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5 - Lecture 5 -Methods for Sustainable Construction

Sustainable construction methods aim to reduce environmental impact while enhancing efficiency and minimizing waste throughout a building's lifecycle. Key practices include lean construction, prefabrication, the use of sustainable materials, carbon-reduction tools, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). Despite its benefits, sustainable construction faces challenges such as higher upfront costs, lack of awareness, regulatory hurdles, and sourcing difficulties.

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Rakan El-արաբական
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32 views

5 - Lecture 5 -Methods for Sustainable Construction

Sustainable construction methods aim to reduce environmental impact while enhancing efficiency and minimizing waste throughout a building's lifecycle. Key practices include lean construction, prefabrication, the use of sustainable materials, carbon-reduction tools, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). Despite its benefits, sustainable construction faces challenges such as higher upfront costs, lack of awareness, regulatory hurdles, and sourcing difficulties.

Uploaded by

Rakan El-արաբական
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Methods for Sustainable Construction

Sustainable construction methods focus on reducing the


environmental impact of building while improving efficiency and
minimizing waste.

Sustainable construction does not end after the completion of the


building project, the design of the building itself should have a
minimal impact on the environment over the structure's lifespan.
Why sustainable construction is important
Why sustainable construction is important:
Because construction industry not only contributes to reducing our
environmental footprint, but also provides long-term financial benefits,
improves public health, and preserves resources for future generations. In
this blog post, we will explore the importance of sustainable construction
practices and .
Sustainable construction methods span a lot of Ps:
products,
practices,
processes, and
policies.

Sustainable construction methods begin in a project’s design phase and


carry through to operation. Here are six such methods and how they’re
integrated into the construction phase.
Sustainable construction methods include12:
1 - Lean construction: A collaborative approach to project delivery that
minimizes waste.
2 - Prefab, modular, and industrialized construction: Using off-site
manufacturing to reduce waste.
3 - Sustainable construction materials: Using renewable and recyclable
materials.
4 - Carbon-reduction tools: Reducing energy consumption and embodied
energy in building materials.
5 - Circular construction: Focusing on reuse and recycling.
6 - BIM and sustainable construction BIM (Building Information
Modeling) is mostly associated with design and preconstruction, it benefits
every phase of the project lifecycle.
1 - Lean construction: A collaborative approach to project delivery that
minimizes waste.
Lean construction is a collaborative approach to project delivery in which all stakeholders
work together to optimize the project, minimizing waste wherever possible.
In some ways, construction and sustainable construction are two sides of the same coin: Both
sustainable and lean construction strive for efficient use of resources through the reduction of
waste. Whereas the goals of lean construction are short-term reduction of waste in all of its
forms (not just material) and the environmental concerns of sustainable construction are longer
term, both disciplines aim for the efficient use of valuable resources; an integrated systems
approach can help realize hidden cost reductions while producing more sustainable outcomes.
Because lean construction has the net effect of reducing defects, it tends to reduce material
waste. Resulting assets are assembled using fewer resources and have a lower environmental
impact from construction.
2 - Prefab, modular, and industrialized construction: Using off-site
manufacturing to reduce waste.

The environmental benefits of industrialized construction are significant. Prefabrication processes:


• Use fewer natural resources
• Reduce pollution
• Optimize material usage
Sites offer safer working conditions and reduced operational energy, and off-site construction minimizes
impact on communities.
Prefabrication and the use of digital construction tools have resulted in faster build times, fewer errors, less
waste, and lower cost for BamCore—proof that industrialized construction can have an impressive impact on
sustainability.
3 - Sustainable construction materials: Using renewable and recyclable
materials.
Sustainable construction materials can be thrilling to behold, from the warm, tactile beauty of mass timber—a
near-perfect material for industrialized construction—to the sculptural curves of bamboo structures, to the
striking use of whole trees as structural columns, to shapely sustainable concrete forms made stronger and
lighter through generative design.
Behind the scenes, builders are looking upstream more in their search for sustainable solutions—starting with
procurement. “Green-building project teams are putting pressure on the materials and product suppliers to
prove their products are low impact,” Kibert says. “There are many standards being written around this stuff that
tie into the green-building movement. If you’re a project team, you often have to demonstrate that your products
are recyclable, have recycled content, have low impacts. More recently, the study of products has gone beyond
environmental issues to include social issues that the companies affect.”
“Very recently, there has been an enormous increase in the number of companies producing EPDs for their
products,” he continues. “The reason is, the project teams are asking for them because green-building rating
systems like Green Globes and LEED require EPDs to earn credit toward certification. There has been great
progress in this arena, but a robust decision system that provides a roadmap on how to compare EPDs for
specific products is still lacking.”
4 - Carbon-reduction tools: Reducing energy consumption and embodied
energy in building materials.
Now is a critical time to address the ways building materials contribute to carbon emissions. Thanks to collaborative
industry efforts, open, free carbon-reduction and carbon-calculator tools are beginning to make that process more
transparent.
But it takes some self-scrutiny on the part of the building-material manufacturer, Floyd says: “They have to basically
commission an assessment of their products.
The Embodied Carbon Calculator (EC3)
Building Transparency—supported by a consortium of partners including global construction company Skanska,
Autodesk, and others—recently launched the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, a free, open-
access platform for revealing the embodied carbon in building materials.
Pulling data from third party–verified EPDs, the EC3 tool compares the carbon intensity of available materials, letting
even general practitioners make fast, carbon-smart procurement choices.
5 - Circular construction: Focusing on reuse and recycling.
The circular construction economy approaches design and building with the intention to reduce, reuse, and
recycle as many resources as possible. While design is central to the model, builders can divert construction
and demolition materials from disposal by practicing source reduction, salvaging, recycling and reusing
existing materials, and buying used and recycled materials and products.

“Circularity relates to the general contractor’s role because it has to do with procurement and how you
manage anything you might be demolishing or deconstructing onsite, where you direct those material flows,”
Floyd says. “It also has to do with documenting what goes into the final result, making it easier and less
expensive to recover those materials at an asset’s end of life—effectively raising the future value of those
embedded materials.”
6 - BIM and sustainable construction
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is mostly associated with design
and preconstruction, it benefits every phase of the project lifecycle.

Across the world, BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a crucial and even
mandated process to ensure the planning, design, and construction of buildings
is highly efficient and collaborative .

https://constructible.trimble.com/constructio
n-industry/what-is-bim-building-information-
modeling
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics
of a building. It enhances collaboration and communication throughout the project lifecycle. Here’s how it
works:
1.Data Integration: BIM integrates various types of data—geometric, spatial, and functional—into a single
model. This data can include materials, costs, and timelines.
2.3D Modeling: BIM creates a 3D model that allows architects, engineers, and contractors to visualize the
building and its systems in detail. This helps identify potential issues before construction begins.
3.Collaboration: Different stakeholders can work on the same model simultaneously. Changes made by one
team are automatically updated for others, facilitating better communication and reducing errors.
4.Analysis: BIM tools can perform simulations and analyses, such as energy consumption, lighting, and
structural integrity, helping to optimize design and performance.
5.Documentation: The model generates accurate documentation, such as plans, sections, and schedules,
which can be used for permitting and construction.
6.Lifecycle Management: BIM is not just for design and construction; it also aids in facility management,
allowing for ongoing maintenance and operations after the building is completed.
By using BIM, projects can be more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable, ultimately improving the
overall quality of the built environment.
Here are some key sustainable construction techniques:
1 - Green Building Standards:
Implementing standards such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) or BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method) that guide and certify sustainable practices in
construction.
Learn about the different types and purposes of green
building standards, ratings, and certifications, and how
they vary in their approach and requirements. Find out
how to select the most credible and applicable programs
for your project and explore some examples of
green buildings.
2 - Energy Efficiency: Using high-efficiency windows, insulation, and
HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption. Incorporating
renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines also
boosts sustainability.
3 - Water Efficiency: Installing low-flow fixtures and efficient
irrigation systems to minimize water use. Implementing rainwater
harvesting systems to use for non-potable water needs like
irrigation and flushing toilets.
4 - Material Efficiency: Utilizing prefabricated components
manufactured in a controlled environment reduces waste. Opting for
local and recycled materials also cuts down on energy consumed in
transportation and production.
5 - Waste Reduction: Implementing strategies for on-site
management of construction waste, including recycling materials
and proper disposal methods to reduce landfill use.
6 - Indoor Environmental Quality: Ensuring good air quality and
adequate natural lighting through design. Using non-toxic and low-
emitting materials helps protect occupants' health.
What are the obstacles faced in sustainable construction?
 Sustainable construction faces several challenges, including higher
upfront costs due to the use of specialized materials and technologies.
There's also a lack of awareness and expertise in green building
material and building practices, which can hinder adoption.
Additionally, regulatory hurdles and inconsistent standards across
different regions can complicate the planning and execution of
sustainable projects. Lastly, sourcing sustainable materials can be
difficult in areas where such resources are not readily available,
potentially limiting the practical implementation of sustainable
construction methods.

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