With the UK aiming for net zero by 2050, around the world governments are being seen to implement strategies to reduce carbon emissions and respond to the climate change crisis. The construction industry is responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions globally so there will be big changes in this sector in the near future.
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What is net zero?
The UK government’s net zero strategy aims to achieve a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed. To do this, the country’s reliance on fossil fuels will need to be reduced and there must be a switch to low-carbon alternatives within a range of sectors including travel, construction and agriculture. An investment of £90 billion has been put in place to achieve these goals.
What will change?
Due to the construction industry contributing to a large percentage of carbon emissions, there will be many changes in the sector including the materials used and building designs.
Materials
The materials used in construction will move away from virgin, carbon-dense materials like brick and shift to lower-impact materials like treated timber. The industry is likely to see an increased focus on the use of wood and timber products used as while growing, trees absorb carbon which continues to be stored even when felled – resulting in reduced carbon in the atmosphere.
Timber is also naturally renewable. This means that if forests are properly managed we can ensure continued access to sustainable materials without depleting the world’s finite resources.
Design
The role of architects in building design will change due to net zero. Architects will no longer design buildings based on current trends and no longer be created based on current trends, but will instead need to be designed with longevity in mind.
This means that there is likely to be an increase in multi-functional buildings with basic design elements to ensure that they are personalisable and fit for a range of purposes. This will result in fewer buildings being demolished which will reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings.
There will also be extended site checks including eco-system checks and energy usage considerations. As such, many new builds will come with their own energy supply such as heat pumps or solar panels to reduce the energy required to make the building function.
Jobs
Net zero will result in an increase in dedicated environmental roles within the construction industry such as Environmental Advisors and Sustainability Managers.
These employees will be required to assess and report the environmental impact of the construction site from the construction itself to the energy and water use by employees on site. These roles are likely to appear within other sectors worldwide as the shift to ensuring a reduction in carbon emissions becomes more prevalent.
