Green construction, also known as sustainable construction, is a way of building that prioritizes the environment. Green structures are designed to maintain or improve the quality of life in an area, without destroying the local environment or culture.
Modern green building first came into the spotlight in the 1960s and 70s when oil prices and the environmental movement sparked interest in energy efficiency and renewability. Since then, green building has continued to grow.
The green building market is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. States like Virginia have taken up the challenge and are creating educational programs like the Connect The Dots Green Schools Program to spread awareness about the benefits of green construction.
With this rise in popularity comes a need for new eco-friendly contractors. This type of contractor specializes in creating buildings that are sustainable from beginning to end.
Eco-friendly contractors are part of the driving force behind green construction. So let’s learn a little more about what green construction is and how you can get involved by becoming an eco-friendly contractor.
Green Construction
Green construction increases the efficiency of buildings by changing how energy, water, and materials are used. This reduces the impact on the environment and on the humans who live there for the life cycle of the building. Some benefits of green construction include:
- Improving air and water quality.
- Reducing waste.
- Conserving natural resources.
- Enhancing occupant health.
- Minimizing the strain on local utilities.
As green construction continues to grow, professionals must have the training and skill necessary to execute a green build.
How Do You Become An Eco-Friendly Contractor?
So, how do you become a professional with those skills? A lot goes into becoming an eco-friendly contractor, but to start, let’s sum it up in three steps.
1. Study Sustainable Design
The first step is learning about sustainable design in architecture. This can be done through self-study, a program, or by finding an expert to mentor you.
Some important design elements you should learn about including passive design, green roofing, passive solar, and structural 3D printing.
Passive design is designing a building that takes advantage of the climate to maintain a comfortable temperature range.
A green roof is partially or completely covered by vegetation. Roofing material is installed that contains soil and seeds, rainwater collects, and soon the roof is a thriving ecosystem.
Passive solar takes advantage of the path of the sun to heat and cool rooms. Because the path of the sun changes in summer and winter, a passive solar building is built in the direct path of the winter sun. When the path of the sun changes in the summer, less light will hit the building, preventing it from becoming too hot.
Structural 3D printing is the process of using a 3D printer to create your materials. This is important to green construction because it eliminates the need for materials to be shipped over long distances.
These, and many other design features, will be important tools for you as an eco-friendly contractor.
2. Learn About The Benefits Of Green Architecture
The next step is understanding why you use green architecture in the first place. You need to have a firm understanding of the benefits so you can explain them to clients. Some common benefits of green architecture include:
- Improving the quality of life.
- Preserving Earth’s natural resources.
- Lowering contributions to climate change.
- Building structures that will last.
- Preserving as much of the existing ecosystem as possible.
These are just a few of the many benefits that green architecture produces. As you learn more, you’ll find your own way of explaining the need for green construction to your clients.
3. Get Your Contractor’s License
Being a green contractor is similar to being a regular contractor in one important way, you need a license. In states like Virginia, you need a contractor’s license to work with clients on jobs that add up to more than $1,000.
To acquire a contractor’s license, you must pass the contractor’s exam. To be eligible for the exam, take this pre-licensing prep course. The course is designed to ensure you pass the first time, so you can start your green construction career without delay.
Becoming an eco-friendly contractor is a hands-on way to get involved in green construction and help protect the environment.
