HARDWARE & SECURITY
Sustainability – A Rising Influence in Hardware and Building Design
Daniel May , Director at Consort Architectural Hardware explains how the drive towards sustainability is influencing hardware and building design .
» FOR SOME TIME NOW sustainability has persistently - and rightfully - gained traction in many of the world ’ s leading conversations . Between COP26 and UNEP , both industries and individuals are progressively being held responsible for their environmental footprint , and the growing expectation to go beyond compliance has incited real change .
Predictably , the topic of sustainability has stimulated the built environment too . The construction sector contributes £ 117 billion to the UK economy - 6 % of the total economic output . But those numbers don ’ t tell the whole story , where according to the Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs , construction , demolition and excavation accounted for a staggering 62 % of the UK ’ s total waste in 2018 .
In fact , the built environment reportedly contributes to 38 % of total global energy-related CO 2 emissions , and that in itself isn ’ t sustainable . On all fronts , there has been a shift in focus as the pressure to do better has intensified . And decision makers across the Architecture , Engineering and Construction ( AEC ) supply chain must now keep up to remain on track for the government ’ s net zero by 2050 target .
Changing Environments
Promisingly , 82 % of AEC organisations now have a dedicated sustainability team in place , and with environmental goals established , sustainable performance is more readily measured today . Third-party assessment methods , such as BREEAM , are zeroing in on new build projects , as well as the refurbishment of existing infrastructures , encouraging the use of lower impact construction materials . As published in their official guidance , decision makers are being urged to ‘ Reduce , Reuse and Recycle ’ in a bid to improve their footprint .
In terms of waste , construction materials are recognised as an area ready for improvement . The lifecycle of a construction product has become a core focus area for many and is continually addressed by assessment methods such as BREEAM and standardised by Environmental Product Declarations ( EPDs ). From material extraction ( where in the UK alone , the construction industry accounts for 55 % of raw material consumption ) to product recycling ( where 13 % of project materials go direct to waste without being used ), all stages of a product ’ s life are critical - and failing to consider a product ’ s , and therefore a building ’ s lifecycle , is becoming a deciding factor in the modern procurement process .
Architectural hardware for example , is one of the most heavily used elements of a building and an integral part of any project . As such , hardware must meet the strict safety standards associated with testing , but so too , the stringent environmental management standards such as the widely recognised ISO 14001 certification . When measuring the functionality of hardware , durability must now be astutely considered , where through increased longevity , quality products can outlast that of the building itself - further minimising environmental impact by removing the need for replacements . As with all building materials , the lifecycle of hardware should be reviewed throughout the manufacturing process , and trusted manufacturers are now providing that detailed evidence as part of the purchasing decision .
The alteration of product packaging is another area that is seeing significant change too . Ahead of the Plastic Packaging Tax set to introduce this year , R & D teams are already sourcing alternative packing options and eliminating product waste in a bid to stimulate the circular economy . This commitment must also transfer through to the specification and design stages of projects too . In some cases , for example , there has been a shift to modular and off-site construction , where elements of the project are constructed and delivered in a finished form . This approach has been designed to reduce the consumption of site waste through the application of controlled manufacturing environments . However , waste can still feature here , and decision makers must continue to recognise their responsibility in choosing the more sustainable product option to avoid sending any waste to landfill where possible .
Sustainable Opportunities
Undoubtedly , the race to net zero is changing the dimensions of the construction sector and the decisions made within . Yet , sustainability and the adoption of a circular economy poses a real opportunity and is likely to drive future projects forward and leave nonadapters behind .
The benefit of sustainable construction is in fact extremely far reaching . Already ,
Sources ; https :// ukcop26 . org , https :// www . unep . org , https :// researchbriefings . files . parliament . uk / documents / SN01432 / SN01432 . pdf , https :// assets . publishing . service . gov . uk / government / uploads / system / uploads / attachment _ data / file / 1002246 / UK _ stats _ on _ waste _ statistical _ notice _ July2021 _ accessible _ FINAL . pdf , https :// www . unep . org / news-and-stories / press-release / building-sector-emissions-hit-record-high-low-carbon-pandemic , https :// www . gov . uk / government / news / uk-becomes-first-major-economy-to-pass-net-zero-emissions-law
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MAY / JUN 2022
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