Sustainable Construction Principles and Practices

Course Description

• Focuses on sustainable construction principles and practices
• Examines environmental impact and ways to reduce negative effects
• Covers energy efficiency, sustainable materials, water conservation, waste management, and climate adaptation
• Uses case studies, current trends, and practical applications

Course Details

• Course duration is 16 weeks
• Delivery is student-led learning with instructor facilitation
• Course has 3 credit hours

Course Topics

• Introduction to Construction Environmental & Sustainability Issues
• Environmental Impact of Construction and Climate Change
• Energy Efficiency in Construction
• Sustainable Building Materials
• Waste Management and Circular Economy in Construction
• Water Management and Conservation in Construction
• Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services
• Mid Term Test
• Sustainable Construction Project Management
• Sustainable Site Development and Land Use
• Social Sustainability in Construction
• Innovation and Technology in Sustainable Construction
• Life Cycle Assessment in Construction
• Environmental Certifications in Construction
• Assignment/Pre-test
• Final Test

Responsibilities

• Lecturers facilitate learning, encourage discussions and conduct fair assessments
• Students attend classes weekly, participate in discussions/assignments and obtain fair grades

Waste Management and Circular Economy

• Types of construction waste include demolition, packaging, and excess materials
• Strategies include waste reduction and recycling
• Covers circular economy principles
• Will use case studies to illustrate waste management
• Students will understand the sources/impacts of construction waste
• Students will Identify strategies for minimizing/recycling construction waste
• Students will learn about the role of the circular economy

Construction Waste

• Construction, demolition, and excavation waste accounts for up to 40% of global waste production
• Inadequate waste management leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, loss of resources, and negative impacts on surrounding ecosystems,

Focus on Waste Management

• Minimizing waste reduce environmental impact, saves money, and enhances resource efficiency
• Recycling reduces raw resources, lowers energy consumption, and reduces landfill use
• Many regions mandate separation recycling/reduction of construction waste

Examples of Construction Waste

• Concrete: Unused concrete from over-ordering or cuttings.
• Wood: Leftover wood from framing or furniture
• Metal: Steel, copper, and aluminum scrap from reinforcement
• Plastic and Packaging: Wrappers and plastic materials used in construction.
• Gypsum: Scraps from drywall and plasterboard.
• Hazardous: Chemicals, asbestos, and lead-based paints needing special handling.

Types of Construction Waste

• Dredging material waste
• Hazardous waste
• Building material waste
• Demolition waste

Waste Minimization: Design for Deconstruction

• Modular design allows easy disassembly and material recovery
• Standardized materials reduce off-cut waste for easier reuse

Waste Minimization: Material Efficiency

• Order materials just-in-time to avoid excess
• Ensuring accurate estimation and measurements during planning to reduce overproduction

Waste Minimization: Optimize Construction

• Prefabrication of building components off-site reduces waste and improves quality
• On-Site Waste Sorting involves implementing waste sorting systems for better recycling and disposal

Recycling and Reuse

• Crushed concrete can be aggregate in new concrete or road base
• Wood can be repurposed for furniture or composted into mulch
• Scrap metal can be melted for steel production
• Gypsum can be used in new drywall manufacturing.
• Structural steel beams, doors, windows, and fixtures can be salvaged/reused
• Deconstruction carefully dismantles buildings for material recovery (unlike demolition)

Recycling and Reuse: Benefits

• Reduced Landfill Use helps preserve natural resources
• Recycling materials typically uses less energy than producing something new
• Reusing materials reduces a project's carbon footprint

Sustainable Disposal

• Minimizes waste by reusing, recycling, or repurposing materials thus reducing environmental impact and supports sustainable construction practices
• Compost organic waste, such as wood chips and plant materials, into nutrient-rich soil
• Certain construction waste, such as plastic and wood, can be converted into energy through incineration, gasification, or pyrolysis.
• Direct non-reusable or unrecyclable materials to waste-to-energy plants or environmentally controlled landfills

Environmental Impact: Waste Disposal

• Pollutants from construction waste can contaminate groundwater
• Landfill-emitted organic waste produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
• Construction waste that is not recycled leads to the depletion of raw materials.
• Incineration can result in air pollution from hazardous materials.

Waste Management Standards

• Many countries have introduced regulations to minimize construction waste
• Requirements typically include recycling and reducing landfill use
• Indonesia legal framework for construction waste management is regulated through environmental laws, waste management regulations, and construction-specific guidelines.

National Laws and Regulations

• Law No. 18/2008 on Waste Management establishes waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and disposal principles
• Also classifies construction and demolition waste as specific waste, requiring special handling
• Law No. 32/2009 on Environmental Protection and Management includes waste management plans.
• This holds developers and contractors accountable for managing construction waste.
• Government Regulation No. 22/2021 provides technical standards for waste management
• It's also derived from the Job Creation Law

Construction laws and regulations

• Regulation No. 10/PRT/M/2012 on Construction Services: requires waste management during construction
• Regulation No. 02/PRT/M/2015 on Green Building Standards: encourages the of recycled construction materials and on-site waste minimization.
• Presidential Regulation No. 97/2017 on National Waste Management Policy sets targets for a 30% reduction and 70% handling by 2025 for construction waste
• Government Regulation No. 101/2014 on Hazardous Waste Management: addresses materials like asbestos or lead-based paint

Waste Management Plans

• Construction projects require plans that detail minimizing, sorting, recycling, and waste disposal.
• Plans consist of a project overview with objectives, a waste management hierarchy with waste categorization, with waste handling workflow
• Requires monitoring and compliance from key stake holders
• Includes waste management KPIs and budget allocation

Best Practices

• Setting up specific material waste bins ensures easily separated recyclable materials
• Eco-friendly materials reduce waste
• Tracking the amount/types of waste generated by construction sites identifies waste reduction

Benefits: Waste Management

• Less greenhouse gas/emissions and landfill usage.
• Conserves natural resources with preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Reduced disposal costs while having increased efficiency in material use with savings from material recovery.
• Increases potential for green building certifications and incentives

Challenges: Waste Management

• Upfront costs with waste sorting systems, recycling infrastructure, and sustainable may deter some projects
• Inadequate worker and stakeholder knowledge waste management practices.
• Site limitations with space and regulatory complexities

Overcoming Challenges: Waste Management

• Educate and train workers
• Partnering with local authorities
• Emphasizing the reuse of materials
• Innovative waste-to-energy technologies and automated waste sorting