Can the Construction Sector Be Effective in Combating Climate Change?
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. There is a very valid reason for this. The effects of the climate crisis are seen not only in natural habitats, but also in urban environments. The construction industry has an important role to play in this dynamic. Summits such as the COP, where negotiations are held to strengthen plans to address the climate crisis and to implement these plans by taking concrete steps, highlight the importance of achieving net zero carbon and the challenges faced by developing countries affected by increasingly devastating natural disasters. Possible avenues for development include actions at varying stages and scales, from optimizing green spaces for urban heat control, using local and innovative building materials to minimize carbon footprints, or passing laws that help create more sustainable urban and natural environments.
In cities, one of the less visible effects of climate change is the intense heatwaves that affect millions of people. Densely populated cities are particularly at risk due to the heat island effect. In tackling these impacts, cities have the advantage of implementing a variety of strategies to keep their residents safe: using green infrastructure strategically, incorporating passive cooling systems, building climate shelters, and incorporating practices that help people live safely during the high-temperature months.
Rising sea levels threaten the livelihoods of more than 410 million people living in coastal cities. Land use in these areas tends to favor density, with high-rise buildings and heavy-traffic roads taking up most of the available space, as these cities create a hotspot for residents, tourists and businesses, encouraged by the proximity of ports and shipping. This strategy has proven ineffective in reducing the effects of natural disasters that affect areas such as coastal erosion and recurrent hurricanes and floods. Architects and designers seek natural and local solutions to rebalance coastal ecosystems, such as recreating mangrove forests, creating habitat breakwaters, or building floating structures in the open sea.
COP 27 and the 2022 United Nations Conference of the Parties was an international conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to encourage countries to take effective measures against climate change and to ensure that the global temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This target is largely reflected in the industry, as the construction industry is responsible for a large percentage of global emissions. The main challenge is summed up in the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions.
Innovation seems to be a big part of the fight against climate change. The construction industry strives to develop more energy-efficient products, both in the manufacturing and operational processes. Transporting construction materials to the construction site accounts for a significant portion of the energy used and the CO2 emissions produced by the construction industry. There are many things that can be done to prevent this:
• Pre-planning of routes
• Job scheduling to avoid multiple job site trips and half-full or empty truck trips
• Tight packaging of each vehicle to reduce the number of trips
• Use of local material suppliers
Natural ventilation is a more economical alternative to air conditioning, as well as reducing energy use and CO2 emissions. Again, natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours, resulting in a reduction in energy use and carbon emissions. To build energy-efficient structures, daylight needs to be considered as part of the design.
The total impact of all greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the materials used in the construction of a building is known as the embodied energy of the building. One of the most effective ways to reduce lifetime carbon is to design long-lasting buildings using materials that will last without needing to be replaced.
In densely populated areas such as cities, roof gardens can be designed to remove pollution and provide a haven for wildlife. Plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and release it back into the atmosphere; It helps reduce smoke and pollution.
The use of solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps and electric heating or cooking systems stand out as important strategic elements in tackling the climate crisis.
