The construction landscape in Australia has been shifting for a long time, aligning its focus more with sustainable objectives.
Decarbonisation is one of the most essential goals, since the construction and use of buildings are among the most wasteful processes on the planet.
Closed-loop, circular, tech-forward and renewable approaches to crafting structures can reduce emissions, help climate goals, lower pollutants and improve public health. By adopting these ideas, you can help Australian cities become more eco-conscious.
Disruptive innovations for climate-focused construction
Some Australian cities are enveloped by pollution and high energy consumption, pushing them to become more thoughtful about how they use resources. Although the need for continued research is a prominent drawback, the advantages of these innovations are too significant to dismiss.
Biochar-infused concrete
Cement contributes to 8 per cent of global carbon emissions because it requires so much energy and environmentally intensive materials to produce. It is a crucial part of concrete, so replacing it would help its reputation. Fortunately, biochar-infused concrete makes an equally sturdy alternative that sequesters carbon from the atmosphere.
It is an accessible material, since it can be made from wood biomass by-products. It makes this industry more circular by enabling the use of waste materials. It uses a lower-energy processing method called pyrolysis. Although it has a higher price point than conventional options, its added value of being lighter weight and circular justifies the expense for construction firms.
Algae-based limestone
As mentioned, there are more sustainable construction materials than cement, which requires resource- and climate-intensive materials to make. Limestone is a common filler, so it needs an eco-friendly replacement too. It is not renewable, but algae is.
Algae is a perpetually bioavailable resource, and growing it in large amounts also sequesters carbon. Several species of microalgae, like those found in coral reefs, can make a biobased alternative that is strong enough to support construction.
Researchers have discovered that between one and two million acres of ponds are all the planet needs to produce the world’s supplies. Fortunately, investing in microalgae also yields other products, such as biofuels, making it multipurpose and capable of delivering a high return on investment.
Mycelium materials
Innovators are also replacing other exploitative and polluting materials, like toxic insulation and chemically coated furniture. Numerous fungi, including oyster mushrooms and tinder fungus, make residues that decompose into mycelium.
These structures are mixable with other agricultural organic brown matter to create a substrate that needs incubating. Then, it can transform into an adhesive, which is helpful for thermal insulation and furniture.
Commercial manufacturing is spreading in regions like Europe, but it still has a way to go in other regions, including Australia. Scaling is becoming more straightforward as researchers have found new ways to make the quality more consistent.
Waste-board recycled packaging
Buildings need tonnes of panel boards to replace timber, which is coated with chemicals and glue. You can take recycled packaging and transform it into a particleboard alternative. It is useful for flooring, partitions, joinery and countless other structural projects.
Despite a 15 per cent potentially higher cost, case studies in multiple countries are seeing their utility. You can also take thrown-out plywood and upcycle it for renovations and retrofit projects in the community.
The reality of working with sustainable materials
To convince the nation to commit to these goals, build relationships with reliable suppliers and ensure availability. Simply discussing these ideas, especially in close-knit towns, can also inspire businesses to venture into new verticals.
Someone could start growing their own algae or mycelium for promising construction projects — companies simply need to campaign and advertise them while introducing them to the public.
Once professionals and construction leaders start these discussions, it motivates experts and citizens. Eventually, it will become a unified goal to alleviate the most pressing environmental concerns. Construction waste is a major problem in Australia, with $64 billion potentially going to waste in the next five years.
Choosing biodegradable and renewable materials helps reduce debris and metals in the soil and air. Also, using products like recycled packaging puts less pressure on landfills, which is another benefit for organisations’ environmental, social and governance objectives.
You can also transition to eco-friendly technologies and adopt new materials. Alternatively, you can use the equipment you already own in novel ways that embrace greater sustainability.
For example, drones are well-suited to survey prospective land, but they can also be used to improve data collection and better understand environmental conditions. Assets like artificial intelligence are also ideal for analysing equipment health, using predictive maintenance to extend product life cycle and minimise parts waste.
It also helps to emphasise how much it benefits the world at large, tying it to initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Everything the sector is doing directly supports the UN’s SDGs, which motivate shifts in the Australian construction sector toward more sustainable futures. They include, but are not limited to:
- Good health and well-being
- Clean water and sanitation
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
Considering long-term building life cycle management
A willingness to experiment with new materials and methods will be pivotal in the global effort to decarbonise construction and building life cycles.
Advocate for these technologies and stay up to date on their development, as they will help you deliver results and make Australia a more sustainable nation and a global thought leader in green buildings.
