By Nikhel Bothra

India’s rapid pace of development syncs perfectly with Viskit Bharat goals by 2047. Over the last few years, the country has witnessed exceptional growth across sectors, fuelled by the requisite space developed and provided by the construction sector to them. Any kind of business expansion not only requires commercial spaces but also future-ready infrastructure. The construction sector has not only been supporting business growth but also facilitating ambitious infrastructure initiatives of the government, such as UDAN and PM Gati Shakti. 

The recent budgetary announcements for construction and infrastructure have given further fillip to the sector and reinvigorated the sector’s enthusiasm to contribute to nation building. There is no doubt that construction activities will rise tremendously in the country in the coming years to fulfil the burgeoning demand for spaces and national infrastructure. 

Though the pace and contributions of the construction sector are commendable, the environmental impact of the construction activities is a concern, particularly with the traditional methods of construction. It will create hurdles in achieving net zero goals by 2070. The sector has the responsibility to not only fulfil structural needs but also facilitate sustainability targets. It needs to embrace advanced methods and technologies to gain independence from emissions and emission-induced impacts. 

The Way Forward for Sustainable Construction

The sector is rapidly evolving in terms of construction methods and technologies, which have the potential to mitigate environmental impact while meeting the demands. Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEBs) have emerged as the perfect solution for India. They are designed and manufactured off-site in a controlled factory environment and then transported to the construction site for assembly. They offer a plethora of environmental benefits, making construction environment-friendly.

For instance, carbon emissions have been a daunting challenge for builders while employing traditional methods of construction, compelling them to look out for a better alternative. PEBs generate 60% less emissions, making them perfect for construction. This method facilitates builders in getting necessary environmental clearances easily while strengthening their reputation as environmentally friendly.

Moreover, PEBs facilitate water conservation actions as they don’t require much water. The amount of water used in traditional methods is huge, resulting in water scarcity in the area. Additionally, PEBs are known as an energy efficient method of construction, cutting energy consumption by up to 67%. PEB materials allow superior insulation and promote energy savings. 

Furthermore, PEB construction saves up to 50% of the required for a project. Site preparation and component building can be done simultaneously, which saves a huge amount of time. Post site preparation and component building, assembly can be done at the site, resulting in faster construction. In addition, PEBs’ reduced need for repair and replacement results in fewer waste generation as compared to traditional methods. It is an efficient construction method that facilitates better resource management. 

Most importantly, PEB promotes circular economy as materials can be recycled and reused. About 99% of waste generated by the traditional methods remains unrecycled, which contributes to pollution. This is the reason why PEBs must be adopted.

Conclusion

As India today strives to accomplish various developmental and environmental targets, the construction sector must emphasise adopting advanced methods and technologies to not only contribute to infrastructure development but also mitigate its environmental footprint. PEB has emerged as the best alternative today, and the sector must leverage the full potential of this technique. 

With India celebrating its 78th Independence Day, the construction sector must pledge to free construction activities from all kinds of emissions and accelerate its efforts to contribute to a sustainable future.

(The author is Director, EPACK Prefab. Views expressed are the author’s own and not necessarily those of financialexpress.com.)