The Relationship Between Climate Change, Sustainability, And Construction Waste Management

Understanding the Relationship between Climate Change and Sustainability

Construction and demolition wastes have received a lot of attention in the recent past. Mostly the construction and demolition wastes are seen as a lens to understanding the potential for resources efficiency improvement in the construction industry. The workshop, construction, and demolition activities are the primary sources of wastes in many parts of the world. There is a need for construction and demolition materials to be recycled, some of the materials, which can be readily recycled, include, glass, plastic, wood, concrete among others. Many benefits have been attributed to recycling of construction and demolition wastes as they have contributed significantly to environmental conservation and preservation of natural resources (Kubba, 2012, p. 36)

Construction is a globally rising industry. Most investments are being made in this industry. Rapid construction development is ambulatory, modernising, demolition and construction of residential building, roads, flyover, dams, etc. Moreover, construction renovation, land excavation, and demolition waste have become the critical issue. The waste is mainly composed of inert and solid waste, For instance Sandler et al (2006) state that the approximately 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste are generated each year in United States out of which only 20-30% is It was as high as 10-15% in UK construction industry (Dhir, 2016, p. 205). There are numerous hostile impacts of construction & demolition waste, including occupying large spaces of land for waste landfilling, damaging the environments by dangerous contamination and wasting natural resources.

Waste management research has developed hierarchy method. It has five stages as shown in the figure below.

 

Fig 1: waste management hierarchy

All the materials in the construction should be targeted for re-use and disposing becomes the only ultimate method that has to be embraced at the end of the day. Materials needed for re-use in most cases established after carrying out of the innovation and demolition activities at the site.Apart from that, formwork is also established through the whole process. They are in most cases generated from concrete, and one can repeatedly make use of them before their disposal is done. The aggregate and concrete activities are too obtained from the hacking activities. One can make use of them in embarking the soft soil around the construction site (Settlements, 2013, p. 182).

 

Figure2: Sustainable Waste Management Hierarchy

The method primarily applies to material that could not be reused, the elements are, therefore, used in the production of new products that help in facilitating various other functions at the construction site. The major processes involved include the collection of the used materials. The materials are after that, taken through a process of reprocessing and climaxing the whole process through remanufacturing (Kibert, 2011, p. 183). It greatly helps in the reduction of space required for landfill. Apart from that, most energy and natural resources are saved through the process in addition to the provision of useful products that help in improving the levels of construction

Evaluation of Sustainable Construction and Design Solutions

The stage mainly involves the exclusion of the waste materials from the recycling stage by making use of different other methods such as anaerobic digestion and incineration leading to energy rediscovery. The process leads to the production of energy in different forms such as heat, fuel, and power in addition to backfilling (Yudelson, 2017, p. 349).

The method is mainly applied to material that cannot be taken through the process of reusing and recycling. Hence, forms the ultimate solution that can be sort after in the management of the waste processes in a construction site. Different approved parties are in charge of the operation of legal dumping sites. The wastes considered to be hazardous are managed with high levels of care, and the actions in dealing with them are subject to the Environment Quality Act.

Builders, teams of construction, as well as design practitioners have the ability to divert construction as well as demolition materials from disposal though buying used as well as recycled products. Practicing source minimization, preserving the existing structures, and salvaging the existing materials are also included in it. Proper designing of the building in order to support adoption of the used materials, reuse, as well as disassembly can minimize waste that is to be experienced at the construction sites.

According to government guidance, the site waste management plan should be developed before site starts in order to control site waste management system. And the plan should be issued to the subcontractors so that they can develop waste identification models.

 

Figure3: an example of waste identification model

The strategies for using the designing adaptability, disassembly, as well as reuse, consist of the following things.

 

Fig 4: strategies for using the designing adaptability

In order to evaluate the current status of Construction & demolition in the UK, SWOT analysis is a practical approach to use. The SWOT Analysis can be described as strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat. SWOT analysis enables us to understand the current situation which will help to develop suitable strategies for Construction and Demolition Waste management.

According to hierarchy model, the primary importance is given to the prevention of waste generation. According to UK Environmental department, in terms of construction, Site waste management process required to add during the design process, so that waste can be designed out as far as possible. Some of the benefits of managing construction and construction wastes include:

Role of Project Manager in Delivering Sustainability

 Reducing the volume of waste directed to landfills for disposal can result to a smaller extent of demand for landfill and decrease of adverse environmental impacts such as impacts of the landfill as well as residues and emission from incinerators (Hendriks, 2011, p. 456).

Management of construction and demolition involves control and planning of resources dedicated to projects in order to regulate the quantity of waste produced. Thus, improved control of resources may be realized with a decrease in waste as well as enhancement of whole resource management performance.

Employing waste management as a company strategy may let companies improve their public images as “environmental-friendly companies” improving their brand on clients.  

Production can be enhanced by evading delays initiated by repurchasing and reordering of materials that have been misused once. By choosing the material of excellent durability and quality, the substantial quantity of waste generation triggered by replacement of poor quality material during the life cycle of facilities can be evaded. As reviewed earlier, there are many benefits of applying waste management. By exploring how different project characteristics affect these benefits allows the construction industry to understand the connotation between them (Khatib, 2014, p. 416)

From the perspective of a project manager, the success requirement of construction and demolition waste management is each member of the project team has to involve in waste management Process, but According to Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung’s theory states that each individual has a different personality, therefore interpersonal conflicts evident in projects. Because each member has their own perspective. When one party perceives that its interests are being opposed or negatively affected by another party. Additionally, various opinions, values, and beliefs in between them cause poor relationships. Interpersonal conflicts consider as higher job stressor and significantly reduce the performance of TQM. Furthermore, most of Labour and supervisors are unaware of deconstruction and hierarchy process of waste management. Therefore incorporation is obvious. And sometimes site size has been minimal. Therefore setup of on-site recycling plant would be impossible.

An analysis of construction and demolition studies shown for the Clean Washington Centre and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources indicates that, due to inadequate or non-existent definitions of “construction and demolition debris,” an overwhelming amount of incomplete data exists. Because most waste characterization studies label all C&D constituents as “inert,” it is no wonder there are conflicting reports. Without specific and standardized categories, everyone “sees” waste differently. If we do not identify the material.”

Construction Waste Management Hierarchy

Moreover, there are no inspections to check whether the contractor is practicing waste management on site or not. In my previous job were building residential flats, the client was city council, the inspector was coming and checking just the quality of structure, but in my experience from the start till the end of the project, there was zero inspection about waste management. Which is a significant weakness of waste management system?

Construction and demolition waste management Plan will help in reducing environmental pollution. By continuous practicing, it will be possible to reduce a significant amount of land to filling with waste. Moreover, it will encourage innovations and opportunities for resource efficiency, reuse and high-quality recycling. It will also save the cost of material by using recycled and deconstructed material.

From the perspective of a project manager: negligence in respect of asbestos, creosote, gasoline and mercury among onsite causes serious health issues to workers. Disposal of contaminated soil and waste sometimes causes the threats to nearby residents and businesses with groundwater contamination.

And reduced air quality by landfills. Moreover, UK landfill assets are rapidly diminishing which applies even higher pressure on the construction industry to better manage and reduce the waste it generates.

Conclusion

The strict implementation of construction and demolition waste management will revolutionise the construction industry. It will help to mitigate the material cost of a project and also will help to protect the environment. Additionally, according to Project manager, Flashman, (2017) overestimation is a second big Problem in construction works. For example, if the concrete quantity is sure cubic meter but the supervisors are always ordered additional half of cubic meter in case of reduction. After that, the excessive concrete they put in a waste skip. By the implementation of construction and demolition waste management “Training” Principle, the overestimation can be reduced. In The nutshell, training the cooperation is very crucial in the construction and demolition waste management process.

The use of wind energy is becoming one of the most established areas of alternate energy. Incorporating wind energy systems into building design is a growing trend, and high rises with their elevated wind speeds seem mainly suitable to the technology. Designs that integrate wind turbines are progressively being seen on the drawing boards for high-rise building across the world. Primary the development of this fledgling field, wind engineers have assessed the potential for wind turbine integrated buildings in United Kingdom.

Strategies for Waste Reduction

Wind energy is a very crucial part of the sustainable construction. As UK government is trying to control climate change, by promoting green building in order to mitigate carbon emission. However, from point of view of project manager, the wind turbine can be added in green building system in windy areas. It can produce free electricity with less maintenance. It is a one-time investment. Moreover, by calculating life-cycle economic cost with fossil fuel, the wind turbine is cheaper (Yudelson, 2011, p. 236). Fossil fuel based power plants serving approximately 70% of required energy. These plants are polluting the environment by emitting co2 and carbon monoxide dangerous gases. In contrast, wind, energy-based plants does not release harmful gases at all. And it does not produce dangerous waste. In 2009, Statoil-hydro and Siemens Company have installed floating offshore wind turbine at riverside of Karmoy, near the Bergen Norway. Floating turbine structure have significant flexibility of construction procedure. But designing is very complicated because there are plenty of forces acting on turbine structure in sea like wave forces. Official website of UK states that wind energy is environment-friendly. Wind turbine helps to mitigate greenhouse gases effect to a much appreciable level. For instance if an country can exploited 10% of wind potential effectively, then the sum of greenhouse gases can be mitigated 33%. Despite wind is unpredictable, but wind energy like electricity can be stored in grid systems. Wind turbine producing more energy than the requirement of residential and commercial usage. And extra can be stored to utilise in shortfall time. The example building which I am going to talk about is from my previous college Dundalk Institute of Technology (Ireland). The turbine height is 86metres in height, the turbine will be the tallest of any structure or building in the northeast, consisting of 60m base and three 26m blades. The wind turbine is producing 100% of required electricity for Dkit and with very less maintenance. According to Dr. Amma Oji, Dkit building is environmentally friendly and with the help of wind turbine, they are reducing one thousand tonnes of greenhouse gases annually. Moreover, the extra electricity they are selling to ESB Ireland (Electricity supply board)

The benefits of wind energy include:

• The wind is an unlimited energy source and environment offers it for free.
• Wind energy is a technically mature, economically cheap and environment-friendly energy choice.
• It defends the Earth, as every kilowatt-hour produced by the wind substitutes a kilowatt-hour generated by conventional producing plants, which contaminates the atmosphere with greenhouse gases.
• It does not solve a problem the local environment with hazardous gas emissions, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, cancer-causing microscopic particles, etc. as conventional electricity generating plants do.
• It improves energy freedom and security which is especially crucial for Greece and Europe in general.
• It contributes to the decentralization of the energy system, reducing energy transmission losses.

The project manager has to consider each and every critical aspect of a project. In terms of windmills and wind turbine, there is very heavy vibration in the structure. Therefore, load calculations needed for, dynamic forces acting on the structure. Determine correct wind speed at different angles and calculate the correct dynamic and static forces acting on the structure is a critical activity. Unique skills are needed to design structure for windmills, not all structural engineers can design it (Kubba, 2012, p. 193). Moreover, selection of a site for a wind turbine is a most difficult thing for a Project manager, because the site should be windy to operate turbine on enough speed to produce mechanical energy and ground should have the appropriate bearing capacity, to resist all the destabilizing force. In other words, the ground should be firm enough against all the forces coming down on the ground. Windy places are mostly found in countryside areas. Therefore this is the prominent problem of wind energy in terms of application in sustainable construction. Additionally, the issues such as noise emission and aesthetic (visualisation) impacts on the field need to be tackled. And another issue has arrived that flying species like birds, bats, etc. can collide with the turbine.

Benefits of Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Wind energy is most swift increasing energy source in the world. It has maintained this position sequentially from last five years. Owing to the commitment of British government to mitigate Greenhouse gases emission and deliver sufficient energy to growing world. Several countries have already made policies to supplement required energy from renewable energy to confirm that renewable energy plays a vital role in future. For instance, all European countries including the UK have accepted national renewable energy action plan. Their requirements to get 20% final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020.

 Where wind energy plays indispensable rule to generate electricity. Moreover, the installation of a minor wind turbine on the roof of the sustainable buildings will be the future target to generate the electricity (Khatib, 2014, p. 471).

Installation and maintenance of wind energy call for highly skilled individuals who have a better understanding of the operation of windmills. However, the limited knowledge capacity serves as a threat to continuous better wind energy being displayed in the society. The government regulations significantly help in establishing order in the society (Bragança, 2012, p. 173). They will direct on the kind of wind energy to be embraced. Apart from that, they can always come in to offer support in the cases where individuals are intending to carry out the activity but lack sufficient finances and skill. However, such regulations and incentives have not been there in the present society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, wind energy has fewer disadvantages than advantages. According to Johnson, (2006), the electricity generated by renewable sources is cheap than the electricity generated by the fossil fuel, Furthermore, by adding minor wind turbines on the roof of high rise buildings and with this sustainability process/system, the climate change can be controlled. Because the emission of greenhouse gases will be less by utilisation of renewable energy sources. The promotion and awareness regarding the importance of renewable energy and effects of CO2 and co gases are very crucial in this era (Hendriks, 2011, p. 47).

In the modern era, there has been a significant increment in construction. The increasing buildings have adversary effect on the environment and human health such as excess carbon dioxide causes the greenhouse effect. Therefore more heat trapped by the atmosphere, causing the planet becomes warmer than the normal condition. Its continuously affecting the climate because of that climate is getting warmer every year (BBC, 2014). Additionally, high amount of atmospheric CO2 can produce hypercapnia, or excessive CO2 can get in the blood which ordinarily outcome as acidosis and a fatal condition characterised in people by a headache, eyesight disturbance and nausea (Halliday, 2017, p. 285).

Challenges Faced in Implementing Waste Management Practices

The building is consuming a considerable portion of energy. According to Hawng (2010), buildings are consuming 30-40% energy and these values are rising gradually. Buildings and construction work in all over the UK are producing 47% Co2 (CIOB, 2010) (charted institute of the building). , According to ICE (Institute of civil engineering), there are various modes of carbon dioxide emission in construction and buildings such as: In the portable pneumatic system, the co2 is being used as a compressed gasses widely. The Co2 can protect the weld puddle from the surrounding air .to achieve the excellent weld, craftsmen are also mixing co2 with argon. Furthermore, co2 is also being used for removing paint from the surface, with creating dry ice pellets to substitute sandblasting. In heating, lighting, extraction, disposal and human exhale are also a source of Co2 emission.

To improve environmental health experts come up with an idea called green building. Green building is a way to make sustainable buildings. These days, Sustainability in buildings becoming famous. Therefore, the Project manager must obtain mandatory skills in order to manage sustainable projects successfully, and it is a way to mitigate Co2 emission and effects (Ghataora, 2011, p. 115)  

The strengths of the green buildings can be categorised as follows.

Environmental benefits 

• Protect natural resources
• Reduce misuse of water
• Enhance water and air quality
• Safeguard biodiversityand environment

Economic benefits

• Minimise functioning costs
• enhance occupant production
• Generate market for green services and product

Social benefits

• Enhance the quality of life
• Reduces strain on local infrastructure
• Enhance the  occupant health and comfort(Gerrard, 2015, p. 351)

Weaknesses

The weakness factors are directly related to product or technology Hwang explained that designs of green buildings are complicated due to different material and technology. Therefore, the Project manager often faces technical complications in the construction process. Some structural challenges outlined by Brugermann (2017) that the added soil or trees are increasing the load on members and for that designer have to design members strong enough or more significant against these loads.

According to renewable energy requirements, green buildings should be located where sun exposure, wind or source of hydropower is available. Another Weakness is the maintenance and implementation cost is higher. Tagaza and Wilion (2004) asserted that green projects 1 – 25% costs higher than conventional building. The increased cost associated with sustainable material and green technology. For instance, the required renewable energy sources such as solar panel, wind turbines are adding the cost in construction amount. Moreover it’s very hard to get material in urban area where people not concerning about sustainability. According to Kaplow (2016) contracts for green buildings are not correctly formed. Which creates problem for main contractor and subcontractor regarding cost and time if there would be any incorporated changes in features. Approval process of recycled material and technology can be lengthy, which can affect the project scheduling. Therefore project manager should consider these points during scheduling (Delgado, 2014, p. 45) 

Opportunities

There are many opportunities relating to green building. Firstly it is environment-friendly. It will help to reduce Co2 emission and it will mitigate to climate getting warmer Green building will also help to save and recharge groundwater for future generations because in this system buildings storing , recycling and use rainwater and wastewater. Additionally, green buildings will help to reduce some health problems and it is right way to spread awareness among people regarding environmental conditions and pollution effects.

Better performance in the society calls for having extra knowledge in handling diverse tasks while embracing high levels of professionalism. Installation and maintenance of green buildings call for highly skilled individuals who have a better understanding of the operation of green building. However, the limited knowledge capacity serves as a threat to continuous better green buildings being displayed in the society. The government regulations significantly help in establishing order in the society (Bragança, 2012, p. 173). They will direct on the kind of green building to be embraced. Apart from that, they can always come in to offer support in the cases where individuals are intending to carry out the activity but lack sufficient finances and skill. However, such regulations and incentives have not been there in the present society hence, acting as a threat to the existence of excellent green buildings in the nation in the nation, which will push for a better community. The maintenance cost that increases every other day depending on the changes in climate is too a significant threat. Many might end up fearing for its installation due to such expenses associated with it (Bauer, 2012, p. 67).  Therefor the construction managers have to try much and attain more knowledge regarding the installation of green buildings. The industry will therefore, be active citing their ability to handle diverse aspects associated with the industry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the manager should gather the data and translate into communicable by which it will be easy to talk and gain resources and support from professionals. In other words, training is very crucial. In order to develop expertise in sustainable concept and to handle complications in sustainable technology and contract documentation which are affecting Project cost and schedule. Moreover, green building is an excellent concept to save environment and energy based Problems naturally.

References

Bauer, M., 2012. Green Building: Guidebook for Sustainable Architecture. 5th ed. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.

Bragança, L., 2012. Sustainable Construction, Materials, and Practices: Challenge of the Industry for the New Millennium, Parts 1-2. 1st ed. Madrid: IOS Press.

Delgado, J. M., 2014. Sustainable Construction: Building Performance Simulation and Asset and Maintenance Management. 4th ed. London: Springer.

Gerrard, M., 2015. The Law of Green Buildings: Regulatory and Legal Issues in Design, Construction, Operations, and Financing. 6th ed. Chicago: American Bar Association.

Ghataora, G. S., 2011. Sustainable Building – Design Manual: sustainable building design practices. 3rd ed. Paris: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Halliday, S., 2017. Sustainable Construction. 2nd ed. London: Routledge.

Hendriks, C., 2011. Sustainable Construction. 4th ed. Texas: Uitgeverij Æneas BV,

Khatib, J., 2014. Sustainability of Construction Materials. 2nd ed. Chicago: Elsevier.

Kubba, S., 2012. Handbook of Green Building Design and Construction: LEED, BREEAM, and Green Globes. 1st ed. Chicago: Butterworth-Heinemann.

OBE, R. K. D., 2016. Sustainable Construction Materials: Sewage Sludge Ash. 1st ed. Chicago: Elsevier Science.

Settlements, U. N. C. f. H., 2013. Promoting Sustainable Construction Industry Activities: Issue Paper II. 4th ed. Texas: United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Sons, J. W. &., 2011. Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery. 3rd ed. London: Charles J. Kibert.

Yudelson, J., 2011. The Green Building Revolution. 2nd ed. London: Island Press.

Yudelson, J., 2017. Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building. 2nd ed. Auckland: New Society Publishers.