Incorporating Sustainability in the Construction Process

William “Bill” Starkey is a Montgomery, Texas entrepreneur who led Starkey Construction, LLC for over 35 years. William Starkey focused on green and energy-efficient building construction incorporated best practices in the materials crafting and installation phases.

How one builds has just as much relevance as what is constructed and where the site is located. For example, the goal of optimal indoor air quality cannot be achieved simply by following a blueprint. The construction process, and proper coordination of dry and wet activities, are critical in avoiding contamination of dry materials with moisture. In carefully setting project protocol for workers and adhering to such guidelines, potential bacteria and mold growth risks are eliminated. In a similar vein, mechanical ductwork should not be exposed to pollutants at the building sites. This is as simple as keeping it factory sealed, intact in its packaging until it’s time for installation.

Another part of the sustainability equation involves recycling construction waste generated at the building site. This benefits from avoiding costly off-site shipment and landfill fees and lessening the load at space-constricted landfill sites. A low-hanging example involves crushing asphalt and concrete from a demolished building site and using it as structural fill for the new structure. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating program recognizes this effort by awarding points to projects that recycle more than half of construction debris.