The phrase “going green” may seem to some to be just a marketing slogan to attract the environmentally conscious, but the current state of the world needs it to be more than that. Sustainability and green practices are necessary to combat climate change.
According to the World Meteorological Association, 2019 was the second hottest year on record and saw a rise in environmental issues, including retreating ice, increasing ocean temperatures, record sea levels, and extreme weather. In 2019 alone, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection recorded over 7,860 fire incidents with 3 fatalities and 259,823 acres of burned land. Elsewhere in the world, Australia is still experiencing a bushfire crisis, with more than 50 fires still burning in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. The latest data estimates a total of 18.6 million hectares of land burned this season.
The construction industry has a huge role in reducing the carbon footprint. Carbon dioxide is one of the powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to the rise in global temperature. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, buildings account for 39% of energy use and 38% of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, more than any other sector. A huge part of these emissions comes from the burning of fossil fuels for lighting, heating, cooling, and powering electrical appliances. It should be the primary goal of the construction industry to improve its practices for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.