The Environmental Effects of Construction - Coursework Example

EFFECTS OF LEGISLATION AND CONTROL ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR   The environmental effects of construction are specifically relevant with regard to pressure on material use, biodiversity, waste management and the use of land. For rail and road infrastructure, the impact on biodiversity, landscape amenity and land reaches far beyond the sealed area according to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (p.199)   The construction industry has a big role to play to ensure that the environment is conserved. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the construction industry contributes more than 50% of waste and pollution to the environment.   According to the UK local government, 27% of carbon emissions in the UK come from homes. With the government seeking to reduce all forms of carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050, there is need to also change how homes and other buildings are constructed in order to reduce environmental pollution.   There is an environmental impact study carried by the UK government that states that there are a lot of living things that are continuously in danger of extinction through the use of some hazardous material during construction (Currwel, 1998). LEGISLATIONS According to the Natural Building Technologies, there are quite a number regulations concerned with waste disposal from construction and several products; even frequently used products like mineral wool insulation and gypsum plasterboard are now tagged as hazardous and therefore require special dumping or discarding. Further, there are numerous projects that have been established to find new uses for construction material wastes. However, it is noted that the less hazardous and the less processed the material, the easier its recycling, re-use, or healthy disposal (Natural Building Technologies).   Planning The North Ireland Planning Order 1991 This is one of the early legislations that was passed with the aim of promoting the proper use of land during land development projects. The legislation also seeks to identify those areas which are deemed to be of special interest. North Ireland has quite a handful of special interest areas which need to be safeguarded. The department of planning has classified these lands as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which it is fully committed to protect.   The legislation also gives guidance on how people are supposed to construct new buildings in the rural parts of Northern Ireland. The policy states that designers should build new buildings which will not be in conflict with the surrounding environment. This design guide also outlines ways through which constructors can protect natural habitats. It gives guidelines on how to develop land without disturbing the natural flora and fauna found in a particular place as noted by Planningni.   Planning Policy 1993 According to the Planning Department of Ireland, the planning service is responsible for implementing and developing Northern Ireland’s government development plans and planning policies. It performs a variety of activities which are aimed at promoting the nation’s key themes of creating a better environment and sustainable development. The department goes on to add that the aim of this legislation is to manage and plan development in ways that will contribute to a superiority environment and seek to meet the social and economic aspirations of the current and future generations.   This legislation is implemented through a number of activities which are geared towards helping in the conservation of the environment. Failure to comply with legislation that aims to protect the environment can lead to penalization. Flaunting any of the legislations is tantamount to disregarding the law in its totality, which in itself is a punishable offence.   Environment Protection The North Ireland Environment Order 2002 In regard to the protection of the environment, there is a provision for the North Ireland Environment Agency, NIEA, to ensure that all aspects of the environmental policies in North Ireland are followed to the letter. It is the work of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency that the government’s efforts towards sustainable development are not compromised in any way. Therefore, it can be said that the work of the agency is to protect the biodiversity of Ireland and to reduce climate change as much as possible. The main aims of this legislation include the following: 1. The protection and conservation of the country’s natural heritage and the existing built environment 2. Control of pollution 3. Promoting a conscience approach to the appreciation of the environment 4. Top encourage the society to engage in environmental practices that are eco-friendly. According to www.ni-enviromnet.gov.uk, these objectives should be a clear guidance for planners and builders in a bid to protect natural resources.   Prosecution is the best way to deal with offending parties who do not follow what the legislation requires. Warning letters as well as prohibitions are also quite effective as implementation tools. Each enforcement act actually depends on the type of offence committed. There are some offences that are very serious, like those that actually cause damage to living things, and these require serious prosecution.   Protection of the Environment Act 2003 This act was enacted to control pollution in Ireland. This Act aims at conserving the environment through an Emphasis on the efficient use of energy. The European Directive Strategic Environment Assessment (Sea)   The Strategic Environment Assessment is an environmental policy that was formulated to “increase the consideration of environmental issues during decision making related to strategic documents such as plans, programmes and strategies. The Strategic Environment Assessment identifies the major environmental impacts that may result from the plan’s implementation or alternative approaches to the plan (The Environment Agency).   This means that the SEA plays a big role in helping in the provision of a high level of environmental protection. SEA also aims at making relevant considerations that might affect the preparation and implementation of certain programmes in relation to the development of a sustainable environment. According to the European SEA Directive, the process of SEA consists of:   1. preparing an environmental report on the likely significant effects of the draft plan or programme 2. carrying out consultation on the draft plan or programmes taking into account the environmental report and the results of consultation in decision making 3. providing information when the plan or programme is adopted and showing how the results of the environmental assessment have been taken into account 4. monitoring the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the plan or programme   In Ireland, the SEA, through the Town and Country Planning System, is tasked with controlling development and utilization of land for the interest of everyone. These local planning authorities are enabled by SEA to plan issues and also to ensure that not one planning requirement is left hanging. the authorities also have the duty of dealing with all cases of land contamination and the power to carry out any remediation that may be required. LAND European directive, EU Directive 2002/91/EC, on performance of energy of buildings in Ireland was implemented in 2006. It placed unprecedented demands on the energy performance of almost all buildings in the country. It was designed to lead to lead to energy efficiency becoming an integral design for nearly all categories of buildings and to convert buildings’ energy performance into a factor that significantly affects its value. An aspect of the directive, which is the introduction of energy audit across the board, was designed to turn running cost and a building’s energy performance into a central concern for prospective buyers and tenants. In the terms of the directive, nearly all buildings, energy rating, or an energy performance certificate, including a CO2 indicator, was to be supplied by the owner to any prospective tenants or buyers when rented or sold. The main objective of this directive was to promote improvement of the energy performance of buildings within Communities, taking into account local and outdoor climatic conditions as well as indoor climate requirements. The directive lays down requirements as regards the following: 1. Application of minimum requirements on the energy performance of the large existing buildings that are subject to major renovation; 2. General framework for the energy performance of buildings; 3. Application of minimum requirements on the energy performance of large existing buildings that are subjected to major renovation; 4. Regular inspection of boilers and of air-conditioning systems in buildings and in addition an assessment of the heating installations in which boilers are more than 15 years old and 5. Energy Certification of Buildings. It was required of member states to have brought into force, by 4 January 2006, regulations, laws, and administrative provisions necessary to meet the terms of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD). Member states were permitted by article 15(2) to have an additional period of three years (upto 4 January 2009) to apply fully the provisions of Articles seven and nine where there are inadequate numbers of qualified or accredited experts. Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK opted to take up the legislation. UK Government recognized the threat posed by climate change and has developed the (CCP) Climate Change Programme where the implementation of the EPBD is an important element of this programme. IMPLEMENTATION OF EPBD IN NORTHERN IRELAND Articles three to six were implemented in November, 2006 by an amendment to Part F (Conservation of power and fuel) of the Northern Ireland Building Regulations, 2000. The amendment raised energy standards for existing and new buildings where three of 15 the buildings regulations apply. In addition, it encourages and facilitates the inclusion of low or zero carbon technologies (micro generation) where these are regarded by the designer as appropriate. Article eight required Member States to set down an inspection regime for boilers dependant on age or output or instead, provide guidance and advice to users on the substitution of boilers or other energy efficient modifications to the heating system. The government of UK opted for the advice route which is being provided mostly through the Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust and the fuel industries. Articles seven, nine and ten would be implemented by the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 which are planned to come into effect on a phased basis during 2008. RISK ASSESSMENT There would be infraction proceedings against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Justice if failure to make the required legislation to implement every requirement of the EPBD in a timely manner. The resultant judgment would leave the Northern Ireland open to unlimited fines. Also, an opportunity would be lost to further advance improvements of the energy performance of existing building stock, and a loss of opportunity for the Government to show its leadership on climate change policy. BENEFITS The directive would benefit those who implement the cost-effective recommendations and hence enjoy energy cost savings and contribute to reduced carbon emissions. Besides, should they decide to sell their property in future, they would benefit from a more rapid sale and/or market price because their property meets the recommended energy efficiency Standards. In the rented sector tenants will have more information on the anticipated energy running costs and will have the potential to run their building energy systems more resourcefully. Landlords will not only obtain higher rents if they choose to implement the recommendations but they will also obtain an objective assessment of the energy efficiency standard of their property. Moreover, employment opportunities will have been created for suitably qualified energy manufacturers, assessors and installers of energy efficient products. The Directive on energy forms part of the Community initiatives on climate change which is a commitment under the Kyoto Protocol and security of supply; the Green Paper on security of supply. In the first place, greenhouse gas emissions are on the increase and also Communities are increasingly dependent on external energy sources. The Communities can influence energy demand, though they may have little influence on energy supply. Reducing energy consumption by improving energy efficiency is a possible solution to both the above problems. Consumption of Energy for buildings-related services accounts for about one third of total EU energy consumption. With initiatives in this area significant energy savings can be achieved, thus helping to reach objectives on climate change and security of supply. Community-level actions must be framed in order to deal with such Community-level challenges.       References Curwell, S., Cooper, I. (1998), "The implications of urban sustainability", Building Research and Information, Vol. 26 pp.17-28.   DCLG (2006b), Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy, Department for the Communities and Local Government, London, available at: www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1143908 (accessed June 2006),   Dickie, I., Howard, N. (2000), BRE Digest 446: Assessing Environmental Impacts of Construction, BRE Centre for Sustainable Construction, Watford,   Environment Agency (2003), Position Statement: Sustainable Construction, Environment Agency, Rotherham, .   North Ireland Enviroment Agency, Strategic Environmental Assessment. Read More