The earth’s temperature is increasing at an average rate 0.11° Fahrenheit every ten years. Collectively, we all have a role to play in the fight against climate change. However, some are able to have a bigger impact on the planet’s temperature than others.
One of the groups that are at the forefront of the fight with the ability to put the biggest dent in climate change, is building and construction companies. This industry can play a vital role in reversing the effects of climate change.
The construction industry's impact on the planet is colossal. Some studies even suggest that construction is responsible for around 50% of climate change. The construction industry’s enormous carbon footprint is produced from the gathering of raw materials to the construction of buildings.
Key Areas for Climate Action in Construction companies
While companies can use greener materials and design processes, there’s no getting away from the fact that construction processes will use vast amounts of energy. Despite this, there are ways to reduce impact.
One of the biggest ways that construction companies can reduce their carbon footprint is by considering the materials they use, how they are sourced and how they are discarded. The construction industry is responsible for using 52% of the world’s total steel so, given that this could equate to over 1 billion tonnes of steel, it’s important that the industry is exploring ways to use recycled steel but also recycle any waste steel that is produced.
However, innovation has allowed construction businesses to go above and beyond recycling. Green concrete, for example, is a far more environmentally friendly option compared to conventional concrete as it is made using waste materials. Similar environmentally friendly solutions include adobe bricks and hempcrete.
Aside from the materials used, the construction must consider how its overall design and development processes are impacting the world. Fortunately, we are seeing a lot more attention paid to this area too with more and more eco-friendly construction solutions emerging. This includes lean construction which places a higher emphasis on reducing waste and exploring electric alternatives to machinery which plant hire companies are starting to do. Building Information Modeling (BIM) can also be used to reduce the time of the overall construction process.
Building a Culture of Sustainability
While construction is making strides towards being more eco-friendly, the industry as a whole must implement sustainability into the heart of its culture. While it may reach net zero by using the green techniques mentioned above, education and training should be the inflexion point.
Additionally, collaboration is essential in this space. The construction industry is made up of many different layers, from raw material extraction to health and safety checks. There is often a lot of intra-sectorial competition. Yet, it is only when these competing parties agree to work in tandem to enhance sustainability can they hope to achieve ESG goals.
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Featured image by Seven construction workers standing on white field photo – Free Construction Image on Unsplash.
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