How can the construction industry embrace energy decentralisation?

Construction industry leaders are turning to energy decentralisation solutions to meet rising consumer interest in eco-friendly energy.

The demand for eco-friendly energy

Recent research shows that 78% of US consumers value sustainability in their lifestyle. Construction industry leaders are therefore turning to energy decentralisation solutions in commercial spaces, as well as efficiently upgrading project sites, as ways to meet this rising consumer interest in eco-friendly energy.

Companies stand to gain more clients and save money on electricity bills by meeting this demand. Learn more about the topic below and use the following ideas to make a sustainable shift.

What is energy decentralisation?

Energy decentralisation is the process of using electricity from sources other than industrial plants or the national power grid. It is a sustainable alternative for residential and commercial purposes, including construction projects.

Active build sites can use renewable energy to power lights and machinery without expanding the site’s carbon footprint through electricity powered by fossil fuels.

What does decentralisation have to do with construction?

Construction companies always need electricity for projects. The local or national power grid provides electricity for everything from floodlights to internal building wiring. It’s necessary to ensure a crew’s safety and stay on schedule, but the electricity comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels.

Energy decentralisation maintains electricity usage through eco-friendly methods. Crews still have electricity while gaining benefits like a backup power source and reduced electricity bills.

According to the US Energy Information Administration's 2022 electricity profile, the average cost of energy from an electrical grid is $12.36 per kilowatt hour, which adds up over weeks and months of construction. Additionally, residential and commercial construction sites account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Decentralised energy addresses both of these challenges.

How the construction industry can embrace energy decentralisation

Understanding energy decentralisation is the first step in implementing it more broadly within the construction industry. Leadership teams can use the following ideas to make green upgrades on sites and within their companies.

1. Use mobile microgrids on project sites

Microgrids are mobile solar panels that are easy to deploy. They hook up to traditional generators to create electricity at construction sites. The photo voltaic panels and internal battery storage make them operational and efficient, while remote operating software allows anyone on a project to supervise energy production from the site or from company headquarters.

2. Hook up to wind power

Wind farms have risen in popularity over the last decade. They now power over 434 terawatt hours annually in the US alone. Construction crews can use this accessible technology by investing in transportable wind turbines that take less than an hour to construct. It’s an especially useful way to get power if a site is in a predominantly windy area, like an oceanfront or mountainside property.

Using a naturally abundant power source like wind will balance out the gas-powered machinery that construction crews still need to use. Although crews will run maintenance checks to keep such machinery working at peak efficiency, the green electricity powering other parts of the site will balance the project’s carbon footprint. It’s an effort worth the time it takes to set up a turbine at every site.

3. Upgrade potential equipment

Green construction machinery is already in development, so upgrades could be possible for companies with room in their budgets. Business owners could switch to something like a hydrogen-powered cell excavator or an electric dumper as alternatives to those running on fossil fuels. Electric upgrades would be much more sustainable when charged with eco-friendly resources like solar panels or wind turbines.

Swapping lightbulbs also makes a sustainable difference in a project’s carbon footprint. The green energy collected by decentralised methods could power LED lighting during early morning, evening and nighttime work. Switching incandescent bulbs for LEDs would reduce energy consumption by 75%, making any sustainable energy last longer.

4. Contact local hydropower plants

Local hydropower plants may power construction sites if the site management team works it out with the plant manager beforehand. Hydropower plants either use a grid-tied inverter or a fixed-speed induction generator to send power to customers through the existing electrical grid.

This option would still require connecting to the electric grid, but in-progress sites would only use the electricity naturally created by the nearby hydropower plant. It’s a viable alternative to traditional electricity that construction industry leaders could consider using to embrace energy decentralisation.

5. Bring battery storage to sites

Batteries are a long-term solution for decentralisation, especially for construction crews moving to new sites regularly. The batteries are easy to transport, available in various sizes and hook up to energy solutions like wind turbines and solar-powered microgrids.

Management teams and company owners should consider lithium-ion batteries for maximum storage capacity. They’re so efficient that demand grew by 65% in 2021 as more people sought electric vehicles. Stand-alone batteries would be useful tools for construction crews seeking greener energy solutions.

Looking forward to a greener future

Consumer demand for businesses with sustainable initiatives is growing, so construction companies should embrace solutions like energy decentralisation. Commercial and residential projects stand to benefit from decentralisation tools like solar power, wind power and battery storage. These tools will cut utility costs, minimise carbon emissions per site and impress consumers seeking green construction methods.