It can no longer be ignored or mentally filed for future consideration. We are talking about the intersection between business growth and sustainability. Not only are public policy stakeholders ardently working towards a green economy policy, but a substantial segment of the corporate sector is embracing sustainability principles. This shift is mainly in response to growing pressure from investors, trading partners, consumers, and employees to uphold sustainable business practices. Companies are making an effort to assess and understand their impact on the world around them.
Understanding Sustainability in Business
What does business sustainability mean exactly? Moving towards a sustainable business starts with being aware of the impact your business operations have on society and the environment. Sustainable business practices consider the best interest of the local and global environment. It is about more than just profit; sustainable businesses earn profit by prioritising the planet and its people.
How Sustainability Benefits Your Enterprise
Business sustainability is not just about benefitting the environment or the community – it also promotes business growth. 24% of South Africans reported boycotting companies for lack of sustainability and recycling programs.
Besides tax incentives and attracting more investments, the sustainable management of company resources results in effective cost savings and increased productivity.
The Construction Industry and Sustainability
Typically generating more pollutants than most other industries, the construction industry has not exactly been at the forefront of sustainability. A general lack of knowledge, awareness, acceptance, and innovation has led to the slow adoption of sustainable alternatives throughout the life cycle of construction projects.
The good news is that the industry is evolving. As in almost every other industry, technology is driving the change. Smart construction applications tailor-made for the construction industry have made great strides towards sustainability and green building. BIM technology provides predictive insights and simulations to help reduce risk and curb carbon emissions.
How Autodesk Revit Helps the Construction Industry be More Sustainable
Autodesk is a leading software company that develops software services for various industries, including construction, engineering, and architecture. As pioneers in business sustainability, Autodesk realises that one of the first steps towards achieving sustainable construction practices is changing the way buildings are designed and built.
Autodesk Revit is a BIM software application that allows architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals to design a structure while configuring its different components in 3D with parametric accuracy and precision. The tool makes it possible for users to explore the planning, construction, and management of a building virtually before it is built
Autodesk Revit’s optimised design capabilities have revolutionised the building industry by allowing project managers to visualise the entire construction process, track progress, and manage resources more sustainably.
How Revit Promotes Sustainability in Design and Building
Improve Energy Efficiency
Revit’s built-in energy analysis tool paired with the cloud-based Autodesk Insight 360, allows designers and engineers to evaluate the energy performance of the building. Moreover, it helps to identify energy inefficiencies and simulate different energy-saving strategies while providing real-time feedback.
Daylighting Analysis
Daylighting is one of the most important strategies for green building and saving energy. Revit helps designers to maximise natural light penetration and reduce artificial lighting requirements, leading to energy savings and a more sustainable building.
Improved Water Efficiency
In Revit, 3D water systems can be viewed and inspected from different angles to help designers plan for water-efficient fixtures and systems. It allows for the integration of plumbing and water supply information, facilitating water usage analysis, and efficient water management strategies.
Collaboration and Coordination
Revit’s collaborative features enable multiple teams to work on a model simultaneously. This level of collaboration helps ensure that sustainable design principles are integrated into the entire building lifecycle, from design to construction and operation.
Furthermore, Revit provides several tools for coordinating between different models and file types which allows users to monitor changes and review notifications of changes. This enables them to communicate unresolved issues to other teams working on the same project.
Lifecycle Analysis
Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) is the systematic analysis of the impact a business’s products or industrial activities have on the environment during its entire life cycle. Think of it as a sustainability measurement mechanism.
The plugin, Tally, enhances the Revit model with comprehensive information about the eventual building material and products the structure will contain, quantifying the environmental impact it will have.
Conclusion
These are a few of the ways in which Autodesk BIM software assists the building industry in reaching its sustainability goals. If you would like to learn more about how any of the Autodesk AEC Collection software solutions can help your business improve efficiency, reduce risk, and deliver more sustainable projects, contact the Modena OneSolve team, and let us help you streamline your business operations.
