As climate change accelerates and natural resources become scarcer, the need for sustainable construction has never been more critical. Here’s a sobering fact: The construction industry is responsible for nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions. Fortunately, the commercial industry is rapidly transforming in response. As climate change awareness grows and green technologies advance, commercial construction practices are increasingly shifting toward sustainability. More builders (including our team at Jerdon Construction) are turning to energy-efficient designs, waste-reduction strategies, and eco-friendly materials, signaling a commitment to environmental stewardship.
In this guide, we’ll explore what sustainable construction really means, its key benefits, and why choosing a sustainable commercial contractor for your next Lehigh Valley project is a smart and impactful decision.
What is sustainable construction?
Sustainable construction is the art of creating commercial spaces that can withstand busy work environments over time while also leaving a positive mark on the environment. It focuses on using renewable and recyclable materials, reducing waste, and conserving energy throughout a building’s lifecycle. But it’s not just about the planet—sustainable construction also prioritizes creating healthy, safe, and comfortable environments for the people who occupy them. Think of it as “construction with a conscience.”
Key benefits of sustainable construction
Sustainable commercial construction practices not only benefit the Earth but also offer significant advantages for building occupants. From cost savings to improved health and a cleaner environment, the benefits of sustainable construction are wide-ranging and far-reaching. Let’s break it down:
Economic advantages
Energy-efficient technologies or designs, like high-performance windows or efficient commercial HVAC units, reduce the cost of a building’s utility expenses. For instance, an energy-efficient building can reduce your commercial heating bills by more than 50%. Over time, these savings add up, providing a significant return on investment. Plus, eco-friendly properties tend to have a higher market value due to soaring consumer demand for sustainable practices.
Environmental benefits
Sustainable buildings not only preserve natural resources, like water and wood but help combat climate change by minimizing carbon emissions. They reduce waste through innovative recycling practices and the use of renewable materials, like bamboo or reclaimed wood. And their energy-efficient systems lower our reliance on fossil fuels, creating a much cleaner and healthier commercial building environment.
Improved health
Green buildings can significantly improve indoor air quality, leading to better health and productivity outcomes for occupants. For instance, a study published in the journal Building and Environment found that green buildings had lower levels of dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs,) formaldehyde, allergens, tobacco smoke, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂,) and particulate matter, compared to conventional buildings. Plus, green buildings often boast abundant natural lighting, which can enhance occupants’ mood and overall well-being.
Understanding sustainable commercial construction practices
Sustainable construction is largely defined by three key practices – reducing energy use, conserving resources, and minimizing environmental harm. By understanding these core practices, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate potential contractors for your next project and ensure they align with your sustainability goals. Let’s take a closer look:
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is the heart of sustainable construction. The idea, of course, is to reduce the consumption of energy through smart design choices and advanced technologies and appliances. For example, green buildings often feature high-performance insulation, energy-efficient windows, and state-of-the-art HVAC systems, all tailored to reduce energy waste. Renewable energy systems, like modern solar panels or wind turbines, are another trait of eco-friendly properties. A truly energy-efficient building produces less greenhouse gas emissions and has fewer operating costs than conventional buildings.
Resource conservation
Sustainable construction emphasizes resource conversation, that is, using fewer raw materials and prioritizing renewable or recyclable resources. Eco-friendly builders often use low-impact materials like recycled steel, bamboo, cork, and reclaimed wood. Or they’ll opt for locally sourced materials to reduce transportation costs. They’ll typically minimize scrap waste by optimizing material cutting or implementing a robust waste sorting and recycling program on the construction site. The idea is not only to conserve raw materials during construction but also to ensure that the building can be easily adapted or deconstructed at the end of its life cycle.
Environmental impact reduction
Beyond measures to reduce a building’s carbon emissions, sustainable commercial construction practices also prioritize measures to mitigate water consumption, protect biodiversity, and reduce pollution. Green roofs, sustainable landscaping, and rainwater harvesting systems (where rain is collected and used for watering plants, flushing toilets, or cleaning) are common ways to conserve water and promote local biodiversity. Green roofs act as natural insulators, retaining heat in the Lehigh Valley winter and keeping spaces cool in the heat of the summer. In addition, sustainable buildings are often designed to optimize the flow of natural light and essential ventilation, which reduces the reliance on artificial lighting and HVAC systems. Together, these measures leave a positive mark on the planet and contribute to a much healthier, more sustainable environment.
Green certifications: A commitment to sustainability
Today, many builders seek out green certifications to validate their eco-friendly practices and showcase their commitment to sustainability. As an example, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most commonly adopted green building rating system in the world. It’s a voluntary system that evaluates the sustainability of buildings and generally provides a framework for “healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.” To earn a LEED certification, builders must pass a rigorous exam.
Other certifications, like the WELL Building Standard or BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method,) focus not just on energy savings but on the health and well-being of the people inside. The certification prioritizes aspects like air and water quality, lighting, nutrition, comfort, and more through design and operational strategies. These certifications add credibility and value to a builder’s projects, making them more attractive to eco-conscious clients.
Sustainable construction trends to watch for in 2025
As the building industry makes rapid advances toward eco-friendly practices, here are four sustainable construction trends that are poised to shape the industry in 2025 and beyond:
- Zero-energy buildings are expected to become the norm. These are buildings that consume as much energy as they produce. Achieving a net-zero status will be more feasible (and financially savvy) with advancements in solar technology and energy-efficient designs.
- Smart building technology includes automated sensors and software that regulates systems like HVAC, lighting, and water usage in real-time. This new-age technology makes for smarter, more efficient, and comfortable living and working environments.
- Vertical and urban gardens are expected to become widespread as effective and beautiful ways to combat urban heat, promote biodiversity, and improve air quality. Gardens can grow on the interior or exterior of a building or on a building’s rooftop, transforming underutilized space into thriving ecosystems.
- Prefabrication and modular construction involve manufacturing or assembling parts of a commercial building, including walls, floors, or roofs, off-site. Off-site construction produces less waste and is often more efficient and cost-effective.
- Life cycle assessment, or LCA, is the practice of analyzing the environmental impact of a building’s entire life cycle, from construction to demolition. By analyzing things like energy use, waste generation, and material sourcing with specialized tools and software, commercial contractors can make sustainable choices at every stage of a project, and save big on costs.
Choose Jerdon Construction for your next green building project in Lehigh Valley
Whether you’re planning a commercial office build, faith-based center, or commercial renovation, choosing a contractor, like Jerdon Construction, is an important decision. Let Jerdon Construction be your guide! Our expertise in green building practices, combined with a commitment to reducing environmental impact, makes us the ideal partner for your next Lehigh Valley project. Let’s build a better tomorrow—together. Contact us today to get started on your sustainable commercial construction journey!
