What is sustainable construction?
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveOver the course of the last twenty years or
so, there have been several methods used to make construction greener and more
sustainable. For example, the use of solar panels and the integration of
eco-friendly, biodegradable materials into building design have been tried and
tested.
Within the construction industry, advances
continue to happen as people look in closer detail at how buildings are created.
Environmentally conscious building, also known
as sustainable construction, is an innovative idea that introduces more
environmentally, socially and economically aware construction methods – and
today NBS, the global integrated platform
provider, are going to delve deeper into just what ‘environmentally conscious
building’ is and what it can help achieve.
Why do construction methods need to improve?
As an industry, construction has a
significant impact on the natural environment, economy, and society. As the
industry grows, and materials become more limited and costly, traditional
methods need to be adapted to keep them fit for purpose. Three critical areas
of concern are energy, waste and CO2 production.
Globally, construction consumes almost 40%
of total worldwide energy production, produces 30-40% of all solid wastes and between
35-40% of CO2. By using environmentally conscious building methods such solar
technology, the industry can use new technologies and make the end design and
structure far more sustainable.
In the UK, the construction industry is
using sustainable construction techniques to help meet their target of reducing
CO2 emissions by 50%, with 50% faster delivery and 33% lower costs from initial
construction all the way through the life span of an erected building.
Techniques that are environmentally friendly
One of the main design techniques being
adopted throughout the construction industry across the world is green
building. Green roofs are often an aesthetic choice as well as a sustainable
one, with the appearance of plants and flowers raising the building’s appeal to
investors, workers, residents and visitors.
A good example of green vegetation-based
roofing is the ACROS
Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall. Greenery is placed on the slanted side of the
building to enhance its beauty. An additional benefit is the way in which the
building blends with its environmental surroundings while still using as much
of the site as possible - improving the building’s long-term economic
sustainability in the process.
Another environmentally friendly technique
being explored involves building methods that enables skilled workers to create
structures offsite and then transport them to the site location. Offsite
construction typically takes less time, and less raw material may be needed to
complete a project.
An example of this is Sunderland’s Northern
Spire Bridge, where the majority of the concrete deck components were
precast offsite. The decision was a positive step-change to casting the
concrete parts onsite, which can often result in noise and mess, whilst requiring
more workers and creating more waste in terms of time and materials.
Researchers are also looking into how they
can adapt current materials to make them more sustainable. Universities tend to
carry out this research, with Cambridge’s
exploration of self-healing concrete a perfect example.
Project lifecycle
When looking at how to develop and use
environmentally conscious techniques, many aspects hinge on whether they will
be successful throughout the building’s lifecycle. This includes planning,
design and construction through to building operation and maintenance –
including refurbishment and even potential demolition.
numerous factors can impact a building when
looking at an asset’s operational stage – and who will use it and how. For
instance, building users produce moisture, therefore, systems must be put into
place to ensure efficient moisture removal.
The more organic material used in a
building the more ventilation is needed, and this can lead to building
financing issues. Therefore, a balance must be struck to ensure that guidelines
are followed.
What happens after the building has served
its purpose also needs to be considered. In the past, this stage of the lifecycle
has often been overlooked, creating unanticipated difficulties during
demolition.
Future of environmentally conscious building
As the construction industry has become
more aware of the vital role it plays in wider society, sustainable approaches
to construction have become more frequently used. These include walls that
self-regulate indoor temperatures and buildings made from living trees such as
the Citicape House in London, which incorporates the largest living wall in
Europe.
In
future, environmentally conscious methods such as the ones mentioned in this
article could lead to a new and improved built environment. The possibilities
are endless and could improve construction efficiency as well as provide
economic gains and improvements to physical health.
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Created on Oct 28th 2020 04:54. Viewed 227 times.