Construction is one of the largest industries, not only in the UK but across the world. There is always a demand for construction and because of this, sustainability is a key talking point. The construction industry plays a significant role in shaping our built environment while also being a major contributor to carbon emissions, resource consumption, and climate change impacts. The construction industry has a responsibility to support sustainability efforts on a larger scale, ensuring that development projects are conducted on a level that is eco-conscious. The landscape of modern construction is rapidly evolving, with sustainability in construction industry becoming an increasingly central focus for many companies and policymakers.
What is Sustainable Construction?
Sustainable construction refers to the design, development, and operation of buildings using energy-efficient methods, renewable or recycled materials, and eco-friendly construction practices to minimise environmental impact. In the 21st century, strong consideration must be taken to ensure that construction and development meet sustainable goals. These efforts also include waste reduction and minimising energy consumption in the best possible ways. In addition to supporting the environment, sustainable construction also impacts public health, preserves resources for future generations and has positive financial effects for residents and users of buildings as well as construction companies and international corporations. The construction industry is increasingly adopting sustainability measures to support eco-conscious development, with many initiatives aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
What is the Paris Agreement?
In 2016, an international treaty was agreed by 196 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference. Known as the Paris Agreement, this treaty was implemented with the ultimate goal to limit the global temperature increase. This will be met through increasing countries’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change and the aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Under the Paris Agreement, participating countries commit to reducing carbon emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with the long-term goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C.
Sustainable development and introducing sustainable practices in the construction industry is a key focus to support this international goal. As one of the largest users of global resources, construction has a high level of consumption and is a big contributor to waste and pollution. As one of the largest global carbon emitters, the construction industry plays a key role in achieving sustainability targets set by the Paris Agreement. The UK’s Construction 2025 strategy has supported progress toward sustainability, though continued efforts are needed to meet long-term net-zero goals.
What is Construction 2025?
Construction 2025 was a UK government strategy introduced in 2013 to enhance innovation and sustainability in the construction industry, aiming to cut carbon emissions by 50% and reduce costs by 33%. While progress has been made, additional policies, such as the Future Homes Standard 2025, are continuing these efforts. Introduced in 2013, the strategy was a long-term vision for the industry to improve sustainability and efficiency by 2025, something that construction has made huge moves to achieve. It is a critical framework in the evolution of the construction industry and while we may have reached 2025, the efforts continue.
Sustainable Practices in the Construction Industry
Across the construction industry, various sustainable construction methods are practised to support efforts with new practices and procedures constantly implemented. As technology develops and new eco-conscious methods become available, the sustainability of construction and development is constantly increasing.
Sustainable Building Materials
The use of sustainable building materials is one of the biggest contributors to sustainability in the construction industry. Using recycled materials is huge across many industries and within construction, it minimises the consumption level of raw and newly-produced materials. Sustainable building materials include recycled steel, reclaimed wood, cullet (recycled glass), sheep wool insulation, and low-carbon concrete alternatives such as fly ash or geopolymer concrete.
Green Buildings
Sustainability is not just about cutting costs and while ‘green buildings’ may be considered more expensive to develop, they are cost-efficient in the long run. Green buildings are developed with sustainability in mind and reduce their environmental impact. Not only do they contribute positively to the environment, but they also ultimately save residents money on utility bills. Green buildings often retain higher market value and rental appeal, particularly in regions with strong sustainability policies and incentives.
Durable Design
When it comes to sustainability, durability is extremely important. Regardless of cost, it is more important that construction boasts a durable design to support eco-friendly initiatives. When a building design uses materials that will stand the test of time, it results in less consumption and pollution long term. A durable design in development makes sense on both an environmental and economic level, making it a significant contributor to sustainability in the construction industry.
Energy Efficiency
On a global scale, energy efficiency has a major impact on sustainability and there is an extensive list of energy-efficient practices within the construction industry. Reducing energy consumption throughout the construction process is just one-way development works towards energy efficiency. However, modern buildings are also designed to be more energy-efficient following construction. The Future Homes Standard (FHS) 2025 will require all new homes in England to be gas-free and 75-80% more energy efficient than those built under 2013 regulations, supporting the transition to net-zero carbon buildings.
Waste Reduction
Sustainability is not just about the consumption of materials, it is also about what is put back into the environment. Waste reduction is a top focus for the majority of industries but there are few where it is more important than in construction. While waste reduction does involve using recycled materials to reduce waste, it also includes limiting the waste that a project produces. In addition, it is also important for construction companies to look into adapting and retrofitting buildings rather than demolition and rebuilding which produces much more waste.
Water Conservation
The water consumption involved in a development project can be large so water conservation efforts are extremely important in the construction industry. Construction projects can utilise multiple different methods and efforts simultaneously including rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation. These systems can also be implemented in the final building product to aid water conservation long term with the addition of low-flow fixtures and leak detection.
Air Quality
One of the biggest reasons why climate change is a huge focus is due to the environment’s impact on our well-being. This includes air quality as the air we breathe is a major contributor to overall health and improving natural ventilation in buildings enhances indoor air quality. This can be achieved through the implementation of solar chimneys, adequate ventilation and the reduction of airborne contaminants.
ISO14001
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems (EMS), helping construction companies reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and comply with environmental regulations. It provides a framework for organisations to effectively manage their environmental responsibilities and is extremely relevant to the construction sector.
