The construction industry is employing technology to combat climate change, from large Lego-style bricks to artificial reefs.

• According to the U.N., the construction industry is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases among all sectors.
• New products, tools that measure carbon emissions, and natural materials such as wood are being utilized by builders and designers to combat climate change.
• As one industry expert stated, the more other industries improve in reducing their carbon footprint, the more exposed the construction industry will be as an outlier.

An unlikely solution to the problem of stolen manhole covers in Turkey has emerged, sparked by a Turkish businessman's discovery of a new material that prevents thefts.

In 2010, thefts of cast iron manhole covers for scrap metal in Turkey led to the need for an alternative, equally strong material to secure them. This prompted Engin Yesil to wonder if a super-strong composite could be used to construct earthquake-resistant buildings, a significant risk in Turkey.

Since 2011, over 200 buildings in Turkey have been constructed using Renco blocks, which are made of up to 40% repurposed materials such as resin and fiberglass. These blocks fit together like Lego bricks and are secured with glue.

Renco was used to build an apartment complex in Palm Springs in 2023, and Yesil wondered whether Renco had potential in the U.S.

Renco boasts its ability to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, the highest rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and claims to be more environmentally friendly than other building materials. Despite being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the construction sector accounts for only 37% of global emissions, according to a 2023 U.N. report.

Renco is 80% lighter than concrete and has 82% less embodied carbon than structural steel, as stated in a report by the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, which was commissioned by Renco. Embodied carbon refers to the emissions released during the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of building materials.

Patrick Murphy, managing director of Renco USA, stated that the new composite material is a significant shift in building materials. According to him, there are only three ways to construct, which are concrete, steel, and wood, and this has been the same for a century. However, he explained that this new composite material is the fourth way to build that has been approved.

In the upcoming weeks, Renco will commence manufacturing in the U.S. for the first time, with a Florida factory capable of producing approximately 9,000 average-sized apartments' worth of building blocks.

Renco, like other construction materials, has an environmental impact, with blocks being shipped from Turkey to the U.S. while the Florida factory is being completed. Although Renco's Turkish manufacturing plant uses renewable energy, about 12% of the electricity generated in Florida comes from nuclear power plants.

Sustainable timber

In addition to Renco, a British firm is also striving to construct sustainably by utilizing a well-known material - wood. Architecture firm Waugh Thistleton has been designing buildings made from cross-laminated timber (CLT) since 2001 and has built around 30 such structures in the U.K., Europe, and the U.S. The wood used in these buildings is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) or an equivalent, ensuring that it comes from forests managed in accordance with internationally-agreed standards.

A 2024 study by the University of Arkansas found that using timber instead of steel or concrete in construction could reduce emissions by 19%. Meanwhile, a 2023 U.N. report recommended that the construction industry switch to bio-based building materials like sustainably sourced timber and bricks to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment.

Andrew Waugh, founder and director of Waugh Thistleton, stated that the concept of constructing with renewable materials has become increasingly significant to them. As they continue to build with these materials, they have realized that there are numerous health and wellbeing benefits to doing so. People tend to be happier and healthier when surrounded by natural materials rather than synthetic ones such as polystyrene ceiling tiles and drywall wall panels.

Waugh is frustrated that the U.K. has been slow to adopt wood as a building material, despite the fact that it produces little on-site waste. However, Waugh acknowledges that there are environmental concerns associated with building with wood, such as the transportation of timber from Europe.

Building on water

The rising level of oceans is a result of both climate change and land sinking.

In Monaco, a newly-built "eco neighborhood" called Mareterra is prioritizing sustainability in its development. According to Guy-Thomas Levy Soussan, managing director of Mareterra, building on water will become a strategic approach for certain coastal areas due to climate change. The development aims to serve as a "model" for how coastal cities can grow responsibly.

In Marseilles, France, during construction, the "caisson" method was employed, which involved building 27-meter high reinforced concrete structures and floating them to Monaco to avoid disrupting marine life. These structures not only serve as flood barriers but also provide habitats for marine organisms, as stated by Levy Soussan.

The government of Monaco constructed "eco-reef villages" consisting of over 300 modules in the marine area of the development. These villages are designed to provide an ecosystem for fish and a protected species of seagrass known as posidonia. The eco-measures will be monitored for at least a decade, and the insights gained will be used to guide future maritime projects, as stated by Levy Soussan.

The future of sustainable construction

Both Waugh and Murphy anticipate the construction sector shifting towards eco-friendly materials.

As Waugh stated, it is inevitable that the construction industry will become increasingly exposed as an outlier due to the advancements of other industries in reducing their carbon footprint.

Waugh Thistleton's founder stated that regulation is the driving force needed for the construction industry to adopt sustainability practices.

The UK Green Building Council urged the British government to intensify its environmental objectives for new homes, while Singapore's government expanded its Mandatory Energy Improvement program to include older buildings, which were previously only focused on new buildings or those undergoing extensive refurbishment.

The cement industry has been overlooked in terms of its emissions, as people often focus on emissions from airplanes, cars, and cows.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and construction company Skanska USA have developed a tool, EC3, to help quantify the emissions of construction projects.

Skanska USA Building's senior vice-president of project planning and sustainability, Steve Clem, stated that the tool has motivated some suppliers to decrease their embodied carbon.

Skanska used EC3 to evaluate concrete companies for a large project in Seattle and showed each firm how their materials compared in terms of embodied carbon. As a result, suppliers voluntarily improved their mixes without any additional cost to the consumer.

The construction industry is making significant strides towards sustainability, with many people living, working, and playing in carbon-free buildings.