Introduction

Construction ecology articulates the philosophical and technical foundations for the international movement most commonly referred to as green building. Linking the words “construction” and “ecology” into a single description may be a difficult concept for many people, and some may contend that it is an oxymoron. However, in attempting to respond to the need to connect human activities to Nature, many disciplines are beginning to explore their existing “ecology” and are trying to understand how it is related to the behavior of natural systems. Thus, one can now find references to urban ecology, social ecology, industrial ecology, and political ecology, to name a few.