ABSTRACT
The construction industry is one of the major contributors to global warming. Concrete, the most widely used construction material in the world, is grey, both literally and metaphorically. About 10% percent of total CO2 emissions can be traced back to cement production, which is the primary ingredient of concrete. The total carbon emissions from the construction industry can be categorized into embodied and operational carbon. Embodied carbon arises from production, transportation, construction, and demolition, while operational carbon encapsulates all the energy sources used to keep the building functional. Several innovative technologies are emerging to reduce embodied and operational carbon emissions and to promote environmental sustainability in the construction industry. However, to truly evaluate the sustainability potential of emerging technologies, it is important to perform a life-cycle assessment of a structure from cradle to grave. This chapter serves as a review of various sustainable construction materials and technologies, including supplementary cementitious materials, textile- and fibre-reinforced concrete, effective utilization of construction and demolition waste, concrete 3D printing, the role of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation in construction. Finally, the significance of standards and policies in the implementation of sustainable technologies is elaborated as a way forward to attain sustainability in the construction industry.
