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Innovation in a Sustainable

Construction Industry

Course leader

Course notes

Dave Due

Assessment

--

Course Summary

This unit gives learners an understanding of the importance of sustainable

construction and the drive for innovation in all aspects of the industry. The unit gives

learners an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable innovation in a construction

application.

The course begins with a introduced of innovation in a changing world makes this

unit essential for commercial, social and environmental reasons. In this unit learners

will apply their understanding of innovative materials, components and building

systems to critically review a specific building design proposal in terms of its

innovation and sustainability.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the students should be able to;

1 Be able to appraise the environmental drivers for innovation in sustainable

construction

2 Understand the use of innovative materials, components and systems for sustainable

construction

3 Be able to develop innovative proposals using appropriate modelling techniques.

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Chapter 1.0

Be able to appraise the environmental drivers for innovation in

sustainable construction

Content

1.1. Environmental drivers on the construction section ................................................. 5

1.1.1. What do we mean by environment? ..................................................................... 5

1.1.1.1. Origins of Environmental Concern ........................................................... 5

1.1.1.2. Our Common Future ................................................................................. 6

1.1.2. Human Induced Climate Change ......................................................................... 7

1.1.2.1. Extreme Weather ....................................................................................... 7

1.1.2.2. Ozone depletion and climate change ........................................................ 7

1.1.3. Resource Depletion .............................................................................................. 8

1.1.3.1. Fossil Fuels ............................................................................................... 8

1.1.3.2. Deforestation ............................................................................................. 8

1.1.4. Energy Demand ................................................................................................... 9

1.1.4.1 Demand in Construction Industry .............................................................. 9

1.1.5. Pollution ............................................................................................................. 11

1.1.5.1. Air Quality .............................................................................................. 11

1.1.5.2. Water Quality .......................................................................................... 11

1.1.5.3. Ozone Layer Damage ............................................................................. 12

1.1.6. Biodiversity ........................................................................................................ 13

1.1.6.1. Loss of biodiversity................................................................................. 13

1.1.7. Carbon Reduction Strategies .............................................................................. 14

1.1.7.1 Why Do We Need to Reduce Carbon Use? ............................................ 14

1.1.7.2. Reducing Carbon: Personal Strategies..................................................... 15

1.1.7.2.1. ENERGY USE: ............................................................................. 15

1.1.7.2.2. TRAVEL: ..................................................................................... 15

1.1.7.2.3. CONSUMPTION: ........................................................................ 15

1.1.7.3. Reducing Carbon: Community Strategies .............................................. 16

1.1.7.4. Reducing Carbon: National Strategies ............................................. 17

1.1.8. The Building Life Cycle .................................................................................... 17

1.1.9. Regulatory Control............................................................................................. 19

1.1.10. References and Further Reading. ..................................................................... 20

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INTRODUCTION

This purpose of this introduction is to remind you of some of the basic concepts

concerning environmental impact.

1.1. Environmental drivers on the construction section

1.1.1. What do we mean by environment?

Before we can begin to discuss environmental impact, it is useful first to define what

is meant by ‘environment.’ The dictionary definition is ‘surrounding objects or

circumstances.’ For our present purposes this is a rather useful definition, the word

‘circumstances’ suggesting, correctly, that it is not only the surrounding objects and

substances that constitute the environment, but their state, such as temperature,

humidity, etc. Depending on the context, the environment can be taken to mean the

room in which one is sitting, the immediate surroundings such as the local streets, or

the entire globe and its atmospheric system (the bio-sphere).

1.1.1.1. Origins of Environmental Concern

While for centuries the global impact of human activity on the environment went

largely disregarded, it cannot have gone unnoticed by early man that his activities had

some effect on his surroundings. Since knowledge of science was virtually nil, and the

scale of impact was small, nothing much was done about it. Early man’s interest in the

world around probably did not extend beyond his hunting grounds. Early Roman

civilizations evolved drainage schemes to maintain a clean environment within a

building and its immediate locality. The burning of fuels was, until the industrial

revolution, on such a small scale as to not constitute a major hazard. Before the

chimney was developed, buildings were heated by a central fire which gave rise to

smoky atmospheres inside. It was partly to counter this pollution of the indoor

environment (and also to allow heating of buildings higher than one storey) that the

chimney developed. The inception of the industrial revolution, at first in Western

Europe, led to huge increases in the use of steam power and coal burning, and began

to create unpleasant atmospheres in cities, also leading to a several-fold increase in

the size of cities themselves. Many writers, among them Charles Dickens, Frederick

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Engels, John Ruskin, and William Morris, began to comment on the unhealthy

atmosphere of our cities as a result of this industrial activity. At the same time, the

prospect of employment attracted people to live in the cities, and led to a surge in the

number of homes, causing an increase in domestic coal consumption; the resulting

pollution was simply emitted into the atmosphere. While attempts were made to

remove the pollutants from residential areas, there was little done in the way of

reducing the overall amount of pollution; it was simply moved somewhere else. The

attitude until recent decades was that ‘the environment’ was an ever-expanding ‘sink’

for waste materials, and could keep on absorbing large amounts of waste for an

infinite amount of time. We now know that this is not the case, and that there is a limit

to which the air and waters can absorb waste materials without becoming

contaminated to a degree which makes them harmful to life. Thus the sea was

regarded as a dustbin for any form of waste, and it was assumed that any contaminant

would be diluted to such an extent that it became harmless. Research into ocean

currents has demonstrated that this hypothesis is a dangerous one on which to base

waste management policy. Similarly, the prevailing view of nature in the century

before last was that it was a primitive force to be subdued and conquered ruthlessly

for the benefit of mankind. That this ‘benefit’ would only be temporary was not

foreseen by many.

1.1.1.2. Our Common Future

Concern for the environment has been growing gradually, but progress has not been a

steady line. From the late sixties through the seventies there was growing interest in

‘alternatives’ - alternative energy supplies, alternative relationships between

manufacturers and purchasers, etc., which was largely the preserve of people

associated with a ‘hippy’ lifestyle. While this kind of thing was ignored by the mass

of the population, they did begin to address a number of concerns and raise awareness

of issues which later became the staple fare of environmentalists, such as pollution,

recycling, over-use of raw materials and so on, and which are now major concerns for

us all. Further impetus was given to the alternative energy lobby by massive rises in

oil prices in the early seventies, when solar, wind and other energy sources began to

become part of ‘mainstream’ technology. As oil prices settled down in the early

eighties, some of the steam went out of the alternative energy business, but in the last

year or two there have been substantial rises in the price of oil, focussing everyone’s

minds on the energy issue.

The report Our Common Future by the World Commission on Environment and

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Development (Bruntland, 1987) brought about a sudden increase in interest in

environmental issues. The report considered both development and the environment,

since a number of environmental problems or crises appeared to have been the result

of over-zealous or thoughtless development without consideration of the

consequences. Examples of these are deforestation, local problems arising from

hydroelectric schemes, global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, over-

development resulting from unfair trading practices, and the widespread use of

chemicals in agriculture. Earlier, The Brandt Commission on North-South issues had

pointed out the large discrepancies between consumption, production, pollution, and

access to healthy living environments, between the wealthy, developed nations,

mostly in the northern hemisphere, and the poorer nations principally in the southern

hemisphere. This established firmly in the public mind the link between environment

and development which Bruntland went on to explore further.

1.1.2. Human Induced Climate Change

Human kind is rapidly depleting the Earth’s resources and deteriorating its

ecosystems

• The rate of depletion and destruction is accelerating

• The economy is favors on cheap resources and cheap disposal of waste

• The value of the planet’s ecosystems to human social systems and its economy are

not considered

1.1.2.1. Extreme Weather

According to the figure 1 , climate change and

ozone depletion average surface temperature to

rise by 1.8 – 4.0 degree by the end of 21st century,

relative to 1980-1990. Land areas will warm more

than oceans. Most of N, S & C Americas; all of Africa;

Europe; N & C Asia will warm more than global average.

1.1.2.2. Ozone depletion and climate change

ozone depletion and climate change have usually been thought of as environmental

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issues with little in common other than

their global scope. The climate system

involves the atmosphere - specifically

processes within the troposphere, such as

air circulation patterns - land surfaces and

oceans. The ozone layer is found in the

stratosphere, which is the layer of the

atmosphere immediately above the

troposphere.

1.1.3. Resource Depletion

Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished.

Resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable

resources. Use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement

is considered to be resource depletion.

1.1.3.1. Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes

such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead

organisms. Fossil fuels contain high percentages of

carbon and include coal, petroleum, and natural

gas.

Fossil fuels are a renewable resource. They are

continually being formed via natural processes as

plants and animals die and then decompose and

become trapped beneath sediment. Fossil fuels

also are generally considered to be non-renewable resources because they take

millions of years to form, and known viable reserves are being depleted much faster

than new ones are being made.

1.1.3.2. Deforestation

Deforestation makes soil prone to erosion by agents such as wind and water. The roots

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of trees hold the particles of soil together thus, preventing the fertile top soil from

being carried away. Soil erosion leads to loss of productivity of the land due to loss of

mineral nutrients and soil microorganisms

1.1.4. Energy Demand

Construction Industry is one of the roaring industries in the whole world. The world’s

energy consumption & resources, the repairing of any existing building or making

certain alterations in the same also comes under

Construction Industry.

1.1.4.1 Demand in Construction Industry

Demand originates from different sub-sectors such as

public housing, public-sector non-housing,

owner-occupied housing and private-sector industrial and commercial, rehabilitation,

improvements, repair and maintenance. It is therefore in this light that output in those

sub sectors are analyzed to review the trend of construction.

� The demand of construction industry is depend on interest rates, the cost and

availability of finance, and government investment decisions.

� Government policies will be the key deterministic factor in construction demand.

� The cost of construction, land supply and available sources of finance, project

delivery systems had a direct bearing on the demand in this sector.

� The government also offered incentives to promote private investment and this led to

a considerable increase in investment in industrial, commercial and shopping

complexes.

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1.1.5. Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause

adverse change.[1] Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy,

such as air quality, water quality and ozone layer damage. Pollutants, the

components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally

occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source

pollution.

1.1.5.1. Air Quality

An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and

the ecosystem. The substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. A

pollutant can be of natural origin or man-made. Pollutants are classified as primary or

secondary. Primary pollutants are usually produced from a process, such as ash from a

volcanic eruption. Other examples include carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicle

exhaust, or the sulfur dioxide released from factories. Secondary pollutants are not

emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact.

Ground level ozone is a prominent example of a secondary pollutant. Some pollutants

may be both primary and secondary: they are both emitted directly and formed from

other primary pollutants. Major primary pollutants produced by human activity

include:

� Sulfur oxides (SOx) - particularly sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound with the

formula SO2. SO2 is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes.

� Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide, are

expelled from high temperature combustion, and are also produced

during thunderstorms by electric discharge.

� Carbon monoxide (CO)- CO is a colourless, odourless, toxic yet non-irritating

gas. It is a product by incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or

wood.

1.1.5.2. Water Quality

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans,

aquifers and groundwater). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are directly or

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indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful

compounds. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of

water. In almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and

populations, but also to the natural biological communities.

In Hong Kong, water quality and water pollution is controlled by Environmental

Protection Department (EPD). An overview is given below for the quick reference of

the audience. Detailed information is organized into various categories, namely,

Beach Water Quality, Marine Water Quality, River Water Quality, Regional

Collaboration, Problems & Solutions, Data & Statistics, Study Reports, and

Guidelines & References which can be accessed through the menu. We are now

conducting a review on the marine water quality objectives. Please visit our dedicated

website on WQO Review for details.

1.1.5.3. Ozone Layer Damage

Chlorinated Fluorocarbon compounds (CFCs) were developed in the 1920s as

refrigerants, and are also used in aerosol sprays and as blowing agents for some

thermal insulation materials. If released into the atmosphere they react with sunlight

to produce chlorine. This in turn may react with ozone in the upper atmosphere,

producing oxygen and reducing the atmospheric ozone concentration. The reaction is

catalytic in nature, one chlorine atom being capable of destroying 100,000 molecules

of ozone. Since the ozone absorbs certain wavelengths of U-V light, a reduction in

concentration allows more of the U-V to reach earth. The wavelengths concerned

(280-320nm) are associated with skin cancer and biological damage in plants. The

1987 Montreal Protocol aimed to control the production and consumption of CFCs,

while a European Commission regulation banned almost all production of CFCs by

1997. Substitutes such as HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons) and HFCs

(Hydrofluorocarbons) have a lower greenhouse gas effect than CFCs, and have been

developed for substitutes in refrigerant applications. (Johnson 1993). HFCs such as

Honeywell’s R507 are preferred to HCFCs, which still have an ozone-depleting effect

but have lower lifetimes, and therefore cause less damage. While depletion of the

ozone layer has been out of the news for some time, it is still a problem (the Times,

6th October 2008).

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1.1.6. Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life.[1] This can refer to genetic variation,

species variation, or ecosystem variation[1] within an area, biome, or planet.

Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be highest at low latitudes near the equator,[2] which

seems to be the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity.[3] Marine

biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface

temperature is highest and in mid-latitudinal band in all oceans.[4] Biodiversity

generally tends to cluster in hotspots,[5] and has been increasing through time[6][7]

but will be likely to slow in the future.[8]

1.1.6.1. Loss of biodiversity

Loss of biodiversity seems to affect ecosystems as much as climate change, pollution

and other major forms of environmental stress, says a new study.

The study is the first comprehensive effort to directly compare the impact of

biodiversity loss to the anticipated effects of a host of other human-caused

environmental changes.

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1.1.7. Carbon Reduction Strategies

The environmental issue most relevant to the built environment is global warming as

a result of carbon dioxide emissions, now more often referred to as climate change,

thus taking into account other effects such as increased rainfall and seasonal change.

The greatest contribution to climate change is fossil fuel use. In the United Kingdom,

the energy used for heating, lighting, ventilating and cooling buildings accounts for

about 50% of all the primary energy consumed (www.dti.gov.uk/energy/statistics),

amounting to some 2950 PJ per year (2.950 x 1018J). This is responsible for about

50% of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, approximately 269 million tonnes.

Since the government has committed Britain to reducing CO2 by 20% by 2010, for

environmental as well as financial reasons, dramatic reductions in the energy

consumption of buildings are urgently required.

Figure 1.1. Typical Office Building Energy Consumption in Britain. (EEO 1995).

For this reason alone buildings can be considered to have a major environmental

impact, and should be of concern to those involved in environmental issues.

1.1.7.1 Why Do We Need to Reduce Carbon Use?

Human activities during the 20th century have caused the overall temperature of

the global surface to increase. In particular, by burning fossil fuels, we have

forced the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to rise. In order to slow

climate change, we need to reduce the amount of carbon that we are emitting into

the atmosphere.

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1.1.7.2. Reducing Carbon: Personal Strategies

We emit carbon when we choose to do almost anything that requires energy.

Here are some personal strategies to help limit carbon emissions.

1.1.7.2.1. ENERGY USE:

Using natural light and opening the windows (in summer without air conditioning) are

great strategies for reducing energy use.

� Use natural light whenever possible. When light is needed, use energy efficient

light bulbs. Turn lights off when not in use.

� Open windows to allow air circulation. Set thermostat as a reasonable

temperature to decrease energy use which means setting the temperature higher

in summer and colder in winter.

1.1.7.2.2. TRAVEL:

Walking or other human powered travel such as biking, rollerblading or

skateboarding is the best strategy for reducing carbon emissions during travel

� Ride a bicycle.

� Take public transportation such as a bus or train. Coordinate carpools with

friends or neighbors.

� Drive an energy efficient vehicle. Vehicles that get poor gas mileage— like sport

utility vehicles—are the worst choice.

1.1.7.2.3. CONSUMPTION:

We emit a lot of carbon to create and ship products, so only buy

what you absolutely need and buy products grown or made

locally.

� If you must buy something, consider its efficiency in terms of production and

transportation.

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� Fix something instead of replacing it.

� Recycle, reuse, and reduce your waste stream

1.1.7.3. Reducing Carbon: Community Strategies

Communities can make policy changes and design decisions in order to promote

carbon reducing behaviors amongst the residents. Here are some ways communities

can reduce carbon emissions.

� BAN SINGLE USE ZONING

Cities are sprawling out. Since industrial, residential and commercial areas are spread

out, suburban residents tend to emit more carbon than city residents because they need

to drive everywhere. Experts believe that urban sprawl can be controlled by banning

single-use zoning so residences can be closer to commerce and industry.

� PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

If more Americans used public transportation, the country could significantly reduce

carbon emissions. But most people drive by themselves because it’s easier and

cheaper. Communities need to provide convenient cost-effective public transit

opportunities so people are enticed to choose the lower emissions travel option.

� CREATE CLUSTER HOUSING

When residential developments cluster the houses close together, it leaves open space

that can be preserved as nature or turned into local agricultural production. Retaining

green space and having locally available agriculture are great ways to minimize

carbon emissions and enhance your lifestyle by providing nearby natural surroundings.

Cluster housing also tends to promote lower emission travel opportunities like

walking, biking and public transportation.

� COORDINATION OF SERVICES

Communities are not frequently designed with a central location for services. Since

services are spread out, people are required to travel between places to get things done.

That excess travel emits extra carbon. If a community had a central location offering

all necessary services—such as shopping, education, and healthcare—residents could

cut down on travel and reduce carbon emissions.

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1.1.7.4. Reducing Carbon: National Strategies

In order to drastically lower carbon use nationwide, the country needs to make

significant policy changes and infrastructure upgrades in order to promote

conservation.

� Tax Carbon-Based Energy Use

America consumes over 80% of its energy from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels such as oil

and coal release carbon dioxide as they are burned to generate heat for energy.

Every demand sector--such as transportation, industry, residential, and

commercial—relies heavily on these carbon-based energy sources. In order to

promote carbon conservation, the country could implement a tax on carbon-based

energy use to encourage its responsible use.

� Convert to Non-Fossil Energy Sources

Currently, sustainable energy sources represent only a small percentage of overall

energy consumption in the U.S. Yet, there are many of these non-fossil energy

sources available such as wind, water, and sunlight. By converting to non- fossil

energy sources, the country could reduce carbon emissions dramatically.

� Upgrade National Rail System

The country needs to upgrade the national rail system so that it provides convenient,

cost-effective ground transportation. Right now, people often choose automobiles

for personal transportation and trucks for moving freight. With an improved rail

system, more people and more freight could move around the country while

lowering carbon emissions considerably.

1.1.8. The Building Life Cycle

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to a

structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient

throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation,

maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the

design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The

Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design

concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Although new technologies are

constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener

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structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the

overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment

by:

� Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

� Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

� Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to

focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally. Other related topics

include sustainable design and green architecture. Sustainability may be defined as

meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their needs. Although some green building programs don't address

the issue of the retrofitting existing homes, others do. Green construction principles

can easily be applied to retrofit work as well as new construction.

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1.1.9. Regulatory Control

BS 8903 relevant to procurement in construction. It identifies and describes further

issues unique to procurement in the construction industry that buyers should take into

account.

This standard provides relevant information and advice on how to do sustainable

procurement. When using this generic guidance it is important that you consider all

other factors that relate to sustainable procurement in construction:

1. the unique circumstances and sustainability requirements associated with each

construction project

2. the role and influence other players have upon procurement within the project,

important players include clients, consultants and local authority planning

departments

3. the different ways in which the project can be set up, i,e. the procurement route

and contract strategy selected for the project

4. the breadth of procurement requirements across different phases of the project

lite cycle.

Figure 1.1.9. provides an overview of the main themes outlined in the Standard, these

themes are grouped into fundamentals, procurement process and enablers.

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1.1.10. References and Further Reading.

Bruntland, G.H. (Chair). Our Common Future. OUP, 1987.

BRE BREEAM Environmental Assessment for New Offices. Building Research

Establishment, 1/93. 1993.

Buck, S.J. The Global Commons. Earthscan. 1998.

CIBSE Guide. Part L. Sustainability, 2007.

DoE. Indicators of Sustainable Development in the UK. HMSO 1996.

Engels, F. The Condition of the Working Class in England. 1st English Edition, 1892.

EEO Energy Audits for Buildings. EEO Best Practice Programme. DoE, 1995.

Friends of the Earth 1999. Material Evidence. Summary Report as part of the

Sustainable Use of Resources in Europe Project. FoE. June 1999. ISBN 901855 08 2.

Halliday, S.P. Environmental Code Of Practice For Buildings and Services. BSRIA, 1994.

Johnson, S. et al. Greener Buildings. The Impact of Property on the Environment.

Macmillan 1993.

Lovelock, J. Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. OUP. 1979.

Porteous, A. Environmental Control and Public Health. Open University. 1975.

Roaf, S. et al. Closing the loop : benchmarks for sustainable buildings. RIBA, 2004.

Ruskin, J. Unto This Last. 1st Edition 1862.

A Green Vitruvius: Principles and Practice of Sustainable Architectural Design.

European Commission Directorate General for Energy. James & James, 1999.