Construction's compromise conundrum
All around us, nations, cities, companies and private individuals are making compromises and sacrifices to safeguard the planet. Among construction equipment owners and operators, however, not so much
During a news briefing back in July last year, United Nations’ Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.”
It was the most stark climate change warning yet, and it came from one of the most influential figures in the world.
In many areas, Guterres was preaching to the choir. We have all been aware of the need to reduce our collective carbon footprint for decades, and of the cataclysmic outcome if we do not.
Entire cities are being reimagined to reduce emissions from both vehicles and from the built environment itself. Car and vehicle manufacturers are pushing the very boundaries of what is possible, introducing electric-powered cars and hydrogen-fuelled prototypes that will finally break the stranglehold of harmful petrol and diesel. And, as private individuals, we have also made changes. Most of us are avid if reluctant recyclers. Many of us are now constantly aware of our individual impact upon the planet. Some of us recognise that we will need to sacrifice some of our personal freedoms. And some of us are willing to make sacrifices to safeguard the world for future generations.
The construction industry is building office blocks and commercial buildings that are more thermally efficient than ever before. It is producing houses that utilise energy efficient heat pumps rather than the less efficient domestic boilers of old. And it is using technology to make every part of the construction more efficient and less harmful to the environment.
All around us, people, communities, industries and entire nations are making compromises and sacrifices to help protect Mother Nature.
But there is one industry sector that has analysed the scientific evidence, looked at the viable alternatives, weighed the options, considered the required compromises and just said: “I think we’ll pass.”
That sector is the construction equipment industry or, more specifically, the specifiers, end users and operators of construction equipment.
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