Plan B Contractors aims to help Kelowna’s commercial construction embrace eco-friendly designs and sustainable practices for a greener tomorrow.

A while ago, Kelowna’s commercial construction industry wasn’t focused on ‘green building’ or building with sustainability at the forefront. It was mainly about raising profit margins and increasing the overall circulation of funds in our economy via successful builds that served growing businesses’ needs—helping generate more employment, better living standards for locals, and, to a certain degree, boosting tourism.

However, over the past decade, we’ve seen a shift in this mindset, where goals to help organizations thrive with the help of quality construction services have met the rising need to care for the planet we call home. The commercial construction industry in Kelowna is no longer just about raising the bottom line, allowing businesses’ additional capacity to grow and expand operations.

There’s been a shift to accommodate the pressing need for environmental responsibility owing to climate changes and over-dependence on dwindling energy sources such as fossil fuels and the harm that by-products of the construction industry were causing to our environment, affecting the ecosystem’s natural balance. In light of these environmental concerns, Plan B Contractors are here to let you in on some best practices for sustainable builds.

Best Practices For Sustainable Commercial Construction:

Sustainability Starts at the Design Phase

At the backbone of every sustainable build lies thoughtful, intentional design practices. Modern commercial construction projects in the Okanagan have begun incorporating passive structural design elements to help regulate indoor temperature for reduced dependence on HVAC systems. This not only helps lower utility costs and, thereby, operational costs but also minimizes the organization’s carbon footprint in the long run.

In conjunction with this, designs are created to accommodate sufficient ventilation, lots of natural light, and innovative roofing structures to reflect heat when the Okanagan’s hot, dry summers roll around. This automatically lowers a business’s energy demands, and a well-lit, airy space does wonders for the mood of employees and guests alike.

Green Building Materials

Gone are the days when durability and quality craftsmanship were the only measures of a building project’s success. Now, environmental responsibility has become a key factor, too. The Okanagan has seen a shift in builders increasingly sourcing sustainable building materials. Some examples are reclaimed wood, recycled steel, and low-emission concrete, which ensure that commercial projects are not only high-performing but also environmentally conscious. Plus, using regional resources and materials from local suppliers helps minimize carbon footprints from transporting materials over long distances.

Water Management

If you live in or have had the opportunity to visit the Okanagan region, you know that the area is characterized by semi-arid climate conditions. This calls for increased attention to conserving our water resources. Sustainable commercial construction now leans towards incorporating water management features such as low-flow plumbing fixtures, water-efficient landscaping, and greywater recycling systems. These practices have multi-fold benefits, such as helping reduce long-term operational costs for businesses by cutting water usage and wastewater management expenses.

Energy Efficiency and Smart Technology

So far, we’ve covered how alterations to a building’s physical structure can help it be more sustainable, but utilizing innovative built-in technologies plays a huge part in green building, too. These include anything from automated lighting systems to efficient HVAC units and smart meters to help businesses monitor and manage their energy consumption in real time. These features help tenants track their energy usage as well, helping them be conscious of their consumption patterns, contributing to the overall sustainability goals of a commercial project and ultimately spreading savings over the entire lifespan of a building, which is especially beneficial for mixed-use or multi-residential buildings.

Meeting Environmental Standards 

As the pull towards environmentally friendly building practices grows stronger, commercial construction projects in Kelowna are increasingly being designed and built to meet environmental standards such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. These certifications ensure that buildings adhere to sustainable practices throughout the entire lifecycle of the project—right from planning and design to construction and operation.

Apart from benefiting the environment, this helps add value to the building project, as tenants and customers are more likely to choose and support an eco-conscious venture, making it a win-win for the builders, businesses and patrons within the community.

For businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact and increase long-term savings, the time to invest in sustainable construction is now! Plan B Contractors is constantly working towards incorporating these practices in our builds, helping shape a more sustainable future for the Okanagan’s commercial sector and ensuring that businesses can thrive while minimizing their environmental impact. Want your next project to implement green features for a better future? Let’s chat!