At present, a commercial construction project is not just about assembling a huge mass of materials, personnel, and money, but also satisfying increasingly labyrinthine regulations and requirements. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Sticking to regulations from the very beginning of a project can ensure that legal or practical problems do not crop up later on. (Let us not forget the awful lesson learned from the earthquake in China, where government collusion in substandard projects led to huge loss of life.)
This article is about another factor that people commissioning or managing a large construction project have to pay attention to, which is climate change. This falls under the heading of the inspection and assessment federal agencies have to do about the potential environmental impact of such big projects. Basically, the big question is always about whether the project will have a big impact on its environment.
More and more, this "question" has included the issue of the sorts of green house gases that will be released in construction, and-of course-by the normal operation of the commercial building itself once it is built and running. Of course, the relationship between climate change and a commercial construction project goes both ways. Not only can the project impact climate, but climate change can impact the project, especially in the long term. Perhaps changing precipitation and temperatures might cause certain types of wear and tear, or change the energy needs of the people using the building. It is this second side of the relationship that is gaining more attention these days. A guideline has been drafted that may push for federal agencies to look into the impact of climate change on construction projects.
The relationship between the reports of such agencies and the outcome of the commercial construction project is not straightforward. A report alone might not force a project to shut down, for example. However, an unfavorable report might be used by people who want to sue the entity or person behind a certain project. Even so, it does pay to have favorable reports. Thus, considerations about climate change should be part of a project from its inception, instead of just being tacked on later, once the main construction portion is done.
Firstly, you should think about how to cut down on green house gas emissions. Information on measures of "mitigation" of the project's effect on climate change has already been required on reports in the past, and will probably continue to be so, as more attention is focused on climate change. Furthermore, do investigate how your construction materials will be impacted by climate change. Will expansion from heat cause cracks? Is your building insulated from extreme temperatures, or if not, can insulation be introduced easily later on?
Your investigations will have other benefits rather than just satisfying state bureaucrats. You may also discover certain defects or misguided choices that can be improved to better your project's ability to weather climate change. If you plan to make good long-term use of your commercial construction project, gaining such knowledge is an excellent investment.
