environmental impact of construction
Construction is the assembling of components or materials together in order to make a structure for a particular purpose – such as providing shelter for inhabitants for residential or commercial use. Buildings and infrastructure cover the majority of the land in densely inhabited areas and construction can thus be seen as the process responsible for this ‘built environment.’ (Carpenter, 2001)
The importance of design and construction in the greater movement towards sustainability cannot be underestimated. A large proportion of a country’s energy use is dedicated to the construction and operation of buildings, with it contributing in excess of 45 percent of total usage in most developed countries. In addition, an average of 26 percent of landfill waste is derived from waste generated from building production. (Yeang, 1999)
Land resources and the environment are affected by all forms of construction activities. The environment is impacted directly, with regard to the actual tract of land affected and the immediately surrounding area (Yeang, 1999). Moreover, there are various indirect impacts which result from construction activities with wide ranging ecological, social and economic outcomes. These consequences have traditionally been negative, with land resources destroyed in the aspiration of development of buildings and infrastructure. Therefore, it is clear that issues relating to the environment and natural resources are irrefutably linked to construction processes. (Carpenter, 2001)