ABSTRACT
Sustainable development, at its heart, is a simple idea of ensuring, with a bit of thought and consideration of others' needs, a better quality of life for future generations. The business benefits of adopting a more sustainable approach to the construction of buildings are already being recognised by many far-sighted clients, designers and constructors. The business case for sustainable development is now more widely recognised by both organisations and clients who procure construction projects. The drive for profitability in design and construction can result in reduced innovation and experimentation. Investment in more sustainable construction can, at best, be described as patchy, both in the UK and worldwide. The construction industry is a global industry operating in all countries around the world. Historically, existing practices have often tended to focus only on the initial construction attributes, paying limited attention to the consequences of construction activity and the longer-term sustainability set against a number of identified criteria.
