Why we should all give up unsustainable practices for Lent

While many people will be giving up alcohol or chocolate for Lent, those of us in the built environment should be setting our sights higher, and start cutting out unsustainable practices for Lent and beyond. Globally, the construction industry accounts for 39% of the world’s carbon emissions. If we’re serious about protecting the environment, this needs to change. Fortunately it doesn’t have to be as painful as giving up your favourite sweet. There are plenty of ways to make buildings more sustainable, from using eco-friendly materials to improving a build’s energy efficiency through proper insulation.

Reuse, Recycle

A great way of reducing your impact on the environment is by using recycled materials for a build. The process of creating new materials can be a significant source of carbon emissions. This is why it’s important to recycle them, as by considering the life cycle from the design stage will maximise a material’s useful life, so less ‘virgin’ material will need to be made. We make sure our SonaSpray finishes are made from recycled cellulose paper to help minimise our impact.

Natural and Renewable

Some materials are more environmentally friendly than others. For example, concrete requires an intensive industrial process to create and as such has high carbon emissions. We encourage people to instead look to more natural resources with a smaller carbon footprint that are rapidly renewable, including plant-based ones such as timber and cotton. These materials can effectively increase the green credentials of the building project by sequestering rich stores of carbon for the life of the structure or application. Of course, where possible, it’s still best to use recycled versions. Also if a product needs adhesives or inks, it’s better to use water-based varieties over solvent-based ones.

Efficiency is Key

The bulk of the construction industry’s emissions are operational. This means energy required to heat and light buildings. An excellent way to cut down on this (and the extra bills!) is by making a build as energy efficient as possible. Using good quality insulation improves efficiency by slowing down the rate of heat transfer through walls and ceilings. Our Sonatherm is a great option for improving energy efficiency while also reducing noise levels.

At Oscar we stock a range of environmentally friendly products and effective acoustic insulation. If you’re looking to do your part, check out our website here.