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It’s not just the methods and materials used to construct a building that affects the
environment. How it’s built to operate has a huge impact as well.
For example, using non-sustainable materials in the construction of the building has a
temporary negative effect. The use of a non-efficient HVAC system will have
a negative effect on the environment that’s long-term. The following are some of the
major ways that building construction can hurt the environment, both in the short- and
long-term:
Energy Use
Believe it or not, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings
account for an average of 41% of the world’s energy use. The two other biggest energy
consumers don’t even come close. The industrial sector accounts for 30% while
transportation accounts for 29%. Part of this is due to the huge amount of electricity that
buildings tend to use. In the United States, buildings are responsible for 73% of the
country’s electricity consumption.
So what is it that’s taking up so much energy? Well, it’s many things. A building’s lighting
system, heating and cooling system and outlet use all contribute.
Water Use
Buildings are responsible for not just a large percentage of the world’s water use, but a large
percentage of wasted water as well. It’s estimated that buildings use 13.6% of all potable water, which
is roughly 15 trillion gallons of water per year.
Construction Materials
The materials used in building construction also have a serious impact on the environment. First of all,
many of the materials used in the construction of buildings are produced in a non-sustainable way. The
factories that make the materials produce damaging CO2 emissions.
Then there’s the issue of transportation. Materials that are not produced locally are often shipped from
across the country or even from overseas. The transportation required for shipping these materials has
a considerable impact on air quality.
There is a huge environmental impact associated with the extraction and consumption of raw materials
for the use of building materials. Not to mention the actual production of those materials in their final
form. According to the USGBC, 40% of the world’s raw materials are used in the construction of
buildings.
Waste From Building Construction and Demolition
The destruction and renovation of buildings result in a large amount of waste.
Building waste often includes concrete, metals, glass, plastics, wood, asphalt, bricks and more.
This waste is often disposed of in either landfills or incinerators. Not only does this pollute the
land and the air, but the transportation required to remove such waste has a major impact on the
environment as well.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there were already over 170 million tons of
debris generated in the construction and demolition of buildings in the U.S. alone in 2003. 61
percent of which were produced by non-residential buildings.