How modular construction is helping schools to become eco-friendlier

MTX Education is proud of the contribution of modular construction methods that they offer schools looking to be mindful of the world we live in.

Here we summarise the different ways that modular construction could help schools become eco-friendlier. This will act as a helpful prompt to educational managers looking to put forward bids for school expansion and are looking for additional justification for the investment.

Lower Carbon Emissions during the build

Much of the modular classroom will be assembled in factories away from the site.  For traditional construction companies, one of the significant contributors to the emission on site is from the amount of fuel it takes to transport materials.  Add to this the additional energy it takes to maintain a building site in all weathers, and it is easy to see how building eco-friendly with bricks-and-mortar is more challenging.

The modular build-time is also substantially shorter.  Rather than looking to time the project in years, you are instead only looking at months.  This means that the carbon emission created in the building process is always going to be proportionally lower.

Designed to higher eco-friendly specifications

First, there is more flexibility in a modular build to select materials that are ultimately kinder to the environment.  It is possible to choose sustainable components.

However, more significant is the choice of material that makes the most of energy efficiency.  The modular classroom is airtight.  This means that it takes much less energy to keep it warm and cold.  The roofing can be such that it reflects away heat, so in those hot summer months, the classrooms are still a pleasant place to learn.

Modular builds can also be kitted out using recycled material, as well as choosing environmentally friendly components such as LED light fixtures and toilets that reduce the amount of water needed when flushing.  Added to this, modular constructions can be designed with sensors that only activate the lighting when it is essential.

The reduction in energy costs not only helps to save the planet but also means the school saves money on utility bills.  With the advent of smart meters, it will be easy for the school manager to witness the small cost of running a modular classroom – in pence and KW.

The reduction is waste during building

As modular builds are built on something akin to a conveyor belt, with standardised components and techniques, there is little waste during construction.  Modular builders have a regular and sustained relationship with suppliers, which are used across projects.  Unlike a traditional build where the project manager will use a just-in-time supply model, ordering more than needed for contingency.  Whatever is leftover in one modular build will then be used in another project along the conveyor belt.

Not only does this reduction in waste keep material out of the local dump, but it also serves to save the school money too.  There is little chance for a modular build to go over budget, as the parts are carefully mapped and priced and on hand from the start.

The reusability and flexibility of modular building also prevent waste.  The only way to move a bricks-and-mortar school is to knock it down and build it again from fresh.  Modular construction can be lifted off and away and reused in a new site.  This means there is a substantial saving of important materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

Promote eco-friendly warriors

Any good teacher will take an opportunity to learn out of any situation.  Therefore, you can use the choice of modular as a learning moment.  Children might not necessarily appreciate the impact on the environment of traditional build methods, and they might not realise it is something that should concern them.  However, by choosing a modular extension to your school, you can teach the children about efficiency, lower carbon emissions and the need to use sustainable and reusable methods.