Built environment professionals are advocating adoption of innovative technologies to improve resource consumption that eliminates waste and foster sustainable development in the construction industry.
Presently, Nigeria grapples with the challenges associated with lack of sustainability and innovations in the built environment such as lack of professionalism, poor and inappropriate practices, slow pace of technology uptake, unavailability of skilled manpower, poor and sub-standard materials.
The combined effect of these problems had led to debilitating consequences resulting in productivity and economic losses.
Among the solutions, they suggested the review of the curriculum of tertiary institutions and incorporation of technological innovations for the acceleration of a sustainable built environment.
They also noted the absence of a unified agency for coordination of professionals with varying interest and tasks in the built environment that makes the development of a unified and centralised government agency expedient.
The experts, who spoke at the 3rd International Conference, School of Environmental Studies, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, also advocated adequate transitioning into the digital ecosystem by built environment professionals to accelerate and realise the attainment of innovative and sustainable development of the built environment.
Professor of Estate Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Bioye Aluko, who led the call, noted with concern the slow uptake of these innovative technologies by the various built environment disciplines in Nigeria, relative to what obtains in the developed world. He, therefore, attributed it to lack of technical know-how and capacity for usage, government support among others.
Aluko expressed urgent need to promote collaboration and synergy among built environment professionals. “The menace of unhealthy rivalry should be eliminated. These professionals should see themselves as partners in progress, where information are shared and interoperability ensured, rather than business competitors,” he said.
While encouraging the deployment of digital technology, which had improved construction processes all over the world, he further urge built environment professionals to invest in these technologies and improve upon their capacity to seamlessly deploy them.
Aluko wants the government to enable the deployment of these technologies in the built environment, “Appropriate policy framework for the acquisition, training and usage of these tools should be formulated. Incentives should also be given to professions and organisations using these technologies in their operations.
“It is incumbent on built environment professional associations and regulatory bodies to sharpen the knowledge and skills of their members in the usage of the identified innovative technologies. In this regard, mandatory continuing professional development seminars should be devoted to the training of their members on the usage of these innovations.”
An Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand, South-Africa, Kola Akinsomi, who spoke on the ‘Global Climate Change, Sustainable solutions for Real Estate Construction, Management and Investment in an Emerging Market’, said the built environment generates 40 per cent of yearly global emissions.
According to him, in 2040 approximately two third of the global building stock will be from existing buildings. Without widespread existing building decarbonisation across the globe, these buildings will still be emitting CO2 emissions in 2040 and we will not achieve the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C target.
“Achieving zero emissions from the existing building stock will require leveraging building intervention points to accelerate the rate of energy upgrades (increasing energy efficiency, eliminating on-site fossil fuels, and generating and/or procuring 100 per cent renewable energy.
He explained that achieving zero emissions from the existing building stock will require accelerating the rate and depth of energy upgrades by leveraging building intervention points, such as major renovations; building systems, materials and equipment replacements; capital improvement cycles and zoning or use changes.
It includes life-safety and resiliency upgrades (seismic, flooding, fire prevention, power disruption).
Akinsomi said achieving zero emissions from new buildings will require energy efficient buildings that use no on-site fossil fuels and are 100 per cent powered by on- and/or off-site renewable energy. “Energy-efficient new construction ensures that total building energy demand is minimal, enabling carbon-free renewable energy sources to easily meet demand.
“Achieving zero embodied emissions will require adopting the principles of: Reuse, including renovating existing buildings, using recycled materials, and designing for deconstruction Reduce, including material optimization and the specification of low to zero carbon materials. Sequester, including the design of carbon sequestering sites and the use of carbon sequestering materials,” he added.
The Rector, MAPOLY, Dr. Adeoye Odedeji, noted that the world will need an extensive expansion of urban infrastructure in the coming decades due to rapidly growing cities in emerging economies and new family structure, as well as an aging population in developed economies.
He said the built environment is crucial to the economy, accommodating roughly about 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product, but also a key driver of biophysical degradation, nature resource use and land use change across multiple sectors.
“It represents one-third of global energy use, generating nearly 40 per cent of energy related greenhouse gas emissions and consumes almost half of the total global raw materials,” Odedeji added.
The Director, School of Environmental Studies, Dr. Samson Agbato, said creating linkages between polytechnics and industry has the potential to contribute to the betterment of the economy, as polytechnics provide the workforce necessary to run the industry and furnish innovative ideas to start business ventures.
