{"id":26113,"date":"2024-06-06T16:00:25","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T23:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/more-needs-to-be-done-blc-2024-on-reducing-construction-emissions\/"},"modified":"2024-06-06T16:00:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T23:00:25","slug":"more-needs-to-be-done-blc-2024-on-reducing-construction-emissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/more-needs-to-be-done-blc-2024-on-reducing-construction-emissions\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018More needs to be done\u2019: BLC 2024 on reducing construction emissions"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(BLC 2024 panel\/Macenzie Rebelo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The construction industry is responsible for a large amount of the worlds green house gas (GHG) emissions. According to Statistics Canada<\/a>, between 1990 and 2022, Canada\u2019s GHG emissions increased by 16.5 per cent. If Canada is trying to go net-zero by 2050, this means a lot of work need to be done on behalf of the contractor and developer industry to become more sustainable.<\/p>\n

During the <\/span>Canada Green Building Council (CGBC)<\/a>\u00a0Building Lasting Change (BLC)<\/a> conference in Toronto, Ont., representatives from Ledcor, EllisDon, Multiplex and CGBC address concerns on the \u201cFrom Data to Action: Reducing Construction Emissions\u201d panel.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot enough companies and people are mandated to track construction emissions,\u201d said Multiplex senior sustainability manager, Anya Barkan. \u201cThere really needs to be a lot more done in terms of tracking and understanding the impact of the construction emissions, because generally its very much underestimated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barkan and a round table of engineers, architects and contractors are looking for solutions specifically in the residential sector. \u201cResidential has been the slowest to adapt to the foundation and to low-carbon,\u201d says Barkan.<\/p>\n

Barkan suggests focusing on electric and low carbon equipment alongside alternative fuels on the construction site. Previously, Multiplex piloted successful\u00a0 biodiesel (B20) projects. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t affect the equipment operation and it\u2019s also cost exactly the same as conventional diesel,\u201d said Barkan. \u201cThe only constraint is that it is seasonal fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although biodiesel does not eliminate construction emissions, it does reduce it according to her presentation. Barkan, also suggests working with electrical equipment with low-carbon emissions on the job site. \u201cWe have partnered with rental equipment companies,\u201d said Barkan. \u201cThere are so many great opportunities to start a conversation and raise awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n