The Many Environmental Benefits of Tilt-Up Construction
From energy-saving light bulbs to hybrid automobiles and LEED-certified buildings, it is obvious that “green” will be a way of life in American culture. Additionally, it will impact the building industry for the foreseeable future. Today on the blog, our tilt-up construction company shares why it is an environmentally friendly building from the ground up. So, what exactly are the environmental benefits of tilt-up construction?
The Benefits of Tilt-Up Construction
To start, our commercial builders explain that before sustainable design became a motivator, high-quality concrete tilt-up projects were built. They had the goal of producing buildings that minimized the dynamic variations in temperature around the building. Tilt-up structures were previously known for their improved thermal efficiency. This is even before sustainability became a term in the industry.
Interestingly, our general contractor Sacramento explains there is no way to obtain LEED certification using solely the credits provided by tilt-up concrete.
LEED Certification
Although tilt-up construction cannot achieve LEED certification on its own, it is a building shell technology that gets simple credits. It works at delivering valuable points toward certification or propelling your project to the next level of sustainability. Why not go with the approach that produces the most “green”?
Site-casting concrete pieces provide several benefits for overall sustainability. To begin, all of the major components for a tilt-up construction may be obtained locally. This aspect, along with on-site tilt-up panels, decreases the amount of gasoline required to transport goods to the project site.
Building envelope efficiency is extremely essential in lowering energy consumption and costs in sustainable projects. When compared to several competing technologies, tilt-up structures feature a tighter structure and less air intrusion. The thermal mass effect—inherent concrete’s capacity to absorb and store energy—can also be coupled with optimal insulation solutions to provide maximum thermal performance.
In the Long Run, Tilt-Up
A building must be maintained throughout time in order to be genuinely sustainable. Tilt-up structures have achieved life spans exceeding 100 years. These buildings not only withstand the test of time, but they also have a very low maintenance profile, lowering expenses and product usage. The environmental consequences of decreasing maintenance expenses are sometimes underestimated. However, they have a major influence on a building’s overall sustainability.
Tilt-up wall panels’ innate resilience allows normal wear and tear. Additionally, it also provides the option of recycling panels in the case of a building expansion or restoration. Repurposing wall panels as site fill or pavement sub-foundation material minimizes total construction waste.
Collaboration for a Better Tomorrow
Manufacturers of construction products are also trying to develop products that improve the tilt-up structure while also contributing to sustainability. Tilt-up construction uses 80% less raw material and natural gas to manufacture and distribute than traditional full-size brick. Because of the production method and decreased weight, less clay and shale are required. Thus, less energy is utilized to create and distribute the product.
As the “green” movement pervades more parts of life, we examine the influence of our work and the legacy we will leave. The structures we design have a long-term impact on both the environment and the people who inhabit them.
Contact Headwaters for Tilt-Up Construction
Follow us on Facebook today to see more of our tilt-up construction projects! We would assist you in your tilt-up construction project. Contact Headwaters Construction Inc. today for commercial building services in Sacramento.