ABSTRACT
Throughout this book we have tried to capture the main ideas that underpin the concept of sustainable construction. In this final chapter, we revisit some of the central issues that shape the sustainable construction agenda. At the outset, it is important to remove any lingering confusions caused by the term ‘sustainability’. Sometimes, sustainability is used solely to refer to concerns surrounding the natural environment; at other times, it seems to have a broader connotation, including two other integral strands – sustainable communities and sustainable businesses. The narrow environmental focus is perhaps understandable – both for historical reasons and because, in discussing the construction industry, environmental impacts are significant. However, in this book, we have tried to stress that sustainability is formed of three constituent parts – the community, business and the environment – and this is the focus of the chapter.
