Sustainability and net zero
Ballyshannon Nursing Home, Co. Donegal
For this survey, we have introduced a section focusing on sustainability and net zero to understand where, and to what extent, contractors are seeing the impact of net-zero targets on their projects.
Net-zero commitments
The majority of those surveyed responded that they were only seeing significant commitments to net zero on less than 25 percent of projects, and 13 percent reported that none of their projects had a significant net-zero commitment.
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Too many barriers (regulatory, fire & life safety. etc.) for compliance to standards and codes, for materials and construction techniques which achieve lower embodied carbon outcomes (e.g. timber structures).”
Carbon assessments
Similar responses were received in terms of projects where carbon was being assessed, with 57 percent reporting less than 25 percent, and a further 14 percent saying no projects were assessing carbon.
The respondents reflected that there were too many barriers to using construction techniques that would have lower embodied carbon, such as use of timber framing and cross-laminated timber (CLT) including the building regulations, and fire and life safety perceptions. It was also noted that the costs associated with achieving the certification of new products and materials was a major issue considering current viability challenges and that this is holding some people back from making strides in this area.
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Cost associated with additional certification in a rising market where viability of projects is a major issue.”
Retrofit projects
Where retrofit projects were being undertaken, the vast majority were seeing the building fabric being the project focus, with insulation and windows representing 61 percent of the response. MEP installations, including heat pumps, battery storage and solar made up the remaining 38 percent.
The responses here show that whilst as an industry we have a lot of discussion and debate around the move to net zero and what is required, that it is not yet translating into notable action in our construction projects. This will be a major change in our industry over the coming years and one that needs rapid action to develop the industry solutions to consistent and effective recording and assessing carbon data, as well as developing the solutions to reduce the carbon intensity of our buildings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the current state of the Irish construction industry reflects a delicate balance between stabilisation and subtle upward trends. The sector-specific dynamics reveal a divergent landscape, with housing emerging as a front-runner supported by government initiatives. Whilst contractors express an overall positive sentiment about the market’s improvement, challenges persist, particularly in managing rising wage costs and navigating fluctuations in material prices.
Moving forward, the industry anticipates continued stabilisation in tender prices, albeit with a mindful eye on wage pressures and global macroeconomic uncertainties. The insights shared by contractors underscore the need for adaptability and strategic decision making to sustain competitiveness and address the evolving demands of the construction landscape.
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