Monday, March 15, 2010

Green buildings and greener jobs...

Construction industry alters the landscape of this planet making a serious impact on our environment and sustainability. The industry has a huge share in the economic, social and environmental responsibility in our fight against global warming. The increasing population and surging urbanization renders all construction and post-construction activities accountable for a third of world’s energy consumption. Sustainable development encompasses construction of durable green buildings which limit depletion of resources and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on natural habitats and bio-diversity.


Prospering the Green way.

The science of construction extends to the assembly of building materials that promotes adaptability and minimizes transportation costs. Buildings that are either rebuilt or retrofitted to reduce energy consumption and pollution are referred to ‘green buildings’ in the technical sense of the term. These energy efficient buildings conserve space and natural resources, generate lesser amount of waste and can be rearranged to be used for diverse activities. The building plan modules for green buildings provide for either a photovoltaic, wind or solar power unit to generate electricity optimizing energy usage.

Retrofitting your homes with green roofing

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Protocol assists developing countries in sustainable development and meeting their quantified emission reduction commitments. ITC Hotel Sonar Bangla, Kolkata and Technopolis, Kolkata, two of the few green buildings in India, were refused registration as CDM projects despite paving way for sustainable development through energy efficiency, thereby reiterating the need for CDM reforms in a post-2012 framework.

A good corporate governance framework for the construction industry is a prerequisite to promote collaborative partnerships with communities, achieve sustainability and gain access to financial markets. It includes a company's business practices that reflect its social and environmental performances that are governed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and principles established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The United Nations Conference on Trade and Environment (UNCTAD) has drawn out the guidelines on eco-efficiency of such corporations involved in construction and allied works. Construction industry needs to adhere to global characteristics of corporate governance involving its consumers, clients, developers, investors, contractors and other players in the construction industry.

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