Qualitative Study of Sustainability Policies and Guidelines in the Built Environment

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.