The construction industry is a planning-intensive one and naturally also uses a lot of materials. In the short and long term, construction generates waste that needs to be disposed of – or even better – recycled.
Issues relating to the circular economy are being intensively debated in the construction industry. Opportunities for circular construction are also in the spotlight, not least because it is required at European level, especially if you think of ESG goals. The value and financial viability of buildings should depend above all on whether they take environmental, social and governance factors into account.
Regardless of whether you are the building owner, planner, or contractor in the construction industry, with BIM-Building Information Modeling you can plan your construction projects "sustainably" with appropriate use cases and lay the foundation for the same management of the object along the entire value chain.
Sustainable building with data
What exactly does "sustainable construction" mean? And how can BIM support sustainable construction?
First of all, the focus is on resource efficiency i.e., exactly which (construction) materials are used in what quantity or where they are originating from – ideally perhaps even recycled from other construction sites – at least that is the desirable future.
The second pillar of sustainable construction lies in energy efficiency i.e., the lowest possible energy required in the construction and operation of the building, which is powered by renewable energy sources. Here, digitization with simulations can help to identify the capacities at an early stage and take countermeasures if necessary.
In summary, the building quality should be high and its impact on the environment should be as low as possible during construction, operation, and deconstruction after its duration of use.
Sustainable building therefore includes many aspects and requires special planning. The higher the level of detail in the preparation, the better sustainability requirements are covered.
Data as "raw material"
Building Information Modeling enables better planning and management of construction projects, resulting in efficient use of resources and optimized energy requirements.
For example, precise planning of material requirements and optimization of the construction process significantly reduces waste and costs. BIM can help select environmentally friendly materials and take into account the exact use (location) and life cycle of building components to maximize their durability, substitutability, and reusability. Together with BIM you can implement simulations and analyses and measure the impact of technical equipment decisions (energy sources, insulation, technical systems, ...) on energy consumption. This allows you to remain material and energy efficient and to comply with official sustainability regulations in a simple and professional way.
Our company principle: BIM should create transparency
We all know that there is much more behind the model-based working method BIM than plans and 3D models. It requires consistent data management so that materials and energy are (re)used or saved in a targeted manner and having in mind circular economy.
In fact, modern BIM planning software programs now include additional dimensions precisely for this purpose. As 6D and 7D, you will find the information levels Sustainability & Efficiency and Management of Maintenance (Facility Management), respectively. These provide exactly the answers to the questions stated at the beginning and support sustainable construction in a “sustainable" way.
The BIMEXPERTS conclusion
Building Information Modeling and sustainability are closely linked. Applied professionally, BIM can make a significant contribution to sustainable construction. The requirements for this will continue to increase with growing environmental awareness and legal requirements; conversely, BIM can do more and more for this.
Even if the construction costs seem higher at the beginning, over the lifetime of the building you save on the operating costs, increase the quality of life of its occupants and reduce social costs in the long term.
As users and consultants of BIM services, this makes us a game changer in modern and sustainable building technology.
Make BIM your advantage with BIMEXPERTS and contact us!
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