or a complex, the pressure for eco-friendly construction is even bigger. Incorporating green building practices such as using more sustainable materials, energy efficient exteriors, and making use of the cargotecture process are only a few of the trends which will help the multifamily industry reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to an overall greener environment. There are now numerous innovative solutions for the real estate industry to join in the effort for an eco-friendlier world and here are some of the best-known sustainable practices in multifamily construction.
1. Green Building Materials
You can create a very eco-friendly looking exterior design, adding all the essential LED lighting, recycling stations, electric car charging stations, and any other sustainable products and services, but in order for a building to be really carbon neutral or at least attempt to cut its carbon footprint, it all needs to start from the beginning – the construction. Going for greener building materials that are non-toxic is the starting step for more sustainable builds. Switching to renewable materials and resources such as wood, grass concrete, bamboo, and recycled plastic will reduce the industry’s harmful emissions and create a healthier environment. Moreover, multifamily construction could really benefit from alternative flooring materials which have a more sustainable design. For instance, tiles and hardwood are a big no if you are trying to be more environmentally friendly, but bamboo, linoleum or any other recycled material may be the way to go in order to be kinder to the environment in the multifamily construction industry.
2. Get a LEED Certification
In a way, it has become modern to be more sustainable which is why these days we are seeing a lot of ‘green washing’ from massive corporations to small businesses which are pretending to be doing more for the environment than they actually are. When it comes to a whole industry like the real estate one or multifamily housing in particular, it is important to make sure that all the claims companies make for being sustainable and carbon neutral have to be checked and measured accordingly. Due to the fact that greener building materials do cost more than the usual ones used in construction, many companies will hide all their unsustainable practices in order to appear more eco-friendly to renters and then charge extra for it. That is the reason why a green building standard has been introduced where all those sustainability claims are checked and measured up to a specific standard and very strict rating system. Having the LEED certification for your building projects is the ultimate proof that you are using sustainable materials and utilizing green practices in your construction projects.
3. Cargotecture
As the industry is really pushing to adapt and change its unsustainable practices, innovative design trends have emerged such as cargotecture. The process which keeps growing in popularity is using shipment containers by recycling them and building new homes. Normally these massive steel boxes are being thrown away, but they have finally found a way to be beneficial in sustainable construction. They are durable, strong, and inexpensive in comparison to other green building materials which is why they have become so valuable to eco-friendly construction companies. What’s more, these shipping containers are easily accessible and could be used in various scenarios, making it an innovative solution and the go-to recycled building material.
4. Net-Zero Buildings
What net zero is generally striving to achieve is simply a design where the energy consumption is equal to the output. In multifamily construction this concept is really difficult to accomplish, however, there are a few buildings nowadays that have ticked all the criteria to fall under the label net-zero which proves that it is possible and the more this industry strives to improve, adapt and transform, the better the results will be. Some way that this can be done is by generating more renewable energy using solar panels and wind turbines. Due to technology constantly advancing, there is a high possibility that more innovative solutions will be found in time in order to help whole industries become more sustainable in their practices.
The concept of sustainability and generally being kinder to our environment keeps occupying our daily lives and puts pressure on everything from the little things like the way we do our grocery shopping to the more impactful ones such as how we build properties and design them, it is more important than ever to listen and respond to the demand and need of eco-friendly practices in big industries like the real estate one. Fortunately, there are now many advances and innovative solutions in construction, making it easier to build better and greener housing for everyone.
This article was written by a quick house sale company We Buy Any House. If you are wondering “how can I sell my house fast?”, head to the We Buy Any House website for more information relating to all property-related inquiries.