ABSTRACT
In any government literature that aims to encourage sustainable construction, the key argument is the business case. This makes sense, as the private firms – the primary target for these government appeals – are first and foremost in business. The bottom line means that companies have to earn enough to pay their bills. Consequently, although the ultimate aim of the policy on sustainability is to create a more socially and environmentally responsible construction industry, the business case is seen as the way to drive this forward. The UK government Strategy for Sustainable Construction made the point explicitly in its opening pages when it stated that increasing profitability by using resources efficiently lies at the heart of the case for sustainable construction (HM Government 2008: 5). This requires a stable and competitive economy, run in line with the macroeconomic objectives set out in Chapter 12 (see Key Points 12.1).
