Construction Industry and Sustainability

Aside from the potential for building over wild habitats, the construction industry is one of the most resource-consuming sectors. Considering a building’s full life cycle, it accounts for approximately half of all extracted materials, half of total energy consumption, one-third of water consumption and one-third of waste generation. Sustainable construction balances environmental, social, and economic issues to ensure a viable and valuable industry for future generations. Sustainable construction methods include: Using renewable and recyclable resources Reducing energy consumption and waste Creating a healthy, environmentally friendly habitat Protecting the natural environment The sustainable construction has a lot more to do with: The design Management of construction The choice of materials Design and construction bring improvement in four areas: energy, waste, water, and pollution. The construction industry is beginning to recognize its role and respond with initiatives and innovations to make whole cities carbon neutral. We have to act with a sense of urgency, since obviously we cannot reach by 2030 the UN goals for sustainable urbanization, affordable housing, and basic services for everyone. Sustainability in construction can be enabled through regulations, voluntary commitment and certification, financial instruments, lean practices, digitalization, collaborative procurement, education, and innovations.