As our earth day celebration ends, we’d like to leave you with some of the K-One’s team final thoughts on building sustainably. We’ve discussed thermal bridging and air infiltration previously. This week we’re dipping our toes into a little more about how engineering benefits the planet.
As changes in climate continue, billions of dollars are lost yearly due to building damage caused by natural disasters (Piracha, 2013). It creates an even greater need for structurally sound homes. Expertise and product quality play a large role in the stability and comfort of your home.
Impact of Expertise
Despite what one might think, older homes are more likely to face issues when the structure has been renovated. In many cases, the original design isn’t at fault (Beckmann & Bowles, 2004). For example, a building located in Cario, Egypt had been damaged by the Dahshour earthquake in the early 90s. So when it hit, the problems due to multiple renovations prior were emphasized. This resulted in walls crumbling and a broken concrete foundation (Mourad, 1996). Proper distribution is no easy task, and experts can better assess the details of your home to provide solutions to your structural needs.
Material Matters
The materials of your home are all fluctuating depending on the temperature, expand in the heat, and contract in the cold (Beckham & Bowles, 2004). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) states when a structure is built using reliable materials it can increase energy efficiency-boosting the sustainability of the home (Piracha, 2013). Therefore, experts working in tandem with quality materials are also an essential part of the construction process.
Thinking Long Term
The current state of the world around us; highlights the importance of our jobs here at K-One. We pride ourselves on our processes and are constantly looking for ways to optimize our strategies to improve the clients’ experience.
No matter what, buildings are susceptible to defects caused by the surrounding environment (Beckmann & Bowles, 2004). Compromising quality for a lower price tag can come with negative structural side effects and a detriment to the earth. It is vital to utilize the expertise of civil and structural engineers, in collaboration with experienced architects, to enjoy your home and save the planet.
References
Chaudhary, Tariq, and Awais Piracha. “Effective Contribution of Structural Engineers to Green Buildings and Sustainability.” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 40, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 97–100. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2012-0154.
Mourad, Sherif A., and Farouk A. El-Hakim. “Evaluation of Structural Integrity of Damaged Masonry Building.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, vol. 10, no. 2, May 1996, p. 73. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3828(1996)10:2(73).
Poul Beckmann, and Robert Bowles. Structural Aspects of Building Conservation. Routledge, 2004. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,url,cpid&custid=s 4132146&db=nlebk&AN=117120&site=ehost-live.