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Construction and the built environment

Construction is all about how something is built, including planning, design, project management, assembly and the building / installation of the structure or infrastructure itself. It is extremely complex and involves multiple layers, processes and stakeholders.

Image of four people on a construction site

Introducing the construction sector

The construction sector is broad, encompassing commercial, industrial, residential and infrastructure projects. Residential construction includes building houses or renovating existing homes, whereas commercial construction is for businesses, such as retail or office space. Infrastructure refers to the services, facilities and systems that bring society together, such as transport and power.

The importance of going green in construction

The construction industry delivers projects that undoubtedly enhance the way we live but, if managed without sustainability embedded throughout levels of decision making, can have negative impacts on the natural environment and in communities. The opportunities to make construction more sustainable are vast – reducing carbon, waste and energy, preventing pollution to land, air and water, and being respectful of the needs of local communities are just a few.

The ‘how’ is the interesting bit and is ever changing. Embracing innovation to drive improvements in modern methods of construction through clever design, sustainable material choices and delivery methods are all part of the puzzle, as well as reducing energy use, procuring renewable energy and using low carbon methods of transportation and logistics.

Being considerate of the communities in which projects are located, and how we can work together in harmony, are important for long-term relationships and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

The buildings and construction sector is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for a staggering 37% of global emissions.
Retrofitting every UK building in need of improved fabric energy efficiency requires 12,000 workers trained each year for four years.
Overall, the trained workforce needs to increase by 230,000 by the end of this decade.
Information kindly supplied by:
Volker Wessels UK logo
VolkerWessels UK

VolkerWessels UK is a leading multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water and environmental infrastructure.

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IEMA is the membership body for environment and sustainability professionals