It has become widely recognised that rising populations and economic development are threatening to progressively deplete the earth of its limited natural resources. The construction, maintenance and use of buildings and structures worldwide all require the extraction and utilization of limited natural resources, which significantly contributes to climate change due to the associated CO2 emissions that are released into the atmosphere. With a large population growth predicted to occur by 2050, this current massive carbon footprint of the built environment can only increase?
With this in mind, it is important that within the built environment industry we ensure to use our earth’s limited natural resources in a sensible, but most importantly a sustainable way in order to bring about sustainable development. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meets their own needs [1]. This article will take a closer look at the key issues relating to sustainable development in the built environment, as well as highlighting ways in which the construction industry can take a more sustainable approach to these issues.
Key Issues Relating to Sustainability in the Built Environment
The construction, maintenance and use of buildings and structures worldwide all consume energy in one way or another. In the construction industry energy is consumed when: raw materials are extracted; materials are produced in the manufacturing process; materials are transported; buildings and structures are built; buildings and structures are used and powered; buildings and structures are maintained; and, buildings and structures are demolished.
In order to contribute to the environmental goals of sustainable development in the built environment, it is important that the construction industry has a more sustainable approach to energy. By reducing energy consumption, being more energy efficient, and using alternative renewable energy technologies to generate renewable energy, this can be achieved. More specifically to this, the construction industry should aim to:
- Create more energy efficient project designs, taking into consideration the purpose of the building/structure, and how much energy is required to power the building/structure.
- Look for ways in which existing buildings could be made more energy efficient.
- Reduce unnecessary transport by using local energy/materials.
- Increase levels of recycling, saving energy used to: transport and dispose of waste; manufacture virgin materials.
- Utilize renewable energy technologies in new and existing buildings, taking into consideration the geographical location and positioning of buildings in order to ensure optimum energy generation.
Materials
With around 50% of all global resources being used in construction, in order to contribute to the environmental goals of sustainable development in the built environment, it is important that the construction industry has a sustainable approach to both choosing and using materials. When re-evaluating the way in which materials are used in construction, the construction industry should take into consideration:
- What reserves are left of our materials and should alternative materials be used instead?
- How can materials be recycled to prevent them becoming waste?
- Could materials be designed and used in a way that facilitates their re-use?
- Could more natural materials be incorporated into the design and construction?
- Could the use of materials from non-renewable and non-sustainable sources be avoided?
Waste
Sustainable waste management is the efficient use of material resources in order to cut down on the amount of waste we produce, and, where waste is produced, dealing with it in a way that actively contributes to the economic, social and environmental goals of sustainable development [2]. In order to contribute to the environmental goals of sustainable development in the built environment, it is important that the construction industry take the necessary steps to reduce the level of waste produced in the first place, and to also ensure the sustainable management of any waste that is generated. In order to reduce the levels of waste generated, the construction industry should:
- Design to minimise waste generation; designs that ensure optimum resource/material use and recycling opportunities
- Use just in time ordering of materials/products to prevent unused materials being wasted.
- Increase levels of recycling to: prevent wasting valuable existing materials; prevent extracting limited raw materials to produce virgin materials; generate energy where possible.
- Make all staff aware of their on site environmental responsibilities such as reducing waste wherever possible and increase levels recycling.
Useful Links
Building Research Establishment: www.bre.co.uk
Construction Best Practice Programme: www.cbpp.org.uk
Construction Industry Research and Information Association: www.ciria.org.uk
Sustainability Works: www.sustainabilityworks.org.uk
Sustainable Development – the Government’s approach: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk
References
[1] http://www.gdrc.org/sustdev/definitions.html
[2] The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), 2008. Sustainability and Construction.
