Page 11 - TCExpessions 2019

Cover Story 11

Sustainable construction: Leading the way

The United Nations expects the world’s population Crucially, the Conseil International du Bâtiment
to increase by 2 billion to touch 9.7 billion by (CIB) identified seven principles of sustainable
2050. Imagine the cities, homes, offices, factories, construction in 1994. These include reducing resource
markets, health facilities and transportation consumption, reusing resources, using recyclable
networks that will have to be built to sustain resources, protecting nature, eliminating toxins,
this growth. Naturally, this will entail enormous applying life-cycle costing and focusing on quality.
amounts of construction. But construction is one of
the most resource-intensive industries globally as TCE believes that structural engineers must adopt
it consumes fast-depleting natural resources and these principles from the design stage itself to
causes pollution and global warming, leading to promote sustainable construction. The first step is the
irreversible climate change. choice of construction materials, chiefly concrete and
steel. While both have good strength and durability,
According to the World Green Building Council, global cement production accounts for 8% of annual
the built environment is responsible for almost carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and steel production
40% of global carbon emissions. Of this, 30% is is energy-intensive.
embodied carbon emissions released during the
manufacturing, transportation and construction Hence, construction companies are looking at re-using
phases of a building while the rest is due to the concrete as crushed sub-base today. TCE believes it
building’s operations. It is estimated that buildings can also reduce cement use – and therefore emissions
account for 40% of the global energy demand, over -- by mixing fly ash with it. Besides, bolted steel
10% of the world’s freshwater withdrawals and 25% construction can reduce welding and hence, the
of the wood harvest. energy consumed during construction. Bolted steel
also requires less energy while demolishing existing
TCE believes that the need of the hour is structures.
sustainable construction. The United Nation
World Commission of Environment and TCE’s focus is thus on designing adaptable structures
Development (WCED-1987) has defined this that are long-lasting to reduce the need for new
as “development that meets the needs of the construction. Importantly, it is taking the lead in
present without compromising the ability of spreading awareness of the sustainable principles of
future generations to meet their own needs” in its construction by demonstrating their implementation
Brundtland Report. in its practice across the country.

sewerage system that saw most of the city’s waste flow and bio dosing to treat the wastewater and to reduce
into the lake. TCE accordingly designed and executed sludge in the lake.
the master plan for a sewerage system for Bikaner
under the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development TCE commissioned the project in less than eight
Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank. This months, and its wastewater treatment plant treats
won it an Excellence in Infrastructure award in the Best 1.5 million litres per day today. Subsequently, it has
Design Project category in 2011. The once degraded lake designed three other lake rejuvenation projects, which
has been restored and beautified today. are under tender, besides preparing the project reports
for several other such lakes under the Raipur Smart
Similarly, TCE has now completed the purification and City Project.
bioremediation of Telibandha Talab and other lakes in
Raipur under the Smart City Mission. Telibandha Talab This is only the beginning. Given its commitment to
had turned into a dumpsite for MSW. The company achieving sustainability and its numerous projects
partnered with the National Environmental Engineering in areas from emission controls to sustainable urban
Research Institute to deploy the latter’s patented development, TCE’s efforts will go a long way in helping
phytoremediation technology using floating rafters India achieve its SDG goals. n