Sustainable construction issues and waste reduction in civil engineering procurement

Sustainable Construction Issues

Waste Reduction Process

Sustainability Construction Issues

Civil Engineer/Contractor comprehension

Legislation and creating awareness

Sustainable Construction Implementation

Risks of Sustainable Construction

Adaptive reuse issues

Recycling of Waste Processes

f. Principles of Sustainable Construction

Global warming

Energy conservation

g. Procurement and the process design

The project cycle

The Design-Bid-Build approach (DBB)

Strategy, Plan and programming of the project

The Main Procurement Activities

h. Bombarding sustainable construction issues

Ideologies of sustainability, especially in construction are perceived in favor of sustainable development. A good contractor and civil engineer works at the best interest of meeting the demands of the current technicalities of constructions and correlation to the present generation. However, attainment of sustainability is faced by several issues that are patent to construction issues. Adequate concepts should be exemplified and comprehended to avoid misconceptions that in turn implicate to essential procedures of construction such as procurement and design processes. Similarly, sustainability construction should be maintained by noting the long-term impacts it has to the global economy, culture, environment and technological advancements.

List of Figures

Figure 1.1: Waste Reduction Processes

Figure 1.2: Recycling of Waste (Processes Involved)

Figure 1.3: Main Procurement Activities

Introduction

The global gross domestic product is contributed by many industries from various fields of developmental business. Among the industries, is the construction industry that accounts for a larger percentage of the GDP. Already developed and developing nations are constantly under the industries operations in directly procuring all contracted constructions. However, these constructions do take place under strategized programs that enhance the sustainable construction. Under these programs, procurements, designs, innovations, adaptability and mitigation of climate and other related risks, biodiversity and waste management are looked upon to ensure that the global focus to sustainability is achieved. The subject and debate around sustainable constructions is affiliated to other issues conjoined to civil engineering outcomes. Conducting sustainable construction as a civil engineer capacitates the recognition of geotechnical constrains and environmental risks to underway infrastructure and building constructions.

According to Kennedy 2004, sustainable constructions have been faced with impending issues surrounding ecology, culture and technology. He perceives that a holistic approach to these issues alongside other possibilities is the most sustainable method in which contactors can change the global village to one full of certainty, especially in the construction industry. Having centered on buildings, Kennedy proposes a series of housing suggestions that if practiced, can lead to the achievement of construction sustainability (Kennedy, 2004, p 12).

Figure 1.2: Waste reduction processes

4

3

2

1

Improvement

Revision

Implementation

Planning

Questionnaires are filled and answered by the sub-contractors

The Main contractors together with the sub-contractors review the waste, and the necessary action is taken to fully minimize the waste and provide strategies for its management

Quantitative estimates

Quantitative Record

Qualitative Checklist 2

Experiences that are encountered are to be shared and learned.

Promote innovations

Raise awareness

Demonstration of the best recommendations regarding finance and environmental results

Required feedback is given to the client by the main contractor

The main contractor requests for the waste information reports from the sub-contractor

Qualitative Checklist 1

Waste is estimated by the Sub-contractor

Main contractor is responsible for the preparation of waste site and management plan

The targets for the w aste are targeted by the clients

Sustainability Construction Issues

a) Civil Engineer/Contractor comprehension

Similarly, they ascribe that sustainable construction was derived from a proposition that civil engineers should be responsible in their constructions. The proposition aimed at attaining sustainability. In support of the proposition, all contractors work with the objective of assessing new methodologies in building and construction with the intent of creating a healthy environment. The creation of this environment is expected after the utilization of resourceful and ecologically-based concepts while constructing. As an expected outcome, comprehensive sustainable construction or development should ensure that buildings and infrastructure should satisfy the principles of sustainable construction.

According to Hill and Bowen, 2000, sustainable construction is the provision of referred points to a construction contractor on different methodologies of refurbishing a design, infrastructure or building in a sustainable way. It mainly substantiates the designs that favor minimal wastage, lean designs of constructions, less pollution towards the environment, enhancement of biodiversity, resourceful conservation of water and the respect to the human environment and physical environs. The above favors are attained by use of four principles and strategized frameworks for sustainable construction. These principles are over-arched and process-oriented to provide a cornerstone of practice to a civil engineer (Hill and Bowen, 2000, p 223). They argue at a greater level about the concepts that most contractors ignore that bring forth sustainable construction and related issues. Hill and Bowen also assert that sustainable construction is never affiliated to semantic problems. This is due to the description detailed per se before any construction, panning or design is set to take place. They assert that despite the clarity of details, an inherent confusion is normal an issue with most constructors. It is mostly reverted to sustainable development. However, in applying any coherent comprehension, any civil engineer is expected to appraise the management of service in building any structure, it de-construction and necessary recycling of building materials. This achieves the ultimate goal of sustainability.

b) Legislation and creating awareness

Different literatures have tried explaining their context behind the innovation of sustainable construction and its issues. According to a DTI construction brief, sustainable construction has been adopted to effectuate responsible civil engineering operations. Environmental responsibility, social awareness and economic profitability are the key strands emphasized (DTI, 2004, p 3). Moreover, contractors are encouraged to work under a specific goal of encouraging the continuity of sustainability in construction even in the future. Better buildings and infrastructure are some of the practices that construction contractors should work upon in ensuring that sustainable progress is stimulated. In accordance to sustainability strategy of construction, Laing 2003 proposes that several issues should be prioritized to curb the ever emerging challenged allied to construction.

According to Laing, legislation is among the most recommended in driving the change towards sustainability. Achieving sustainability is faced by the amendment of several building regulation, which can be in favor or not to the environment. Consequentially, other relevant areas towards the environment such as water and energy production and emission are also affected. In curbing causative implications, legislations ensure that sustainable buildings follow developed policies that suggest the best level of practice towards construction. It is evident that there have been numerous global debates all with the aim of ensuring that legislation and other joint initiatives by governments in creating awareness not only to building engineers and contractors, but also to the public. In summary of his publication towards construction engineering, Laing mainly objectifies the ineffective strategies that underpin sustainable construction.

c) Sustainable Construction Implementation

In most growing economies, there are departmental areas of construction that deal with the relation of construction to the environment and transport sectors. According to Howard 2000, these departments consist of components that are essential in developing the construction industry through sustainable construction. In accordance to the components, social progress, economic growth, environmental protection and resourceful utilization are prioritized to ascertain the policy development of sustainable construction (Howard, 2000, p 5). However, just as Hill and Bowen argued about comprehension of sustainable construction, Howards adds up that the latter is an intrinsic and complex subject with contradicting variables to the construction contractors. In the same way, sustainable construction misconceptions are highly perceived and cause counter-intuitive issues implicating negatively to the industry.

Howards contends that among the vitality of issues facing sustainable construction is waste management. According to him, sustainable construction can be achieved effectively by ensuring that fewer materials are wasted through recycling. Developments in constructions have shown that quantities wasted especially after demolitions have reduced in comparison to the high demand of recycled materials. Recycling is among the most important strategies of sustainable construction by preserving capacitated landfill (Howard, 2000, p 5). In his argument, more than 40% of construction-generated wastes arising from construction repairs, maintenance and new built buildings and infrastructure. These wastes alter the environmental balance and hence do not contribute in attaining sustainable construction. Long-term effects are experienced to the landfills. These impacts are traceable to the quantifiable evaluation of components to the transport sector and in the regulation of noise and dust.

Sustainable construction is reliant to the recycling and reclaiming industries. Despite the area of waste extraction, there is greater reuse of materials from mainstream constructions. Howard further suggests that more reclamation of materials is also cost-effective as less processing is involved, more chances of employment are created and construction resources are efficiently utilized.

e) Adaptive reuse issues

Adaptive reuse is an excellent option instead of demolishing existing constructions or buildings. It involves changing the original use of a construction. It enables further use of a construction, which would have otherwise become useless sometimes by restraining demolition policies. It saves money and gives environmental conservation benefits. Adaptive reuse interventions can involve different strategies to enable maximizing benefits. Reuse reduces environmental impact while conserving society's cultural heritage. Paradigms, which suggest that traditional buildings should be demolished, should be changed to embrace different adaptive reuse of buildings. The best method is to leave a building intact where possible. (Wu, 2010, p 200). Wu further recommends refurbishment as a better way if the building is in consistent to the aims of revitalization. He expounds that new technologies, low energy performance and design of green principles can improve the refurbishments. Refurbishment brings the advantage of sustainable environment, by avoiding wastes and saving money by the society. Opportunities that need strategic intervention can be identified by constructing an adaptive reuse potential (ARP) model (Langson, et al., 2008, p. 199).

Identified ARP in buildings by estimating the useful life, which included the obsolescence and physical life. Obsolescence was estimated through a combination of different factors, which included legal, technology, socio-economy and political criterion. High scores of obsolescence mean high potential for reuse. These estimations help to make assumptions about the likely benefits of reusing, cultural heritage, and demand after revitalization. This helps to make a reliable judgment on the probable outcome instead of just opinions (Wu, 2010, p 203).

Some conditions should be met before adoptive reuse is implemented; inappropriateness of facility purpose, heritage retention, structural integrity, and new use delivery of more value. Green performance improvement can also be a reason for reuse. Intervention can sometimes be adopted to improve poor operational performance where feasible. Designers can be sensitive in their skills and creativity this provides greater chances for change. Wu suggests that political agenda can be a key driver as they are the planning authorities making changes and revitalization of different areas. Evaluation is a requisite while determining reuse, costs, design, time efforts and risks are also put into consideration (Wu, 2010, p 199). Potential of adaptive reuse should be determined using appropriate analysis. Benefit ratio and social outcome should be painstaking in the planning process.

Figure 1.3: Recycling of Waste (Processes involved)

The middle people

Junk Dealers

Rag Pickers

Primary Industry

Consumer

Water

f) Principles of Sustainable Construction

According to Plank (2008, p 301), there is rampant increase in considering sustainability. However, the claim of sustainability is hardly true. Constructors consider the materials they use in building, and the products used to build as sustainable, yet the buildings deteriorate in value quick. When resources that are available are used in a prudent manner, the environment treated with respect and there is general development in both the economic upgrade and progress in the social aspects, then that is the point of attaining the sustainable construction level. All the constructions around us are quite important, as they are the homes we live in, the places we hibernate to from the bad weather and the work place. In fact, in average humans spend over 90% of their entire living in constructions (especially buildings). Enhancing the conditions of the buildings is therefore a measure that will guarantee better lives and working conditions (Plank, 2008, p 301).

However, Plank (2008, p. 302) also uncovers the limitations of the buildings, specifying there effects to the environment (cause of externalities). Many of the natural resources are mandatory for the construction of the buildings, including the use of energy. The waste from the buildings is also an issue, and has great negative impact on the environment, including pollution. When cement is manufactured, the emissions exposed to the air contain over 2% of carbon dioxide, this is one of the reason there is increase of extinction rates of vulnerable animals. There is need to conserve energy, using the recommended design processes, that will assist in limiting the high-energy consumption rates (Plank, 2008, p. 302).

i) Global warming

Plank (2008, p. 303) acknowledges the side effects of global warming as adverse and ever increasing. The emissions of carbon dioxide are becoming a threat and hazard to the health conditions of the people. There is need to trap and combat the increasing levels of the gas, which scientifically does not support life in any manner. All this issues of instability in the percentage of gases (high CO2 levels) all began in the era of revolution in the constructions, most of which are the industries. There is great risk awaiting the future if the trends of industrial behaviors continue. Atmospheric pressures will increase, and the capacity of the oceans to absorb the excessive carbon dioxide will reduce. There is dire need for a global strategy to be implemented, as the issue of environmental un-sustainability if a universal matter, affecting most of the countries, if not all the countries that embrace industrial revolutions. The constructions are not to blame but should be implicated to the mannerism of building, and how well they are conserved that matters. The construction of the buildings should be at strategic places, the design is to promote the user's needs and the process of building is to be protective of the resources, which are in fact, limited (Plank, 2008, p. 303).

ii) Energy conservation

Plank (2008, p. 303) suggests that there has to be conservation of the energy in the construction of buildings. The person responsible for planning the ways of conserving energy is the designer of the project. The lighting systems have to be well installed, at strategic positions to avoid wasting power output. The use of cooling systems is to be minimized due to energy consumption, and the use of natural ventilations is the alternative. Generally, an extending of the lifespan of the building is necessary, to avoid the reconstructions and the development of new buildings. The floors and walls have to be well done, using the required slabs to ensure the buildings exist for longer periods (Plank, 2008, p 305).

g) Procurement and the process design

According to Boswell and Walker (2004, p 1), there will be realization of the sustainable buildings only when the processes involved in the construction of the buildings, the strategies used and the initiatives implemented will be enhanced and enriched with better ideas. The barriers to the right procedure have to be curbed and eliminated for successful constructions to come up in the future.

i) The project cycle

The owners of the buildings being constructed invest a lot of money into the business, with regards to the changing trends of the market, the owner's preferences and needs, and many other crucial aspects. However, the owner is not to influence the constructors with regard to the quality expected for the buildings. The owner is to ensure that the time allocated for the construction is honored, and the costs of the constructions are to be within the budget range, and not surpassed with high margins. The project is therefore to conform to the regulations provided, and the achievement of the project is to be met in desired time, using third party and other service providers. This is the process of procurement (Boswell & Walker, 2004, p 1).

Boswell and Walker (2004, p 2) also consider the significance of project delivery, which entails the objectives that are typically to guide the owners in making appropriate decisions. The building has to be in the best quality after construction, there has to be qualified expertise to help in the overall design of the project, including indications of the time required for full completion. The objectives also sensitize the issue of allocating the risks to the best handlers and the essence of legality processes. Control of the entire project in terms of cost is fundamental, to avoid the unnecessary cost implications involved in building (Boswell & Walker, 2004, p 2).

ii) The Design-Bid-Build approach (DBB)

Boswell and Walker appreciate the process of DBB as the most recommended, due to its nature of being straightforward. The approach provides the different phases involved in attainment of project goals, from defining the entire project structure, until the completion of the construction phase. The phases are mandatory for the realization of the sustainable constructions.

In addition to Boswell and Walkers argument towards procurement and process design, Vadera et al. exemplifies the possibility of the latter issue to the economic contribution of sustainable construction. The review stipulates that sustainability in construction is also dependent of costs used in building and infrastructure. Vadera and associate authors facilitate the notion that good procurement is among the crucial aspects of sustainability. This not only allows for effective construction but also does ameliorate economic efficiency in the construction industry (Vadera et al., 2008, p 10). This also ensures that all construction projects are purposely built, complete and that they secure the value of life.

iii) Strategy, Plan and programming of the project

Boswell and Walker indicate that the implementation of the sustainability issues will begin at the strategizing, planning and project programming stage. The decisions, which are made early regarding the sustainability aspects, are the ones with high probability of causing impact that is more positive. This stage calls for sound decisions affecting the resource allocation and financial control of the project, and the abrupt changing of the scope of the project is to be avoided, as it is one of the major factors directly leading to increase of the project costs. There is the need of a qualified engineer to control the project procedures and provide expertise advice on matters that are of complexity and need relevant skill to undertake (Boswell & Walker, 2004, p 3).

After the scope of the project is well defined, there will be the project of the providing the blueprint, and other procedures come after, including the call of tenders, where the aspiring suppliers of materials are to offer for the tenders, mostly through the process of proposals. The owner in most instances will require high value, at considerate prices. Afterwards there is the selection of the tenderers, where the feedback is given to the suppliers. Award of the tender will in most cases consider the element of quality, price effectiveness (economic advantage) and the efficiency regarding time. The contract is then awarded to the best qualifying supplier. In case the DBB is disadvantageous in any manner, the alternative approach is the Design-Build (DB), commonly used to replace the DBB processes (Boswell & Walker, 2004, p 7).

Establishments of what exactly needs processing

Oversee the contracts and ensure compliance

Award contracts

Evaluation of the tender offers

Decide and analyze the appropriate strategies to be used

Tender offers are solicitedFigure 1.1: The Main Procurement Activities

h) Bombarding sustainable construction issues

Sustainable construction is accompanied by allied operations that from an important aspect of performance criteria that building contractors and engineers undertake. In conducting the process of construction, and in achieving sustainability, team members are necessitated with equipment that ultimately meets the sustainable goals. Gelfand and Duncan contend this in relation to performance a criterion that holds up qualities such as product constituents, recycling and maintenance of regimes of constructions. In supporting the proposition of the criteria, major issues are objectified in accordance to performance levels that meets the expected outcomes of sustainable construction. Among the indispensable issues are the maintenance of indoor quality of air in progress of the constructions, recycling of waste and debris and their disposal, protection of resources used in building, in addition to their assembly and the commissioning of electro-mechanical systems (Gelfand & Duncan, 2011, p. 174).

The above issues are successfully achieved by first acquiring a sustainable advocate who is allocated the mandate to oversee the sustainability of the building project. This advocate has the corporate responsibility to steer conversation in favor of sustainability goals. It is evident that construction works are more of team building operations. The advocate is also accountable for advising team members to intertwine issues that bring forth sustainable designs and constructions. These responsibilities towards the sustainability advocate push for implementation of construction issues in a more sustainable method. The most ideal team to work in undertaking issues of sustainable construction is initially formed inclusive of a contactor sustainably equipped to undertake the construction. According to Gelfand and Duncan, allowing work correlation of the contractor and other team members effectuates implications in attaining and dealing with the ever-emerging issues of sustainable construction.

Conclusion

For sustainable constructions to be a reality there has to be conformation with the requirements and the procedure of effective procurement. The government has the obligation to improve the process and procedures pertaining procurement issues, and the proposed way to do this is to analyze the stakeholders. The stakeholders have to be challenged for the better, to effect change in the entire procurement procedures, hence resulting to the availability of well-maintained sustainable buildings (Boswell & Walker, 2004, p 18).