The future of green construction - how can the construction industry become more sustainable?

In this issue of Construction Worx we feature an interesting Q&A with Tom Hyde, Technical Support Manager for TotalEnergies UK. Hyde shares his insights on how the construction industry can embrace sustainability, discussing innovative technologies and methodologies.

Q: With the 2050 net zero deadline looming, it seems most of the industry has recognised the importance of taking climate action. What immediate steps are being taken (or should be) to achieve this?

A: Whilst recognising the problem is vital, good intentions are a drop in the ocean - the route to zero emissions will require decisive action.

One-third of global energy emissions in 2021 arose either directly or indirectly from the buildings sector, with around 6% of the global total coming from manufacturing construction materials, such as steel and cement, according to the International Energy Agency. In March, Green Alliance also found that the construction industry is the UK’s biggest user of non-renewable materials and generates almost two-thirds of the country’s total waste output.

Operators on site are having to adopt innovative solutions to ensure they are compliant and competitive. At the same time, the regulatory environment is shifting fast and reforms affecting the sector across every stage of the construction process are taking effect. For example, the 2021 Environment Act introduced measures to ensure that the resources companies are using in their operations are both sustainable and efficient, and has brought in detailed requirements in terms of waste management and biodiversity protection.

Q: What can machinery operators and industry leaders do to maximise operational efficiency whilst reducing their energy consumption and carbon footprint?

A: Companies looking to create immediate progress on their journey towards lower carbon emissions need to examine the ‘material’ components of a construction site.

Historically, lubricants have been seen as a something of a technical detail, but according to TotalEnergies’ research, the right lubricants can help significantly reduce fuel and energy consumption, providing substantive benefits including cost savings.

With construction equipment and machinery exposed to extreme conditions from dramatic variations in temperature to heavy loads, modern fluids designed to clean and degrease heavy machinery come with important benefits for workers and the planet. Alongside the functional benefits, it serves a sustainable purpose as keeping machinery working efficiently and for longer is less carbon intensive than frequently scrapping and replacing machinery. TotalEnergies’ Rubia 1000 and 2000 are great examples of engine oils suited to this purpose.

The right lubricant partner can support operators with maximising operational efficiency through technology. Data-driven predictive maintenance, such as predictive analysis and lubrication maintenance software, can increase energy savings by using fuel economy type of lubricants along with specific low friction synthetic lubricants for certain applications. These may also provide improved lubricant lifetime, reducing material usage and waste.

Q: Whilst short term changes are essential, what steps can industry professionals and regulators take to ensure sustainable practices are adopted in the long term across all stages of the construction process?

A: Developing an industry-wide practice of transparency around carbon reduction goals will help embed the practices that will drive forward the sector’s sustainability agenda in the long term. By setting carbon reduction mandates at the planning stage of each project, industry stakeholders can ensure they are making the right choices to meet these goals.

Alongside project accountability is the need for stakeholders to apply the same reduction standards to their suppliers and subcontractors as to their own processes. TotalEnergies, for instance, has introduced a number of goals to support sustainable procurement practises including integrating environmental criteria in calls for tenders for priority categories, implementing an environmental audit framework for suppliers' sites, and ensuring that at least 90% of top suppliers have set targets for GHG emission reductions by 2025.

Q: Government regulations mean that site operations are required to have strong recycling credentials – how can lubricants and greases play a role in this?

A: To comply with biodiversity protection laws and waste management, site operations must prioritise products and materials which have established transparent recycling credentials - including the use of biodegradable lubricants & greases.

Operators can choose lubricants which not only meet the requirements of the major OEMs but which are fully biodegradable and formulated from renewable raw materials. These products can help reduce engine fuel consumption, while being suitable for use in sensitive environments, such as locations close to rivers, agricultural land or forests, with the risks associated with accidental leakages minimised.

Q: The UK Green Building Council has suggested that investing in a circular economy is one of the fastest ways to reduce carbon emissions and waste. How can this become a reality at a practical level?

A: Adopting material circularity could be one of the most impactful carbon reduction levers available to construction firms. It presents a specific opportunity to tackle ‘embodied carbon’ - the carbon emissions generated upstream before a building is completed such as emissions associated with materials.

Deploying renewable energy sources to power construction sites –where possible - is a practical opportunity for construction projects to reduce overall emissions. Design considerations such as the reuse of materials, increasing the use of recycled or partially-recycled materials, and retrofitting instead of demolition can also all assist in reducing embodied carbon.

Q: What role with the government play in the sectors’ net zero transition?

A: The UK government will play an active role in supporting the energy transition. Alongside the development and implementation of policies on the construction and operational emissions of buildings, the public sector as a buyer is increasingly prioritising ‘green’ tenders

The government is increasingly adopting a ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to encourage companies to choose more sustainable routes through rewarding green efforts with subsidies - or closing opportunities to those not doing enough.

Therefore, it’s essential for businesses to evaluate every element of their construction toolkit – from overhauling the supply chain right through to more efficient mechanical maintenance. This means not only will they be ahead of the regulatory curve but could be in better positions to be awarded government-led infrastructure contracts. A focus on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions is not just financially smart, it is also imperative for the welfare of our planet and long-term business resilience. Carbon emission reduction will require a holistic approach, from macro-changes such as government incentives opting for renewable energy sources and re-using materials, to incremental changes that can be actioned in the short-term, such as choosing the most efficient products for operational maintenance.