Sustainability in the Era of Connectivity: How to Apply It in Construction Projects?

One of the most notable trends in urban development is the promotion of constructions that minimize their environmental impact. This approach involves adopting sustainable practices and technologies in city planning and the construction of buildings and infrastructure, aiming to conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the quality of life for urban residents. This trend reflects the growing commitment to sustainability and environmental protection at both governmental and organizational levels.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 of the United Nations, agreed upon in September 2015 by world leaders as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aims to "build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation." Its first target is to: "Modernize infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, using resources more efficiently and promoting the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes."

Investing in energy-efficient buildings contributes to achieving this goal, as well as SDG 11, which aims to "make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable."

What are the main characteristics of a sustainable building?

1. Energy efficiency: It means using technologies and designs that minimize energy consumption, such as efficient lighting and climate control systems, to reduce the building's carbon footprint.

2. Use of renewable energy: It involves incorporating clean and renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to generate electricity sustainably and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

3. Sustainable materials: Using construction materials that minimize the depletion of natural resources and reduce environmental impact.

4. Passive design: It involves designing structures and spaces where environmental conditioning relies on natural processes. That is, it maximizes natural light, cross ventilation, and proper orientation to reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating.

5. Water management: It includes rainwater collection and reuse systems, as well as low-water-consumption technologies in bathrooms and kitchens, to conserve this vital resource.

6. Indoor air quality: It relates to the implementation of high-efficiency ventilation systems and the use of non-toxic building materials to improve indoor air quality and promote occupant health.

When a building meets the required qualities to be considered sustainable, it can receive LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

This certification was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1993 and verifies that a building has been designed according to ecological efficiency criteria and meets the necessary standards to be considered a sustainable building.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Cabling

Cables are ubiquitous and essential elements in all industrial sectors. They play a crucial role in transmitting communications and energy, connecting different areas of facilities and linking machines. However, this ubiquity comes at an environmental cost, as over time, these cables become industrial waste.

These components typically have a conductive core responsible for transmitting electricity and information, often made of valuable materials such as copper, aluminum, and other metals. When properly recycled, they can reduce the need for extracting natural resources. Additionally, recycling electrical cables helps minimize the carbon footprint, as producing new cables from virgin raw materials requires a high energy demand.

Furukawa's Green solutions, developed by a Japanese company with 139 years of experience in the technology sector, are an excellent example of how to tackle these environmental challenges. These solutions focus on protecting life and reducing environmental impact.

These include Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables and patch cords made with green polyethylene, as well as Laserway (GPON) solutions for optical networks. Both solutions help reduce plastic consumption, energy use, and space requirements. The benefits are significant: up to 70% energy savings, an 87% reduction in plastic consumption, and complete recyclability.

Another advantage of Green solutions is the use of LSZH-3 (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) materials, specifically designed to minimize risks in case of fire, meaning less smoke and zero toxic gas emissions. This not only reduces health hazards during such events but also contributes to potential LEED scoring in categories like energy and atmosphere, as well as innovation.

Since 2007, Furukawa has embraced the Mottainai philosophy, highlighting its commitment to the environment. Mottainai incorporates concepts such as reducing, reusing, recycling, repairing, and rethinking. In this context, Furukawa works on developing new solutions to address current and future environmental demands while taking responsibility for properly managing cables that have reached the end of their lifecycle. Through its Green IT program, the company aims to facilitate the disposal and replacement of older-generation copper cables with more sustainable products.