Climate change has hit Vietnam hard, with extreme weather changes in the form of storms, typhoons, floods, and droughts becoming the norm over the past few years.
One of the biggest contributors to Vietnam’s climate change problem is the country’s flourishing construction industry. On top of depleting Vietnam’s natural resources, the construction industry directly contributes to a massive amount of carbon emissions, with projects requiring a lot of energy from start to finish. Thankfully, it’s not too late to turn the tide. There are many things construction companies can do to lessen their impact on the environment and support Vietnam’s fight against climate change.
Using sustainable construction materials
When possible, construction companies can substitute various construction materials with sustainable options. The new trend of ‘green construction’ in Vietnam has led to the rise of eco-friendly construction materials that require less energy to produce and save energy when put in use. For example, instead of cutting down trees that have taken decades to reach maturity, contractors can use bamboo which grows in clusters and only takes four years to get to full height.
Similarly, contractors can use unbaked bricks that require low amounts of energy to produce. Other green building materials available in Vietnam include eco-friendly roofing sheets, insulation foam, light-weight concrete bricks, green walled wood, glazed tiles, and green cement. However, the government has a key role to play in making eco-friendly building materials more affordable than the traditional options to encourage contractors to use them.
Recycling construction waste
The Vietnamese construction industry generates millions of tons of waste annually, most of which end up in landfills. The waste is generated during the construction, demolition, and renovation of buildings and is typically made up of bulky materials such as concrete, wood, metals, glass, and plastic. Instead of sending the waste to landfills, construction companies can find ways to recycle them for use in their current and future projects.
For instance, wood, drywall, and concrete waste can be used to create new aggregate materials that can be used in future projects. Other than recycling their own waste, construction companies can support the recycling culture by using recycled construction materials in their projects. For example, construction companies can use recycled plastic bricks developed by students from Cao Thang High School in Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Reducing water usage
Construction projects use a lot of water — a resource that’s growing increasingly scarce in Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong Delta that is experiencing the worst drought ever. The availability of water is decreasing across the country, threatening the livelihoods of millions who depend on it for home use and supporting agricultural activities. As such, construction companies must come up with innovative ways to reduce their water usage. For example, they can use recycled effluent water instead of relying on public water supply systems.
Climate change is a huge threat to Vietnam, and it’s up to every sector of the economy to join hands and eliminate it. By introducing green methods in their projects, construction companies can reduce their carbon footprints which is not only good for the environment but also their bottom lines.
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Source: Vietnam Insider