As trends are emerging that promote sustainability, more specifically environmentally friendly business practices, all companies are faced with challenges that they must overcome. The construction industry in particular are starting to shift from being focused solely on cost and resource management to being focusing on practices that beneifeits to the survival of the planet. Construction companies are faced with many challenges that they must overcome in order to stay “green”. I will be focusing on 3 challenges which are: the incrased costs, increase in the demand of specialized labor and skills and also the challenge of finishing the project in a timely matter.
What are Green Buildings/Structures
A green building can be described as the construction and operation that will promote a healthy environment by not disrupting the land, water, resources and enrgy in the anroud the building. Green building applies to the whole life cycle of the structure from design and construction up to its deconstruction. Some of the benefeits of green building are, reducing the wastage of water, conserve natural resources, improve air and water quality and also protecting animals and ecosystems around it. In order for a building to be catorgorized as green, it must pass the tests from various organizations depending on the type of certification (Watersence, Energy star, Green Seal etc…). The 5 basic tests that most organizations are looking for are Planning and design, Energy efficiency, Water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency and lastly environmental quality. If the building passes these 5 tests, they can proudly say that the building is a green building.
Increased costs
One of the biggest challenge and often the one that comes first to mind is the increased costs. A study done by the global Green Building Trends, showed that over 700 construction professionals from all over the world found that 80% claimed that higher first costs as an obstacle to green building (1). The materials used to create sustainable buildings do not come cheap. Not only do the materials cost a fortune, but the equipment needed to handle these materials are costly as well. If we take an example of the average house that needs a roof. For this example the most simple material will be used which is wood. After doing some research the average cost of completeing the project is between $9000 to $13000https://www.fixr.com/costs/frame-new-roof. If we want to make the house more sustainable by making it energy independent, the builder wants to add photovoltaic and solar hot water panels. Resarch says that just to install these panels would cost between $25000-$35000. This cost is more than double what the average roofs would cost. The construction industry which has for the most part, only been focused on being time and cost efficient will be challenged if they want to build sustainable structures. A professional constructor said “Many of the building materials that make houses more durable and easier to heat and cool aren’t cheap. Complicated systems that allow a certain amount of energy independence–photovoltaic and solar hot water panels, for instance—can be very pricey. “(3) The fact that construction managers don’t want to spend for the sustainable material is not entirely their fault. The government does not provide them with the finances in order to see through to these investments. Reseachers found that “researchers found that more than half of the projects had original budgets set without regard to sustainable design, yet received no supplemental funds to support sustainable goals”. The construction managers are given a budget from the government to build a project with sustainable goals yet the financing is not nearly enough. If we look at the micro-economy which are houses, a home owner said “The fact is that there is no grant aid for any one building a well-insulated, airtight, well-glazed, low energy house.”
SKILLED WORKERS
The second challenge that the construction industry is faces with is the need for skilled workers. As mentioned before, the concept of “Green Building” is still new in the industry, and with everything that is new, there is a lack of skills and knowledge. The industry have not recently come across with huge technological changes and innovations. Sustainible buildings come with new complex designs and also new materials that need special training and specialized skills to handle. In a quote in a research paper said ” The design process will increase in importance and complexity and there is an urgent need for an integrated approach requiring partnerships between designers, engineers and manufacturers in the development in advanced design tools”. Achetects that make the initial design must be knowledble in how to implement these new materials. They will have to shift away from the traditional methods in form partnerships with building manufacturers witht the development strategies. Also The paper said that the building process will become more complicated and it will demand for a high level skilled management and work teams that know how to handle both new and traditional materials. Construction mangagers that have an integrated knowledge of the whole process of building green will be needed. Budgeting, forcasting and planning will be restructured to cater to the changes of the traditional buildings to Green buildings. Finnaly the construction workers will have to be trained on new product handling protocols, construction methods and new tools and machines. All of these human resources need to be found in order to build sustaible buildings. The market wont be as big as the concept is new and trained people are not many. “The major capital stock of an industrially advanced nation is not its physical equipment; it is the body of know- ledge amassed from tested ® ndings of em- pirical science and the capacity and training of its population to use this knowledge effectively.”
*******http://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB4686.pdf
TIME CONSTRAINTS
Construction managers are always given tight time deadlines to complete a certain project. A survey done stated that over 90 percent of all projects finish late. Green building does not make the situation eaiser. Managers have reported that extra tasks have to be actionned for these types of buildings. They mentioned 4 biggest time consuming tasks when compared to traditional buildings.
1. Extra effort to brief all project personnel of the project requirements and procedures for administering the project
2. Extra fees for certificates involving Green items
3. Special efforts to prepare maintenance manuals
4. Extra requirements of testing and commissioning of service installations to obtain green labeling
Special requirements and procedures are needed for green buildings. They have to get certified and tested and must meet certain requiements. In result, continuous follow up and breifings to do the correct procedures are a must. There are also extra fees for certificates involving green items. These items assume the label of “Recyclable, eco-freidnly or low-energy”Construction managers cant use the their old contractors and suppliers, so they must form new relationships for the green products. Finally, extra requirements of testing of the installations must be verified oin order to obtain the green label. Certain testing could include measuring light pollution or verifiying the solar photovoltaic panals on the roof if they work or not.