Technical report (Introduction)

 Introduction

This report is written in response to a request for proposal to introduce the use of bio-based materials into civil engineering to promote a sustainable and healthier building environment. It aims to provide Takenaka corporation with an overview of how the use of hempcrete material in construction helps address climate change, ensuring benefits to both environment and humans. This report will cover Singapore’s and the world’s climate situation and existing materials used in construction work and how it affects and increases the rate of climate change and the safety of humans in all aspects. The report will then discuss the science behind the proposed material. 

1.1 Background

This section is where general information about the topic of research and emphasises the main aim of the study. (Why are we doing this)

1.1.1 About Takenaka Corporation

Takenaka Corporation is a historic and forward-thinking construction firm with a strong reputation for innovation, sustainability, and cultural preservation. Its blend of traditional expertise and cutting-edge technology has made it a key player in shaping Japan’s built environment and a respected name in global construction. Takanaka has participated in high-profile sustainable construction projects that adhere to international green building standards, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental design). Takenaka Corporation also places a strong emphasis on sustainable engineering and has integrated environmental responsibility into its core business practices (Takenaka Corporation, n.d.).

1.1.2 Overview of climate change and how it affects both earth and humans

Climate change refers to variations of the average weather trend in the long run that depict the Earth's local, regional and global climates (Velev,2024). Even though there are many natural causes that impact the Earth’s climate, a significant reason is human civilization. Scientists agree that due to the effects of human activities such as urban development and mainly due to the carbon emission from human activities where from 1750 to 2020 the concentration of carbon dioxide has risen by 48%. This leads to widespread and severe effects on the environment, economy and human life. Climate changes’ effects on the Earth include rising sea levels, increasing temperatures and ecosystem disruptions. Consequently, this causes problems such as rising sea levels, more drought and heat waves, longer wildfires and changes in precipitation seasons. The Earth and humans being interlinked, the consequences have a direct impact on humans. For example, drought and heat waves affect livestock, crops and with limited water supply, many everyday routines such as cooking and cleaning are significantly impacted. (Drought, heatwave threaten, Recently, in China’s agriculture region they were under the threat of extreme drought conditions and heatwaves that destroyed the yielded crops and prolonged the process of harvesting. This indicates that no matter first world or third world country, everyone is at high risk and facing the alarming impacts of climate change. In the long run, climate change would ultimately lead to significant economical, health related and political issues in terms of inflation, food shortages and political disputes on how to battle it. 

1.1.3 What is sustainable engineering and how will it affect climate change

Sustainable engineering involves designing and operating systems that use resources without harming the environment (Wikipedia , n.d.). By practising sustainable engineering, engineers utilise renewable energy, reduce waste and pollution to create efficient systems that last over time (University of Strathclyde, n.d.). Sustainable engineering also allows engineers to reduce the effects of climate change by developing renewable energy technologies like solar, wind and hydro power. This allows engineers to rely less on fossil fuel which can reduce greenhouse gas emission (Engineering Institute of Technology, 2022). In addition, by improving energy efficiency, engineers can reduce overall energy consumption , contributing  to emission reduction (Scientist for Global Responsibility, 2021).Therefore, sustainable engineering serves an important role in combating climate change by implementing environment friendly solutions to ensure long-term sustainability. 

1.1.4. What materials are used in construction now?

Typical materials used in construction are mostly concrete, cement, steel, and bricks. These materials are finite, deteriorate over time, and very commonly used in construction throughout the world, contributing to climate change and are overall not a safe material to humans. 

Material

Concrete

Advantage: High durability and greatly fire resistant. 

Disadvantage: Production of cement emits significant Carbon Dioxide.

Cement

Advantage: Strong and flexible to do any shape the constructors want. 

DisAdvantage: Production of cement is not eco-friendly as it uses a lot of energy.

Steel

Advantages: Durable and recyclable.

DisAdvantage: Production of steel uses a lot of energy, impacting the environment. 

Bricks 

Advantage: Hard, durable, and low maintenance. 

Disadvantage: Some ingredients used to make bricks may be toxic to humans.

Table 1 shows the four most commonly used materials in construction and the advantages and disadvantages

1.1.5. Environmental disadvantages of current materials in construction

Current materials used in construction, such as concrete, steel, and bricks have major environmental disadvantages due to their high carbon footprints, resource depletion, and energy-intensive production processes. Concrete production contributes to around 8% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions because of the chemical process of turning limestone into clinker and the energy consumed during cement production (Miller, 2019). Furthermore, habitat destruction and depletion of natural resources can result from extraction of raw materials for bricks and concrete, such as sand, gravel, and limestone (Smith & Johnson, 2021). Likewise, because steel relies on fossil fuels to heat and refine iron ore, it contributes significantly to the CO₂ emissions (Jones, 2020). The environmental impact of these materials is not only due to their direct emissions but also the energy needed for their production and transportation, and this causes never-ending resource consumption and environmental degradation. Global issues like climate change and biodiversity loss are made worse by the extensive use of non-renewable resources in the manufacturing of building materials, which pollutes the environment and damages ecosystems. Therefore, the construction industry needs to look into alternatives like recycling, sustainable materials, and energy-efficient construction practices to lessen these negative environmental effects. The construction industry can greatly reduce its ecological impact by switching to greener materials like bamboo, recycled steel, and low-carbon concrete (Miller, 2019).

1.2 Problem statement

Currently, construction companies are using materials that are both non-sustainable and unsafe for humans. This contributes to the increase in rapid climate change and additionally leading to more harmful effects on humans. The goal is to promote and encourage the use of hempcrete into construction companies for a more sustainable and safer environment, especially in museum constructions where it concerns both the environment and have a large scale of humans visiting the site.

1.2 Purpose statement

This report proposes to Takenaka corporation to integrate hempcrete, a bio-based material, into traditional construction practices to minimize environmental impact, encourage resource efficiency and improve the health and well-being of residents.