5.1. THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND ITS IMPACT

The major burden of societal and global impact is created and experienced at the intersection of "buildings, cities, and urban spaces, and the ways people use them" (WHO, 2016), i.e., intersection of ‘Spaces and Infrastructure’, comprising of design, construction, occupancy management, building operations, maintenance, furniture and equipment, etc.; and ‘People and Organisation’, consisting of health services, catering, event management, hospitality, security, safety, human resources, logistics, document management, and accounting.

This chunk highlights how the built environment affects society and the environment at multiple levels. It emphasizes the interaction between physical structures ('buildings, cities, and urban spaces') and the way people utilize them. These interactions occur not just through the physical design and construction but also through the management and operation of these spaces which includes various sectors like health, hospitality, and security. Understanding this complex relationship helps civil engineers create more effective and sustainable designs.

Think of a busy hospital as an example. The building itself is just one part of the environment. The way people move through the hospital, how services are coordinated (like catering for meals, managing patient flows, or cleaning), and ensuring safety are all critical to how well the hospital functions. If any part of this system is not working well, the experience for patients and staff can be significantly affected.

The concept of "sustainable construction" integrates environmental criteria into the entire lifecycle of a project, including building, maintenance, and eventual demolition, suggests various factors to be emphasized during the construction phase, beyond material choices, such as techniques to minimize dust, noise, and soil and water contamination, waste management measures throughout the construction, use, and demolition phases, and efforts to enhance material reuse and recycling.

Sustainable construction involves considering the environmental effects at every stage of a building's life—from initial design and construction to maintenance and eventual demolition. This means that just choosing eco-friendly materials isn't enough. It also includes strategies to avoid pollution, manage waste, and maximize recycling. For example, contractors can employ methods that decrease dust, noise, and contamination of water during construction.

Think of building a new playground in a park. If construction workers not only use environmentally friendly materials for the playground equipment but also ensure they minimize dust and noise during construction, clean up any waste promptly, and use existing materials rather than new ones where possible (like reusing old swings), they are engaging in sustainable construction. This not only benefits the environment but also keeps the community happier during the construction period.

Buildings alone contribute to approximately 40% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions, 50% of all extracted materials, 33% of water consumption, and 35% of generated waste, and additionally, contribute towards resource depletion, pollution of air, water, and land, as well as loss of biodiversity.

This chunk states that buildings significantly contribute to various environmental problems, accounting for a substantial amount of pollution and waste. For instance, the statistic indicates that buildings are responsible for almost half of the world's resource extraction and CO2 emissions, which highlights their role in climate change and the natural resource crisis. The impact is not limited to the building phase; the way buildings are used affects energy consumption and water use as well.

Imagine a city with many tall buildings. If these buildings all use heating and cooling systems inefficiently and consume water recklessly, they will collectively contribute to a significant environmental burden. Just like a tap that drips water can waste several gallons over time, inefficient buildings can lead to huge energy and water wastage, affecting Earth's resources.

Therefore, it is important to employ systems thinking and the lifecycle view to address impending issues of environmental impact mitigation through incorporating sustainability strategies, beyond design and construction, into facility management.

This section emphasizes the need to adopt a lifecycle perspective when managing facilities. Instead of viewing sustainability only during the design and construction phases, it stresses its importance through the entire lifecycle of a facility. This means ongoing management practices like efficiency audits, maintenance of systems, and upgrades should also consider sustainability.

Think about a car. If you only consider its design and manufacturing but ignore its fuel efficiency, regular maintenance, and how you drive it, you might waste gas and increase emissions. Similarly, facilities management must routinely improve operational procedures and consider how buildings perform over time, maintaining high sustainability standards.

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