Donald is currently employed in the construction sector. We will guide you through the challenges that Donald is facing today and in the near future. ↓

It's important to note that the construction sector contributes to both direct and indirect carbon emissions. This is due to the use of machinery, the production of building materials, and the consumption of power and heat on construction sites. Additionally, the impact of energy-inefficient housing dependent on fossil fuels cannot be ignored. 

DID YOU KNOW ?

  • “Buildings account for 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of GHG emissions from energy.”

  • “Raw material extraction also leads to vast amounts of pollution, particularly in energy cement production, which is responsible for 6-7% of global CO2 emissions.”

  • “By 2050, it's expected that 68% of the world's population will live in cities, with most of this growth occurring in developing countries.”

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSEQUENCES ↓

  • The depletion of natural resources has a negative impact on the infrastructure sector and its progress due to a shortage of materials.

  • Extreme weather conditions also have a detrimental effect on infrastructure, resulting in less stability and reliability within the network.

  • Workers who work outdoors on construction sites are particularly vulnerable to these conditions, which can affect their health and safety by causing more stress and fatigue.

As a result, extreme weather conditions can strain the current construction infrastructure's stability and reliability, posing a risk to workers and society.

GREEN DEAL ↓

The EU Green Deal

The EU has developed a new growth strategy called the European Green Deal in response to the environmental changes currently faced. This strategy aims to achieve a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 and zero net emissions of GHG. It includes 8 policy areas with plans for all sectors and industries.

Construction > Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way

This policy area targets both new and existing buildings and aims to combat the sector's current unsustainable methods. Circular and energy-efficient methods should be employed when building new structures and when renovating existing ones to improve their energy efficiency

The European Green Deal calls for a renovation wave, addressing the energy performance of pre-existing European buildings, while also advocating for newly built buildings to use sustainable methods and materials. 

The strategy is built around three pillars that highlight its sustainable approach:

  • Tackling energy poverty and improving the energy efficiency of worst-performing buildings

  • Focusing on public buildings and social infrastructure

  • Decarbonising heating and cooling

GOOD EXAMPLES ↓

The TECLA project, which is led by the engineering team of WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project) and architect Mario Cucinella, uses 3D printing technology to construct eco-friendly homes. The project utilizes sustainable clay resources as a substitute for cement, and the adaptable nature of 3D printing enables the construction of homes based on the specific climatic conditions of their location. TECLA can build homes in as little as 200 hours, making the process quick and cost-effective. This also makes it an ideal solution for creating emergency relief shelters in the aftermath of natural disasters

Green transition - Italy
Tecla

Olympic House was built using sustainable architecture, which focused on using 95% of recycled and reused materials. The building also features a 1000m2 solar panel roof that generates 10% of the energy used by the building. Additionally, heat pumps were used in nearby Lake Geneva to generate renewable heating. This building has been awarded the highest recognition level certificate under the international LEED green building rating system.

Green transition - Switzerland
Olympic House

The Frieburg Town Hall has been declared as the world's first building to generate a net surplus of energy. This has been made possible due to its innovative architecture that includes photovoltaic vertical panels and superior thermal insulation. Compared to other modern office buildings, its energy demand is only 40%. The excess energy produced is supplied to the main city grid to meet the energy demands of the area.

Green transition - Germany
Freiburg Town Hall

FUNDING ↓

The Commission supports many projects on building renovation, as well as research and innovation in this field, with its Horizon Europe research programmes, such as

  • the BUILD UP initiative, a portal for sharing knowledge on how to make buildings more energy-efficient

  • the BUILD UP Skills initiative, which aims to increase the number of qualified building professionals across Europe who can carry out building renovations that offer high energy performance as well as construct new near zero-energy buildings

  • the 4RinEU project, which aims to provide new tools and strategies to encourage large-scale renovation of existing buildings and promoting the use of renewable energies (see “Home improvements for the planet”)

To learn more about EU-funded energy efficiency projects, please visit the Horizon 2020 energy efficiency data hub.

JUST TRANSITION
Discover which actions you can undertake ↓

  • The construction industry is known for its labour-intensive activity, high mobility of the workforce, and high risks. The involvement of social partners has always been crucial in organizing and regulating this sector. As such, an even stronger social dialogue is necessary to ensure sustainable working conditions for workers during the green transition.

  • In the construction industry, social dumping occurs when employers hire workers at lower wages than what's available in their country. This is often achieved by exploiting migrant workers or relocating production to countries with low wages. Unfortunately, construction workers have historically been a vulnerable group for social exploitation and discrimination. Undocumented workers are particularly at risk, as they do not have access to sick leave or pensions. In the event of an accident, they may lose their income entirely. With the added risk of climate change, construction workers are likely to face even more challenges, such as exposure to extreme heat and storms. Therefore, implementing a social safety network that prioritizes human and labour rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions is essential.

  • It is projected by the European Commission that the construction sector will see an increase of 160,000 green jobs by the year 2050. While this growth in new occupations is promising, it is also expected that some existing jobs may become obsolete. Despite this, the transition to a greener construction sector is viewed as beneficial as it will provide employment opportunities, especially through the renovation of older buildings.

  • The green construction sector will be characterized by green and circular building materials and methods. Green jobs might require certain skills which may not be present in the construction industry yet, or at least not in the amount that might be necessary. Higher levels of expertise and technical proficiency will be required. The challenge will be to equip construction workers, especially those with lower levels of education, with the necessary training to upgrade their skillset and remain competitive in the changing industry.

  • In the coming years, the construction industry will place a greater emphasis on utilizing digital technologies such as BIM, 3D printing, and robotization. These technologies are expected to enhance safety, reduce costs, and improve efficiency within the industry.

  • The renovation wave stresses social inclusion and accessibility where the upskilling and retraining opportunities aim to create an inclusive and prejudice-free working environment. Together with digitization and financial support, this should boost the inclusion of SMEs operating in - and representing the majority of - the sector. Moreover, the European Commission has also expressed its intention to improve the position of women within the industry.

  • Decarbonising the heating and cooling of buildings

  • Making buildings more energy efficient

  • Using circular and modular building methods

  • Making infrastructure more climate resilient

  • Increasing use of technology in the sector

GREEN TRANSITION
Discover which actions you can undertake ↓

  • With Modular 3D Printing technology, climate-resilient houses can be built. Most experts in M3DP tech are situated in Europe, so regional suitability is easier to build an upskilling community in an area with concentration. This technology is ideal for designing sustainable cities and enabling large-scale waste mitigation.

  • More and more, construction projects are utilizing bio-based materials like lipids and proteins-based polymers. Eco-design is also gaining importance, meaning sustainable and circular solutions in the architectural space.

  • Many construction companies try to prioritize sustainable practices, including the use of alternative material. Concrete is a common construction material used in almost every building or structure. However, to reduce environmental damage during construction, companies should consider using newer, more recyclable materials such as plastic. Demolition companies can recycle materials like LEED access doors and panels, which construction teams can then use for future projects.

  • Another effective method that construction companies need to practice is alternative construction methods. One standard alternative construction method is building or assembling the structure off-site and then delivering it to the project site. Most of the time, factories and assembly warehouses construct the structure first, and then construction companies transport them.

QUIZ ↓