The construction industry is one of the major resource consumers in the country, using up around 70% of the nation’s electricity resources every year. It is also a consistent top consumer of water and other resources, driven by the necessity of providing critical services to building occupants.
The building sector is also generating large amounts of harmful operational by-products and toxic emissions. Waste disposal and environmental pollution are always among the challenges faced by facility managers, because these can potentially and negatively affect the health and safety of human occupants.
With such high costs in terms of resources and impact, the Green Building Movement is looking more and more appealing to building owners and the painting companies who often deal with these cost challenges.
Why Painting Companies are Going Green
Environment-friendly buildings use less amounts of energy, water and materials during construction, and utilize resources more efficiently in the course of its operational life. Green designs work with the environment, not against it, such as in the use of natural light to illuminate interiors. Painting companies supporting green construction use low- to zero-VOC emitting products.
Because of the more efficient resource consumption involved in the construction and operation of green buildings, there is a great potential for cutting expenses. Green facilities are also built with sustainable features that imply long-term operational cost savings.
Green Building Costs
At the beginning of the Green Building Movement, there has been a general perception that green buildings are more expensive to build than conventional buildings. That was primarily due to the initial inexperience of the building experts — designers, architects, engineers, painting companies and contractors. Green building design was highly-experimental in those days, with designers taking more time to incorporate the new green features.
Furthermore, green materials such as the coating systems used by painting companies cost higher then, because these products were not very abundant. In those days, few manufacturers produced low- or zero-VOCs emitting formulations.
At present, however, environment-safe buildings are less costly to build, because the green building technology has improved greatly. Builders have more experience in environment-friendly construction, manufacturers have enhanced the science of green products formulations, andpainting companies have grown in knowledge and expertise of green applications.
Financial Benefits of Green Building
At each green building successfully built, builders learned important lessons and gained new knowledge that allowed the sector to gradually decrease the costs involved in building and maintaining green buildings. Below are a few of the cost benefits in maintaining a green building:
1. Lesser energy costs
Better natural lighting and heat circulation within the facility lowers electricity and gas consumption. The adoption of renewable power sources also reduces energy expenses.
2. Lower maintenance costs
Green buildings implement sustainable systems that ensure longevity of the structure, from non-toxic and resistant protective coating systems installed by painting companies, to improved thermal systems for better air circulation and ventilation.
3. Health benefits
Lesser toxic emissions and lower pollution levels increase the environmental quality of within the facility. With cleaner air, building occupants and workers are less likely to contract pollution-related illnesses that drive up health care costs.
4. Increased productivity
Green building employees and occupants spend their indoor hours in healthier and more comfortable environs, increasing the sense of well-being that boosts productivity.
