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1. 1300 166 166 Search Discover the Future: Emerging Sustainable Building Practices Get a quote By Guy Tome 18/06/2024 MORE CONPLANT NEWS Announcements How is sustainable construction shaping the industry? Competitions It’s no secret. Construction is a huge contributor to carbon emissions and resource consumption. The building and construction sector is comfortably the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for 37% of global emissions  (UNEP, 2023). Events Meet the team New arrivals News The production and use of common building materials like steel and cement comes with a substantial carbon footprint of its own. That’s before you even factor in on-site processes and intended use of the facilities being built. Our Stories from the Site Technology With growing populations, alongside increasing demand for infrastructure on an industrial scale, finding green solutions is no small challenge. As the industry faces growing cost pressure and concerns about the environmental impact of development, sustainability remains top of mind. ARCHIVE April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 So, what is sustainable construction? And what emerging practices are shaping the future of the industry? January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 Building materials and the climate: Constructing Building materials and the climate: Constructing… … October 2024 Share Share September 2024 Climate change • Climate Climate change • Climate change refers to long-term change refers to long-term… … August 2024

2. June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 Contents: November 2023 How can construction projects be more sustainable? October 2023 September 2023 What is ‘green building’? August 2023 What are the best sustainable building materials to use? July 2023 Government Policies, Legislation and Regulations June 2023 Summary May 2023 April 2023 How can construction projects be more sustainable? January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 Construction projects can seek sustainable outcomes in a number of ways. This includes which materials are used (and how they’re sourced), equipment selection, integrating smart technologies to boost construction efficiency, waste reduction, as well as green design features incorporated into the plans themselves – for example, lighting that runs on renewable energy sourced onsite (e.g. solar panels), or the inclusion of ‘green walls’. October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 Carbon offsetting has also become prevalent in recent years, but there’s growing scrutiny around its legitimacy and efficacy. Therefore, any green practices that can be implemented directly on site tend to be preferred. February 2022 January 2022 How big is the construction industry in Australia? October 2021 August 2021 What is ‘green building?’ July 2021 May 2021 According to Green Building Council Australia, something qualifies as green building if it: August 2020 July 2020 has design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and its occupants. June 2020 March 2020 promotes efficiency – it can reduce construction and ongoing performance costs significantly. April 2019 March 2019 uses resources effectively and creates healthier environments for people to live and work in. February 2019 January 2019 In short, green building refers to projects that  “meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.” December 2018 September 2018

3. What are the best sustainable building materials to use? August 2018 February 2018 Enter your details below to receive regular news and updates from Conplant. Sustainable construction materials can be acquired from naturally occurring sources, farmed or manufactured from replaceable sources (e.g. dedicated timber forests). Of course, some sustainable materials aren’t always suitable or cost- effective for certain projects. Recycled material that might be used in a boutique house-build due to the budget of the owner and smaller scale of the project, may not make sense for larger infrastructure projects with more stakeholders involved. Recycled aggregate concrete Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is existing material re-used for new structures. RAC is reclaimed from granular rock, brick, gravel or concrete from demolished buildings which is then processed into a new form. Aggregates are versatile, allowing it to be used for various concrete, asphalt, or drainage applications. Not just limited to concrete, any materials that are reclaimed and repurposed are a tick for sustainability. Carbon-negative materials You often hear about going ‘carbon neutral’. Going one step further is the concept of ‘carbon-negativity’. Beyond producing net zero emissions, carbon-negative materials actively reduce the amount of CO in the surrounding atmosphere. 2 Recently, a type of concrete has been developed that actually captures and stores carbon during its lifecycle – similar to how trees perform the same function. Carbon-negative materials are a great concept. Their development acknowledges that the current state of the environment doesn’t just need maintenance, it needs repair. Rather than simply aiming to ‘do no

4. harm’, they aim to actively do good. Green walls Green walls are an eye-catching design feature where plants are actively grown on the exterior of a building. While it may appear as a primarily aesthetic choice, they also serve a practical cooling function. Green walls and roofs can greatly improve the thermal performance of a building, reducing the potential energy (and costs) required for air conditioning. Other benefits include improved air quality and less reflected heat in heavily urbanised areas, which is why they’ve become a popular inclusion for new developments. Timber Bit of a contentious one. In many ways, timber might be considered the original renewable. Unfortunately, Australian timber resources still aren’t harvested nearly as sustainably as they should be. There’s ongoing tension between industry-driven forestry initiatives and many environmental groups. Most native Australian timber resources are Responsible Wood  (formerly ‘AFS’) certified. But environmental NGOs maintain that native Australian timber shouldn’t be harvested at all, with local Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified plantation softwoods the suggested alternative. Government Policies, Legislation & Regulations In terms of Australian regulations, there are several baseline standards that developers and builders must adhere to regarding sustainability. What are the green building standards in Australia? The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

5. lists the main programs to adhere to building energy standards, including: Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Building Code Calculator Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) National Construction Code (NCC) Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings YourHome It remains a fairly convoluted network of regulations and incentives that span all levels of government in Australia. Specific construction rules and incentives differ from region to region. Learn more about each of these sustainable building programs here. Green Star & the Green Building Council of Australia Another certification framework is Green Star. Founded by Green Building Council of Australia in 2003, it describes itself as “an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places.” Green Star certification aims to:  Reduce the impact of climate change Enhance the health and quality of life of Australians Restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystems Drive resilience in buildings, fitouts, and communities Encourage market transformation and a sustainable economy Check out Conplant’s Environmental & Sustainability policy Summary There’s still a lot of work to be done to create a construction industry that’s truly sustainable. Even when the technology exists to incorporate green solutions, regulations tend to always be playing catch-up to commercial interests. Speaking of which, greenwashing remains an obstacle as governments and business owners rush to board the sustainability bandwagon. Spin and selective reporting is rife in the sustainability space. Leadership and alignment between stakeholders is important – while catering to commercial, regulatory, and environmental aims – for the industry to be able to move the dial in any meaningful way. To source the most efficient equipment for your next job, get in touch with our team today.

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