Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
something nearer to perfect competition and, in this case, bringing the market closer
to the idea of sustainability. A trend for sustainable construction is slowly emerging
and being taken up by some contractors and clients, and traditional specifications
are being challenged in favour of those that demonstrate environmental benefits.
The common characteristics of environmentally sensitive specifications are discussed
in the next sections.
Emerging Green Markets
Even in manufacturing - with supply based on factory techniques and where
products are demanded and used by a single customer - it is difficult to develop
a market for environmentally superior products. In construction the challenge is
even more complex, as there are fewer standard prototypes and often the 'users'
of construction products are not the owners. As we have suggested in preceding
chapters, each construction product can be regarded as unique. Products are
assembled on site by a team of subcontractors. The large labour force is often one
stage removed from the agreement made between the client and the contractor.
And, as a final twist, the interests of the users are often different from those of the
investors that produce the original specification. This makes it difficult for those
supplying the products to final users to communicate effectively through market
signals. Yet it is in the marketplace where people display their green credentials.
It is therefore not surprising that green development in the construction industry
has been relatively slower than in manufacturing - but it is emerging. The most
activity has been seen in the commercial sector, with owner-occupiers beginning to
specify bespoke headquarters that reflect their corporate ethos. The level of green
activity within the residential sector, however, is not so evident, as the volume
builders engaged in speculative residential developments have been slow to see the
market potential of adopting an environmentally aware corporate image. There
are some innovative exceptions, particularly within the government-funded social
housing sector, and some examples of architect-designed homes - eco-homes -
for environmentally conscious clients. Finally, awareness is emerging in the sector
specialising in infrastructure, which could make an important contribution once it
takes off. We now look at each of these sectors in turn.
THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR
Each year, the largest amount of new building work is in the commercial sector
(broadly defined as offices, factories, warehouses and shops - see
Table 5.2
,
page 75). Most activity in this sector continues to produce a standard
undifferentiated product that tends to be over specified, mechanically ventilated and
energy guzzling. However, an increasingly significant proportion - say 25 per cent -
of the new additions are able to boast environmentally friendly features. Sensitivity
to the environment is becoming an ever more important issue, and commercial
organisations want to reflect their environmental credentials in the types of building
that they rent and own. There appear to be good corporate arguments in favour
of situating commercial outlets in buildings that minimise global and local impacts,
reduce energy bills and facilitate greater worker productivity.
