Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma?

Mundy, Paul; Booth, Colin A.

Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma? Thumbnail


Authors

Paul Mundy Paul3.Mundy@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Building Surveying

Profile Image

Colin Booth Colin.Booth@uwe.ac.uk
Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructures



Contributors

Lloyd Scott
Editor

Mohammad Dastbaz
Editor

Christopher Gorse
Editor

Abstract

This study attempts to explore the depth of knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues across a range of construction professions and utilise this evidence to reveal if Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is being delivered with due diligence across the industry. A range of construction professionals, key actors in achieving sustainability across the built environment through their advisory roles in design and specification were interviewed (n = 7). It became apparent that knowledge and understanding of sustainability was certainly below an expected level of competence suitable to deliver solutions across the multifaceted sustainability crisis, with many professionals failing to see beyond energy efficiency and carbon reduction. Furthermore, it revealed that planning policy changes incorporating BREEAM as a condition has had negative effects, leading clients and professionals to engage only when required. It was also evident that BREEAM schemes are being used with the goal to obtain development consents and cost was determining actions taken rather than best sustainability outcomes. This results in both BREEAM and Sustainability being perceived as an add-ons rather than core elements or drivers of a project and, in doing so, reduces the effectiveness of the design. Based on this evidence, it is proposed that there is a timely need to change construction professionals’ perceptions to achieve a truly sustainable built environment. With BREEAM being one of many similar certification schemes it is worrying that these findings may the same elsewhere around the world.

Citation

Mundy, P., & Booth, C. A. (2020). Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma?. In L. Scott, M. Dastbaz, & C. Gorse (Eds.), Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design: Selected Proceedings from the International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) 2019 (131-141). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_10

Conference Name International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) 2019
Conference Location University of Suffolk, Ipswich, UK
Start Date Sep 11, 2019
End Date Sep 12, 2019
Online Publication Date Jun 30, 2020
Publication Date Jun 30, 2020
Deposit Date Jan 13, 2023
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Publisher Springer
Pages 131-141
Book Title Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design: Selected Proceedings from the International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) 2019
Chapter Number Part 1 - Chapter 10
ISBN 9783030443801
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_10
Keywords BREEAM, Green building certification, Sustainable buildings
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10339539
Publisher URL https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_10
Related Public URLs https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8

Files

Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma? (54 Kb)
Document

Licence
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved

Publisher Licence URL
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved

Copyright Statement
This is the author’s accepted manuscript of the chapter ‘Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma?’, featured in the book ‘Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design: Selected Proceedings from the International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) 2019’.

The final published version is available here: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_10

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG


Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma? (259 Kb)
PDF

Licence
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved

Publisher Licence URL
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved

Copyright Statement
This is the author’s accepted manuscript of the chapter ‘Are construction professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to address the sustainability dilemma?’, featured in the book ‘Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design: Selected Proceedings from the International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) 2019’.

The final published version is available here: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_10

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG




You might also like



Downloadable Citations