Greenhouse gases emitted by human activities have waged war against our planet’s climate. While many of us have shown concern, very few steps are being taken to combat the crisis. Like most industries, AEC businesses also find Sustainable Development a colossal challenge. However, unlike other sectors, the Construction industry contributes hugely to carbon emissions. For example, cement production accounts for 8% of CO₂ emissions worldwide. While it is challenging to bring the much-needed revolution, it is not impossible either! So, let’s dig deeper into the sustainability side of the construction sector.

What do we mean when we talk about sustainability in the construction industry?

As Environmental Protection Agency’s iconic slogan “reduce, reuse, recycle” denotes, it’s about reducing the diabolical impact of industries on earth’s resources and environment. We can achieve it by wisely utilizing the resources to the extent of their need. AEC Corporations can further add to efforts by using recyclable resources and reprocessing them from time to time. Such sustainability in green construction examples includes using solar roofs, biodegradable materials, etc. Newer technologies like 6D BIM Services can be useful in analyzing the energy consumption of the building and estimate it at the initial design stage.

Why is sustainable construction so crucial to our planet’s survival?

The construction industry is responsible for 36% of worldwide energy usage and 40% of CO₂ emissions. Moreover, cement production emits 2.8 billion tonnes of CO₂ every year. Experts estimate it to increase to 4 billion tonnes if the speed of urbanization remains the same. Taking the above statistics into account, we can safely estimate that the earth’s environment will continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate.

Major obstacles obstructing sustainable development

1. High costs of building processes and materials form a considerable part of the issues.

Sustainable materials are 3-4% more expensive than the traditional resources used in construction. Moreover, the complex and elongated process costs 1%-25% more than the conventional building methods.

2. Construction process technicalities

Sustainable construction requires the usage of modern technology such as BIM Modeling Services. Not every professional would have updated skills or experience with that technology, making it extremely difficult to implement the plan.

3. Long bureaucratic processes

Meeting the new standards of green construction and then getting permission for the same from the bureaucrats is a lengthy process. Hence, it takes more time for the projects to finish making green construction a second choice for constructors.

4. Inadequate awareness

General public lack awareness of the advantages of sustainable construction. It is mainly due to a lack of sustainable construction studies, specifically in areas such as indoor environment conditions, the health of residents, etc.

There’s no denying that it is difficult for the industry to adapt to new changes and technological advancements. Similarly, it’s also a fact that the industry needs to move in the direction of sustainable development for survival, both for its own continuance and the planet’s too. While it might seem a distant dream for many governments and AEC companies, it can be achieved in a short term. In the following Part 2 of this article, we have discussed means to achieve sustainable development and the role of governments and individual corporations in making global sustainable development a reality.

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