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COMMENTARY : Circular economy model needed in built environment for net zero transition

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If the built environment wants to decrease both waste and emissions while keeping up with growing demands, it needs to rethink its approach to construction. One way to approach this is for the industry to adopt and maintain a circular economy model – which prioritizes the regeneration and reuse of building materials. According to Summit Rosenberg an associate at KOMPAS VC, industries like concrete and aluminum are demonstrating the economic, sustainability, and efficiency benefits of adopting a circular economy model. The concrete and cement industry, for example, has successfully integrated waste streams from other industries into its supply chains, enhancing its circularity. Despite the industry's existing circularity, with 75% of produced aluminum still in use, stakeholders recognize the need to address the remaining unrecycled low-grade aluminum scrap. Scaling reclaimed materials and ensuring their safety and compliance with building codes pose significant challenges. To overc
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NEWS: Construction firms across the US are struggling to find qualified workers

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US Construction firms are struggling to find enough qualified workers to hire, according to a recent survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America.


“There is enough work, but there aren’t enough people to hire,” said Ken Simonson from Associated General Contractors of America organization.

Daniel Reeves with Verde Builders Custom Homes started building homes around Austin in 2009.

“At that point, I didn’t have to schedule anybody. I could pick up the phone and anybody I called would jump off the couch and go to work,” Reeves said.

Planning ahead and scheduling a contractor are vital to making sure work gets done on time for Reeves.


“It is a completely different world today,” Reeves said. “We just have to schedule people a month in advance.”

Finding qualified workers is an issue nationwide, according to AGC.

“Ninety-one percent (of contractors) said they were having difficulty filling craft positions,” Simonson said. “That is hard hat workers you see on any construction site. Nearly as many, 87%,  said salaried workers were hard to find.”

Sixty-one percent of firms said their projects are being delayed because of workforce shortages. Simonson says that 88% of firms say they are experiencing project delays. Among these firms, 75% cite delays due to longer lead times or shortages of materials, while 57% cite delivery delays.

According to AGC, these challenging market conditions are a key reason why 26% of respondents expect it will take more than six months for their firm’s revenue to match or exceed year-earlier levels. And 17% are unsure when to expect a return to previous demand levels.

As a result of these shortages, almost one-third of firms report they have increased spending on training and professional development. Most firms, 73%, report they have increased base pay rates during the past year. And just over one-third of firms have also provided hiring bonuses or incentives during the past year.

More than 2,100 firms responded to AGC’s survey.

Source: Kxan

Comments

  1. Steve Keightley-SmithSeptember 15, 2021 at 6:32 AM

    This is a similar challenge here in South Africa. Only it is made worse by having to employ local people who have neither the training or experience.

    ReplyDelete

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