Decreasing the Environmental Impact of Construction
The construction sector is one of the biggest industries globally, making quite an impact on society. Many jobs are created, and it provides an opportunity to urbanise and advance areas.
We cannot ignore, however, that construction can have certain devastating effects too. The environmental impact of construction companies is always a point of discussion, and rightly so. Keep reading to learn more about it and how sustainable construction responds to decrease the environmental impact made.
What Is The Environmental Impact?
The construction industry has many different practices in place, often at the expense of the environment that surrounds it and as a whole. For example, overconsumption of fuel when toiling away at construction sites can be quite a hazard. How much is used can also generate greenhouse gases that worsen our chances against the impending disasters of climate change.
Construction companies with bad and outdated practices also add to waste generation, where a lot of unusable debris is just chucked off to foreign landfills, or burned in incinerators to produce plenty of smoke to pollute the air further. If it doesn’t go to the landfills, the waste could go straight into the ocean, which can destroy underwater life and coral reefs.
What Exactly Is Sustainable Construction?
Sustainable construction is the responsibility of construction companies everywhere. Modern technological advances have paved the way for compromise, providing better alternatives that can greatly lessen the ecological impact of the industry on the environment while continuing to function, operate and contribute to society.
Granted, these principles and techniques may be foreign at first. Fostering a more conscious and healthy environment can take practice. Starting and sustaining it for the long term can greatly assist in improving the Earth’s condition and healing from all the impact made beforehand.
How Can Construction Companies Contribute?
Here are several ways of how construction can contribute to decreasing its environmental impact:
- Reduce Fuel Use. Utilising fewer fossil fuels will result in lesser air pollution. Finding alternative fuel sources that are better for the environment can also help too.
- Use Sustainable Materials. Too much material can be generated as a result of overproduction for construction. Consider using renewable and recycled resources.
- Practice Erosion Control. Ecosystems and landscapes are always put at risk when construction projects take place. Implement erosion control measures to compensate.
- Avoid Dumping Contaminants. Do not unethically dump any contaminants into landfills and waters. There are safer ways of disposing of them if chemical use is necessary.
- Quicken Timelines. Construction that takes too long can impact the environment too much because of the project timeline. Stick to a schedule and shorten it when possible.
- Utilize Alternative Energy And Plumbing. There are different energy sources and plumbing techniques available now that take advantage of the environment rather than damage it. Be sure to look into solar and wind energy use.
- Promote And Partner With Other Green Businesses. Many construction companies strive to go green already to reduce the impact. One way of participating in the cause is to provide support to these businesses with promotions and partnerships.
Conclusion
It can be a difficult road to reach zero environmental impact. However, the construction industry should move as a whole towards this goal, inching closer to it little by little. Before you know it, the planet’s healing is in motion while business continues.
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IMAGE © Katharyn Quinn 2021
