Understanding sustainable construction

 - Dr Mukul C. Bora

Sustainable construction indicates the use of minimum energy, minimum emission of Green House Gases (GHG), as well as the use of scrap and recycled materials for construction as well as the minimum use of forest and wetlands to avoid environmental degradation. In case of use of recycled materials people should be given the knowledge of using it in original construction work and the benefits achieved from it in terms of its comfort and life. The use of scrap and recycled materials in construction decreases the mining activities as well as dumping problem. Developmental activities are required for the development of a nation and better livelihood of its population. Every construction activity is more or less related to the people living in that region and hence without people’s participation sustainability in construction cannot be achieved. Engineers and Scientists all over the world are now talking about sustainable construction but significant attention has not been paid for its implementation in the construction field.

Today’s developmental activities of a man are meant for his future generation and no one in the world wants to put their future generation in trouble if they know the consequences of their present deed. Mass scale awareness amongst the population is only possible through the involvement of NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation), Eco Club, Student Organisation, and Electronic media. These organisations can make people to people contact and hence the awareness for sustainable construction will increase. The awareness programme can be undertaken with street shows, dance drama, large-scale demonstration with the help of documentary films as well as organizing discussions with people, etc. As maximum destruction is done unknowingly by the common people living in this world, it is just impossible to implement the method of sustainable construction without the active participation of the population. Different types of human activities that fuel the process of climate change and the concept of sustainable construction are discussed here, as both are two faces of the same coin.

Human Activities Responsible For Climate Change:

The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century witnessed the large-scale use of fossil fuels for industrial use. More and more land that was covered with vegetation and wetlands has been cleared to make way for houses. All these activities give rise to increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are used to run vehicles, generate electricity for industries as well as for household consumption. The energy sector is responsible for about ¾ of the carbon dioxide emissions, 1/5 of the methane emissions and a large quantity of nitrous oxide. It also produces nitrogen oxide (N2O) and carbon monoxide (CO) which are not greenhouse gases but have got a substantial impact on the chemical cycles in the atmosphere that produces or destroy greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gases and Sources:

Major Green House Gases (GHG) are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is likely the most significant cause of global warming resulting in increased climate variability and climate change. The change in climatic conditions accelerates the process of a shortage of rainfall and its timings. Carbon dioxide is the most important component of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Changes in land use pattern, deforestation, land clearing, agriculture, and other activities have all led to a rise in the emission of carbon dioxide. Methane is another important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Methane is also emitted from landfills and other waste dumps. If the waste is put into an incinerator or burnt in the open, carbon dioxide is emitted. Contributions are also made by leguminous plants, such as beans and pulses that add nitrogen to the soil.

The contribution of Human towards increase in CHG:

The use of different types of energy sources for our daily lives contributes to change in the climate. The different components of use of energy are enumerated as below:

Electricity is the main source of energy for modern living and used mainly for illumination, heating and cooling in urban areas and is generated mainly from thermal power plants. These thermal power plants are run on fossil fuels (mostly coal) and are responsible for the emission of huge amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Transportation sector uses cars, buses, and trucks by which passenger and goods are transported from one place to another in most of our cities. These are run mainly on petrol or diesel, both fossil fuels and contribute towards an increase in Green House Gases. Domestic and Industrial waste in the form of plastics that remain in the environment for many years cause damage to the environment which in turn causes climate change.

The construction industry uses large quantities of timber, bricks, stone, cement etc., for construction of houses, which indirectly indicates the use of forest, mining and use of fossil fuels and causes environmental degradation. This causes climate change and contributes towards an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

Livestock and Agriculture:

Methane is the second most significant GHG and cause of climate change and is 21 times more damaging than CO2 (over a 100 years lifespan). A major source of methane comes from livestock and specifically from cattle, which produce by digesting grass and exhale it through their breath. Methane is also a by-product of rice-growing, a considerable impact is given that rice is a major food for a large part of the world’s population (366,921,000 metric tons of rice was consumed in 2007).

Land use change and Deforestation:

The major changes to the planet’s land cover since 1750 have resulted from deforestation in temperate regions where forests and woodlands have been cleared to make room for fields and pastures. More recently, deforestation has been rapidly taking place in tropical regions where economic development has come at the expense of conservation, and much of the world’s natural rainforests have given way to palm oil plantations, cattle pastures or the logging industry. Deforestation accounts for 20% – 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the most significant source of emissions in developing countries. Despite the negative impacts of deforestation, creating incentives to mitigate this source of emissions from developing countries has not been adequately addressed in either the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or the Kyoto Protocol.

Achieving Sustainability in Construction:

The term sustainable construction is a derived product either of the developmental activities taken up by the people or by the people and hence it is just impossible to achieve sustainability in construction without people’s participation. It is just like “Democracy”. Democracy will not have meaning without people; similarly, sustainable construction is also for the people, by the people and of the people. Following are different measures to be adopted by the people for sustainable construction.

Decentralisation of Infrastructural Activities:

Infrastructural activities like Education, Health, Industrial units etc., should not be concentrated in a particular locality or city as it forced the population to come to a particular locality for livelihood as well as for better infrastructure. This increase in population causes greater demand for groundwater as well as a large amount of Green House Gas emission which in turn causes climate change and a shortage of groundwater.

Use of Renewable Energy:

Use of renewable energy like solar energy, hydropower, wind energy, tidal energy etc., can reduce the emission to the atmosphere due to the burning of fossils fuel. This renewable energy sources reduces the air pollution and hence the climatic conditions which in turn changes the rainfall intensity due to climate change and hence groundwater recharging.

Use of Green Building Technology:

A huge amount of energy is used for modern living by the people in the form of heating, cooling, lightening, refrigeration etc. The use of air conditioner and refrigerator releases heat to the surrounding as well as a large amount of Green House Gases.

Use of Scrap and Recycled Materials:

A large number of construction materials (mainly derived from nature) like stone aggregate, brick, timber, sand etc., are required for civil construction works which we normally derive from nature by mining, the forest as well as from river or sea. These operations disturbed the ecological balance of the region which in turn causes climate change. So it is very much important that used materials should be recycled and used for construction. The decrease in climate change will help in regularization of rainfall intensity and its timings which plays an important role in groundwater accumulation.

People’s Participation:

Third party involvement in implementing different incentive schemes of the Government is the most crucial which should always be kept in mind by the authorities. Scientists and Engineers may invent many methods for mitigation of climate change but it is the common population that has to participate through proper education on climate change, its deadly effect and their role which is only possible through third-party involvement. The effect of climate change on human being may be demonstrated by street drama, documentary, rally and through education with the proper scientific approach.

Conclusion:

All measures mentioned above are only population dependent measures and hence sustainable construction cannot be achieved without educating the people. Mass scale campaigns and rallies should be organised through different tools such as TV broadcasting, Street Drama, NGO and Eco club etc. Sustainable construction and its impact on the population should be elaborated to the grassroots level people. The people should be so organised that they should be able to understand that sustainable construction is the only means for their survival and the world. It is noteworthy to say that Sustainable Development should be included in the Educational Curriculum from the school age to the Undergraduate level together with the Heritage Knowledge of our forefathers so that actual benefit of Sustainable Development can be achieved and we can make a better world livable for all the living and non-living creatures of this beautiful world.

Government and local bodies can make laws but its implementation is very difficult without people’s participation in a country like India with diverge population pattern. The Government should show examples of using scrap and recycled materials in the Governmental construction. The concept of sustainable construction in the form of research and discussion will not help much for its implementation. So for proper implementation of sustainable construction in practice, it is necessary to educate the people about its good effect and mass scale demonstration of consequences. It should be taught to the people that if sustainable construction technique is not adopted at this crucial junction then there will be only development but nobody will live to enjoy.

BLURBS

Engineers and Scientists all over the world are now talking about sustainable construction but significant attention has not been paid for its implementation in the construction field.

The construction industry uses large quantities of timber, bricks, stone, cement etc., for construction of houses, which indirectly indicates the use of forest, mining and use of fossil fuels and causes environmental degradation.

The term sustainable construction is a derived product either of the developmental activities taken up by the people or by the people and hence it is just impossible to achieve sustainability in construction without people’s participation.