Every year, millions of tons of construction and demolition waste goes directly into landfills. It’s not the ideal catchphrase for a world that is placing more and more emphasis on greener initiatives. According to the BBC, about a third of the world’s waste comes from construction, and almost 40% of global fuel emissions come directly from work done in the construction industry (2021). Clearly, the construction industry has an immense responsibility to try to mitigate this negative environmental impact as much as possible. But the question is: how can we build responsibly and effectively? Changing the ways of an age-old, enormous global industry is no mean feat. The construction industry has always used plenty of natural resources. The demand for new buildings and better infrastructure to support economic growth means construction is often at odds with environmental consciousness; mitigating the use of natural resources while meeting growing demands can leave the construction industry at a crossroads – how can they be greener? The goal of sustainable construction is to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment while still delivering on demand for growing infrastructures. The problem is that the industry in general is still reliant on outdated technology that can be wasteful, slow, and ineffective. Newer technology can play a huge role in driving the construction industry towards more sustainable operations by reducing waste and optimising operations. Here are some of the ways that construction teams can work towards a more sustainable way of working – and how technology can play a part in driving these initiatives. 1. Improving workflows on-site There are a lot of moving parts on a worksite – we’re not just talking about machinery. When the workflows that underpin a whole project start to break down, errors can arise, and rework can throw the whole project into chaos. Rework is expensive and affects logistics, planning and building timelines, as well as being one of the biggest causes of waste on construction sites. When mistakes are made, more materials are used to fix mistakes, meaning a bigger impact on the environment. Document management software allows for a better system for updating documents; with a clear process when updates are made and ensuring that everyone is working from the latest versions of drawings. 2. Better communication tools Fuel emissions from construction vehicles has a huge impact on the environment – reducing these emissions not only reduces your carbon footprint but can additionally lead to a healthier crew. It’s not just about minimising the time engines are left idle, but also reducing travel between sites. Using communication tools that improve information flow is key in addressing this; if teams are using the same application to get real-time updates on projects, there is less need for physical meetings and site visits to double-check information. 3. Eliminating paper waste with technology The amount of paperwork involved in the average construction project is often gargantuan. Not only does it contribute to the overall waste of a construction site, but also the storage needed to keep a track of everything. The construction industry has generally been slower to adopt newer ways of working, but with more tools than ever now available it’s become far easier to reduce the number of physical documents that are needed. Digital tools allow all project documents to be stored in the cloud; where backups are automatic and there is a better record of variations or changes – meaning version control isn’t down to who has the latest printed document. 4. Better collaboration on green projects Working to produce more sustainable buildings contributes to greener outcomes; from efficient design to measures to mitigate negative environmental impacts. However, when there is poor collaboration between builders and contractors (for example), teams aren’t working in real-time to the most recent updates and communicating accurately on green initiatives. Having a tool that centralises communications as a single source of truth eliminates confusion, and project managers know there is one place where they can verify all updates and progress on projects. Software that acts as a connector between office and on-site teams means all teams can do more – leading to better productivity and a more positive impact on the environment.

Clean heating systems will replace polluting heating systems in Scotland’s homes and buildings by 2045 in new measures proposed by the Scottish Government Heat in Buildings Bill. Under legislation to be introduced in 2025, which will start taking effect later in the decade, those buying new homes or buildings would be asked to move to a “clean” heating system, such as a heat pump or connection to a heat network, within a fixed period of time following that purchase. Minimum energy efficiency standards for Scotland’s homes could also be introduced to make them warmer and less expensive to heat. The consultation also includes measures to encourage the development of heat networks – giving those constructing these systems the confidence they need to invest on the basis that there will be sufficient demand. The proposals follow this year’s introduction of a new build heat standard, which means that any buildings constructed under a new warrant from April 2024 must have a clean heating system. Zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said: “Heat from our homes and buildings represents around 20% of Scotland’s carbon emissions. So there is no route to meeting our legal duty to be a net zero country by 2045 without making the heat transition. Making this transition can also liberate households and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices. There will be no ‘one size fits all’ approach to what we’re proposing – we recognise that different types of buildings in different areas need different solutions – but today we are giving certainty to households to plan and clarity for businesses to invest, with a pathway which recognises the cost pressures that so many of us are currently facing. “We’ve already passed regulations for new buildings, to apply from next year. If Parliament passes our Bill in 2025, then regulations will start to apply from 2028, with many more buildings moving away from fossil fuel through the 2030s. That will see Scotland on by far the most ambitious path within the UK, with a deployment of clean heating systems at a scale and pace very much faster than at present. The UK government has the opportunity to match our ambition by using its reserved powers to take urgent action to reduce the price gap between gas and electricity, and by regulating energy companies to play their full part in this transition.” The Scottish government is asking for views on proposals to form part of a Heat in Buildings Bill as set out in the Programme for Government. Proposals include: • That private rented homes will be required to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard no later than 2028; • That owner-occupied homes will be required to meet the same minimum energy efficiency standard by the end of 2033; • That all homes and non-domestic buildings will be required to end their use of polluting heating by the end of 2045; and • In order to create a smooth trajectory towards 2045, that those purchasing a home or non-domestic property before 2045 would be required to end their use of polluting heating systems within a specific period following that purchase. • Also published are proposals for a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard that would require social landlords to meet an energy efficiency standard between 2033 and 2040 and install clean heating across their stock by 2045 where it is technically feasible and cost-effective to do so.