Sustainable building, also known as "green" building, is a combination of many design philosophies all focused on one goal: making the places we live healthier for us and for the world we live upon. Experts used to think that more construction meant more devastation for the environment. That idea is being left in the past with new technologies and innovations putting a cleaner and more comfortable future within reach. Here are six new construction technologies that are paving the way. 

Building Information Modeling

Nowadays, architecture and design are powered by computers. That's not a bad thing at all, since artificial intelligence and advanced simulation technologies give us the power to maximize the efficiency of designs. Building information modeling (BIM) software uses daylight analysis and energy modeling programs to minimize waste and model probable environmental impacts. With the Internet of Things (IoT) bringing connectivity to all devices involved in the construction process, even thoroughly analog tools like screening machines will soon be able to utilize big data to make a big difference. 

Smart Materials

Smart materials can assume different properties on command through innate responsiveness to an external stimulus or through the incorporation of digital technology. The use of these designer materials is creating a quiet revolution in sustainable construction by allowing the creation of buildings that can respond to their surroundings in order to reduce human impact. Electrochromic glass is a good example of this. This glass is electronically tintable, meaning that windows and skylights can be adjusted manually to maximize occupant comfort as well as natural lighting and heating efficiency. 

Low-Tech Solutions

Have you heard of compressed-earth brick? It's actually an ancient technology that's becoming all the rage again because it's so good at what it does. Earthen walls are excellent at regulating interior temperatures as well as resisting mold and reducing sound pollution. The Inca of Machu Picchu proved long ago that geometric rock walls can resist earthquakes by incorporating sophisticated mathematics. It's worth remembering that an important component of progress is building upon the inventions of the past, not forgetting them. 

Sustainable Energy

The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they think about sustainable business practices is green energy. What many people don't consider is the sheer number of viable options for renewable energy. Part of the impetus for green energy innovation in construction comes from the government. The US Green Building Council uses LEED energy certification to gauge and incentivize progress in energy efficiency with global governments requiring and rewarding standards.

Biophilic Design

Biophilic Design isn't as much a technology as it is a technique. In fact, it doesn't involve humans at all. Biophilia is about directly incorporating nature into buildings in order to create a healthier environment for its inhabitants. The best example of this is the use of plants to purify the air in buildings. NASA research showed that many unremarkable-seeming houseplants like the spider plant and peace lily did an excellent job removing toxic chemicals from the atmosphere. The more we learn about how our world works, the more effective we will become in using its greatest resources to make our own lives better.

Biomimicry

As a philosophy, biomimicry has an incredibly simple premise: If nature has been doing something well for billions of years, why not just copy it? As a design methodology, biomimicry goes a step further than biophilic design by using technology to reproduce a similar function in the natural world. The company Blue Planet is doing this to great effect. Their carbon-positive cement is created by extracting carbon dioxide from flue gas and combining it with calcium. This is similar to the process used by coral to create its own skeletons from seawater. Advances in materials science will no doubt build upon themselves in this way, as our own construction techniques start taking a page out of nature's manual. 

Conclusion 

Living well doesn't mean living in opposition to a healthy planet. By leveraging the most powerful resource available to humanity, (our incredible ingenuity), we can build a prosperous and responsible future for everyone.