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Based on ‘American Association of Engineering Societies’ adopted The Public Policy on

Sustainable Development and Action Principles

Achieving SD hinges on a number of principles. However, the preponderant

message in regard to the principles of sustainable development gravitates
towards the economy, environment and society. Specifically, they relate,
among others, to conservation of ecosystem and biodiversity, production
systems, population control, human resource management, conservation of
progressive culture and people’s participation.

One key principle of SD is the conservation of the ecosystem. There is the

need to conserve the ecosystem and biodiversity because without these, living
organism will cease to exist. The limited means and resources on the earth
cannot be enough for the unlimited needs of the people. Over-exploitation of
the resources has negative effects on the environment and, therefore, for
development to be sustainable, exploitation of the natural resources must be
within the carrying capacity of the earth. This means development activities
must be carried out according to the capacity of the earth. That is why it is
important, for instance, to have alternative sources of energy such as solar,
instead of depending heavily on petroleum products and hydro-electricity.

Furthermore, in order to achieve SD, there is the need for population control.
People make out a living by utilizing the limited resources on the earth.
However, due to population growth, human needs like food, clothing and
housing increase while the resources available in the world for meeting these
needs cannot always be increased to meet the requirements. Therefore,
population control and management are essential for SD.

proper human resource management is another important principle of SD. It is

the people who have to ensure that the principles are adopted and adhered to.
It is people who have the responsibility to utilise and conserve the
environment. It is people who have to ensure that there is peace. This makes
the role of human resource in the quest for SD critical. This can be done
basically through education and training as well as proper healthcare services
since a sound mind resides in a sound body. These elements could also
assist in developing positive attitude towards nature. Education can also
influence society towards conserving the environment and appreciating
human values as well as acceptable production methods.

Additionally, SD thrives on promoting progressive social traditions, customs

and political culture. Progressive traditional and political culture must be
developed and maintained or upheld and built upon to not only hold the
society together but also help to value and conserve the environment for SD.
In a nutshell, the underlying summative principle of SD is the systematic
integration of environmental, social, and economic concerns into all aspects of
decision-making across generations. The SDGs reflect a balanced agenda of
economic, social and environmental goals and targets. In achieving the SDGs,
countries will need to recognise and appreciate the existence of potential
trade-offs and devise ways to handle them. They should also identify
complementarities which can promote meaningful progress.

1. Modular Construction Techniques to Eliminate Waste

Modular construction is a sustainable technique that builders are using to

design structures faster, at a more competitive cost, and with maximum
resource efficiency. Modular structures can be built within a controlled
environment where wastage of resources is minimised and pollution is
controlled. Construction technologies can be used to make modular
construction even more efficient. The use of construction software allows
builders to prepare accurate material estimates, design 3D images of the
construction site, and coordinate activities with all stakeholders. The end
result is a high-quality structure that is also environmentally friendly.

For example, modular homes being built in large cities such as Sydney can be
constructed offsite (in a controlled manufacturing plant) and the final product
delivered to the actual location. This prevents environmental pollution and
rubbish accumulation. The modular construction process is also carefully
controlled for material usage, quality and reliability.

2. Use of Green Building Materials

Perhaps the most popular sustainable construction technique is the use of

green building materials. These are materials sourced from renewable
sources and are also recyclable when the building has reached its lifespan.

Green building materials are typically sourced from sustainable forests (such
as timber forests). They can also be produced from innovative manufacturing
processes that reduce harmful emissions to the atmosphere. Concrete and
steel are two examples of materials that are now being produced via eco-
friendly manufacturing processes.

Through the use of sustainable building materials, new structures will have a
lower carbon footprint and better energy efficiency. The amount of waste that
ends up in landfills is reduced if the building needs to be
renovated/demolished in the future.

3. Zero Energy Construction

Zero energy construction is an emergent trend in many different

homes/buildings. The goal of a ‘zero energy’ structure is to produce as much
energy as it consumes, having a zero net impact on the environment.

Builders are incorporating zero energy techniques to design more efficient,

durable and sustainable structures at a competitive cost.

Zero energy construction techniques involve a combination of the following

steps:

Using renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) to power the
building

Efficient air ventilation systems that eliminate pollutants from the surrounding
air

Better insulation materials that minimise leaking air and noise pollution

Using energy efficient indoor appliances

Zero energy construction also allows buildings to put back as much energy
into the grid as they use during the year.

4. Flexible Space Design to Improve Functionality

Flexible and dynamic construction is another sustainable design technique,

which involves making a space functional for more than one purpose.

This dynamic design trend first started with reception areas being designed to
also act as a lounge for both guests and employees. The technique is also
expanding into hallways, classrooms, stairways and dining locations. Builders
are trending towards designing offices to also become liveable apartments,
hotels to become condos, and retail spaces to double up as community
centres.

By making a previously static space more useful for different functions,

builders can reduce material usage and save on valuable resources.

5. Resilience and Durability

Sustainable construction also involves improving the durability and resiliency

of buildings. Climate change has heightened concerns of more inclement
weather events (such as flooding, bushfires and cyclones), with structures
needing to be designed with resiliency at the fore.

More builders are trending towards incorporating risk mitigation steps such as
insurance plans, construction technology and renewable building materials. In
this way, structures can recover quickly after disaster strikes.

The eco-friendly design techniques highlighted above not only contribute to

more sustainable structures; they also allow builders to save costs, increase
quality and improve the efficiency of their construction processes.

1. Use alternatives for sustainable construction materials

When it comes to reducing waste in construction, a quick solution is using an alternative to
traditional concrete. Concrete accounts for half of all construction waste generated each year;
more than 500 million tons worldwide! Green building materials like bamboo, recycled
plastic, ferrock, and even hempcrete are all alternatives to using concrete and are four
sustainable construction materials you can use on your next project.

Thoughtful selection of sustainable building materials should occur at the beginning of each
project. Choosing to use 100 percent recycled plastic on projects is definitely worth the
investment, as structures made from this sustainable material can last more than 50 years —
up to 20 years more than traditional structures made with concrete or wood.

recycled building materials

While incorporating just one sustainable construction material into a building does not make
it ‘the world’s greenest project’, it does go along way in reducing environmental impacts
caused by construction. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reports that the
construction industry accounts for 40 percent of worldwide energy use, so it’s important that
we play our own small part in creating a better, more sustainable future together.

Two companies already doing this are Bouygues Construction and Hoffmann Green Cement
Technologies, who recently signed a technical and commercial collaboration contract to
develop very low carbon concrete. Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have also
produced high-quality concrete from waste ash, reducing annual landfill by 100,000 tons in
the UK.

2. Implement Just-In-Time production for more sustainable construction projects

Sustainable construction material management and demolition — such as with concrete,
which happens to be the top contributor to construction waste — can also be improved with
Just-In-Time (JIT) production. As the name suggests, and according to Lean Manufacturing
Tools, JIT production is a sustainable construction management practice that calls for the
production of what the customer wants, when they want it, and in the exact quantities
requested. Instead of ordering large stocks of what you think the job may require, you only
order exactly what you need, when the job requires it or the customer asks. This method
eliminates waste for sustainable construction management by removing overproduction from
the project lifecycle. As a result, the cost of storing excess material is kept to a bare
minimum, free storage space is better utilized onsite, and fewer materials are dumped at the
end of a job.

3. Integrate alternative sustainable construction methods

Similarly to how JIT production can improve sustainability by reducing waste, prefabricated
(or prefab) construction materials and methods are highly sustainable. Also known as offsite
construction, prefab construction is the practice of assembling parts of a structure in a
manufacturing site and transporting them to a different location. Prefab construction is a more
sustainable construction technique and is more efficient than traditional construction methods
due to factory-based manufacturing and assembly processes and affordable running costs. In
fact, it takes up to 67 percent less energy to manufacture a prefab building than it does to
build a conventional structure, according to Clearview Modular Buildings. Which is why it’s
becoming such a popular construction method.
By 2030, modular construction could account for a combined $130 billion of new real estate
construction in the U.S. and Europe and lead to $22 billion in annual cost savings, according
to this Bisnow article. Most importantly, when lifecycle costs are factored in, prefab
buildings deliver a lifetime energy saving of up to 90 percent! Prefab structures are
undoubtedly sustainable as they can be recycled time and time again; easily repurposed to
reduce waste and environmental impact.

prefab building

4. Be more sustainable; ditch the paper blueprints, drawings, and specs

While a few reams of paper may not feel like a big waste when compared to a dump-truck
filled with construction debris, it’s not just about the paper — it’s about reducing rework and
other construction waste. Sustainable construction companies require construction
management software to replace paper plans and files. Investing in sustainable construction
technology that eliminates paper plans and files saves valuable time and money, not to
mention the positive impact on the environment. For example, Graham Construction, a
billion-dollar General Contractor in Canada, used Fieldwire’s sustainable construction
management app and saved $35,000 in printing costs on a single project. Fieldwire
automatically notifies Graham employees of updates in real-time to ensure everyone is
always working from the right set of plans. This not only makes Graham more efficient onsite
but far more sustainable because they’re reducing paper waste.

Without construction management software, wasteful mistakes are a lot more likely. For
example, if a concrete subcontractor is not informed of a change and is consequently working
from an outdated plan, he or she may perform a slab pour in the incorrect location; a costly
mistake that increases construction and demolition waste and delays project progress.

Transitioning to a paperless construction company, being less wasteful of project materials,

and experimenting with more sustainable construction methods is going to help you reduce
waste — not only for the benefit of your company and customers but for the benefit of the
environment. Take the first step towards construction sustainability and ditch the paper with
Fieldwire; request your free demo today.