Abstract
The construction industry is an enormous economic sector with a profound economic, social, and environmental impact. The building sector is responsible for one-third of total energy consumption and, notably, construction activities account for 39% of the total carbon emissions in the world. Therefore, nowadays, the promotion of green building concepts is essential for all countries. Typically, the sustainability level of a building is evaluated by specified certification systems through rating assessment tools. The development of national assessment tools is necessary for the developing world due to environmental, social, and economic issues; consequently, a national assessment tool adopted under specific local conditions would provide a more precise assessment. This paper analyzes the rating system of BREEAM, LEED, CASBEE, and Green Globes certification systems and discusses their adoption with assessment measures for the existing buildings in Kazakhstan’s reality. The following main criteria were discussed during six roundtable sessions: sustainable site and landscape, energy and carbon footprint reduction, water and wastewater management, indoor environmental quality, sustainable building materials, commissioning, and maintenance. A set of assessment criteria and measures were suggested, and 43 existing buildings were assessed. Only eight buildings reached a high rating level. The “sustainable site and landscape” and “indoor environmental air quality” categories were the categories with the highest scores; otherwise, “energy and carbon footprint reduction” with “water and wastewater management” had the lowest average scores. One of the buildings was evaluated separately by several experts to check the consistency of the suggested assessment measures. This evaluation also provided insight into how the assessors’ knowledge and experience may change the overall rating scores obtained. The most critical issues for the existing buildings in Kazakhstan’s reality were discussed. Despite the widespread adoption of green certification methodology, the application of global certification systems in Kazakhstan remains complicated due to the lack of knowledge and limited awareness.
Highlights
The construction sector of industry plays an essential role in a country’s economic, environmental, and social aspects
“Is this topic relevant for Kazakhstan’s residential and commercial buildings?” Secondly, “Does the country have experience in the topic?” we considered the possible innovations in construction which will be implemented in the future
The construction industry is a significant contributor to environmental deterioration
Summary
The construction sector of industry plays an essential role in a country’s economic, environmental, and social aspects. It directly promotes the urbanization process and affects economic growth. In the case of Kazakhstan, the construction industry is considered an attractive investment area. The sector accounts for up to 6% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Kazakhstan and offers more than 700 thousand jobs [1]. The construction process is accompanied by adverse effects. Noise and traffic congestion are the comparatively slight inconveniences caused by construction activities. The main serious problem that is induced by construction activities is environmental pollution. The construction sector is one of the largest resource consumers, with half of them being non-renewable. The industry consumes 40% of the world’s raw stone, gravel, and sand, and 25% of virgin wood per year [2]
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