Ways to Decrease Your Environmental Impact in the Construction Industry

 

Construction is a booming global industry. Between now and 2060, the world is likely to construct almost 2.5 trillion square feet of new developments — the equivalent of adding another Paris to the planet every single week.

Is building construction good for the environment? Construction is an industry that consumes vast amounts of resources and generates tons of greenhouse gas emissions and waste, so construction and the environment often have competing needs. In 2019, the construction and buildings sector accounted for 36% of ultimate energy use and almost 40% of energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But using green building practices to decrease your construction business’s environmental impact can help.

If you’re wondering how to decrease the environmental impact of construction, you’re not alone. How can you make your construction site environmentally friendly? In this guide, we lay out some of the environmental impacts of construction, explain how to have a green construction company and discuss sustainable construction materials and techniques.

What Are the Environmental Impacts of the Construction Industry?

Why is construction bad for the environment? The construction industry has historically had several environmental impacts:

1. Fuel Consumption

Which is the most significant environmental impact of buildings during the construction phase? One of the primary candidates is the pollution associated with fossil fuel consumption.

Construction projects notoriously guzzle fossil fuels like gas and diesel. This fuel consumption also notoriously emits large volumes of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and other waste products.

Across all industries, construction accounts for the third-highest level of greenhouse gas emissions, generating about 130 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions in 2002, the last year for which data is publicly available. These gases contribute to the greenhouse effect. They help hasten the grim consequences of climate change — rising global temperatures, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, increased prevalence of extreme weather events and more.

2. Noise Pollution

Construction also has adverse environmental effects via noise pollution. There’s no way around it — construction equipment is loud, and these noises can wreak havoc on the surrounding environment, especially in a residential area. The different types of machinery used in excavation, demolition, building and landscaping all contribute to noise pollution.

3. Waste Generation

Construction projects also tend to generate huge amounts of waste. In 2017, U.S. construction and demolition projects produced a total of 569 tons of debris. Much of it piles up in landfills around the country or goes to incinerators that belch smoke and pollutants into the air as they work. Both of these methods of disposal have a detrimental impact on the environment.

4. Pollution and Emissions From Materials Manufacturing

The U.S. construction industry uses over 2 billion metric tons of materials every year. And manufacturing those materials consumes fossil fuels and produces tons of carbon emissions. Concrete is a particular culprit in this regard — cement, the main ingredient in concrete, accounts for an astounding 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.

5. Contaminated Discharge

Polluted effluent from construction sites can harm the surrounding ecosystem. Contaminated discharge can come from chemicals, wheel wash stations and any areas where pollutants come into contact with the environment. Even without direct discharge, precipitation and stormwater can sweep away these contaminants as runoff and deposit them in surface water, carry them to groundwater or leave them to pollute the soil.

6. Damage From Outdated Techniques

Some construction techniques can cause physical damage to the environment. The sandbags and dewatering solutions used in bridge and dam construction, for instance, can cause soil erosion, runoff, sedimentation and permanent alterations of delicate aquatic ecosystems.

7. Construction of Wasteful Buildings

The environmental impacts of a construction project last long after the construction project is over. Part of the reason is that the structures built during the project may or may not themselves be environmentally friendly — operating buildings in the residential and commercial sectors accounts for about 40% of the United States’ total energy use.

How Can We Protect Our Environment During Construction?

What are some ways to help the environment in construction? Some useful methods include the following.

1. Reducing Fuel Consumption

One of the best ways to make a construction site environmentally friendly is to reduce fuel consumption. Construction businesses can reduce their fuel consumption in a few different ways:

• Using alternative fuel sources: Using alternative fuels like biodiesels helps cut down on fuel consumption and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• Using hybrid equipment: Using hybrid equipment that runs on both fossil fuels and electricity helps cut down on fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as well.
• Upgrading equipment: If using hybrid equipment is infeasible, companies can consider upgrading their equipment to more fuel-efficient models. If the cost of new machinery is prohibitive, construction companies could look to reliable sources like Cat® dealers for reliable, fuel-efficient used equipment.
• Reducing haul distances: Reducing haul distances minimizes fuel consumption by decreasing the amount of fuel required for a trip.
• Minimizing vehicle idling time: When vehicles idle, they continue to burn fossil fuels, even though they’re not going anywhere. On some projects, idling time accounts for up to 40 to 50% of total vehicle running time, and medium-heavy trucks can burn half a gallon to nearly a full gallon of fuel per hour of idling.

2. Reducing Noise Pollution

Adhering to local ordinances about noise pollution can help create goodwill with the surrounding community. Neighbors who need to rest before the workday will appreciate not having their sleep disrupted by a construction project starting work at 6:00 a.m.

It’s also smart to post notices and send letters to residents outlining the details of the construction project, such as when construction will take place and how long you expect the project to last.

3. Reducing Waste Generation

Construction businesses can cut down on the consumption of new materials by buying used, salvaged or recycled materials. And they can reduce the waste they generate by sending their construction and demolition debris to be recycled and used again in new projects.

Appliances, fixtures, hardware and materials like brick, wood, metals, plastic and concrete are all good candidates for salvage or recycling. Metals and wood have high recycling value, and materials like bricks and concrete can find new life as fill or driveway bedding.

4. Implementing Erosion Control Measures

Sandbags can damage the environment near a construction site, but alternative solutions like inflatable dams and soil netting are gentler on local ecosystems. They also offer the benefit of a much lower cost. They are easy to install and take up relatively little space, and they help minimize pollution in the form of the soil swept away during construction projects. These controls also help decrease the amount of soil exposed during construction activities, and reduced soil exposure also helps limit erosion.

5. Minimizing Discharge of Contaminants

Construction sites can help protect the environment by minimizing ways contaminants can leach into the surrounding soil and water. Avoid dumping chemicals near the construction site — send them to a facility that can treat and safely dispose of them. And be sure to store used chemicals and wheel washes in areas where storm runoff is less likely to carry them away.

The law prohibits some construction effluents outright. Prohibited construction discharges include the following:

• Wastewater from concrete washout
• Fuels
• Oils
• Soaps
• Solvents
• Detergents
• Toxic or hazardous substances

6. Accelerating Timelines

Speeding up construction timelines can help minimize the damage done to the local environment. The longer a construction project goes on, the more fuel it consumes and the more greenhouse gases it emits into the atmosphere — and the longer the nearby residents have to live with the noise. An accelerated timeline makes the project more efficient and reduces the period of heavy environmental impact. It can also reduce the length of traffic disruption and increase safety.

7. Teaming Up for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Partnering with land developers and architects to plan and construct greener buildings is another way construction businesses can help decrease their environmental impact. Constructing complexes that incorporate and preserve green space is one way to do this, as is developing buildings that make use of alternative energies with solar panels or small wind turbines.

Green buildings provide many benefits, and one of those involves reduced operational costs. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most common green building certification program globally, and LEED-certified buildings provide operational savings of up to 20% over traditionally constructed buildings. And green renovations and retrofits can produce savings of up to 10%. Green buildings also help improve the health of the employees who work there because of their reduced pollutants and increased indoor air quality.

8. Investing in Sustainable Materials and Techniques

The manufacture of many of the materials needed in construction projects comes at the cost of high fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. But construction companies can reduce the fuel consumption and emissions associated with manufacturing their needed materials by using alternative, recycled or salvaged materials in their projects. And they can adopt sustainable techniques to make their projects easier on the local environment.

What Are Sustainable Construction Materials?

Sustainable construction materials are materials that have a low ecological impact in their manufacture. They also have minimal impact on the environment once construction is complete.

Some examples of sustainable construction materials include the following:

1. Renewable Wood

Cutting down trees for use in construction projects is not a perfect solution environmentally. But while logging generates some pollution, it pales in comparison to the amount of pollution produced in the manufacture of plastic and other products. And with proper logging methods and adequate forest management, wood is a renewable resource. With the right work and commitment, it is possible to provide enough wood for construction projects while still maintaining the biodiversity of forest ecosystems.

2. Recycled Plastic

Plastic comes from petroleum, and its manufacture burns substantial amounts of fossil fuels and releases tons of greenhouse gases. Recycled plastic provides a much more eco-friendly alternative.

Recycled plastic can be melted down and remade into new plastic components, but it can also find use in surprising construction applications. Plastic can be pulverized and used as filler in concrete, for example, helping to reduce some of the heavy carbon emissions that would otherwise be necessary for concrete production.

3. Bamboo

Bamboo grows much faster than hardwood. So when construction companies want an even more sustainable option than wood, they can turn to bamboo for a resource that quickly and efficiently replenishes itself. It is also lightweight for easy transport and has high tensile strength for durability and safety.

Construction projects can use bamboo in flooring or as an eco-friendly alternative in rebar and concrete construction. If companies can source their bamboo locally, their projects become even greener and more sustainable.

4. Straw Bales

Because of their bulk and porous nature, straw bales make excellent alternative insulation material if construction projects use the correct sealing techniques. Straw bales can also substitute for plaster, concrete and other building materials traditionally used to make walls.

Straw is a natural agricultural byproduct – it consists of the dry stalks left over after the grains and chaff are removed from cereal grain plants — so it is readily available, quick to replenish and exceptionally renewable. It is also lightweight and affordable, especially in comparison to many traditional construction materials.

5. Sheep’s Wool

Sheep’s wool also makes an excellent alternative insulation material. It boasts low thermal conductivity and is outstanding at keeping homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Its light weight and affordable prices may make it an attractive, convenient solution for many construction projects. It is endlessly renewable, and if the local community has sheep or hobby farms, it may be locally sourced as well.

6. Timbercrete®

Timbercrete is a relatively new type of construction material made from the compaction of concrete and recycled timber waste like sawdust. The resulting material is lighter than concrete but still exceptionally durable.

Using Timbercrete in construction projects helps reduce waste by using a recyclable material. It also helps cut down on the heavy fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of pure concrete.

7. Ferrock

Ferrock is another type of innovative material used as part of environmentally friendly construction strategies. It takes a variety of recycled materials, including steel dust, and compacts them into a material that has many of the same properties as concrete but is even stronger.

As Ferrock dries, it also provides an essential benefit for the environment — it traps carbon dioxide and seals it into itself as part of the drying process. For this reason, Ferrock helps reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with construction projects and is ultimately carbon-negative.

8. Rammed Earth

Unlike Timbercrete and Ferrock, rammed earth has been around for centuries. Tightly packed earth is durable and long-lasting, and when produced correctly, it feels very similar to concrete. Rammed earth is not quite sturdy enough to support an entire building, but construction businesses can fortify rammed-earth structures with rebar or even bamboo to give them the requisite stability.

9. Wood Scraps and Cutoffs

Construction businesses can use wood scraps to make pieces like lintels and blocking. Using scraps and cuttings is less wasteful because it removes the need to cut full-length lumber for small pieces, and it reduces the volume of wood waste that ends up in landfills. It is also useful to chip scrap wood and turn it into groundcover or mulch.

10. Recycled Brick, Concrete and Masonry

Construction companies can use recycled brick, concrete and masonry as driveway bedding or subbase material. Companies can reuse the debris waste from their own projects, or they can buy recycled materials — either method keeps valuable materials in use and out of landfills.

What Are Sustainable Construction Techniques?

Sustainable construction techniques are methods that help reduce waste, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and create buildings that consume less energy. Beyond lowering fuel consumption and using recycled materials, some common sustainable techniques in the construction industry include the following:

1. Installing Integrated, Automated Building Systems

With the increasing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT), home devices like smart thermostat controls, web-connected doorbells and other comfort and security devices are coming into more widespread use. But IoT products can help with overall building maintenance as well. Discreet, connected sensors can keep track of lighting, airflow, temperature and security. When they sense people have left a room, they can lower the heat and turn off the lights, decreasing energy waste and reducing utility bills, as well.

Construction businesses can incorporate these features directly into their buildings to help them operate more sustainably long after construction is over.

2. Providing Alternative Energy

Construction businesses can also partner with designers and local energy companies to provide alternative power to the buildings they construct. They can install solar panels on the roof or in the yard, or they can install small wind turbines. They can also help arrange for the building’s energy to come from wind or solar farms if direct installation on the property is infeasible.

3. Switching to Synthetic Roofing Materials

Installing green roofs helps make a building’s energy use more sustainable. Most roofs have an underlayment of asphalt, which tends to break down relatively quickly. Then the insulating properties of the roofs suffer — the breakdown creates leaks where hot and cold air can escape, and it also allows moisture to seep into the building’s interior. The building’s energy usage and utility bills tend to rise as a result. Asphalt also contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that pollute the environment and can be detrimental to human health.

Green roofs, on the other hand, use a synthetic underlayment that helps the roof last longer, keeps the building better insulated and reduces energy needs. This synthetic underlay is typically free of VOCs, so it helps reduce pollution as well.

4. Promoting Green Roofs

Another way construction businesses can turn the roof to an environmental advantage is to work with architects and designers to create a green roof filled with ferns, flowers, shrubs and other greenery. The plants help absorb carbon dioxide and improve the air quality in and around the building. They also provide a little natural insulation that can help reduce heating and cooling costs. And the soil helps absorb rainwater to minimize pools of standing water that can lead to leaks and decreased insulative properties.

5. Installing Greywater Plumbing

Greywater plumbing systems help reduce water waste. With greywater plumbing, every stream of wastewater in the building — except for sewage — undergoes processing and reuse. Construction businesses can promote and install greywater plumbing systems to help their buildings use water more sustainably.

6. 3D-Printing Structural Components

Not all construction components have to be cut down, refined or manufactured. These processes are often wasteful, but in some cases, 3D printing provides a greener alternative. Printing structural components for buildings locally can also cut down on shipping costs and associated fuel consumption. In 2018, a Dutch startup finished the world’s first 3D-printed bridge, printing the steel components via robotic welding arms. It will be installed across an Amsterdam canal once canal reconstruction is complete. The use of 3D printing has since gained a small foothold in the construction industry and will likely expand.

7. Experimenting With Bioconcrete

Bioconcrete is concrete with two extra ingredients: bacillus bacteria and calcium lactate for the bacteria to use for food. Bioconcrete has one primary advantage — it can heal the cracks that form when water seeps into the concrete. The bacteria don’t harm people or the environment, but when water enters the concrete, it opens the calcium lactate capsules, releases the food source and allows the bacteria to multiply. As the bacteria feed, they combine the calcium with carbonate ions in the concrete, forming limestone, which helps seal the cracks.

Using self-repairing bioconcrete is beneficial for the environment because it helps reduce the need for disruptive construction projects — and their associated emissions and fuel consumption.

Work With Thompson Tractor for All Your Construction Needs

When you need rugged, dependable equipment for your next construction project, partner with Thompson Tractor, your local Cat dealer in Alabama and northwestern Florida. We’ll help you find quality new and used machinery that runs reliably and gets excellent fuel economy for greener operations.

We like to say our equipment is tough on earth but easy on the planet — visit one of our convenient locations or browse online and see for yourself.