Course material

1. Answer: Article: Sustainable building practices and materials in relation to
Answer:
Article: Sustainable building practices and materials in relation to New Zealand civil
construction
Research Overview
Sustainable practices and materials building in New Zealand puts into consideration three
main elements, which include economic effectiveness, social responsibility and
environmental impacts. Practices of sustainability can be included into the processes of
construction in several ways which include utilization of sustainable, low-impact materials
of construction, minimization of wastes in construction and reapplication of existing
construction assets, minimizing water and energy consumption, provision of employment
opportunities, improving workers condition and offering support to regions and sectors of
construction.
Agencies of procurement can have an influence on the improvements of sustainable
building through the process of procurement by setting opportunities at early stages
through the brief of the project, and making sure that these requirements are echoed in the
service scope of the consultants and contractors ability in attaining these requirements
during the process of tender selection, which will also boost the chances of attaining
outcomes that are sustainable.
By collaborating with material manufacturers, contractors, building designers, engineers
and architects, a range of materials, formulations and chemistries should be developed.
These technologies can improve sustainability, aesthetics, durability and performance
across the entire environment of building industry. From roofs to roads, from high-rises to
homes, there are several solutions that minimize waste, enhance efficiency and finally attain
the development goal that is environmental friendly as it is appealing visually and
functionally and structurally robust. This can be done through application of proven
silicones which ensure durability and designs that are of high performance through a huge
provision of coatings and sealants for windows and door, weatherproofing, structural
glazing, infrastructure and insulating glass. Polyurethane systems which ensure insulation,

2. sealant, adhesive, coating and high performance solutions can be applied widely in the
construction industry to ensure sustainability. Additionally, additives and acrylic binders
that deliver durability in the usage that range from renders that is dispersion-based to cool
roof coatings to membranes that are waterproof can be applied. Finally, cellulosic
technology which improves retention of water, in tile adhesives that are cement based,
adhesion and workability enhancement can be applied in ensuring sustainable buildings
and materials in New Zealand.
Introduction
The construction industry is an important element in the economy of New Zealand but also
has got many impacts on the environment. Due to its size, the industry forms one of the
largest energy user, terrible polluter, and largest user of water and material resources. As a
result of these effects, there is an increased consensus among committed organizations
whose commitment is towards achieving environmental performance objectives that are
appropriate to actions and strategies required in making construction activities that are
more sustainable. With respect to such important influence in the industry of building, the
sustainable construction approach contains a high possibility of making significant
contribution towards sustainable construction. Sustainability in construction covers a
complex and broad concept, which has expanded to be one of the main issues in the
construction industry. The sustainability idea includes improving the quality of life in New
Zealand, therefore giving allowance to individuals in living under a healthy environment,
with enhanced environmental, economic and social conditions. A building that is
sustainable is constructed, operated, renovated or reused in a manner that is resource and
ecological efficient. It should meet several particular objectives which include reduction of
GHC and C02 emissions, energy and resource efficiency, prevention of pollution, noise
mitigation, enhanced indoor quality of air and coordination with the environment. A perfect
project should be not costly to construct, lasts forever and has got the modest maintenance.
Principles Of Sustainable Construction
It is approximated that by the year 2056, economic activities will have increased not only in
New Zealand, but also globally. The population around the globe may be over 50 percent,
global consumption of energy will have gone high and manufacturing activities will have
gone very high. The construction industry is actually one of the fast growing energy users
not only in New Zealand but also around the globe. In comparison to other sectors, the
construction sector is growing very fast in energy usage and applying the finite resources of
fossil fuel has raised eyebrows over difficulties in supply, exhausting of resources of energy
and also changes in climate. Construction material production uses energy, the phase of
building uses a lot of energy and operating a building that is already complete uses energy
for ventilation, power, lighting and heating. Besides the consumption of energy, the
construction industry is considered the main contributor towards environmental pollution,
the main raw material consumption with 3 billion tons consumed yearly. The three

3. principle issues related with the main sustainable themes in construction industry include
environmental, economic and social sustainability (Mutis, 2018).
Environmental sustainability
Utilization of materials of construction that is sustainable with low impact
Application of materials that are sustainable means presenting levels of consumption that
will not compromise the materials availability in future, and as a result harm over the
environment will not take place. When materials are being selected, the materials should be
sourced from other sites of buildings, from replaceable or renewable sources; the materials
should be recycled, naturally available and have low environmental effects throughout their
life (Fragomeni, 2020).
Minimizing building waste and re-usage of existing built assets
Materials of building make up a significant material proportion that is used not only in New
Zealand but globally. Demolition and construction waste also accounts for one third of all
solid waste that is generated. Therefore, there is a need of reducing the construction waste
amount in the industry through reducing, reusing or recycling.
A waste management plan can offer incentives and targets of minimizing waste to landfill
through coming up with objectives for minimization of wastes and measures that must be
followed by each staff who is working on the construction project. Contractors, designers
and agencies should incorporate the circular economy principles, apply durable materials
that can be applied, reused and continually be recycled, reuse and repurpose built assets
that are existing, wherever possible, instead of demolishing buildings, design the same for
construction, and identify possible sources and types of waste, storage methods and
disposal means. On the same note, the parties should agree on the best measures of
reducing waste, involving objectives of recycling, reusing and limiting the waste percentage
that should be sent to the landfill. Finally, the parties should give a framework over on and
off site duties for waste management, and plan and identify training about waste
management education (Gupta, 2015).
Resource Efficiency in the Building and Related Industries, known as REBRI from BRANZ
offers a number of guidelines, tools and case studies with the focus of minimizing the
amount of construction material waste which results from demolition and construction
sites that would have been otherwise deposited in the landfill.
Economic sustainability
Minimizing water and energy consumption
One of the best ways of achieving sustainable construction is through minimization of water
and energy consumption.

4. Sustainable Energy Usage
All energy consumption has got negative impacts on the environment. Sustainable energy
application means designing buildings in order to ensure conservation of energy from
sources which have got the most minimum harm on the environment in the long-run, i.e.
renewable energy and applying it effectively. Energy efficiency can be attained through
several measures, which include the application of proper thermal insulation, reduced
carbon building materials that need less manufacturing energy, improved features of
passive design such as application of natural sunlight in heating and lighting. Contractors,
designers and agencies can work together in employing strategies which minimize the
consumption of power, identification of opportunities to maximize the application of
sources of renewable energy, creating designs that apply passive lighting and heating and
regularly adjusting systems of building for maximum effectiveness (Addis, 2017).
Sustainable Usage Of Water
Efficient water usage without having an effect on the levels of service assists in lowering
costs and minimizes both health and pollution risks. Both outdoor and indoor design must
involve features of management and water saving for both consumption of freshwater and
discharge of wastewater. Water conservation and efficient usage equally applies when
construction is taking place, for instance, when the concrete is being mixed, wetting
surfaces that are dry and washing of equipment. Contractors, designers and agencies can
work together in providing education on conservation of water to the working staff,
conducting continuous checks for leaks on installations, giving a priority to the installation
of reduced flow bathrooms and toilets fittings and fixtures and incorporating effective
recycle and water treatment systems (SAIKIA, 2016).
Social sustainability
Provision of opportunities for up-skilling and employment
There are particular groups of population in New Zealand that have got vital barriers to
training, education and employment pathways and whose rates of employment are unequal
to the 4.3 percent rates of employment of the general population. The outlined approach in
the guide of Construction Skills and Training can be applied in incorporating targets,
requirements and objectives to assist in improving social outcomes, and increase the ability
and capacity of the building workforce. The government of New Zealand has committed
itself in ensuring the environments of employment are fair through strengthening the
environment, by using Supplier Code of Conduct which sets the supplier’s expectations
from the government, including the sub-contractors, as related to labor and human rights,
environmental sustainability, prompt payment, security, health and safety , corporate
responsibility and also ethical behavior. It is vital that practices undertaken by the
government can assist in improving workers condition through support. This may involve

5. cooperating with suppliers in addressing forced labor and other types of modern initiatives
and slavery which aims at increasing the workers living standards together with their
families (Gossling, 2019).
Supporting construction sector and prosperous regions
The government of New Zealand encourages a health sector of construction and also
prospering sustainable and thriving regions of New Zealand. Regional economic
development is vital since a big percentage of New Zealanders, at least 49 percent stay
outside the main urban areas of Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, and since this areas
make a vital contribution of about 40 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of New
Zealand. The procurement rules of the government support offering opportunities for
businesses regionally, which include Pasfika, Maori and social enterprises in participating in
the processes of government procurement (Naganathan, 2021).
Healthy building sector
A successful building sector is vital to economic and social wellbeing of New Zealand. Every
individual relies on the sector for the environment of building that they live in, play and
work in and also the infrastructure that is depended on. A healthy building sector is
resilient and sustainable, has the ability of maximizing productivity through a culture of
high performance, has the ability of investing in the capability and capacity of its people, is
profitable and successful with businesses with balance sheets that are strong, is based on
certainty, confidence and trust and also focuses on the wellbeing of communities and
people (Gali, 2020).
Issues that affect the healthy sector have got an impact on projects since consultants and
contractors do changes on how to operate their businesses. Some of these issues have been
highlighted in BDO’s construction sector report and they include issues like being more
selective and careful about which customers to work with, favoring clients with a good
reputation and those who ensure there is a maintenance of healthy margins, being extra
selective on the opportunities that are tendered for, or moving away from the work of
tender in favor of contracts that are negotiated, undertaking a contract review of conditions
that is more detailed and favoring contract of standard forms. They can also limit the
working scope within their particular specialty, being extra careful about undertaking risk
analysis that is detailed, and pricing of risks into margins.
A healthy construction industry can be supported by allowing consultants and contractors
to make margins that are fair, allocating risk appropriately, making payments promptly, and
provision of pipeline visibility (Sayigh, 2019).
Conclusion

6. This paper has carried out research on limitations and drivers of sustainable building
practices in the construction industry of the New Zealand. The focus has been given to
limitations and strengths of all parties involved in the building sector in determining the
slow uptake of sustainable construction in New Zealand. The basic building knowledge has
been looked on against the academic literatures in promoting the validity of the research.
The main limitations that mitigate sustainable building in New Zealand include
inefficiencies in supply chain, untailored tools, unapproved commercial feasibility, and
unavailability of short term benefits. Current drivers of contractors such as processes of
waste management/waste segregation, efficiencies of basic resources, occupant comfort
and increased awareness are some of the basic strengths of operation that have been
identified in this paper. With the uptake of the GRS in infancy still, New Zealand has got the
advantage of having an ability of learning from the issues of other nations that have been
successful in their green built environment practices. Other researches in future will include
a bigger sample size to incorporate the situation of main stakeholders in regard to
sustainable construction in New Zealand.
References
Addis, B. (2017). Building with Reclaimed Components and Materials: A Design Handbook
for Reuse and Recycling. Texas: Routledge.
Fragomeni, S. (2020). Incorporating Sustainable Practice in Mechanics and Structures of
Materials. Texas: CRC Press.
Gali, M. L. (2020). Sustainable Practices and Innovations in Civil Engineering. Texas:
Springer Nature.
Gossling, S. (2019). The Routledge Handbook Sustainability. London: Routledge.
Gupta, A. K. (2015). Advances in Construction Materials and Sustainable
Environment. London: Springer Nature.
Mutis, I. (2018). Advances in Informatics and Computing in Civil and Construction
Engineering. London: Springer.
Naganathan, S. (2021). Sustainable Practices and Innovations in Civil Engineering. London:
Springer Nature.
Saikia, M. D. (2016). Elements Of Civil Engineering. Texas: Phi Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Sayigh, A. (2019). Renewable Energy and Sustainable Buildings. Texas: Springer Nature.