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In June 2019, the UK government was the first of the world’s major industrialised economies to commit by law to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a change from the original plan to reduce CO2 by 80 percent under 1990 levels. While the challenge of reducing net carbon dioxide to zero might sound extreme, the UK has already cut emissions by 42 percent over the last three decades while growing the economy an impressive 72 percent. Thus, the message from the government is that the new target is achievable.
In meeting these new requirements, the construction sector will face serious challenges. As a carbon-intensive industry, it will need to implement substantial changes in working practices to meet CO2 targets over the next 30 years.
This article discusses the difficulties that firms in the sector may face. It then goes on to explain what they can do to become more sustainable and whether any new technology might help.
What are the challenges of achieving net-zero for the construction industry?
The construction industry faces three primary challenges moving to net-zero carbon emissions:
- Transitioning to carbon-efficient construction methods.
- Adapting buildings to withstand new climate challenges.
- Decarbonising the UK’s heating systems.
Transitioning to carbon-efficient construction methods will require a change in both building materials and approaches to construction. For example, the sector will need to transition away from carbon-intensive steel and concrete to more sustainable materials (or versions that embody drastically lower CO2).
Already the UK construction industry is partnering with scientists and universities all over the world to explore new methods. However, whether it will achieve its goals depends primarily on technology and supply chains in other countries. Currently, the majority of the world’s steel supply comes from China with energy derived from fossil fuels.
Decarbonising UK heating will also require substantial investment over the coming years but the government is lending a helping hand. We’re already seeing it heavily push heat pump subsidies, replacing traditional gas-fired boilers, and incentives for firms and individuals to install insulation.
The government also recently published the UK Hydrogen Strategy, setting the stage for home-grown hydrogen production. The new approach, the government says, will improve the range of sustainable heating options available by the mid-2020s.
Lastly, the construction sector needs to change building practices to reflect climatic changes in the future while still achieving net-zero carbon. This will include using new carbon-efficient materials, special types of glass, and constructing using recyclable components.
How can the industry and businesses within it become more sustainable and improve corporate social responsibility?
There are various methods that construction companies can use to reduce their carbon footprint and become more socially responsible. For instance, firms may seek to rely more on wood. Unlike other materials, it doesn’t require energy-intensive processing to become a building material and, when sourced from sustainable forests, it is also renewable.
Firms can also invest more in sustainable concrete. At present, it is responsible for 5 percent of global CO2 emissions alone. Innovative new technologies, however, are helping to change this using recycled plastics. These may be able to reduce carbon dioxide output by 50 percent or more.
Recycled materials are fast becoming a critical component of the construction supply chain too. For instance, construction firms are now using cigarette butt bricks.
Construction should also focus on powering construction operations with renewable energy where possible. Large construction sites, for instance, might set up portable solar arrays and battery storage to power local computers. They might also seek out heavy plant and machinery with electric drivetrains, not diesel.
Construction companies are further looking into using on-site water treatment to minimise waste. Currently, transporting these products from the construction site to processing facilities emits large quantities of CO2, but on-site treatment could change this.
What can be done now, what existing technology can be employed to help the construction industry reach this goal, and what might future technology bring?
Even today, the construction industry can already do a lot to reach its net-zero goals. Most of the tools for achieving net-zero carbon emissions already exist.
For example, companies can abandon traditional paper blueprints and, instead, use digital designs stored in the cloud. Construction management software is considerably more efficient than traditional paper-based approaches and allows construction firms to calculate their costs, track progress, manage all site- and project-related documents, and communicate in real-time with their teams. There are also tools that make it easy to monitor the impact of construction activities on the environment, reduce waste and track productivity.
Firms can also look for ways to boost the efficiency of their transport fleets to reduce the carbon footprint generated. One approach is to monitor drivers’ behaviour and ensure that they are operating vehicles and equipment in an energy-efficient manner. Revving engines or leaving them idling increases CO2 production more than necessary. Another option is to move to hybrid vehicles or fully electric when they become available.
Using prefabricated material is another exciting approach for reducing CO2 emissions. Instead of constructing everything on-site, construction companies can outsource various building components, such as doors, windows, walls, roof trusses and stairs, to third parties. Once fabricated, the manufacturer can ship it to the construction site. This cuts down on waste since on-site construction typically requires extra materials.
The future of construction technology is somewhat uncertain. However, we are likely to see the emergence of the following:
1) The connected job site
This is where companies eliminate paper forms and communicate with workers directly. Such technology may enable firms to operate more efficiently, reduce wasted travel and make decisions faster on the fly.
2) Modular construction
We may also see the emergency of constructing homes from large pieces, instead of from scratch. This approach should reduce time on-site, and the cost of the building.
3) 3D Printing
Firms may be able to eliminate their reliance on diesel-guzzling machines entirely using giant 3D printers that simply print out structures. This technology has the potential to both reduce energy use and construction time.
Conclusion
The new net-zero carbon emission targets took many construction firms by surprise. However, complying with it will probably be easier than many expect. Technology, systems and processes to achieve it largely already exist.
