Guest post by Roof Stores

With the population ever-growing, the construction of residential and commercial properties is encroaching more and more into wildlife habitats, affecting how animals are able to live. The expansion of urban areas is leading to 1 in 10 UK wildlife species facing extinction, and this is something that we have a responsibility to try and change.

An important focus is being placed on solutions to allow us to continue to construct and build infrastructure, whilst also allowing us to peacefully coexist with the surrounding animal species and cause as little harm as possible to their natural habitats; this shift in focus is leading to the term ‘conservation-friendly construction’.

Development can affect urban wildlife in a number of ways: it can lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbances caused by human activity, air and light pollution, and changing animal behaviour.

what is eco-friendly construction?

There have been many technological and new architectural ideas leading the way for future building methods. Examples of these include ‘green buildings’, which are proven to both protect the biodiversity of local wildlife, improve the air and water quality, and reduce operating costs. It is expected that this style of buildings is set to become even more popular in the coming years.

Other methods of conservation-friendly construction include built-in nesting solutions, which give bats or birds a place to live within the loft space or on the roof, advanced monitoring methods which allow local authorities to keep tabs on animal’s populations to ensure they’re thriving, and in the case of any issues, they will be able to monitor and intervene when there are significant changes in the animal population.

Not only is the construction of houses changing, specific elements within buildings are being developed to further help animals. Very specific innovations, such as changing the glass in windows to a different reflective nature so that birds don’t confuse them with flying into foliage or clear sky, are becoming more advanced. This is a simple addition to any home, one which shows that conservation-friendly construction doesn’t need to take over the whole house. Instead, small touches like these can make a difference to the welfare of wildlife.

Take a look at the infographic by Roof Stores below to get a better sense of existing issues and see how conservation-friendly construction can remedy them.

 Roof Stores are online roofing supplies and materials specialists. Part of SIG plc, they work with clients ranging from household DIY enthusiasts to large-scale roofing contractors.

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