The global nature of the construction supply chain complicates the traceability of materials. Blockchain technology is emerging as a solution, providing transparency and ensuring that materials meet sustainability standards.
Despite challenges, the opportunities within the green building supply chain are vast.
Thankfully, with advancement in production technology, new methods are appearing that will reduce costs in due time. Buildings account for a sizable share in fuel consumption globally, the main three being heating, cooling and lighting. The operational energy use can greatly be reduced through energy efficient designs, which can cut down 28% of the emissions generated by the global building sector.
Elements such as Sunlight or thermal mass can be utilised to improve energy optimisation which is the basis of passive design. The benefits of Green buildings are not limited to the construction phase but they keep on accruing across their lifetime.
Large windows along with light shelves are an effective means to facilitate natural lighting and brighten up the interiors, which has proven to reduce energy use by 20% to 60%.
Another useful method to combat high urban temperatures is to introduce green roofs and walls as they can effectively reduce indoor temperatures, the use of such techniques during research carried out in Singapore decreased building temperatures by 4–5’C and the cooling energy cost was cut by 25%.
To save up $19,000 over a span of 30 years, one can employ solar panels on a net-zero energy which at current times only costed a Net-zero energy with panels $19,000 will aid in cutting heating costs significantly which are not competitive to that.
By employing Geothermal systems, hot and cold air can be efficiently obtained from the underground layers of earth, further curtailing energy needs achieving near perfection.
The green building supply chain is a pivotal building block in the quest for an eco-friendly world. The construction industry can reduce its negative influence on the environment while generating economic and social value by concentrating on environmentally sustainable components, designs and green certification. The full realization of this movement will require cross-sectional participation of governments and industry and consumer leaders.
The future of construction is building human’s requisites into also looking after the planet. As it increasingly becomes the standard for us to adopt green building methods, we are nearing a reality where the artificial structures we have built will uplift nature instead of deteriorating it.
