Extract

ABSTRACT: There is a lack of assessment for environmental impacts of building during construction
process. The paper examines criteria for assessment of the sustainability of the construction process
of building. Buildings can be assessed at four stages of their lifecycle to evaluate the environmental
impact of the construction process – pre-construction, during construction, post-construction and after
demolition. Existing methods and systems to evaluate the environmental impact of building projects
are focused predominantly on the pre and post-construction stages, rather than the construction
stage. This is despite the fact that environmental impact is considerable during the construction
process. For example construction of building is responsible for 2-10% of building impacts, Building
and transport (that is, during building construction) account for 50 – 65 per cent of total final energy
consumption (UNEP, Industry and environment, 2003, p. 5).

This paper investigates methods of assessment of the building during construction process. It
proposes a series of criteria, which can be used to assess the sustainability of various building
practices during the construction stage. (These criteria are to be developed into a formal checklist in a
later paper – this would enable designers and other interested parties to identify the most appropriate
sustainable practices for their projects).

Following a discussion of existing construction practices, three methods for assessment of
sustainable construction practice are critically reviewed (the Lawson method, the Twin model, and the
LEED model). Finally there is proposal of criteria that can be considered in assessment of
environmental impact during the building construction process.

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