Efficient material design and the use of low-carbon concrete are crucial to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) during the construction process, according to a report from C40 Cities, Arup, and the University of Leeds.
Eliminating material waste at the design stage could lead to an 18% reduction of GHG emissions between 2017 and 2050, the report says. The production of cement requires extreme heat and releases a great deal of CO2. The report says that using low-carbon alternatives to traditional cement could cut GHG emissions by 6% between 2017 and 2050.
Reusing building materials and components such as structural steel could achieve a 3% GHG reduction by 2050. Making better use of buildings can also make a dent in GHG emissions.
“Buildings are [underutilized] and often discarded before they have reached the end of their useful life,” the report says. Implementing strategic use of existing space and infrastructure can lead to an 11% GHG emission reduction by 2050, and a 10%-20% reduction in demand for new buildings.
Another GHG-reduction strategy is to switch high-emission materials to sustainable timber. That could reduce emissions by 6% by 2050.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Sep 20, 2018
North Carolina law banning use of recent climate science could worsen Hurricane Florence impact
Policies may have undermined ability to make coastal regions more resilient.
Codes and Standards | Sep 19, 2018
AIA endorses building owner participation in cap-and-trade programs
Would spur more energy conservation in buildings and cut carbon emissions.
Codes and Standards | Sep 18, 2018
ConsensusDocs Coalition publishes new Lean Addendum
Industry-first document to facilitate lean tools without need to sign multi-party IPD agreement.
Codes and Standards | Sep 14, 2018
IAPMO seeks comments on proposals for 2021 plumbing and mechanical codes
Deadline is Jan. 3, 2019.
Codes and Standards | Sep 13, 2018
As ICC prepares to vote on codes for tall wood buildings, opposition is still strong
Influential body will vote in October on new provisions to allow 18-story wood-framed structures.
Codes and Standards | Sep 12, 2018
Saltwater incursion into Miami’s aquifer may make city uninhabitable later this century
Rising sea levels likely to claim drinking water before land is under water.
Codes and Standards | Sep 11, 2018
Smart Surfaces Coalition will help cities reduce urban heat island effect
Surfaces can reflect away heat and help prevent flooding.
Codes and Standards | Sep 7, 2018
Certified Green Buildings may have an advantage in capital markets
Research supports financial case for certification.
Codes and Standards | Sep 7, 2018
NIST releases report outlining steps to bolster disaster resiliency
Offers immediate occupancy building codes and performance standards strategies.
Codes and Standards | Sep 6, 2018
Coalition of mayors around the globe pledge net-zero buildings by 2030
New construction to produce as much energy as it consumes.