Innovative building and construction materials, such as pollution-absorbing bricks, light-generating cement, photovoltaic paints, and self-healing concrete can make buildings more sustainable and durable. Manufacturers of these construction chemicals and advanced materials (CAMs) have the potential to fuel several construction trends, according to a report from Deloitte LLP.
Integration of BIM, 3D printing, drone, and augmented reality into the construction process will likely change the demand patterns for some key CAMs products. To enhance this trend, CAMs manufacturers should package their products and services together.
The drive for increased sustainability may lead to greater incorporation of CAMs with lower carbon footprints and less resource-intensity. Construction CAMs companies have the opportunity to collaborate with customers on sustainability, overall systems cost reduction, and reduced project delivery time.
Construction companies will look to stimulate prefabrication or modular construction as well as new product innovations like self-healing concrete and nanomaterials. These developments can help alleviate the construction industry’s skilled labor shortage and shave time off of project schedules.
Related Stories
| May 28, 2014
Commercial building measurement standard could meet resistance from owners
For some building owners, a new measurement standard could mean that their building would shrink in size and lose value.
| May 28, 2014
Resiliency measures for hurricanes can help with tornadoes
Architect Butch Grimes, who examined the wreckage after a half-mile tornado struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., believes toughening building codes can reduce damage from twisters.
| May 28, 2014
Rooftop wind turbines becoming green status symbol in New York City
New York City developers are using rooftop wind turbines in an effort to attract buyers by highlighting a building’s green credentials.
| May 28, 2014
Peer review process under way for the WELL Building Standard
The standard is the first protocol of its kind that focuses on improving human wellness within the built environment by identifying specific conditions that, when holistically integrated into building interiors, enhance the health and wellbeing of the occupants.
| May 22, 2014
ASHRAE releases best practice guide for liquid cooling systems in data centers
The publication provides guidelines on interface requirements between chilled-water systems and technology cooling systems and on the requirements of liquid-cooled systems that attach to a datacom electronics rack.
| May 22, 2014
Colorado approves $4.2B data center said to be invulnerable to power outages
The Niobrara Data Center Energy Park project in Colorado will be the first data center to be fully self-contained with its own self-generated energy production facility.
| May 22, 2014
Energy Department analysis shows efficiency gains from ASHRAE 2013 energy standard
Preliminary DOE analysis shows that the ASHRAE/IES’s 2013 energy efficiency standard contains energy savings over the 2010 standard of 8.5% source energy and 7.6% site energy.
| May 22, 2014
Federal disaster policy should focus on mitigation, insurance group says
Federal disaster policy should shift its focus toward mitigation in order to reduce future disaster costs, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies says.
| May 22, 2014
Study quantifies cost premiums for net zero buildings
The 73-page report breaks down the incremental cost premiums for transforming three LEED Platinum-designed buildings into net-zero energy, net-zero water, and living Buildings.
| May 22, 2014
Senate kills bipartisan energy efficiency bill over Keystone pipeline amendment
The legislation focused on energy efficiency standards such as water heaters with smart meters and cheaper heating and cooling systems for office buildings.