In the article, “Top Sustainable Technologies in Green Construction” by ConstructionClimateChallenge (2019) claims that green construction “makes buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable”. This article focuses on introducing sustainable construction technologies that enhance the environment. Three main topics that we are focusing on are the materials, applications, and design. Firstly, the technologies under materials: “Cool roofs”, “Electrochromic smart glass”, “Rammed earth bricks”, “Green insulation”, “Biodegradable materials”, and “Sustainable resource sourcing” suggest that it helps in the reduction of “heat absorption” and the harmful impacts on the environment by using recycled or sustainable raw materials. Secondly, applications which are “Water efficiency technologies”, “Sustainable indoor environment technologies”, and “Solar powers”. These applications intend to conserve resources and discourage the use of substances and materials that cannot be renewed while reducing damaging impacts on the environment. The last point is on design which includes “Low energy house and Zero-energy building design”, “Self-powered building” and “The use of smart application”. They are designed to conserve and produce energy for the building to generate sufficient power. Green construction not only makes buildings more sustainable by using resource-efficient and environmentally friendly processes but also reduces costs for building owners. While I agree to some extent with ConstructionClimateChallenge(2019) that green construction helps to reduce costs even though the start-up cost for building a green building is high, I feel that it will be covered eventually by the reduction of costs through green construction.
Firstly, even though the start-up cost for a building is high but it also really depends on many other aspects that equal up to the cost. In the article by The Straits Time(2018), it stated that the start-up cost for green construction "cost up to five percent” more as compared to regular buildings. However, based on an article taken from Surbana International Consultants(2014) which claims that even though green construction does cost more but it really depends on different conditions. The conditions that are listed down by them are the location of the building, the measurements of the building, what the clients want for the building, and the number of times that consultants are at the site. Surbana International Consultants(2014) also wrote that one of the strategies they have is to help minimize the costs of green construction is to have an optimized and cost-effective design for the building.
Next, a building would be able to have a reduction in cost in many ways by upgrading their current building by using green construction. A research article from Building and Construction Authority(BCA)(2011) suggests that the average savings that a building can have “range from 6% to 35% of the total building energy consumption” as compared to before making the change. Not only can green construction help in the reduction of cost on energy consumption, but it can also help to “ensure a healthier lifestyle” for the people working in those buildings as stated by the then Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee in an article by The Straits Times(2018). With the thoughts of having a better lifestyle, it also helps to reduce employees from getting sick which helps to eliminate the constant need for workers to go for doctor’s appointments and eventually reduce the cost for employers to pay for the claims by the employees.
Lastly, as stated in the first point, the start-up cost for a building might be able to reduce to a certain extent, the cost would definitely be higher compared to normal buildings which do not take green construction into consideration. It does not mean that the start-up cost will not be covered by the savings. With changes such as adopting “Sustainable indoor environment technologies” suggested by the article “Top Sustainable Technologies in Green Construction” made to the building, the research by BCA(2011) stated that these savings will help to cover the start-up cost in about 6 years assuming that “the average payback is about $0.20/kWh”. The savings for each type of building varies as the savings is based on how much power they use over 24 hours. In the article by The Straits Time(2018), Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee claims that “These costs can be recuperated within three to six years which are well within the typical useful life of the building assets.” With these evidence from two different sources, I can believe that with all the savings that we get from using environmentally friendly construction methods, we will be able to get back what we have given in the start and also be able to save more than before.
Even though the start-up cost of green construction is high, after a few years, the start-up cost will eventually be covered by all the savings throughout the years.
References:
Assoc Prof Yu, S.M., NUS Mr Toh, E.S., Mr Huang, B. (2011) BCA-NUS Project on Valuation of Green Commercial Properties. https://www1.bca.gov.sg/docs/default-source/docs-corp-buildsg/sustainability/green_building_valuation_report.pdf
Au-Yong, R. (2018) Parliament: Green buildings cost up to 5 per cent more, but savings ‘more than offset’ costs. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parliament-green-buildings-cost-up-to-5-per-cent-more-but-savings-more-than-offset-costs
ConstructionClimateChallenge.com (2019). Top Sustainable Technologies in Green Construction. https://constructionclimatechallenge.com/2019/02/19/top-sustainable-technologies-in-green construction/
Reyes, E Surbana International Consultants(2014). Busting the myth of costly green buildings. Eco-Business. https://www.eco-business.com/news/Busting-myth-costly-green-buildings/
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