Environmental concerns are rising to the top of the agenda for many firms, prompted by client requirements, industry standards, peers and competitors, and the desires of employees. In response, AEC businesses are increasingly incorporating sustainable and regenerative practices into their designs, processes and services. 3D printing, for example, can reduce or remove the environmental impact of transportation, and lower supply costs, by producing materials at the destination.

• Construction crisis
38% of global energy-related emissions come from building and construction .

• Retrofitting buildings
More and more AEC businesses are working on regeneration building practices, reducing energy through retrofitting modern LED lighting, motion sensor switches, solar power technology, and high efficiency HVAC units, among other things.

• Large-scale 3D printing
The market is growing rapidly . While 3D printing in construction was valued at just $3 million in 2019, this is expected to explode to $1.575 billion by 2024. An annual growth of 245.9%.

#2: Use a secure web server to access and protect important data

A reliable and secure web server protects against data hacking, ensuring that documents and files are kept confidential. Security measures include automatic scanning of programs for viruses, secure socket layer (SSL) encryption and protection against spam.

For maximum network security, there‘s the HP Embedded Web Server (EWS). As it creates a dedicated, temporary VPN tunnel linking the printer and the HP Cloud Smart Device Services (SDS) feature, EWS allows only for communication with the selected printer, while reducing VPN costs.

The EWS is built into all HP printers and can be easily accessed using most popular web browsers. It make it easy to set up new HP printers, monitor usage and printing supplies, configure settings, and troubleshoot any printer problems.

A highly secure printing solution is also vital as connected devices are vulnerable to hackers. Several HP printers including the HP DesignJet T1700 are among the world’s most secure large format printers available today. Their improved security helps enterprises print CAD and GIS applications while protecting printers and data from unauthorised or malicious access. Features include a new self-encrypting hard drive on the printer to ensure the data is only readable by the printer.

There are many things you can do to advance sustainable buildings. Through more environmentally focused designs, practices and processes that consider the most efficient use of precious natural resources and the whole-life cost of a completed building through construction and into operation. Also, ensure your home office setup is environmentally friendly, for example by using low-energy equipment, and recycled materials.

You can also reduce your carbon footprint by introducing circular economy practices and circular loops through your equipment, perhaps by using energy efficient printers that have recycled plastic parts and ink cartridges that are made from recycled materials.

There are many things you can do to advance sustainable buildings. Through more environmentally focused designs, practices and processes that consider the most efficient use of precious natural resources and the whole-life cost of a completed building through construction and into operation. Also, ensure your home office setup is environmentally friendly, for example by using low-energy equipment, and recycled materials.

You can also reduce your carbon footprint by introducing circular economy practices and circular loops through your equipment, perhaps by using energy efficient printers that have recycled plastic parts and ink cartridges that are made from recycled materials.

As well as pioneering sustainable practices, AEC firms operate in a global marketplace where sustainability innovators can gain significant competitive edge and build a reputation for environmental best practices. Emerging technologies like AI and machine learning can help to make construction and architecture more sustainable and drive energy efficiency in buildings.

• AI-enabled carbon prediction
One industry initiative is developing an embodied carbon analytics AI system that predicts the carbon output on building and infrastructure projects, based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) data, materials carbon data, and lessons learnt on past projects .

**• Optimizing materials and waste **
AI and machine intelligence is also being used to produce structures that use less raw materials and manage waste more effectively.

Consider driving sustainability innovation through computer intelligence by using AI and machine learning-based techniques in your applications and designs. Such approaches can churn through many possible design iterations to find the most efficient options. You can also advance your sustainability innovation by adopting carbon neutral printers.

As part of the sustainability agenda, AEC professionals are starting to identify eco-friendly building materials that enable them to design and build for a better future. Some innovators are using technology to test and develop alternative materials that are more environmentally friendly, less toxic or hazardous, avoid limited resources, or incorporate less packaging.

• Sustainable concrete
One example is sustainable concrete, ‘timbercrete’, which combines concrete with crushed glass, wood chips or slag. Concrete production is responsible for up to 10% of global CO² emissions .

• Eco-friendly bamboo
Bamboo was the eco-friendly building material that experienced the greatest use in the property industry in 2020, followed by straw bales, then timbercrete .

• 3D printing
3D printing can be used to produce sustainable construction materials and boost sustainable development , and build new structures quickly.

You can improve your business’ use of sustainable materials by getting up to speed with the latest environmentally-friendly construction materials.

Also consider pioneering your organization’s use of sustainable materials through 3D printing.

You are in the privileged position of being able to influence and create a more sustainable world through your designs, innovations and constructions. What if you could help safeguard clean oceans for future generations with innovations that are carbon neutral, and support a circular economy?

Not only is it possible, it’s happening. With the aid of technology innovations like 3D printing, AI, LED and solar power, and more eco-friendly materials like timbercrete, you can make decisions today that will positively impact the future generations of tomorrow.

AEC businesses are the key players in the grandest challenge on the planet – redesigning and rebuilding our homes, schools, hospitals and offices to be more secure, sustainable and inclusive.

To achieve this, firms like yours need the right equipment, like some HP DesignJet large format printers, which are certified as energy efficient, and use up to 30% recycled plastic, which reduces carbon emissions by 7.3 tons per year. In addition, the DesignJet Studio is certified to be net carbon neutral. These features mean your teams can maintain productivity and collaboration with tools designed with sustainability in mind.

Technology and collaboration will help you redesign and rebuild the world more sustainably and effectively.

Let’s create a better world, together.