Posted by Sustainability Editor

Why Sustainable Architecture & Construction are Good for Business

Global businesses are increasingly focusing on sustainability. Contributing 39% of global carbon emissions, there is particular pressure on the construction industry as well as those in architecture and design. Along with preserving our natural resources, the success of companies within these sectors will progressively rely on their continuing to search for more eco-friendly solutions in 2020 and throughout the decade ahead.

New technology and production processes are improving the green credentials of materials used for a variety of design projects, and alternative approaches to sustainability such as offsite production, retrofitting and refurbishing are becoming more widely used in these sectors.

Sustainable design and manufacturing are equally important for the companies who supply these services as well as those who employ them. Whether for office refurbishments or new buildings, businesses should seek out eco-conscious architects, designers, and contractors to help deliver workplaces which benefit their staff, their reputation and the environment.

Here are three reasons why creating a sustainably-built environment is essential and why businesses should take a green approach to their design needs:

Environmental protection

The most important reason architecture, design and construction companies should become more sustainable is the benefits to the environment. 17% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) come from commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Therefore, changes in how these sectors operate can help make the country a cleaner and healthier place. Why Sustainable Architecture & Construction are Good for Business

New decoration technologies also contribute to a concerted effort to protect the environment. One such example comes from premium Sintered Stone brand Neolith’s HYDRO-NDD 2.0, which uses water-based inks rather than solvent reliant variations to reduce CO2 emissions. Another is Neolith’s partnership with PURETi, a leading manufacturer of water-based photocatalytic preventative maintenance solutions, which offers architects and designers a sustainable surface treatment for exterior façades—especially useful for commercial buildings and skyscrapers in busy cities.

Additionally, materials made of natural components can be recycled, minimising the amount of waste going to landfills. Building a circular economy into construction projects from the design stage can maximise re-use of components and reduces embodied carbon through a building’s whole lifecycle.

Offsite rather than onsite construction also reduces the amount of energy used, minimises waste and extends the lifespan of materials. Rather than demolishing existing building stock, retrofitting and refurbishing should always be considered first, as they create more energy efficient, high-performance buildings which cost less to operate, increase in value and are aesthetically pleasing.

Industry leaders

Designing and building sustainably benefits the companies who offer these services as well. Working towards protecting the environment helps build and maintain a good reputation, painting them as leaders in their respective industries and demonstrating their dedication to CSR.

This article was originally published by CSO Magazine. To read the entire article, click here.

Steps the Logistics Industry Needs To Take To Be More Sustainable

There are a lot of global challenges involved in fighting climate change and making our environment more sustainable. We have written about the dire state of the environment before, and it’s easy to read such discussions as having to do solely with specific habitats or ecosystems. That’s fair enough, and it’s those ecosystems that, in some cases, are going to need the most direct rehabilitation. But it’s also important to maintain some global perspective and focus on some of the larger causes that can help to slow, and hopefully stop climate change worldwide.

Sustainability in the logistics industry is one such cause. Gary Marion wrote about transportation pollution for The Balance and clearly conveyed the relatively disastrous impact that modern supply chains can have. As he pointed out, an inventory item that arrives at a warehouse for distribution today will typically have been transported by multiple trucks, forklifts, possibly airplanes, and possibly cargo ships. This process, multiplied by innumerable product orders and across thousands of companies around the world, accounts for a significant portion of worldwide greenhouse emissions – not to mention a great deal of energy and material waste.

Considering all of this makes it clear that a more sustainable logistics industry, and more energy-efficient supply chains, represent important steps toward a healthier climate and recovering environment. So here we’ll look at a few steps that can be taken toward a more responsible industry.

Driver Education

Drivers are not the primary cause of emissions in the modern logistics industry, but they carry more responsibility than most people probably assume. Taylor Fasulas of Verizon Connect Australia wrote about driver education as a possible solution, suggesting that more informed and regulated drivers could help to lower fuel costs (and ultimately, fuel emissions). As she pointed out, simple education can make drivers more conscious of how the way they drive affects fuel consumption. For example, an idling truck, according to the article, can consume a litre of fuel every hour. If companies with busy logistics operations better educate their fleet managers and drivers on points like this, it can result in significant fuel conservation and thus lower emissions.  Steps the Logistics Industry Needs To Take To Be More Sustainable

Going Electric

While certain electric cars have more benefits than others, and no two are exactly alike, it’s accepted at this point that by and large they have lower CO2 emissions, and are thus far better for the environment than traditional vehicles. More important for this conversation, though, is that they’re also becoming feasible at an industry supply chain scale. Writing on the subject of the environmental friendliness of electric cars, Science Focus noted that manufacturers are now convinced that they can “build electric cars with a comparable range and speed to their petrol counterparts.” That doesn’t mean these cars or the manufacturing of them have been perfected – but it does mean that companies can begin restructuring their shipping fleets to include more electric vehicles, and significantly reduce emissions.

Implementing Supply Chain IoT

The Internet of Things can also play a significant role in making modern supply chains more sustainable, and in fact is already doing so in some cases. IoT-connected sensors can be built into fleet vehicles to monitor driving performance and produce data that can be used to improve practices and reduce unnecessary emissions. Products and store shelves can be outfitted with other sensors such that inventory is tracked automatically and shipping occurs only when necessary. The benefits in this case are varied and wide-ranging, but can ultimately do a great deal to reduce wasteful logistical activity.

By implementing these steps, companies in the logistics industry can take significant strides toward a more sustainable future. And ultimately, this could be one of the more impactful global efforts we see toward stopping the advance of climate change.

Exclusively written by Sab Mitchell for liveablecities.org.au

8 Ways to Transform Used Shipping Containers

The global conversation on climate change and sustainability are becoming more urgent. This has caused people to seek out solutions to reduce negative impacts on the environment. A great way to become more sustainable is to repurpose existing materials. One increasingly popular trend is the transformation of old shipping containers.

These containers are built from high strength steel, made to withstand the harsh conditions of the high seas. Their industrial appearance may seem off-putting, but there’s something charming about an object taking on a second life after it’s already travelled around the world. The shipping container is a symbol of recycling, but can also be transformed into something unrecognisable.

Here are some examples of how they can be repurposed:

Restaurants/Cafés
Shipping containers are the perfect size for a café, restaurant or food truck. They don’t require much alteration and can be opened up for a great indoor/outdoor space. Mozza & Co., an Italian eatery in Paris, use a container as a kitchen while customers dine on picnic tables outside. London’s Wahaca Southbank uses eight containers for a multi-level Mexican restaurant overlooking the Thames River. Toronto’s Market 707 is a community project which uses salvaged containers as stalls for a street food market.

It’s equally important for businesses to choose sustainable furniture for their spaces. By working with sustainable commercial furniture suppliers, businesses can help support forests and local communities.

Art Galleries
Because they’re easily modified and portable, shipping containers make ideal exhibition spaces. One example is GAD in Norway, a multi-level gallery which can be disassembled, moved and reassembled in only a few days. Another is ArtBloc, a crowdfunded gallery and performance space in New York which combines two shipping containers into different configurations.

Pop Up Stores
The retail industry is also using shipping containers to create pop up stores. The containers have the benefit of being portable and cheaper than a traditional building. The New Zealand city of Christchurch even built an entire pop up mall from shipping containers after its devastating 2011 Earthquake. 8 Ways to Transform Used Shipping Containers - yellow shipping container

Hotels
The tourism industry has a variety of negative impacts on the environment. This is why many hoteliers are taking steps to become eco-friendly. Hotels have taken advantage of the versatility of shipping containers to create inspiring designs. Australia’s Hougoumont Hotel makes use of the containers’ naval industrial appearance to fit in with its port town surroundings. The fabulously colourful Hotel WineBox in Chile uses salvaged containers and repurposed furniture for a unique hotel/winery experience with a focus on sustainability.

Farms
One ingenious use of shipping containers is for agriculture. Australian company Sprout Stack uses containers for vertical farming. Chief executive Hugh McGilligan says their farm uses 95% less water than traditional farms, and they reduce food miles by only selling to local businesses.

Schools
Unlike traditionally constructed classrooms, repurposed shipping containers have the advantage of being sustainable and affordable. They’ve been used to support underprivileged communities, like the DigiTruck project in Africa, which converts shipping containers into mobile IT classrooms.

Housing
It’s hard to imagine a house being made from an industrial container, but there are an amazing variety of living spaces which have been created from old containers. A family in Ohio used containers to create a sustainable cabin-style home in the hills, known as The Box Hop. Two architects in California repurposed containers to build stylish fire-resistant houses in response to the 2018 California wildfires.

Swimming Pools
Another creative idea for shipping containers is to convert them into swimming pools. Not only are they the perfect size, but they’re also easy to install and have the advantage of being transportable.

There are many benefits to transforming shipping containers. They provide an excellent and affordable alternative to traditional construction. They’re durable, portable, and incredibly versatile. Shipping containers are an ideal solution for creating sustainable spaces.

Author’s bio:

Maia Fletcher is a freelance writer from the sun-kissed city of Gisborne, New Zealand. When she isn’t writing, Maia enjoys travelling and reading books on a vast array of topics. She carefully plans her trip to reduce her carbon footprint as much as possible. Read more about Maia on her blog.

Helpful Tips for Managing Household Waste

The following article was kindly written and contributed by Briana Jones.

Waste management and waste reduction are pressing issues around the world. With the global population predicted to balloon to 9.7 billion by 2050, it’s imperative that we find ways to minimise waste and manage it properly. If we don’t, we’ll soon be living in a world with more waste than available resources.

Thankfully, there are many ways that individuals and families can contribute to the worthwhile cause of managing and minimising waste. Here are some simple, helpful tips to help manage waste in your Australian home.

Avoid Plastics

Plastic is highly convenient, which is why it’s difficult to give it up completely. Still, you can take baby steps by minimising the use of plastics. In particular, avoid plastic bags as much as you can. Bring your own reusable bags when shopping. If you don’t have disabilities that require the use of a plastic straw, decline it. Are you a coffee lover? Get a high-quality insulated container so you can get your hot or cold beverages to go. A good way to minimise your dependence on plastics is to evaluate where, when, and how you use plastic and make small adjustments there.

Minimise the Use of Paper

Except for a few circumstances, paper is highly recyclable. However, it still remains as one of the most common types of waste to end up in landfills. This means that we also have to be mindful of how we use paper and minimise where we can. Consider unsubscribing to various mailing lists, transact electronically as much as possible, and opt to read online magazines and newspapers (especially if you don’t read cover to cover). If and when available, ask merchants to not print a receipt and send you a verified e-receipt instead. In the kitchen, you might want to switch from using paper towels to rags that you can wash over and over. To up the ante even further, don’t buy the rags but make them from old clothing that aren’t fit to be worn anymore instead.

Hire a Skip for Big Projects

If you need to dispose of a lot of waste, the usual trash bins won’t cut it. Hire a skip instead, so you can better manage both the volume and the variety of rubbish you’re dealing with. With a reliable skip bin provider, you can get the correct skip bin size and type where you can throw in general waste, green waste, bulky and solid fill waste (like rubble or bricks), and recyclable heavy materials like white waste. Once you’re done, just call the skip company and they’ll pick up the bins to ensure that every piece of trash is sent to their correct destinations. If you need to dispose of hazardous materials like chemicals, pesticides, or old vehicle tyres, get in touch with your skip bin provider so they can help you with proper disposal.

Compost What You Can

A lot of kitchen waste like fruit and vegetable peelings and garden waste like leaves and branches can be composted. You don’t even need to dig up a traditional pit to be able to compost. All you need is a heavy-duty bin and you’re all set. If you don’t have a garden of your own where you can use the compost, look around your neighbourhood. There may be homes that need some fertiliser for their plants and flowers. There might even be a nearby farm where you can donate compost and compostable waste.

Recycle or Repurpose

There are plenty of things in your home that, at first glance, might seem like waste but can actually be recycled or reused in some other way. Glass and plastic containers can be used to keep leftovers. They can also be used as storage solutions for various items like craft materials. Printer paper can be turned into scratch paper for your home office. Other possible uses include making grocery lists or as drawing paper for your toddler. Be creative! You can turn to the ever-helpful internet to discover different ways on how to recycle or re-purpose various materials at home.

Buy in Bulk

Most of the things we buy for our home come in different kinds of packaging. From food to bathroom essentials, our household needs come in plastic bags, boxes, or packets. Buying in bulk can help minimise the waste that comes from packaging. Visit the bulk food section in the supermarket where you can buy cereals, rice, spices, and dry foods. You can store these at home using the above mentioned glass and plastic containers. Get large containers of shampoo, liquid hand soap, detergents, and other non-perishable goods and necessities. The more you buy in bulk, the more you can reduce the amount of waste you generate at home.

Donate

If there are items lying around in your home that you aren’t using but are still serviceable, consider donating them instead of just letting them gather dust. Schools, orphanages, churches and religious institutions, and charitable organisations are always looking for donations in kind like clothes, blankets, shoes, books, and even small appliances. Don’t hoard! Unused items take up precious space in your home. Moreover, living amongst clutter can make you sick (allergies, anyone?) and even affect your mood.

Those living a zero-waste or at least a low-waste lifestyle is certainly admirable. However, it’s not easy or even possible for some people. Still, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t make the effort to properly manage waste and minimise the amount of waste we generate where we can. Consider these helpful tips to keep your home clean and healthy, and ultimately contribute to protect the planet.

Reasons Why You Should Get Sustainable Gym Equipment

The following article was kindly written and contributed by Sally Norton.

One of the biggest issues of today is making sure that our lovely planet remains a safe environment for all living beings. People are looking for all kinds of ways to become environment-friendly, reduce their carbon footprint, and start using sustainable sources of energy. With that in mind, it is time to see how to make one of the best and healthiest activities we all can do more environmental-friendly – a workout! Eco-friendly gyms are becoming more and more popular, so let me talk you through all the reasons why you should get sustainable gym equipment!

Sustainable gym equipment – why is it so good?

With all the benefits of renewable energy, people can drastically improve their lives. When it comes to working out, multiple surveys show that more than 60% of people prefer sustainable gym equipment over the regular one. It is a great way to motivate people by showing them your goal is to become eco-friendly, and that they have a saying in that as well.

So, what makes sustainable gym equipment so good? Some of the reasons are:

  • it turns human energy into electric energy (it may sound like The Matrix, but it’s not!)
  • it helps to reduce electric energy costs
  • works as a great motivational tool
  • it pushes people to be eco-friendly in other parts of their lives as well
  • having sustainable gym equipment is an excellent advertisement for your gym

Utilizing human energyReasons Why You Should Get Sustainable Gym Equipment

A workout is an effective way to lose body fat and weight. Furthermore, it helps you stay healthy, active and energized. However, there is so much more human energy can do. Gym sustainable equipment has micro-inverters that function on the same principle as wind turbines or solar panels. They can harness more than 70% of human energy and turn it into utility-grade electricity.

Reducing electricity costs

Imagine having just a couple of people working out for an hour or two, producing electricity. If you have a large gym with many members, the numbers will only go up. Sustainable gym equipment will help you offset power consumption and consequently reduce your bills. 

Everything it takes is a little motivation

People need motivation in their lives. It helps us throughout the day and keeps us more productive. A large number of people, myself included, need the motivation to work out. Sometimes it is tough just getting out of the bed. Even though kettlebells can be your best ally, not everyone will pick them up easily and start working out right away.

Well, sustainable gym equipment may just be the motivation people need to finally start going to the gym. It is important to note that there are more ways to make your gym eco-friendly, and I will return to that a bit later. Nevertheless, having a healthy environment is an excellent motivator for almost everyone.

Advertise your gym in the right way

Sustainable gym equipment will help you advertise your gym and get more members. It is as simple as that. I talked above about the power of motivation, and if people understand the quality of your gym, it won’t take them long to sign up and start giving their contribution while working out.

It is also important to understand what other strategies you can implement to make your gym more eco-friendly!

How to make your gym eco-friendly

Now that you understand what are the reasons why you should get sustainable gym equipment, let’s see how to make the first step and start improving your workout space.

Contact sustainable gym equipment companies

Every good plan needs a partner. With that in mind, you should reach out to any companies that create sustainable gym equipment, and try to make a deal with them. It is always better for your wallet to purchase multiple items at a discounted price than to buy one at a time at full cost.

You will probably get a lot of useful advice on how to set up and maintain the equipment as well.

Use a smart thermostat

Even though you can’t really work out with it, a smart thermostat is a great addition to your environment-friendly gym. First of all, it helps reduce energy consumption. Second, it helps you to effectively use heating energy in your gym, and regulate the temperature in the best way possible.

Remove air conditions and fans – you don’t need them!

It is best to use natural airflow by opening windows. There is really no need to use air conditioning, especially if you have a smart thermostat installed already. Nevertheless, it is important to let the fresh air inside. On cold days you can open the windows between the practice sessions, and have everything fresh and ready for the next group.

Unplug equipment when not in use

Having sustainable gym equipment is one thing, but using it properly is a horse of another colour. With that in mind, understand that one of the best practices is to unplug all equipment when not in use. It draws the electric power even when turned off, so unplug everything before you leave the gym. That does not include only work out machines that run on electricity, but also your computer and any other machines you have inside.

Other good practices for an eco-friendly gym

Next to using sustainable gym equipment and implementing these few strategies we talked about, there is so much more you can do to raise sustainability awareness in your community. You can limit paper use, install filtered water equipment, use efficient lighting and eco-friendly cleaning products, and recycle.

The possibilities are endless, all it takes is a bit of imagination and will power.

Reasons why you should get sustainable gym equipment – delivered!

I hope that these reasons why you should get sustainable gym equipment are more than enough to put you on an environmental-friendly path. Keeping our environment healthy and safe for exercising is an important task, and there is nothing that stops you from doing what you can to make it better. Stay strong, stay green, and keep practicing!