S u s t a i n a b l e C o n s t r u c t i o n R e l a t i v e t o a C o n c e p t u a l A n a l y s i s
541
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION RELATIVE TO A CONCEPTUAL
ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Stuart Moir
1
& Kate Carter
2
1
School of the Built Environment, Heriot-Watt University, UK
2
The Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh College or Art,
University of Edinburgh, UK
Abstract
The concept of sustainable development has been proposed as an appropriate response
to the contemporary environmental crisis, although there are a range of opinions
regarding what form this notion should take. Sustainable construction, as the
construction industry’s contribution to sustainable development, has an important role to
play in the practical realisation of the concept. Therefore, sustainable development was
considered in terms of a range of constituent views, grouped into three categories of
perspectives pertaining to the perceived extent of change required to bring about a more
sustainable future. These categories were defined as institutional / status quo, academic
/ reform and ideological / transformation. Reflecting the nascency and complexity of the
sustainable development concept, certain views could be grouped in multiple categories.
Through this analysis it is averred that sustainable construction can be readily
associated with institutional and, to a lesser extent, moderate reforming conceptions of
sustainable development. However, practices grounded in transformative notions are
required in order to mitigate the severity of outcomes associated with incessant
environmental degradation. Although the means exist by which the construction industry
can be encouraged to embark on a transformative path, it remains uncertain as to
whether sufficient resolve exists generally to actualise such an approach.
Keywords:
conceptual analysis, sustainable construction, sustainable development.
Introduction
The environmental crisis, as characterised by
inter alia
ozone layer depletion, climate
change and the incessant degradation of the natural environment, potentially threatens
humanity with dire social and economic consequences, and even catastrophe (Dresner,
2008). In response, the idea of sustainable development, famously defined by the World
Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) as “development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs” (WCED 1987: 43), has been mooted as a potential solution. Sustainable
construction is the construction industry’s response to the larger effort of achieving
sustainable development (Ding 2005) and is evinced by a range of initiatives. These
include an improved focus on health and safety, the reuse and recycling of construction
products and raw materials, and the minimisation of pollutant emissions resulting from
construction-related activities (Hill and Bowen 1997). Furthermore, building
environmental assessment methodologies (BEAMs), such as BREEAM and LEED, have
emerged as a means to both transform the market and chart progress towards the
achievement of sustainability goals associated with the built environment (Cole 1999,
2005; Ding 2008).
However, despite the apparent vigour with which such practices are being pursued, amid
accusations of ‘green-washing’ and tokenism with regard to sustainable development
(Liu 2009) a fundamental uncertainty remains – will the course that the construction
industry has embarked upon tangibly contribute towards a sustainable future? In an
attempt to address this pertinent concern, this paper seeks to explore the conceptual
