The Future of Sustainable Construction Materials
In recent years, the adoption of sustainable construction materials has become a crucial part of the national agenda in Malaysia. The creation of a sustainable future via green buildings has been duly highlighted under the Malaysian Construction Industry Master Plan. Here’s why. Sustainable construction not only provides a safe and comfortable environment for Malaysians but will also save energy consumption.
Buildings and structures provide shelter for mankind. The construction industry in Malaysia plays a vital role in the development and socio-economic infrastructures while also generating wealth for the country. It’s estimated that the industry provides job opportunities for millions of people, making it one of the most productive industries that contribute to the Malaysian economy.
The use of non-sustainable construction materials
However, the use of non-sustainable construction materials can lead to irrevocable damage to our environment. Beautiful skyscrapers and condominium seem to impress but if sustainable construction materials are not being utilized, the world can be in danger.
The construction industry in Malaysia has proven to be an essential recipe for economic recovery. In view of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, creating an ideal living environment for Malaysians is key to recovery and stability.
The construction industry has long been associated with negative effects on the earth and its inhabitants. The industry requires non-renewable resources and emit a large amount of CO2 and other forms of waste (over 1.5 million tonnes of waste has been generated in the Klang Valley alone, the most affluent area in Malaysia).
Based on a recent study in developed countries, the percentage of energy and resources consumed during the construction phase is enough for the building’s life-cycle. Besides the depletion of non-renewable resources, biodiversity impact and global warming can be traced to the activities in the construction industry.
The Present
For this reason, the government, along with private and public sectors in Malaysia are beginning to subscribe to the modernization of its infrastructures as a means to reduce environmental issues. Thanks to technology, the future of sustainable construction materials look bright. Note that attaining sustainability does not require the industry to completely eradicate adverse environmental impacts, but rather reduce it to a reasonable level that will make life conducive for humans, plants, and animals.
In this regard, the construction industry in partnership with cement companies must eventually replace ageing methods such as the use of ready mix concrete with modern practices. These ancient practices have little regard for environmental safety. Much effort should be directed to build sustainably, putting environmental concerns an emphasis for any construction. Therefore, a good place to start would be in the extraction of natural resources. Although builders, concrete suppliers, and engineers have little influence over the extraction of natural resources, the government can help discourage this activity by demanding:
• more recycled materials
• more mineral resources
• more efficient use of energy, and
• less non-renewable natural resources
The Future
Governments in certain Europe countries have started to introduce policies to support sustainable constructions. According to the latest EU (Europe Union) regulations, after 2020, only new houses that meet the standard of a passive house will be granted a construction permit. It is expected that from 2020, all new buildings in EU nations will be passive constructions. European countries have also introduced more specific measures. In Malaysia, the government is working towards achieving new constructions with "zero emissions" as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Skyscrapers are a trademark of modern cities – they transform the landscape of an environment and attract investors. These building facilities are built for people to live, work, rest, and socialize. They contain shops, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, gardens, gym, and other open public spaces. They expand the capacity of cities to a large extent and prevent haphazard growth. Skyscrapers should be constructed in a way that will help a city save energy and reduce emissions.
The Bottom Line
Sustainable buildings play a pivotal role in reducing urban energy consumption and providing a safe and comfortable environment for living and agriculture. Malaysia is conscious of sustainability and is in favour of using environmentally-friendly construction materials.
China is already promoting the development of energy-efficient buildings while Germany’s energy consumption is 1/4th per square meter of ordinary buildings. The construction industry in Malaysia is heading somewhere similar and will eventually reach sustainability.