A little can go a long way in reducing construction’s environmental impact

Construction has a significant impact on the environment. It can consume vast amounts of resources, generate tons of waste and greenhouse gas emissions, pollute the air and water, and disturb surrounding flora and fauna. But there are ways to make construction more environmentally friendly.

How Does Construction Impact the Environment?

Construction can cause harm to the environment in a variety of ways:

Greenhouse Emissions

The construction process requires a lot of energy that is obtained through the burning of fossil fuels. Construction accounts for nearly 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, according to research by the International Energy Agency (39%) and the United Nations Environment Programme (38%), among other environmental organizations. Including building operations, the built environment generates nearly 50% of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Global Status Report 2021 published by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.

Pollution

• Air: contaminated particulate matter and volatile compounds such as asbestos, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides spread through the air, carried by the wind to surrounding areas.
• Water: surface water runoff and groundwater near a construction site becomes polluted with materials such as volatile organic compounds, paints, glues, diesel, oils, cement and other toxic chemicals.
• Soil pollution: soil at and around construction sites becomes contaminated due to deposition of construction contaminants as well as water runoff of construction contaminants, which accumulate in soil and persist over longer periods of time.
• Waste: the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings, roads and other structures produce debris that ends up in landfills, such as wood, gypsum, metals, bricks, glass, plastics, building components (windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, etc.). In 2018 construction and demolition generated 600 million tons of waste in the U.S., up from 136 million tons in 1996 and more than twice the amount produced by municipal solid waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures Fact Sheet.
• Noise pollution: construction noise may adversely affect people’s health, causing stress, sleep disturbances, high blood pressure and even hearing loss.

Wildlife

Construction typically requires the tearing down of existing structures and clearing of vegetation and other habitats, all of which can disrupt and destroy the flora and fauna in that area. In addition, the noise produced by construction activities can alter the feeding and breeding patterns of some animals.

How Can We Mitigate Construction’s Environmental Impact?

Most environmental experts agree that the construction industry can help minimize its negative impact on the environment by adopting sustainable construction methods that aim to prevent rather than cope with environmental damage. These methods include lowering fuel consumption, properly managing waste at construction sites and using sustainable materials and methods.

7 Ways to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Construction

1. Limit Fuel Consumption

Construction’s biggest negative impact on the environment is caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as gas and diesel, which produces greenhouse gas emissions and other waste products that pollute the environment. Here are some steps construction companies can take to cut their fuel consumption:

• Reduce haul distances.
• Minimize vehicle idling time.
• Use greener fuel sources such as biodiesel.
• Use electric-fuel hybrid vehicles and equipment.
• Upgrade equipment to fuel-efficient models.

2. Properly Dispose of Waste

Construction projects can cut down on the consumption of materials and production of waste by buying.

Using salvaged or recycled materials such as appliances, fixtures, hardware, wood, metals, plastics and concrete help decrease the consumption of materials and production of waste at a construction site. Other ways of reducing waste:

• Plan ahead and avoid over-ordering.
• Select sustainable materials.
• Use an environmentally friendly waste disposal service.
• Recycle all packaging from building supplies (cardboard and plastic).

3. Implement Erosion-Control Measures

The sandbags commonly used in a construction site can damage the environment. Alternative solutions such as inflatable dams and soil netting are gentler on local ecosystems and cost less than sandbags. These solutions help decrease the amount of soil exposed during construction activities, which helps limit erosion.

4. Minimize Contaminated Discharge

Construction sites often produce polluted liquid waste that can harm the ecosystem. This contaminated discharge comes from chemicals, wheel wash stations and any areas where pollutants come into contact with the environment. Even without direct discharge, precipitation and stormwater can sweep away these contaminants as runoff and deposit them in surface water, carry them to groundwater or leave them to pollute the soil.

To minimize contaminated discharge, construction projects should avoid dumping chemicals near the job site and send them to facilities that can safely dispose of them. They should also store used chemicals and wheel washes in areas where storm runoff is less likely to carry them away.

Title 40 of the U.S. Federal Code of Regulations, which covers environmental regulations established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, prohibits the following construction effluents:

• Wastewater from washout of concrete, unless managed by an appropriate control.
• Wastewater from washout and cleanout of stucco, paint, form release oils, curing compounds and other construction materials.
• Fuels, oils or other pollutants used in vehicle and equipment operation and maintenance.
• Soaps or solvents used in vehicle and equipment washing.

5. Reduce Noise

Another adverse environmental effect of construction is noise pollution. Equipment used for demolition, excavation, construction and landscaping produces loud noises that can disturb people living and working near construction sites. Most people don’t want to be awakened very early in the morning or kept up late at night by loud construction work. While completing a job on time is paramount, construction companies should always comply with local noise ordinances. One way to reduce construction noise is to use electric heavy machinery.

6. Expedite Your Project

Completing a construction project as soon as possible helps mitigate its environmental impact. Shorter construction times cut the amount of fuel needed, reduce noise pollution and limit traffic disturbances caused by the project.

7. Use Sustainable Materials and Methods

Sustainable Construction Materials

The manufacture of many of the materials commonly used in construction consumes fuel and generates greenhouse gases. Construction companies can reduce their projects’ carbon footprint by using sustainable construction materials:

• Recycled plastic: can be melted down and remade into new components or pulverized and used as filler in concrete.
• Straw bales: an excellent alternative to insulation material that can also replace plaster and concrete used to make walls.
• Renewable wood: produced via proper logging methods and forest management.
• Bamboo: grows much faster than hardwood and it’s lighter and easier to transport.
• Sheep’s wool: a lightweight and affordable alternative insulation material with low thermal conductivity.
• Timbercrete: durable material made from the compaction of concrete and recycled timber waste (sawdust).
• Ferrock: compacts recycled materials, such as steel dust, into a material similar to concrete, and traps CO2 when it dries.
• Rammed earth: tightly packed earth that can be used as concrete, especially when fortified with rebar or bamboo.
• Wood scraps and cutoffs: used to make lintels and blocking as well as turning scrap wood into mulch.
• Recycled brick, concrete and masonry: used as driveway bedding or subbase material.

Sustainable Construction Methods

Sustainable construction techniques and practices help reduce waste, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and create buildings that consume less energy. Some common sustainable techniques in the construction industry include the following:

• Lowering fuel consumption.
• Using recycled construction materials.
• Installing smart/automated building systems.
• Using alternative power such as solar or wind turbines.
• Switching to synthetic roofing materials.
• Installing greywater plumbing to reduce water waste.
• Using 3D printing for structural components.

Final Word

Reducing the negative effects of construction projects on the environment is a challenge, but it can be done. Just cutting fuel consumption is a step in the right direction. At CIC Construction Group we take pride in doing our best to minimize the environmental impact of our projects. For more information, give us a call.