Sustainability Issues

in Concreting
Introduction
• The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources.
• It primarily uses 60 percent of the world’s natural resources directly or indirectly as
construction materials for developing buildings and infrastructure.
• The issues that develop after having these vast concrete jungles are even more appalling.

• The strong influence of the construction industry on sustainable development has

brought authorities to develop sustainable development objectives.
• The severity of the problem is better understood by knowing the top sustainability
issues for which the construction industry is responsible.
1. Global warming due to Construction
o Global warming is the process of an increase in global temperatures due to the rise
in the amount of carbon-di-oxide and other greenhouse gases.

o The burning of fossil fuels for energy production generates a large amount of
carbon-di-oxide.

o This energy is consumed for different phases of the construction life cycle.

o The manufacture of concrete also has resulted in around 2.8 billion tonnes of CO2
that is expected to rise in the coming years.

o The greenhouse gases or GHG emitted from extraction, manufacture,

transportation, installation, utilization, maintenance, and disposal of the
construction materials is another main contributor to global warming.

o Global warming results in extreme weather conditions and natural disasters.

2. Loss of Biodiversity and Natural Habitats

 The land consumption for the construction of structures or extraction of natural

resources results in the loss of biodiversity and habitats.

 It hence results in the loss of species and their extinction.

 Biodiversity and natural habitats are essential elements that maintain the balance of the
ecosystem.
3. Acidification due to Construction

 The process of fossil fuel combustion conducted for the manufacture and
transportation of construction materials emits a large amount of sulfur and
nitrogen compounds.

 These compounds, if not correctly disposed, can dissolve in water bodies.

 Their solid forms also can remain in surface waters or the soils.

 This acidification is the primary cause of acid rain in the environment.

4. Air Pollution due to Construction

 The construction industry results in airborne particles that have a size range of
less than 10micrometres in diameters.

 These particles are hence invisible. Airborne particles, both in liquid and solid
forms, cause harm to the environment and humans.

 Most of the airborne particles are emitted due to construction and extraction
activities such as mining of aggregate, operation of construction equipment,
production of electricity, manufacturing process, and transportation of materials.
5. Toxicity due to Construction

 Toxicity increases in the atmosphere with the presence of heavy metals.

 The presence of heavy metals in the water when it exceeds undesirable limits brings
health issues to living.
 Manufacturing and transportation of construction materials are the major contributors to
toxic metals.
6. Water Resource Pollution due to Construction

 The pollution of water resources by impermeable and non-degradable construction

materials reduces the ability to perform groundwater recharge.
 The depletion and pollution of water resources make the hydrological cycle to alter
drastically.
 Water is depleted by consuming it in large amounts for construction activities and
extraction processes.
 The pollutants and by-products after construction activities are sent back to water
bodies as a form of disposal. It hence pollutes the water bodies.
7. Deforestation due to Construction

• Construction demands a large land area. This forces humans to takeover forest
resources.
• With an increase in urbanization, this demand keeps on increasing.
• The depletion of forest land, trees for construction activities are still an increasing
trend.
• These forests have the power to hold more than half of the world’s biodiversity, and
hence it is essential to maintain it.
• Understanding the risks that construction creates for the environment is the first step
towards tackling this issue.
• Sustainable construction methods are emerging each year to address this situation.