Concept of Sustainable Construction - Coursework Example

Sustainable Construction in the UK Introduction As the world’s views, work processes and frameworks on various sectors of the society changes due to the impacts of technological, political, environmental, social, and economical shifts, more and more people are concerned with creating affordable but quality sustainable development tools and functions in order to fit in the new world order (N.A.O. 2007). Sustainable construction is one way of creating sustainable developments. Sustainable construction involves a range of priorities and restrictions under which to produce good design and well constructed, usable buildings (Kibert, 2008). Although it is hindered by time and costing on the achievement of buildings of architectural merit, sustainable construction entails constructing using best methods and processes. These factors do not only reduces the negative effects to the environment that surrounds the construction and increases the economic viability of the project, but improves the safety, comfort, security and quality of livelihood for those who dwell in (DEFRA, 2008). This report shall highlight in depth the concept of sustainable constructions, analyze available methods of assessing sustainable construction and give analysis and recommendations for sustainable construction in the United Kingdom. Concept of sustainable construction By minimizing the amount of resources like water, energy, raw materials and space used, sustainable construction stresses on the need for creating quality, affordable and efficient buildings (DEFRA, 2008). Sustainable construction flows from designing for the project, constructing the project, running of the project upon completion, works of repairing, and maintaining to renovating in order to increase the efficiency and quality of the project in order to use current innovated technological products. Apart from technological conditions but also simply to fit into new consumer needs, tastes and preferences based on maintaining and conserving the environment as practiced in the United Kingdom (Mithraratne, et al., 2007). Sustainable construction allows sustenance environmentally, sustenance economically and sustenance socially (DEFRA, 2008). Sustenance environmentally can be realized by improving the type and the efficiency levels of the energy used, preferring to use natural energies like solar, thermal and wind energies instead of over reliance on electrical energy and use of oil-based energies (N.A.O. 2007). Moreover, the contractor can insist on use of raw materials that are renewable, recyclable and putting in place environmentally friendly products like trees and plants planting, non toxic materials and improvise ways in which water is not wasted (Babalis, 2005). It goes without saying, the implementation of waste disposal strategies, and reduction of air, water, land pollution, reduced carbon emission and eradicating elements that degrade and destroy the environment, is fundamental in establishing sustainable construction. Sustenance socially on the other hand entails putting into consideration what the project or the building will be used for, and making it easily adaptable to any changes and eventualities that the occupants might need (DEFRA, 2008). Additionally, offering maximum comfort, productivity, security, quality health and safety for the occupants. Sustenance economically however, entails using resources that will not only produce quality and effective buildings, but will have reduced costs (Babalis, 2005). This entails use of materials that are economically viable and make economic sense when designing, installing, and eventual maintenance of the building. This includes use of locally available materials to eliminate transport, breakages and storage costs. In the United Kingdom, the construction industry prefers to use locally available resources than to import by ships and air cargos from overseas. Methods of Assessment of sustainable construction Professionals in the construction industry are charged with not only the responsibility of ensuring the construction strategies and planning are aligned to the built environment for future generations, but are liable to lias with the concerned governing bodies in defining sustainability, approving best standardized methods of assessment of sustainable construction by which it can be achieved (N.A.O. 2007). Implementing methods of assessing sustainable construction has been hot on the heels of global talks and protocols to implement plans and policies that guide against practices that destroy the ozone layer, thus global warming (Yang, et al., 2005). Among the efforts to ensure complying to sustainable construction policies include the government of the United Kingdom working hand in hand with the construction industry to be able to overcome emerging challenges related to sustainability, initiating healthy and experienced workforce by instilling corporate responsibility which enhances environmental conservation which improves sustenance economically, environmentally and socially (DEFRA, 2008). Assessment of sustainable construction begins by the government allocating enough financial resources in its annual budget to meet the expected costing of sustainable building. Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method There are checklists that have been developed to ensure contractors and professionals in the construction industry in the United Kingdom follows. Among them is the BREEM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) assessment kit, which is a tool used to measure the ratings of sustainable and low energy construction, is implemented in line with construction regulations in the United Kingdom (DEFRA, 2008). The tool assesses various types of buildings including commercial buildings, learning institutions, legal institutions, and medical institutions, multi residential and industrial buildings. The Brighton and Hove checklist There is the Brighton and Hove checklist, which is a tool that has been developed consistent with current policies, to help the concerned parties in designing and constructing by highlighting the best methods and processes, and complying with the set codes for sustainable construction. The checklist highlights areas and issues that are critical for implementing sustainable construction (DEFRA, 2008). This includes the areas of energy and environmental conservation, by ensuring construction adapts and minimizes its impacts on change of climate, emission of green house gases, water use, heating systems and waste disposal. The second area of criteria is the social environment, where the checklist ensures that the construction integrate the community it is built on by offering efficiency, affordability and quality thus improved safety, health, diversity and productivity of the surrounding community (Kibert, 2008). The checklist highlights on the issue of land use. Where construction should be done on sustainable locations, where the processes, layout and forms of designs used promotes social sustainability (Kennedy, 2004). On the issue of transportation during sustainable construction, the Brighton and Hove checklist guides the construction of projects that are not only has an ease to access to transport, but encourages people to walk rather than drive thus reduce the amount of carbonic gases emitted in the atmosphere (DEFRA, 2008). Another area that the checklist assesses to ensure sustainable construction is adhered to is in the question of environment. This ensures any construction does not encroach on existing natural habitats and develops biodiversity (DEFRA, 2008). Use of recyclable, renewable resources is a fundamental area of assessment of sustainable construction. Additionally, any sustainable developments should add economic value and should economic feasible (DEFRA, 2008). The Brighton and Hove checklist provides for guidelines on constructing buildings that promote sustainability of the whole system of developments. Any methods of assessing sustainable construction puts into consideration the main elements that influence the sustainability performance of a building from the process of designing to constructing, operating and maintaining the project (N.A.O. 2007). The methods used for assessing sustainable construction dwells on the whole process of designing to ensure necessarily reorganizing and integration of environmentally friendly processes are used and are mentioned prior and at appropriate time, to avoid increased costs of remodeling the design and incorporating the design if construction is done and found wanting (Kibert, 2008). In United Kingdom, the BREEM and the code for sustainable homes assess sustainable construction in the areas of energy utilization, greenhouse emissions, efficiency and conserved supply of water. Other areas include raw materials used for construction, waste disposal, elements of air, water and land pollution for example the drainage and air systems, the health and sanitation for occupants and environmental impact and strategies of the project (Kibert, 2008). Benefits derived from using assessment methods Complying with set standards for sustainable construction is beneficial for investors since they are able to reduce the risks for their investments (N.A.O. 2007). Increased efficiency of available water and energy, establishment of quality, safe and flexible living for all, ease to accessibility to basic amenities are the other advantages. Moreover, the developer experiences less costs for the construction life cycle (Maiellaro, 2001). Analysis and Recommendations for future sustainable construction Sustainable construction conjoins the economy, the community and the environment. Where all of the three aspects benefit from each other if handled well. Through sustainable construction, global economies achieve natural capitals through ecological systems, which ensure constant supply of food, water, energy (Kibert, 2008). There is human capital where people become more knowledgeable, healthy, motivated and feel secure by innovating, and working in areas that upholds social sustainability (N.A.O. 2007). Additionally, there is financial capital where profits are experienced by means and ends of valuing, ownership, and allows exchange of human, natural and manufactured capitals (DEFRA, 2008). The analysis of sustainable construction suggest that, the practice is coupled by increased costs during designing, acquisition of raw materials and implementation of ecological friendly processes (Maiellaro, 2001). Moreover, the practice is faced by the challenges with the lack of effective and standardized regulations and guidelines in the construction industry that apply across all nations (Miozzo & Dewick, 2004). There is lack of provisions for information and estimates on the savings, which are realized upon use of sustainable constructions (DEFRA, 2008). There is a limitation of tools for methods of assessment for sustainable construction across the world, with majority of the checklists being saturated in developed and urbanized countries, and being few or non existent in third world countries (Yang, et al., 2005). Therefore, it is imperative to strike a balance between the people, their consumption and technology, which influence environmental changes by ensuring that needs, are satisfied while the resources are effectively planned for and managed (Kennedy, 2004). Among recommendations that are necessary to ensure sustainable construction include adhering to set standards of building and encouraging users to reduce their natural resources consumption rates, encouraging recycling and use of renewable raw materials. Other strategies include encouraging designs that promote conservation of natural ecology, foster healthy and emission of non-toxic gases, and design flexible projects to facilitate changes of needs for occupants (N.A.O. 2007). More important is the need for more urbanized nations who emit more carbonic gases to be accountable for environmental conservation and fund eco-friendly sustainable projects in developing countries (Kibert, 2008). Among other recommendations are that the designs used should be economically viable, are energy efficient, prevent pollution of any sort, integrate environmental management systems and processes and promotes quality of health and life for all (Halliday, 2008). The government, the civil engineering fraternity and the constructing professionals can propel the practice of sustainable construction by not only using used development instead of creating new ones unless it is necessarily and establishing built ecology, but re-construction, restoration and rehabilitation of destroyed ecological systems and reversing arid and semi arid areas (Kibert, 2008). For effective sustainable construction, which costs less, it is imperative to integrate sustainable elements from the pre construction stages, in the process of constructing to post construction stages (DEFRA, 2008). For future development and implementation of sustainable construction should satisfy the needs of the people, be flexible enough to accommodate changes of use of the project, develop innovative methods that promote production while conserving the environment, minimize use of new and non-renewable materials and maximize use of recycled and renewable resources (Miozzo & Dewick, 2004). Conclusions Sustainable development has been an integral aspect in the 21st Century. The steps towards establishing sustainable developments ahs been necessitated by shifts in environmental, economical, social, technological, political and legal facets in global markets and economies. Among such ventures of sustainable development is sustainable construction. Sustainable construction refers to designing, building, maintaining and renovating of projects based on environmental conservation, improving the health, safety and quality of life for the population while remaining economically feasible. When construction is done sustain ably, there is energy efficiency, reduced water wastage, natural resources are preserved and conserved, there is prevention of air, land and water pollution realized through proper waste and refuse disposal and operating drainage systems. Additionally, uses of recycled and renewable raw materials are encouraged. When designing for sustainable homes, it is fundamental to ensure flexibility to accommodate future changes of needs for the users. In the United Kingdom, BREEM is an assessment tool that is used to measure compliance and ratings at which developers are using eco friendly raw materials and ensure their designs integrate elements that help conserve the environment, improve the health of the people and allows for economic feasibility of the project. Any methods of assessing sustainable construction puts into consideration the main elements that influence the sustainability performance of a building from the process of designing to constructing, operating and maintaining the project. References Babalis, D. 2005. Ecopolis: sustainable planning and design principles. Melbourne: Alinea Editrice. D.E.F.R.A. 2008. Strategy for sustainable construction. London: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Halliday, S. 2008. Sustainable construction. Berlin: Butterworth-Heinemann. Kennedy, J.F. 2004. Building without Borders: sustainable construction for the global village. Berlin: New Society Publishers. Kibert, C.J. 2008. Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery. London: John Wiley and Sons. Maiellaro, N. 2001. Towards sustainable building. Sidney: Springer. Miozzo, M., Dewick, P. 2004. Innovation in construction: a European analysis. Montreal: Edward Elgar Publishing. Mithraratne, N., Vale, B., Vale, R. 2007. Sustainable living: the role of whole life costs and values. Berlin: Butterworth-Heinemann. N.A.O. 2007. Building for the future: sustainable construction and refurbishment on the government estate. New York City: The Stationery Office. Yang, J., Brandon, S., Sidwell, A.C. 2005. Smart & sustainable built environments. London: Wiley-Blackwell. Read More