The overwhelming trend in today's economy is the environment and the impact of the global economy on that environment. Business today is driving the initiatives around sustainability and climate change with an increase in regulation from governments underway to support the slowing, and ultimate reduction, of greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.
Corporate sustainability is defined by the Department of the Environment and Water Resources as "strategies and practices that aim to meet the needs of stakeholders today while seeking to protect, support and enhance the human and natural resources that will be needed in the future."
In the construction arena, the drive towards sustainability is particularly critical, as new developments and infrastructure meet greater and greater public and government scrutiny. In response, a number of organisations across Australia, including construction companies, are making changes to reduce their environmental impact and risks by implementing practices, which make more efficient use of natural resources.
Much like the situation with occupational health and safety five to ten years ago, the changing landscape means industry is getting to a point where they must have a policy addressing sustainability and, where possible, a dedicated person to implement it.
Companies considering and implementing sustainable practices are focused on areas such as:
- Renewable energy initiatives, for example wind energy, solar power and cleaner coal.
- Water use and purification initiatives.
- Energy efficiency initiatives.
For construction contractors, one of the primary areas of focus in implementing sustainable practices may be in transportation and vehicle efficiency initiatives.
Construction contractors are particularly heavy vehicle and fuel users. The management and financing of these fleets is a critical element in addressing the issue of sustainability in the construction industry. By matching the fleet mix to the particular projects they’re working on at any given time, contractors can optimise their resources, limit waste and reduce their environmental footprint.
Considerations for sustainable fleets include picking the right vehicle, managing those vehicles for optimum efficiency and understanding the cost/environmental impact of the vehicles and their usage.
There is also a strong movement addressing the sustainability of the materials used in the construction industry including*:-
- Reducing the high level of waste from buildings
According to the Green Building Council of Australia, about 40 per cent of all wastes going to landfill are building related. Research is being done to lower this level through changes in construction materials and methods of construction and demolition. - Utilising wastes to make construction materials
Non-organic wastes such as fly ash are being considered for use in concrete. - Reducing emissions during the product of construction materials
Building materials have embodied energy – that is, the energy used during their manufacture. As large quantities of concrete are used in buildings, this contributes significantly to the level of embodied energy in a building. Portland cement accounts for more embodied energy than any other material used in the construction industry and is the biggest single contributor to greenhouse gas, after the burning of fossil fuels. - Sequestering carbon by using carbon-containing materials
Waste organic fibres (e.g. wood fibre) are being used in some building materials. - Using more durable materials in buildings.
The issues of scarcity, security and regulation, which will continue to drive the growing economy, are fueling the trend towards sustainability. Keeping these sorts of considerations in mind, and working towards having a strategy in place which addresses these issues, is a good start towards a more sustainable future.
* Information from RiskeNews, February 2006