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Every April 22, the world comes together to celebrate Earth Day. This holiday is a time to reflect on how far the world has come with positive environmental change, but it’s more critical than ever in the 2020s amid the climate crisis.

Honoring Earth Day is a priority for many organizations, including those in the construction industry. How can you observe the holiday?

What Does Earth Day Mean to Construction?

Earth Day is vital to construction because the sector reaches worldwide and can negatively affect the planet. A 2019 report from the International Energy Agency reveals the construction and building sector accounts for 39% of CO₂ emissions and 36% of energy use worldwide. As the world’s population grows, the demand for buildings and energy will rise.

The environmental impact is concerning, but advancements in the industry provide hope for the future. For example, solar power has quickly become a power source for many homes and commercial buildings. Solar Energy Industries Association data shows solar power constituted half of America’s new electricity-producing systems in 2022.

Earth Day is a time for the construction industry to see how far it’s come and the positive outlook for the future. The building sector is vital for everyday life, so it’s critical to recognize Earth Day and use it as a vehicle for positive change.

How Can Construction Celebrate Earth Day?

Earth Day is only one day in the year, but it provides an excellent opportunity to commemorate environmental awareness and demonstrate care for the planet. Implement these five ideas to celebrate Earth Day and improve your construction operations.

Reducing Waste

Trash is a significant problem in construction sites. Contractors may show carelessness in wasting materials and leaving scraps behind once the project has finished. Other causes of waste include torrential weather ruining a structure or thieves vandalizing a construction site. The debris left behind often ends up in landfills, increasing environmental impact.

European Union data shows construction and demolition are responsible for over one-third of waste generation on the continent. The waste comes from wood, concrete, metal, plastic and other materials.

This Earth Day, find ways to reduce waste in your construction projects. Try integrating analytics into construction using building information modeling software, which can pinpoint how much of each material is necessary for the project and reduce the resources consumed. Gauging a precise number also saves money, which is critical as inflation has hit the industry hard.

Renting Machines

You often hear these three words for Earth Day — reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce and reuse have their place in the construction industry by renting machines. Renting your equipment lowers the demand for new products and keeps the current ones in use.

Some projects may require specific equipment you only need temporarily. Such an occurrence is where renting is ideal because you can return the item and save money compared to buying and maintaining the machine over the years.

When seeking a rental, you must do your homework on the costs. Typically, renting is cheaper than buying. However, hidden fees can increase the price during your rental period and go over the budget in the long run. Treat the machine as your own because you’ll want other companies to use it and repeat the environmental advantages.

Recycling Materials

Recycling is the final mantra, and you can use Earth Day to demonstrate its importance. Construction often leads to waste on the job site, so you should mitigate the problem as much as possible. When the project is complete, reuse as many leftover materials as possible. Isolate the materials you won’t reuse and donate them to a recycling center — other organizations will find use in the metal, plastic and other materials you didn’t use.

Another way to promote recycling is to use recycled materials in projects. Modern technology can convert existing concrete, wood and other building materials into aggregate products. These recycled items are better for the environment because they decrease demand for virgin materials. Use recycled concrete as an example — a 2020 study finds recycled concrete’s long-term costs are 40% lower than new concrete, along with 97% better environmental benefits.

Acquiring Electric Machines

If you plan to buy new equipment for your company, commemorate Earth Day by acquiring electric machines to replace your gas-powered ones. Electric equipment is preferable to gas-powered devices because they produce no emissions. Battery-powered bulldozers and other vehicles make your work environment safer by safeguarding workers from toxic fumes on the construction site.

Additionally, you’re making the community safer — reducing emissions means keeping the air clean for the project’s surrounding area. Electric-powered machines are also quieter, reducing the disturbance to adjacent neighborhoods and office buildings. The initial costs may be high, but electric equipment can prevent fines in California and other states with strict emissions requirements for construction.

Learning LEED Standards

Earth Day is about celebrating environmental achievements and moving forward. Learning about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards can elevate your company's future. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced LEED to promote green building certification worldwide. It uses a rating system to determine how environmentally friendly a building is with its operations.

Use Earth Day to encourage your employees to get LEED certification. Construction professionals who pass the USGBC exam can become LEED Green Associates and elevate their careers. The market for environmentally conscious construction is rising significantly in the U.S. and worldwide. Employing contractors with LEED certification grows your company and opens project opportunities.

These structures can receive one of four ratings — certified, silver, gold, and platinum. Inspectors will check features like location, energy use and water efficiency so they can assign a score. For example, LEED homes use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers and install low-flow toilets to reduce water consumption. Ensuring LEED certification builds your rapport with customers and lowers your environmental impact.

Making Earth Day Worthwhile

Earth Day is an excellent time to celebrate achievements in environmental movements. The progress has made industries like construction more cognisant of their carbon footprint. However, the building sector has work concerning its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

The future is optimistic. Use Earth Day to find ways your business can positively affect the environment. You could acquire an electric machine to replace the gas-powered ones or encourage your employees to get LEED certification. Institute a recycling program at the office and the construction sites. Even small initiatives go a long way in reducing your carbon footprint and embracing Earth Day.