By Steven Agnew MLA

“Switching to sustainable building presents both challenges and opportunities for the construction industry but it must be recognised that we now stand on the threshold of potentially one of the biggest revolutions in building construction practices” Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. With the realisation that global resources of fuel are dwindling at an alarming rate while prices continue to spiral upwards, sustainability has become an essential component that must now be seriously considered by builders and architects alike. ‘Green’ construction is an essential component of developing a sustainable economy and the Green Party regards building sustainability as priority going forward. The Green Party’s ‘triangle of concern’ is economy for people and planet, and the future of building construction certainly falls into all three areas. There are two key constraints on the human ability to continue along same the unsustainable development path. The first is that we are running out of the fuel sources with which to heat and power our homes. The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates growth of 40% in energy consumption by 2030 if current trends are continued, or 20% if emissions are sharply constrained. At the same time as this increase in global demand for energy, experts are also warning of constraints on the global supply of fuel on the market. Leading economists suggest the world reached peak oil in 2006, but it doesn’t take an economist to tell us that in a future with lower supply and higher demand, the price of oil will rise and such price rises will amplify the problem of fuel poverty unless we seek sustainable alternatives. Secondly, there is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before the planet exceeds the global carbon quota that scientists are adamant will lead to catastrophic climatic effects. In the UK, we now have a statutory duty to reduce our 1990 carbon emissions level by 34% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050 – and in Northern Ireland the government has given a commitment to generate 40% of our electricity from renewables by 2020. Achieving this goal will not be easy but there is no doubt that the construction industry has a huge part to play, given that energy used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings is responsible for approximately 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Most buildings built today will still be around in fifty years’ time and therefore it is essential that we design with the future in mind. This opens a range of opportunities as well as challenges for the building trade. Green construction is a labour intensive process which requires a high level of professional skill sets, from architectural engineering and design right through to on-site installation. While the new housing market has basically flat-lined at present, the potential for retro-fitting insulation and other energy saving measures in our current housing stock, as outlined in the Green New Deal, could be a lucrative source of revenue for builders and tradesmen and therefore should be championed by the industry. The building industry will ultimately have to comply with government building regulations, up-skilling and becoming more informed in the new and innovative ways to reduce energy use in order to meet these regulations and gain a competitive advantage over rival companies. The Energy Saving Trust’s website and good practice guides provide an excellent first point of call. The South Eastern Regional College (SERC) in Newtownards has developed a regional training centre for sustainable design and construction and is now offering a wide range of specialist courses and technical expertise in the field. But before renewable energy alternatives can be even considered in buildings; good insulation, airtight design, appropriate glazing and efficient ventilation are critical prerequisites. Existing buildings will require an analysis what would be the best form of insulation and renewable energy. For new builds contractors may be interested in investigating structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS), Insulating Concrete Form (ICF), Aircrete concrete block, Lightweight Cellular Concrete, PANABLOK / WBS through wall system, Volumetric/Modular Construction and Hempcrete & Straw bale. There are many ways to retrofit existing buildings and the effectiveness of materials such as warmcel cellulose fibre and phenolic insulation are always improving. Airtight Triple and Quad glazing doors are also now much more widely available in the market. Once a building has been adequately insulated, there are a range of potential renewable sources of energy which may be considered, including photovoltaic (PV) & photovoltaic thermal (PVT), solar and anaerobic digestion. Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective should be that all new builds in both the commercial and residential sector should be ‘green’ buildings. They need to be designed and constructed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources, protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity and reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. In the past these were seen as additional luxuries – now and in the future they will be simply essential.