The asphalt industry has long been a front-runner in the drive toward more sustainable construction practices, but few innovations have been as surprising or as promising as bioasphalt made from used restaurant cooking oil. Traditional petroleum-based asphalt binder currently costs between $700 and $800 per ton, placing a significant burden on public infrastructure budgets. A […]
The push for sustainability in commercial construction has expanded well beyond office towers and multifamily housing. Industrial facilities — warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants — are increasingly achieving LEED certification as owners recognize the financial and operational advantages of green building. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the market for green industrial
When the National Park Service was established more than a century ago, its founding mission called for preserving the nation’s most precious natural landscapes for future generations. Today, Yellowstone National Park is extending that mission into the built environment by pursuing its first Living Building Challenge and LEEDv4 Platinum certified project. This ambitious undertaking demonstrates
Cross Laminated Timber: A Smarter Path to Sustainable Building Construction The construction industry stands at a crossroads where environmental responsibility and project efficiency must coexist. For decades, builders have relied on concrete and steel as default structural materials, but the environmental cost has become impossible to ignore. Concrete production alone contributes roughly 5 percent of
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is reshaping how the construction industry approaches structural building components. This engineered wood product, made from layers of solid lumber boards stacked crosswise and bonded together, delivers dimensional stability, strength, and rigidity that rival traditional materials such as concrete and steel. As the building sector looks for greener, faster, and more cost-effective
When contractors prepare to dig tunnel shafts, foundations, or other large excavations, the ground must be shored to provide structural stability, prevent cave-ins, and block groundwater from entering the work area. Traditional shoring methods range from soldier piles and lagging to slurry walls and secant pile walls, but many of these approaches are time-consuming, expensive,
As the construction industry faces increasing pressure to address environmental concerns, resource scarcity, and community impacts, contractors are looking for practical frameworks to guide sustainable infrastructure delivery. One of the most comprehensive tools available is the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework, developed by the nonprofit Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). This framework provides a clear path
The design-build project delivery method has transformed how construction projects move from concept to completion. Unlike traditional design-bid-build approaches, design-build integrates design and construction under a single contract, creating a unified team where owner, designer and builder collaborate from the start. For professionals across multiple building disciplines, understanding design-build delivery is essential. Whether you oversee
Environmental, social, and governance standards, collectively known as ESG, are becoming a growing focus for construction and engineering firms. As the built environment produces an estimated 30 to 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 40 percent of energy use, the industry faces increasing pressure from investors, regulators, and clients to measure
The construction equipment rental industry is undergoing a significant transformation as sustainable power products gain traction on job sites across the country. Battery energy storage systems and hybrid power solutions are no longer niche offerings, they are becoming mainstream assets that rental companies must understand to remain competitive. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities:
