Construction and Environment - Improving energy efficiency

• The construction sector provides the direct means to the development and expansion of economic activities, but is at the same time a major consumer of physical and natural resources and a polluter of the environment. Over the last decades, the environmental impact of construction activities has grown dramatically due to the increase in the world population and greater industrial and human activity. The environmental problems of the construction sector in developing countries can be found at different levels. Material producers and builders often use traditional, less energy-efficient techniques or old-fashioned, highly polluting equipment. There is often a lack of knowledge about how to make production clean and energy efficient. In many countries energy use, and consequently pollution, due to heating and/or cooling of buildings is very high. Energy use could be much lower if buildings were better adapted to the outdoor climate. The challenge lies in ensuring sustainability without reducing the rate of construction activities. This study outlines some key concerns regarding the environmental impacts of the construction industry. The impacts on agricultural land, forests, water and air into are considered. The study gives recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency in construction including: choice of materials and construction techniques with low embodied energy, efficient use of materials and energy at construction sites, energy efficient manufacturing processes of some common building materials.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Arkitektur (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Architecture (hsv//eng)

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