Real estate needs to find a balance between ecology and growth

Jasmeet Singh Suri,

Director, Empire Prime Realty

The environmental cost of real estate in India has been steep, leading to over-exploitation of the country's finite resources. However, this is not an India-specific phenomenon. Over 37% of the world's energy-related carbon emissions are attributed to buildings and constructions.

As climate change becomes more potent, the sector can no longer ignore the ecological cost of construction. Part of the problem in addressing the environmental concerns associated with building and construction is that it is a resource-intensive sector. Hence, the challenge is not only to lower resource consumption but ensure economic growth as well. This decoupling of economic growth and resource consumption is difficult but not impossible.

 Embrace innovative materials

Apart from being a resource-intensive sector, real estate uses raw materials like steel, which is one of the largest carbon dioxide-emitting industries in the world. Hence, a relook at the raw materials in use is a must. Green steel (which uses hydrogen and not the usual coke and coal for steel production) and green cement (which uses calcined clay and powdered limestone) are just some of the few innovations that can replace our dependence on conventional steel and cement to a large extent.

 Reduce construction waste

According to one estimate by the Building Material Promotion Council (BMPTC), the construction industry in India generates about 150 million tonnes of waste annually, most of which ends up in landfills. Innovative technologies including the use of robotics and AI in construction can help, so can proper planning and sourcing to prevent raw material wastage. A focus on dismantling rather than demolition can improve the reuse and recycling of salvageable materials apart from reducing air pollution due to construction activity.

 Reuse masonry waste

Fifty per cent of the construction waste in any project comprises concrete and masonry, yet it rarely gets reused. Many construction sites recycle waste such as metals, tiles, wood and even bricks but not concrete. Concrete and masonry waste can be sorted and crushed into recycled concrete and reused for construction. This can be economical and address the challenges of conventional raw material shortage. Many paver blocks are now made with recycled and aggregated concrete but overall there is resistance to using such concrete for building construction.

 Opt for intelligent architecture/design

A project/building design can go a long way in addressing many green challenges. Real estate has actively embraced the concept of green building, looking at ways to reduce energy and water consumption. But intelligent architecture and designs can also provide energy generation opportunities (use of solar power/rainwater harvesting) as well as vertical green spaces within the confines of a project. This not only helps in reducing energy usage but also improves air quality. More mixed-use projects ensure basic facilities are available within walking distance bringing down commute and carbon footprint.

In the coming days, real estate will face aggressive demands from the government and investors to reduce its carbon footprint. For this, developers need to take a proactive approach and encourage the use of recycled aggregate products, lobby for the standardisation of such products and bring about a mindset change in the way we build things.

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