Sustainable building practices have become popular in the last several decades. As consumers become more aware of the ways that their actions affect the world around them, they have turned to eco-friendly building materials and energy efficient appliances to reduce their environmental impact.
The popularity of sustainable commercial construction can be attributed to many things, not just environmental awareness. There are many reasons that businesses want to use environmentally friendly building practices.
Many consumers will support businesses that prioritize the environment. Making renovations or building a sustainable building is one way that businesses attract all new clients or customers.
In addition, sustainable products also help businesses save money. Depending on the type of changes being made and other factors, businesses can save hundreds or thousands of dollars every year just by installing environmentally friendly appliances.
In fact, some commercial buildings can reduce their utility costs to almost nothing with the right appliance installations. Some studies even show that companies that prioritize sustainability and environmentally friendly practices are also more productive.
All these benefits make environmentally friendly practices very attractive to businesses. At Litchfield Builders, we help commercial building owners remodel or build their commercial buildings to their specifications.
How Litchfield Builders Helps Businesses Go Green
Some sustainable building choices need to be made from the start of a project, others can be inserted to the project at any point. At Litchfield Builders, we help business owners make this choice at the right time during the design and construction process.
We start each construction project by discussing the client's priorities and budget considerations. Some eco-friendly building choices require significant investment up front. These installations often save money later, but the most energy efficient appliances often cost more money. In some cases, clients must decide in advance, while still securing financing, whether an eco-friendly remodel is important to them.
We help clients determine how much they can expect to spend on sustainable materials. With an accurate itemized bid, our clients can decide what fits in their budget and what does not.
Different Levels of Sustainability
Clients can decide what their level of sustainability will be. The easiest installations often consist of environmentally-friendly light fixtures, which can help business owners save money on their electric bill.
More challenging remodels are more thorough and may involve replacing appliances and windows, installing a more advanced HVAC system, and even installing solar panels.
Business owners who want to go all in on their environmentally friendly building construction or remodel can do so by changing everything from the way the building gets electricity to the way it is heated and cooled. At Litchfield Builders, we have years of experience installing these environmentally friendly systems.
Most Popular Sustainable Building Materials
There are many types of environmentally-friendly materials that commercial building owners gravitate toward. The type of materials that the commercial building owner decides upon will depend on the type of business they're running, where they spend the most energy and the type of up front investment that the building owner is willing to make.
Learn environmentally-friendly and energy efficient practices for commercial construction in Connecticut.
LED Lighting
LED lighting is very popular among nearly all business owners because they require little up front investment and still save business owners a lot of money over time. LED lighting can be installed at any time, it does not have to be installed at the time of construction.
Solar Panels
Solar panels require a more significant up front investment, so they're not right for all businesses. That said, solar panels help businesses dramatically reduce their utility bills. They're also a public display of a business's commitment to the environment. Businesses that install solar panels start enjoying savings right away, once the panels are up and running.
Commercial business owners who are interested in solar panels can talk to their solar expert to find out about tax rebates that can help mitigate the costs of the panels themselves.
Geothermal HVAC
Geothermal HVAC systems use the consistent temperature of the soil to heat and cool homes. Geothermal HVAC systems, like many sustainable commercial systems, require more money up front.
Business owners seeking a geothermal HVAC system for their home must budget for this type of expense. Shopping around can help the business owner save money on their HVAC system.
Reclaimed Materials
Reclaimed materials have a lot of character. Many business owners like to use reclaimed materials in public spaces because reclaimed materials look good and are good for the environment.
Reclaimed wood can be used in lobbies and in flooring. The scratches and stains on reclaimed wood give it a rustic quality that many people appreciate.
New Windows
Old windows produce air leaks that make temperature regulation difficult indoors. Installation of new windows with multiple panes helps insulate the building and reduce costs.
Installation of new windows is an excellent way for business owners with old buildings to upgrade and reduce energy costs.
Zero Cost, Zero Footprint
Zero cost and zero footprint systems enable business owners to negate all of their utility costs, from HVAC to electricity.
Zero footprint systems also enable business owners to run their business in a carbon-neutral way. If you're a business owner who would like to enjoy savings now and well into the future, contact a contractor to discuss a geothermal HVAC system and solar panels.
Why Should Commercial Businesses Care About Going Green?
Aside from the environmental benefits, business owners should care about going green because they can make their business stronger by doing so. By making their business more environmentally friendly, many businesses attract more customers as they save money.
Businesses that are known for being environmentally responsible enjoy a better reputation in their community. This translates to more products sold, more clients being served, more money made and more success for the business.
Getting Started with Sustainable Construction
Are you considering remodeling your commercial building? If so, are you planning to install environmentally friendly products? Leave your comments in the box below. We'd love to hear more about your upcoming project.
At Litchfield Builders, we help business owners take care of their commercial property. There are many ways that business owners can remodel and upgrade their property to enjoy savings and reduce their carbon footprint.
Installation of solar panels and LED lights are two upgrades that business owners can use to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels. Installation of new windows and a geothermal HVAC system can help as well.
If you're business owner who is thinking about remodeling your commercial building sometime in the near future, it helps to talk to an expert in the remodeling business. At Litchfield Builders, we're happy to give you information about how you can save money through a sustainable building remodel.
For more information about sustainable building practices and how your business can be more environmentally friendly download our free publication Sustainability & Green Building in Commercial Construction.
