Environmental Impact: Calgary Condominium Construction Case Study

This case study investigates the environmental impact of constructing a new condominium in Calgary, focusing on sustainable development and environmental stewardship. It explores the goals of sustainable development, emphasizing the need to minimize negative impacts and optimize positive ones across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, considering stakeholders like owners, consultants, and the local community. The study outlines recommendations such as preparing a project sustainability management plan, prioritizing pollution aspects, implementing energy-efficient systems, and adhering to guidelines like ECO and LEED. It also addresses waste and water management, risk mitigation, and stakeholder consultations. The report then analyzes environmental issues related to construction, including energy efficiency, hazardous material and waste management, dust and noise pollution, and water consumption. The study compares the environmental factors of constructing a condominium with a natural gas pipeline and a hydrogen pipeline, highlighting the varying impacts and mitigation strategies for each. The study concludes that the construction of a condominium has these environmental effects, Energy Efficiency, Hazardous Material & Waste Management, Dust & Noise Pollution, and Water Consumption & Usage, where these can be mitigated to reduce the environmental footprint. The environmental factor differs if we were to construct a natural gas pipeline. Then the effect on environment will be air & noise pollution, leakage, spillage, greenhouse gases and loss of vegetation. For using hydrogen

Introduction:
Any construction project plan which is implemented to improve the quality of life has both
build in positive and negative impacts on the environment. Sustainability in construction
refers to activities where we can minimize negative impacts and optimize positive impacts
to attain equilibrium between environmental, economic, and social. The three P’s People,
Planet, and profits are the dominant criteria in adopting a sustainable strategy [1]. According
to the WGBC (2020), 10 percent of global carbon dioxide emission is due to the building
construction industry [2]. Though, 50 percent of extracted natural resources and 33 percent
of Canada’s energy are consumed by buildings [3]. The Canada Green Building Council
evaluated that the buildings generate thirty-five percent of landfill waste while consuming
up to seventy percent of municipal water [1]. The Calgary ecological footprint was projected
to be between 9.5 and 9.9 global hectares Gha per person which exceeded the Canadian
global average ecological footprint of 7.6 & 1.8 Gha per person [4]. This case-study report
will highlight the goals of sustainable development and environmental aspects while
developing a new condominium in the city of Calgary.
Stakeholders:
 Owner/Sponsor.
 Main Consultant.
 Sub Consultants.
 Government Agencies.
 Prime Contractor.
 Sub-Contractor.
 Local community.
 Suppliers.
 Customers.
 Non-Government organizations.
 First nation.
Summary:
A building is measured as sustainable due to its design, construction, and operational
features. While a green building is built to curtail or remove adverse environmental impacts
and create positive impacts on the ecosystem and the natural environment. Under the UN
sustainable development goals about net zero carbon policy, it is now need of an hour to
implement the sustainable methodology in construction for the betterment of future 7th
generations. To apply sustainable development and environmental stewardship, we will

consider the below-mentioned engineering recommendations in our project throughout the
construction:
1. It is recommended to prepare the project sustainability management plan in the
starting phase of the project based on project life cycle activities. Identify and
prioritize the noise, air, water, dust, and visual pollution aspects during all stages of
the project [5]. For Instance, anticipate plantation in the project sustainability
management plan to reduce noise pollution and absorb carbon dioxide for the
improvement of mental health [6]. Moreover, implement the application of highly
efficient building systems, climate-resilient systems, and resilient building strategies
that offers a positive sign of sustainable development during the project life cycle [5].
Green building bureau (2022) suggested some energy-efficient strategies such as
including the maximum size of windows for natural light and ventilation, adopting
proper insulation of the exterior walls and windows as per temperature, and an
efficient ventilation system [6]. The case study of Mackimmie Tower at the University
of Calgary is the perfect example of net zero carbon building where all sustainable
parameters are incorporated initially in a sustainable management plan [7].
2. Moreover, we should comply with the (ECO) Environmental Construction Operations
(provided by Calgary Municipality) and (LEED) Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (managed by Canada Green Building Council) guidelines or
checklists as a framework during all phases of the project with a goal of lower
environmental footprint [6], [8]. Afterward, evaluate your Zero-Carbon Building
standards annually by providing anticipated embodied carbon, operational carbon,
and avoided carbon emissions values to Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) for
achieving the ZCB- Design certificate [9].
3. Subsequently, it’s also suggested to highlight sustainable outcomes and
environmental stewardship indicators in the project life cycle. In order to do that the
selection of subcontractors and vendors based on the environmental management
systems model (ISO-14000) is one of the important steps toward long-term
environmental stewardship [5]. In addition, the Green Business Bureau (2022) has
provided some provisions in the areas of construction, energy, and waste to
promote environmental stewardship during construction. These construction-based
suggestions are the selection of non-volatile organic compound (VOC) paint,
adoption of recycled recycle materials, and adding rain barrels [6].
4. Consulting with multi-discipline professionals (Environmental, Electrical,
Mechanical, Geotechnical, Lawyers, and Socialists) about the latest green building
regulations, tools, and technology before initialization any vendor, sub-contractor,
and procurement is an active way to address environmental and sustainability issues

smartly [5]. Waste and water management dealings of relevant technical
professionals will be surely beneficial for the eco-friendly building and lessen carbon
emissions. Based on their technical competencies, it is advisable to consult with
them about how effective it will be to deal with gravy water and deep irrigation
systems in the water management system. Similarly, how efficient will it be to
implement recycle program to reduce waste before sending it to landfills and
incinerations in the project? These measures will definitely decrease operational
costs, reduce environmental impact, and improve the health of the occupants [6].
5. Engineers should implement risk mitigation measures to minimize environmental
depletion. It is mandatory to identify relevant threats based on the likelihood and
consequences and mitigate the risk to acceptable levels [5]. The municipality of
Calgary provided the environmental construction operations (ECO) guidelines and
checklists to counter the risks associated with safety, hazardous materials, and
environmental emergency prevention and response. These risks could be the result
of natural events, accidents, human error, or improper work practices. Examples of
potential risks include contaminated spills and releases it into the environment, the
discovery of historical contamination, and erosion of lands and water courses[8]. ECO
recommended the contractor to equip with the following procedures that may
impact the environment:
 Emergency training provisions for the contractor and sub-contractor about the
awareness and responsibilities[8].
 A list of hazardous available materials on site with their location [8].
 Immediate response action of environmental incidents to relevant authorities [8].
 Initial response action to be taken on emergency response [8].
 Post-emergency measures, disposal, follow up and improvement of procedures [8].
Investigation & Analysis
The development and growth are two essential aspects of human, but we as an engineers
must be responsible and incorporate sustainable development practices in our profession.
As we’ve already established that sustainable development is necessary in engineering
because it strives to achieve development without compromising on sustainability, but at
same time it also focuses on keeping the environment clean. While sustainability is holding
onto resources for our future generations to fulfill their needs. Thus, sustainable
development can be summed as being advantageous in the longer run for economic and
social change [10].
For this case study we are constructing a new condominium in the centre of downtown at
Calgary. Therefore, for this our object is to investigate the impact this construction will have
on the environment and try to mitigate them. As during various phase of construction there

are different environmental concerns for instance the procurement of raw material and
then the removal of waste material requires a lot of traveling, the use of resources like
water, thus, construction of new building leaves behinds a huge environmental footprint.
The following are the environmental issues that we will encounter while building our
condominium and try to rectify them, Energy Efficiency, Hazardous Material & Waste
Management, Dust & Noise Pollution, and Water Consumption & Usage.
 For construction energy sources like fuel, electricity and generator are a necessity to
power up the heavy-duty machinery. Therefore, these equipment makes this an
intensive process which is expensive and requires plenty of resources. There is no
complete solution to this issue, rather we should use modern energy efficient
machinery and do proper maintenance to increase the lifecycle of these equipment
[11].
 All engineering sites requires certain hazardous materials for construction, and they
generate humongous waste, which can be categorized into hazardous waste, plastic
waste, food waste, construction waste like rubbles, sand, and concrete. Hence,
before the initiation of construction a proper waste disposal system for each
category should be defined and to cutback on emission caused by transportation trip
to dispose waste, a waste cage can be built which will contain all trash and will
consist of weather appropriate material. Similarly, the hazardous waste should be
contained and disposed following all the requirements[11], [12].
 With ongoing construction, the noise and dust pollution are inevitable. To mitigating
the issue of noise is only possible by working in the workhours to not disturb the
people living in the area, as machineries will make noise and vibration and it can’t be
contained. Whereas, for the dust, during construction it becomes dusty and cause
trouble to the residents in vicinity, so the contractors should regularly water the
roads to keep the dust particles contained [13].
 Water is an essential part in construction, for mixing, binding, curing, and washing.
Hence, water should be consumed from an unsuitable source for example from a
water treatment plant to reduce the environmental footprint. Also, the water used
for washing paint or machinery becomes hazardous as then it contains toxic
chemical, and it shouldn’t be allowed to flow back into the environment. Therefore,
this water can be evaporated in an impermeable area, and remaining debris can be
disposed of at certified landfills[11], [13].
We engineer despite being professionals, should take consultations from all the
stakeholders being affected by the project. Similarly, in this project the condo board
members and the board members of already existing townhouses or condos will be
consulted, and from there input or suggestions few features can be added. Then we will
obviously give report and implement the feedback given by the experts of our field, like
designers, MEP consultants and contractors. Then the opinion and suggestions will be taken
from indigenous people and try implement them. Finally, we’ll also have to do a survey to

try and control the issue of traffic congestion otherwise it’ll cause difficulty to the residents
in that area [14].
The next part of the case study requires us to construct a natural gas pipeline rather than
condominium. In this situation we will have commence the investigation from studying the
laws and policies about constructing a natural gas pipeline in Calgary. Then we will procure
the layouts and blueprints of the entire downtown from the district authorities to analyse
the feasible of such construction. Then we work on the impact that these environmental
and safety factors will have on it. The natural gas has three stages, and each stage poses
different environmental risks, in the first stage drilling can pollute the air and cause noise
pollution. Then second stage requires storage and transportation where there is chance of
spillage. Finally in the last stage when it is being consumed it pollutes the air and give off
greenhouse gases [15]. To elaborate on effect of pipelines if there is any leakage it will
pollute the air, soil, and water. As the pipelines are buried so it also ruins the vegetation in
that area. Therefore, constant check-up and maintenance of the pipeline is a requirement
[16].
The last part of the case study requires us to use hydrogen pipeline rather than natural gas
pipeline. Hence, the initial steps of the investigation will remain same as for implementation
of pipeline gas, we will acquire the layout and permissions from relevant authorities.
Further, we will need constant feedback from an expert of this field because of the intricate
nature of this project. However, using the hydrogen-powered fuel is a green option as it
only emits water vapours and not other harmful gases like conventional fuel sources [17].
However, the issue with this is that it difficult to transport and store hydrogen gas. Also, this
is very complicated and costly to produce, therefore, the using this as an alternative is not a
common practice [18]. This needs plenty of maintenance on regular basis, otherwise
hydrogen is flammable, so only a small error can cause big catastrophe.
Finally, we can draw out following conclusions from this comparative and analytical case study:
 Construction of condominium have these environmental effects, Energy Efficiency,
Hazardous Material & Waste Management, Dust & Noise Pollution, and Water
Consumption & Usage, where these can be mitigated to reduce the environmental
footprint.
 The environmental factor differs if we were to construct a natural gas pipeline. Then
the effect on environment will be air & noise pollution, leakage, spillage, greenhouse
gases and loss of vegetation.
 For using hydrogen pipeline rather natural gas pipeline, the project will become very
costly and intricate, also it will need heavy maintenance. Despite this gas being green
it is not feasible to use on large scale.

References
[1] “ESG in construction: managing risks | BDO Canada.”
https://www.bdo.ca/en-ca/insights/industries/real-estate-construction/esg-construction-managing-
risks-driving-profits/ (accessed Nov. 19, 2022).
[2] “2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT FOR BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION Towards a zero-emissions, efficient and
resilient buildings and construction sector”, Accessed: Nov. 19, 2022. [Online]. Available: www.globalabc.org.
[3] F. AL-Nassar, R. Ruparathna, G. Chhipi-Shrestha, H. Haider, K. Hewage, and R. Sadiq, “Sustainability assessment
framework for low rise commercial buildings: life cycle impact index-based approach,” Clean Technol Environ
Policy, vol. 18, no. 8, pp. 2579–2590, Dec. 2016, doi: 10.1007/s10098-016-1168-1.
[4] “City_of_Calgary_Footprint”.
[5] “National guideline on sustainable development and environmental stewardship for professional engineers |
Engineers Canada.” https://engineerscanada.ca/national-guideline-on-sustainable-development-and-
environmental-stewardship-for-professional-engineers (accessed Nov. 19, 2022).
[6] “Building Sustainability Checklist: 28 Tips to Make Your Building More Eco-Friendly - Green Business Bureau.”
https://greenbusinessbureau.com/green-practices/healthy-buildings/building-sustainability-checklist-28-tips-
to-make-your-building-more-eco-friendly/ (accessed Nov. 19, 2022).
[7] “MacKimmie Complex | University of Calgary.”
https://www.ucalgary.ca/facilities/buildings-grounds/buildings/mackimmie-complex (accessed Nov. 20, 2022).
[8] E. & S. Management, “Environmental construction operation (ECO) plans”, Accessed: Nov. 19, 2022. [Online].
Available: https://www.calgary.ca/content/www/en/home/environment/contractor/eco-plans.html
[9] “Zero Carbon Building: Design Standard Version 3”.
[10] “National guideline on sustainable development and environmental stewardship for professional engineers |
Engineers Canada.” https://engineerscanada.ca/national-guideline-on-sustainable-development-and-
environmental-stewardship-for-professional-engineers#-engineers-and-sustainable-development (accessed
Nov. 18, 2022).
[11] “Environmental Concerns for Construction Projects | SafetyStratus.”
https://www.safetystratus.com/blog/environmental-concerns-for-construction-projects/ (accessed Nov. 18,
2022).
[12] “2020_ECO_Plan_Framework_Municipal_Version”.
[13] “How to Decrease the Environmental Impact of Construction – Aqua-Barrier from HSI Services.”
https://aquabarrier.com/blog/information/decrease-environmental-impact-construction/ (accessed Nov. 18,
2022).
[14] J. Anand, “CONSIDERATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ENGINEERING LAW.”
[15] J. Fu, Y. Liu, and F. H. Sun, “Identifying and Regulating the Environmental Risks in the Development and
Utilization of Natural Gas as a Low-Carbon Energy Source,” Front Energy Res, vol. 9, p. 28, Mar. 2021, doi:
10.3389/FENRG.2021.638105/BIBTEX.
[16] “Pipelines - Earthworks.” https://earthworks.org/issues/pipelines/ (accessed Nov. 18, 2022).
[17] “Alternative Fuels Data Center: Hydrogen Benefits and Considerations.”
https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/hydrogen_benefits.html (accessed Nov. 18, 2022).
[18] “Hydrogen as a fuel: the pros and cons.” https://www.pirelli.com/global/en-ww/road/hydrogen-as-a-fuel-the-
pros-and-cons (accessed Nov. 18, 2022).