MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

IN CONSTRUCTION

Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy, Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy, GEOGEO

http://www.e-geo.orghttp://www.e-geo.org

CDI, HYDERABAD23RD JULY 2009

Introduction Since the Industrial Revolution the world has witnessed

incalculable technological achievements

population growth

corresponding increases in resource use

“Side effects” of all the activities and achievements include:

pollution, landfills at capacity, toxic waste, global warming, resource and ozone depletion, and deforestation

All these efforts are straining the limits of the Earth’s “carrying capacity”— its ability to provide the resources required to sustain life while retaining the capacity to regenerate and remain viable.

Sustainability

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs

(The Brundtland Commission,1987)

Sustainability and the Construction Industry

'Sustainability' is becoming a central concern for us all out of wider recognition that rising populations and economic development are threatening the degradation of the earth's resources.

The construction, maintenance and use of buildings impacts substantially on our environment and is currently contributing significantly to irreversible changes in the world's climate, atmosphere and ecosystem.

Buildings are by far the greatest producers of harmful gases such as CO2 and this 'eco-footprint' can only increase with the large population growth predicted to occur by 2050 and the industrialization of the developing world.

How the Construction Industry can move towards Sustainable

Development– Energy: reducing energy consumption, being

more energy efficient and using renewable energy and 'alternative technology'.

– Materials: Choosing, using, re-using and recycling materials during design, manufacture, construction and maintenance to reduce resource requirements.

– Waste: Producing less waste and recycling more.– Pollution: Producing less toxicity, water, noise

and spatial pollution.

Aspects of building material adoption

Natural

Social

Economical

Political

Cultural

Historical

Environmental

Concrete - impacts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdG0s8llQrA

Environmental Amenities

reducing, reusing and recycling materials

Building Industry- FactsBuilding Industry- Facts

50

40

40

35

30

25

16

0 10 20 30 40 50

Percentage

Ozone depleting CFCs in Use

Municipal Solid Waste to Landfills

Global Energy Use

Global CO2 Emissions

Raw Materials Consumption

Timber Harvest

Fresh Water Withdrawals

Environmental and Economic Impacts of Buildings

Compiled from:Worldwatch Paper #124

Working Principles

Application of Sustainability

Pre-Design On-Site Design Construction O&M

Material Selection

Building Program

Project Budget

Team Selection

Partnering

Project Schedule

Laws, Codes

& Standards

Research

Site Selection

Site Analysis

& Assessment

Site Development

& Layout

Watershed

Management &

Conservation

Site Material

& Equipment

Environmentally

Conscious

Construction

Preservation of

Features &

Vegetation

Waste Mgmt

IAQ Issues

Source Control

Practices

Passive Solar

Design

Materials &

Specification

Indoor Air

Quality

Maintenance Plans

Indoor Quality

Energy Efficiency

Resource Efficiency

Renovation

Housekeeping &

Custodial Practices

How does the Construction Industry consume Energy?

• Consider the 'embodied' energy in every brick in everystructure. Every brick has used energy at every stage in itsproduction and use.• Energy is consumed when:– Extracting raw materials.– Producing materials (Manufacturing process).– Transporting materials.– Transporting workforce.– Building structures.– Using and powering structures.– Maintaining structures and demolishing structures.

Materials

• Around 50% of all global resources go into the constructionindustry, with a specific example being that 70% of all timberis used for building.• It is therefore very important that a sustainable approach tochoosing and using materials is adopted.• The environmental and economic benefits of sustainability areinherently linked when considering building materials, due tothe long-term financial advantages of recycling, using recycledproducts and sourcing heavy materials locally.• Life-Cycle Assessment, Eco-Labelling and Embodied EnergyAudits all of which can help choosing materials and assess thebalance between short-term costs and long-termenvironmental, social and financial benefits.

How to Choose and Use Materials in a more Sustainable way

• Considerations to take into account when re-evaluating the way in which materialsare used in construction:– What reserves are left of our materials, and how can their completesuccessive depletion be prevented?– What are the pollution impacts of the manufacturing process involved withcreating new materials?– How can existing materials be recycled (roof tiles, bricks, timber, etc.) and canthey be designed and used in a way more conducive to re-use?– How much energy is consumed in the transport of materials? (try sourcingheavy, bulky materials locally and lightweight materials globally).– Can more prefabricated components be used? (reduces waste and dust onsite).– How can more low maintenance materials be used in order to reduce furtherenergy and resource use in the future of the building?

Fire resistant natural material: Asbestos

Name one synthetic material: Synthetic Materials Acrylic, polyethylene, nylon, polystyrene – synthetic materials are widely used and are employed in almost all areas of life.

Conservation of Natural Resources: The wise use of earths resources by humanity.

Building Industry Impact1/6th of worlds freshwater withdrawals1/4th of worlds wood harvest2/5th of worlds material and energy flows

Thank youRef: http://