Qualitative Study of Sustainability Policies and Guidelines in the Built Environment

Cheng Siew Goh, Lynne Jack, Arun Bajracharya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
327 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The uptake of sustainability in the built environment is, to a significant extent, influenced by international and national policies, and regulatory frameworks. However, few studies examine the roles of sustainability policies and guidelines in supporting a balanced development of sustainability in the built environment. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the use of such policies and guidelines for promoting sustainability goals in the built environment. In-depth interviews were conducted with a range of construction professionals to investigate the direct application of sustainability policies in practice. Results indicate that construction stakeholders often adopt ISO standards and regional green building assessment certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as a strategic framework in guiding them toward sustainable practices. However, it appears that there is a general lack of enforceability to ensure implementation. The proactive uptake of sustainability policies is vital in addressing the multiplicity of often complex sustainability issues that apply within the built environment sector. The outcomes of the research show that stakeholders should incorporate aspects such as life-cycle management and integrative assessment into all sustainability plans in order to avoid conflicts that can arise from potentially conflicting stakeholder requirements.

Original languageEnglish
Article number04520016
JournalJournal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction
Volume12
Issue number2
Early online date12 Mar 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Law

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