Sustainability – Act short-term, think long-term
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. Sustainability also addresses the ongoing capacity of the Earth to maintain all life. For humans, sustainability is the long-term responsibility to maintain the environment. It also involves managing its resources in the most efficient way. Sustainable patterns of living meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.
The challenge is to maintain and even further improve the standard of living, while reducing the impact on our environment and its finite resources.
A sustainable approach for residential as well as commercial buildings concerns two main areas:
– The production and use of clean energy, the generation of which minimises the detrimental impact on the environment
– The reduction of energy losses by employment of suitable design and building materials with a long-term perspective
Looking at the complete life cycle, the following measures and effects should be put in place:
Suitable materials and products should be long-lasting and durable creating a long life cycle of those materials/ products and the building itself. This reduces waste created through replacements and energy used for maintenance efforts. Only recyclable materials should be installed. Old materials that are replaced must be recycled, where possible. Energy consumption during production of materials needs to be reduced by using sophisticated and efficient manufacturing facilities.
Long lasting products will also have an effect on the efficient running of a building. Energy production, use and conservation have to go hand in hand and a holistic approach to the evaluation of the impact of each measure is essential to ensure its cost-effectiveness.
First of all, the energy that is being consumed is produced in an environmentally friendly manner. Therefore the use of fossil fuels has to be minimised or completely avoided and renewable energies have to be employed which don’t produce carbon emissions which are the main driver for Climate Change.
Secondly it is important that building products have good thermal properties to reduce energy losses, which means – heat is kept in the building in winter and kept outside of the building in summer. This results to decreased heating and cooling efforts and therefore reduced energy bills. At the same time, this will create a stable room climate and less need for unhealthy circumstances from A/C and heating systems (e.g. dry air, temperature fluctuations, draft, etc). In this regard, thermally efficient products ensure sustainability to people’s health as well as the environment by reduced energy consumption.
Thirdly, these products will provide a variety of additional positives that benefit individuals’ health and well-being. Durable, strong products provide improved acoustic properties, which block noise from the street. This reduces stress levels of tenants, resulting in better sleep, ability to work concentrated/ efficiently. Moreover, it creates privacy and undisturbed time with family and friends. This sustains your health and healthy relationships.
Strong, durable products and materials will also provide increased security to people and assets, which gives you and your family and good feeling and reduced stress and worry.
Finally, sustainable products will provide sustainable investments. Especially, when installed correctly, quality products will minimise the risk of damage to your property and assets in your property. It will further reduce costs for running the building, i.e. for maintenance and repair. When planning new buildings and refurbishments, cost implications are crucial. Planning sustainably will lead to mid- and long-term savings and increased resale value of your property, which will make your asset more competitive for tenants and investors.
Sustainable Solar Services and the affiliate company Sustainable Construction Services chose the name on purpose, and accepts the challenge willingly to increase sustainability in an environment of financial pressure and uncertain economic development. It is our goal to provide means of improved sustainability to the point of zero emission buildings and neighbourhoods, collaborating with like-minded partners within the industry. Sustainable Solar Services can achieve this in a cost neutral or even cost saving way, depending on the case.
We also believe in reduction of waste, by almost 100% recycling. We recycle replaced products and also the waste created by our operations, reducing wastage by efficient planning, resulting in reduced travel, transportation, etc.
Please Contact Us to discuss our sustainable approach in more detail.
