Many parts of the construction process could benefit from greater efficiency, including the types of materials used, the methods of construction, and the addressing of material waste. Building and construction account for almost 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions (30% from building operations and 11% from carbon released during construction). New ideas and technologies will be key for the building industry to improve its environmental outcomes and improve the processes used in creating or preserving housing.
Overview | Construction Costs | Energy Efficiency and Sustainability| New Methods | Construction Innovation | Policy Approaches
Overview
Construction Costs
Since 2007, the prices for construction materials have risen significantly, reflecting the high demand for the materials used in addressing housing shortages and in rebuilding efforts after natural disasters. Due to the demand, there is often minimal negotiation on material prices, thus impacting the pricing of housing for future home buyers.
Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
Sustainable, or “green,” building practices represent a critically important component of the broader environmental movement. A sustainable house is a home that has the least possible negative impact on our environment. This means energy efficiency, avoiding environmental toxins, and using materials and resources in a responsible manner while having a positive physical and psychological impact on its inhabitants.
decarbonization
energy efficiency
New Materials
New Methods & Construction Waste Efficiency
While onsite construction is most common in the United States, many other places around the world have adopted new methods of construction that increase time, cost, and waste efficiencies.
new methods of construction
CONSTRUCTION WASTE
Construction Technology Innovations
Companies from startups to established firms have identified innovative solutions to revolutionize the construction industry, particularly in applying technology and automation to existing processes that benefit from standardization and repeatability.
Policy Approaches
While innovation may accelerate in the field of construction and design to meet environmental and cost challenges, many companies face hurdles in bringing new methods and materials to market.
Ivory Prize Winners and Finalists Addressing Environmental Challenges and Construction Technology
2021 Construction & Design Co-Winner - BamCore
Since April 2020, “unprecedented spikes in lumber prices have added more than $24,000 to the price of the average, new single-family home, and nearly $9,000 to the price of a multifamily home,” according to the National Home builders Association. BamCore’s innovative bamboo-based framing solution has the potential to address this crippling rise in material costs, provide a more climate positive supply chain, reduce the need for skilled labor and speed up the build time by more than 50 percent, while producing a much more energy-efficient home.
2021 Construction & Design Co-Winner - Curtis + Ginsberg Architects (C+GA)
Often sustainability and affordability are competitive goals for housing development. However, C+GA is pioneering new approaches to break through the budgetary barriers that previously made building energy-efficient and affordable multifamily housing difficult. C+GA has designed the largest completed Passive House affordable housing building in the United States. Their primary strategy in designing energy-efficient Passive House standards is to reduce the operational cost of buildings, in turn, maintaining affordability long after a building is built, while providing healthier buildings for residents.
2019 and 2022 CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN FINALIST - fORTERRA
Forterra’s Forest to Home Initiative brings together a coalition of Tribes, communities of color, land trusts, and architects to re-engineer the affordable housing supply chain. At the center of the initiative is an all Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Modular prototype. The CLT Modular prototype replaces traditional carbon-intensive building practices and materials and lowers the cost of construction. It yields a triple bottom line solution to affordable housing bringing environmental sustainability, economic development and social equity. This is a long-term sustainable solution for future generations.
2022 Construction & Design Finalist - Tstud
Tstud's™ mission is to develop and inspire sustainable, tangible, energy efficient building solutions. The BareNaked Tstud™ offers a simple solution to impact the energy efficiency of any building structure by almost eliminating the thermal bridge standard lumber allows. Tstud™ builds have owners already saving 15%-75% on their HVAC costs depending on insulation type with savings not just annually, but for the lifetime of the structure.
2021 Construction & Design Finalist - Icon
ICON develops advanced construction technologies that advance humanity. Using proprietary 3D printing robotics, software and advanced materials, ICON is shifting the paradigm of homebuilding on Earth and beyond.
2019 cONSTRUCTION & DESIGN FINALIST - baya build
Baya Build is a technology company that offers a revolutionary, ultra efficient design thru build alternative to developers of housing and commercial structures. Baya’s mission is to build communities that optimize health, promote greater well being and provide for equitable living. James Casper, the founder, and CEO of Baya Build states “Our goal is to democratize the industry, enabling the fairest value to the consumer. With the end result being affordable luxury, and high-performance structures to a wide range of customers. Furthermore, consumers have the opportunity to design eco-friendly premium pre-designed homes in minutes on Baya Build’s website that can be erected in a few days. Developers and home builders are not left behind as they can achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency through the website by saving valuable time on design, construction, and prediction of costs in their building processes”.