SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION

Sustainability Measurement

Prepared by:
Yasser Yahya Abdullah

Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................................................................3

Fundamental concept of sustainable development......................................4

Concept of sustainability measurement............................................................5

Methodology used in measuring and assessment construction

sustainability.........................................................................................................................7
5

The benefit of measuring construction sustainability to the

construction industry.......................................................................................................11
6

Examples of methods used in measuring construction sustainability.11

6.1 Green building index...............................................................................................11

6.2 Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEAM)..............................................................................................................................18
7

Conclusion...................................................................................................................22

References..................................................................................................................22

Introduction

Concerns about the environment and development are not new. More recently a global
debate has formed around the strategies needed to address the challenges posed by these
concerns. This debate has its roots in the environmental movement and the post-World War II
discussion on development. These two discussions merged in the late 1980s into the debate
on sustainable development (SD).

Sustainable Development (SD) was described for the rst time by the Brundtland
Commission in 1987 as development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission
on Environment and Development, 1987).

Sustainable Development was also include Sustainable construction which is

generally used to describe the application of sustainable development to the construction
industry. Ssustainable construction was based on the ve dimensions of sustainable
development: environmental, social, economic, political and cultural.

In general it is a concern by all sectors to achieve sustainable development. Which is

the ability to evaluate SD potential of different policies and project as well as to identify the
trends that are, or are not, sustainable, trends that pose severe or irreversible threats to our
future quality of life.

Sustainability indicators have been in worldwide use for some time locally, regionally,
nationally, and in international organisations such as the UN system. Therefore, Sustainable
development indicators (SDI) are the most frequently used tools in this context, both as a way
of measuring and evaluating any positive or negative development towards sustainable
3

development, and as a way of communicating this information (Bell and Morse, 2003,
European Commission, 2001).

This report will discuss the fundamental concept of sustainable development and its
measurements. Highlighting the assessment strategies and evaluating process for two selected
indicators of sustainable construction.

Fundamental concept of sustainable development

Sustainable development is a process aiming to improve the quality of life in the

broadest sense, which cannot be restricted to financial wealth or material welfare but
comprises the quality of the environment, the exercising of democratic rights, access to
natural resources and to services and institutions made available by the society, along with
full physical and mental health, spare time, safety, and security. Social welfare is a
manifestation of the quality of the environment and that of the life of people making up
society.
Sustainable management of natural resources must be accompanied by economic
growth generating and supporting wealth and welfare and by social justice and equality of
opportunities.
In regard to natural resources this means that satisfaction of societys reasonable
needs and requirements can be provided for in the long run only in concert with the carrying
capacity of the natural environment: the environments carrying capacity is, at the same time,
the limit beyond which no demand can be satisfied. Thus there is a need for sustainable
utilisation of natural resources which requires environmental awareness and environmentally
ethical behaviour of the society. This in turn requires focusing more on bringing up future
generations in a professionally sound and well prepared way, aiming to develop
environmental awareness in the family and in all areas of education.
To achieve this there is a need for presenting a set of moral norms to the members of
society to support and assist these processes. According to the sustainable
development

goals,

Countries

have

adopted

new

sustainable

development agenda and global agreement on climate change. The

agenda developed for 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), over the
next fifteen years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all,
countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities
and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

The goal of providing for fair circumstances of life, adequate quality of life, and
welfare applies to everyone, including all members of the future generations. Accordingly,
the concept of sustainable development recognises and pursues a goal of ensuring equal
rights of the successive generations to adequate quality of life, along with the necessity of
fulfilling the obligations relating to this goal. Sustainable development is, consequently, a
form of development that enables the satisfaction of the needs of present generations in a way
as will not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Many of the current social and economic processes and their impacts are contrary to
the requirements of sustainable development. These trends necessitate a shift to a growth path
that will ensure the sustainable development of societies - including the Hungarian society in the long run. This goal cannot be achieved within the confines of a single country or
region, since no society can isolate itself from its wider natural, social, and economic
environment. Because of increasingly intensive interactions and mutual dependencies,
societies also share the same long term future.

Concept of sustainability measurement

There are many tools and methodologies designed to measure and communicate
progress towards SD. One of the most popular tools is indicators and indices, an index being
an amalgam of more than one indicator. A sustainable development indicator (SDI) can
generally be understood as a quantitative tool that analyses changes, while measuring and
communicating progress towards the sustainable use and management of economic, social,
institutional and environmental resources. An indicator is something that points to an issue or
condition. Its purpose is to show how well a system is working towards the defined goals. An
indicator can also be used in an evaluation, assessing if a development project takes into
5

consideration aspects of SD. Indicators are normally seen as something quantifiable and in
that sense an indicator is not the same thing as an indication. This does not mean that there
can be no qualitative indicators. The choice between quantitative and qualitative indicators
depends mainly on the purpose of the indicators, though quantifiable indicators are more
frequently used (Gallopin 1997).
Traditional measures such as unemployment rates, economic growth rates, the
percentage of the population below the poverty line, rates of homelessness, crime, asthma or
figures on volunteer working, political involvement, air pollution, water quality and the level
of toxins in fish, illustrate only partial changes in one discrete part of society without bringing
to our attention the many linkages that exist between such diverse issues. When society, the
economy and the environment are seen as separate and unrelated parts there is a risk that the
problems identified within each sphere also are viewed in an isolated manner. Such a
piecemeal approach has several unwanted side effects. For example, the solution to one
problem may make another problem worse. Thus, creating affordable housing may be good,
but when the new housing is built in areas far from workplaces, the result is increased traffic
and pollution. A piecemeal approach may also create opposing groups. Moreover it tends to
focus on short-term benefits without monitoring long-term effects. For example Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) measures the amount of money being spent, the higher the GDP the
better the overall economic well-being. However, GDP only reflects the amount of economic
activity and can rise when the overall community health is being impaired. Chambers et al
(2000) have argued that the next generation of indicator-producers most likely will focus
more specifically on the assumptions lying behind them and move from being librarians who
organise information in categories into being plumbers who focus on how the different
categories are interconnected and what the trade-offs among them may be.
Instead of having this one-problem, one-indicator approach, SDI should thus aim to
develop a framework that tries to bring the economic, social and environmental aspects of
society together, emphasising the links between them. Understanding the three parts and the
linkages between them is thus the key to developing and using sustainable indicators. For
example, highways or other types of infrastructure result in more commuting and better
regional integration, which in turn leads to a more dynamic work force and less
unemployment, but also to more environmental pollution. An indicator that would be able to
measure the trade-offs between infrastructural construction and environmental pollution
would thus be highly interesting from the perspective of SD.
6

Sustainable indicators should therefore point to areas where the linkages between the
economy, the environment and society are weakest. They should also reflect the fact that the
economy, society and the environment are tightly interconnected. Figure 1 is one such
example of how regional SD could be conceptualised as a web of interactions between
different aspects of the three pillars of SD.
The natural resources, either locally provided or imported in the form of raw materials
or energy, provide the material for production on which industry and jobs depend. The
number of jobs affects the poverty rate, while the poverty rate is related to crime. Air quality,
water quality and materials used for production have an effect on health. Health problems,
whether due to general air quality problems such as exposure to toxic materials, have an
effect on worker productivity and thus contribute to the rising costs of health insurances.
SDIs thus require an integrated view of the world, in relation to the different aspects of SD as
well as in relation to time and scale and to who is involved.

Figure 1 An example of the interaction between different aspects of the three pillars of SD.

Methodology used in measuring and assessment construction

sustainability

There are many different sustainability measures and frameworks to evaluate the
sustainable development from different dimensions based on the interconnection among those
measures. At the same time, this the concept of evaluation have to justify the selection and
aggregation of indicators (Poveda and Lipsett, 2011).
Building Sustainability Assessment (BSA) methods can be oriented to different scales
of analysis: building material, building product, construction element, independent zone,
building and the neighbourhood. By analysing the scopes of the most important sustainability
support and assessment systems and tools, it is possible to distinguish three types of
assessment methods:

Systems to manage building performance (Performance Based Design);

Performance Based Building is an approach to building-related processes, products,

and services, with a focus on the required outcomes (the end). This approach allows for any
design solution (the means) which can be shown to meet design objectives.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) systems;

The complete Building Sustainability Assessment (BSA) comprises the ways in which
built structures and facilities are procured and erected, used and operated, maintained and
repaired, modernized and rehabilitated, and finally dismantled and demolished, or reused and
recycled. Adoption of environmental LCA in buildings and works is a complex and tedious
task.

Sustainable building rating and certification systems.

The rating and certification systems and tools are intended to foster more sustainable
building design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disassembly or deconstruction by
promoting and making possible a better integration of environmental, societal, functional, and
cost concerns with other traditional decision criteria.
Here are many sustainability rating systems and certifications in the world today, a
few of which are recognized internationally.
1- BREEAM (U.K.)
8

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

(BREEAM) is one of the most common and internationally recognised voluntary certification
schemes for sustainability in buildings. BREEAM assesses the performance of buildings over
a wide range of criteria from energy to ecology, including aspects related to energy and water
use, the internal environment (health and wellbeing), pollution, transport, materials, waste,
ecology, and management processes.
2- LEED (U.S.):
Another widely recognised green building programme, the Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system requires objective evidence that specific
requirements have been met in the areas of site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and
atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, locations and linkages,
awareness and education, and innovation in design. LEED uses a 100-point scale for rating
and awards credits based on potential environmental impacts.
3- DGNB (Germany):
The Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB) rating system
requires fulfilment of 50 different criteria from six quality sections: environmental quality,
economic quality, sociocultural and functional quality, technical quality, process quality, and
site quality. It can also be tailored to meet country-specific requirements while allowing for
international benchmarking with other certified buildings around the world.
4- TV SD SCoRE (Germany):
TV SD Sustainable Certification of Real Estate (SCoRE) system is a costefficient tool for assessing and enhancing the future viability of existing buildings. Its focus is
on building fabric and building services equipment, both of which significantly influence the
marketability and management costs of buildings. As SCoRE is developed on the basis of
technical and environmental due diligence, it is uniquely suitable for analysing your property
in depth and can detect factors that other systems might miss, such as contamination.
5- Green Building rating system (Malaysia)
Green Building rating system - Green Building Index (GBI) was launched in May
2009, corresponding to the national policies on the environment and technology (Table 3).
The GBI was designed based on other international rating systems such as BREEAM
9

(Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) a Design). The GBI

defines GB as to focus on increasing the efficiency of resource use (energy, water and
materials) while reducing building impact on human health and the environment through
better sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal

6- Green Star Rating System (Austeralia)

Green Star is an internationally-recognised sustainability rating system. it is a rating
tools developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) for the certication of
various types of buildings. Four Green Star rating tools available for certification of design,
construction and operation of buildings, fit outs and communities. It have been developed
with the assistance and participation of representatives from many organisations. The Green
Star rating tools cover a wide range of environmental sustainability issues associated with the
building development process [e.g., indoor environmental quality, energy efciency,
greenhouse gas emission, transport, water efciency, and reuse and recycling of building
materials.
7- Green Mark Rating System (Singabore)
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark scheme was launched in
2005 in Singapore and is an internationally recognized green building rating system tailored
for the tropical climate. Green Mark sets parameters and establishes indicators to guide the
design, construction and operation of buildings towards increased energy effectiveness and
enhanced environmental performance.

The relationship between projects, rating systems, and system assessments is depicted
in Figure 2. Projects include but are not limited to buildings such as residential, commercial,
and industrial, as well as infrastructure like roads and bridges. The tools used to evaluate the
sustainability of projects are referred to as rating systems. Assessment indicators are the main
components of rating systems.

10

Figure 2: Tools for assessing sustainable performance of building and infrastructure

To accomplish this, indicators may be expressed with a single number, a range of
numbers, a binary yes/no, or a written description. They are represented either quantitatively
or qualitatively and are found on continuums from objective to subjective and from direct to
indirect.

11

The benefit of measuring construction sustainability to the

construction industry

Environmen
tal
Benefits:

Reduce
wastage of
water

Economic
Benefits:

Social
Benefits:

Reduce
operating costs

Improve quality
of life

Conserve
natural
resources

Improve
occupant
productivity

Minimize strain
on local
infrastructure

Improve air and

water quality

Create market
for green
product and
services

Improve
occupant
health and
comfort

Protect
biodiversity
and
ecosystems

Figure 3 Benefit of measuring construction sustainability

6

Examples of methods used in measuring construction

sustainability

6.1 Green building index

GBI is developed specifically for the Malaysian-tropical climate, environmental and
developmental context, cultural and social needs and is created to:

Define green buildings by establishing a common language and standard of

measurement;
Promote integrated, whole-building designs that provides a better environment

for all;
Recognize and reward environmental leadership;
Transform the built environment to reduce its negative environmental impact;

and
Ensure new buildings remain relevant in the future and existing buildings are
refurbished and upgraded to improve the overall quality of our building stock.

12

The GBI certification process starts with an assessment of the building design by a
certifier appointed by Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd. A Provisional certification is then issued,
with the final certification issued when the completed building has been verified according to
the design. To maintain the certification, the building is reassessed every three years. Points
are given for performance above benchmarks and current industry practice. Depending on the
scores achieved, the buildings will be awarded one of four types of ratings: Certified, Silver,
Gold and Platinum. The assessment of commercial and residential properties under the GBI
rating tool is based on six main criteria as follows:

1- Energy Efficiency (EE)

Improve energy consumption by optimizing building orientation, minimizing solar
heat gain through the building envelope, harvesting natural lighting, adopting the best
practices in building services including use of renewable energy, and ensuring proper testing,
commissioning and regular maintenance.

2- Indoor Environment Quality (EQ)

Achieve good quality performance in indoor air quality, acoustics, visual and thermal
comfort. These will involve the use of low volatile organic compound materials, application
of quality air filtration, proper control of air temperature, movement and humidity.

3- Sustainable Site Planning & MANAGEMENT (SM)

Selecting appropriate sites with planned access to public transportation, community
services, open spaces and landscaping. Avoiding and conserving environmentally sensitive
areas through the redevelopment of existing sites and brownfields. Implementing proper
construction management, storm water management and reducing the strain on existing
infrastructure capacity.
4- Materials & Resources (MR)

13

Promote the use of environment-friendly materials sourced from sustainable sources

and recycling. Implement proper construction waste management with storage, collection and
re-use of recyclables and construction formwork and waste.

5- Water Efficiency (WE)

Rainwater harvesting, water recycling and water-saving fittings.

6- Innovation (IN)
Innovative design and initiatives that meet the objectives of the GBI.

How to Use the GBI industrial New Construction (INC) Tool

Complete the Building Input worksheet as the buildings type and location may affect the
predicted rating.

Complete the remaining worksheets by reviewing each credit in each category and
entering the number of points you predict the building will achieve in the No. of Points
Achieved column. Calculators are provided for a number of the tools credits.

Enter any points that may be achieved but need to be confirmed in the Points to be
Confirmed column.

Enter any comments required in the Comments column.

The predicted rating is shown in the Summary worksheet. More detail on point scores
(both achieved and those to be confirmed) are shown in the Credit Summary and
Graphical Summary worksheets at the end of the tool.

Figure 4: steps of how to use GBI tools

14

Green Building Index Assessment Criteria for Industrial New Construction (INC)
1- DETAIL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
PART
1
2
3
4
5
6

ITEM
Energy Efficiency (EE)
Indoor Environment Quality (EQ)
Sustainable Site Planning & Management (SM)
Materials & Resources (MR)
Water Efficiency (WE)
Innovation (IN)
TOTAL SCORE

MAXIMUM POINTS
33
22
18
10
10
7
100

2- GREEN BUILDING INDEX CLASSIFICATION

POINTS
86 to 100 points
76 to 85 points
66 to 75 points
50 to 65 points

GBI RATING
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Certified

15

GBI Assessment Process

16

17

18

6.2 Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment

Method (BREEAM)

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment's Environment al

Assessment Method) is the worlds first sustainability rating scheme f or
the built environment and has contributed much to the strong focus in the
UK on sustainability in building design, construction and use. BREEAM is
now an international standard that is locally adapted, operated and applied
through a network of international operators, assessors and industry
professionals. Through its application and use BREEAM helps clients
measure and reduce the environment al impacts of their buildings and in
doing so create higher value, lower risk assets.

Aims of BREEAM

To mitigate the life cycle impact s of buildings on the

environment
To enable buildings to be recognised according to their

environment al benefits
To provide a credible, environmental label for buildings
To stimulate demand and create value for sustainable
buildings, building products and supply chains.

19

BREEAM 2014 New Construction environmental Sections and

Assessment Issues
BREEAM 2014 New Construction environment al
sect ions and assessment issues

Health and
wellbeing

Management

Energy

Transport

Water

Materials

Waste

Project brief
and design

Visual comfort

Reduction of
energy use and
carbon
emissions

Public transport
accessibility

Water
consumption

Life cycle
impact s

Construction
waste
management

Life cycle cost

and service life
planning

Indoor air
quality

Energy
monitoring

Proximity to
amenities

Water
monitoring

Hard
landscaping
and boundary
protection

Recycled
aggregates

Responsible
construction
practices

Safe
containment in
laboratories

External
lighting

Cyclist facilities

Water leak
detection

Responsible
sourcing of
materials

Operational
waste

Commissioning
and handover

Thermal
comfort

Low carbon
design

Maximum car
parking
capacity

Insulation

Speculative
floor and ceiling
finishes

Aftercare

Acoustic
performance

Energy efficient
cold storage

Travel plan

Designing for
durability and
resilience

Adapt at ion to
climate change

Safety and
security

Energy efficient
transportation
systems

Material
efficiency

Functional
adaptability

Water efficient
equipment

Land use and

ecology

Sit e selection

Ecological value
of sit e and
protect ion of
ecological
features

Pollution

Innovation

Impact of
refrigerants

NO emissions

Surface water
run-off
Minimising
impact on
existing sit e
ecology

Enhancing sit e
ecology

Reduction of
night time light
pollution

Reduction of
noise pollution

Long-term
impact on
biodiversity

Energy efficient
laboratory
system

Energy efficient
equipment

Drying space

Figure 5: BREEAM 2014 New Construction environmental Sections

and Assessment Issues

BEEAM UK Assessment and Certification Stages by Scheme

Serves to highlight the link between the BREEAM UK New

Construction assessment and certification stages and the RIBA Out line
Plan of Work 2013.
20

Innovation

This figure can assist clients in timing their engagement with

BREEAM and the appointment of a BREEAM Assessor.

Figure 6: BEEAM UK Assessment and Certification Stages

21

Environmental Section Weightings

Environment al weightings are fundamental to any building
environment al assessment method as they provide a means of defining,
and therefore ranking, the relative impact of environmental issues.

Weighting

Environmental
section

Shell and core

Fully fitted out

Shell only

Management

12%

12.50%

only
11%

Health and Wellbeing

15%

10%

10.50%

Energy

15%

14.50%

15%

Transport

9%

11.50%

10%

Water

7%

4%

7.50%

13.5%

17.50%

14.50%

Waste

8.5%

11%

9.50%

Land Use and Ecology

10%

13%

11%

Pollution

10%

6%

11%

100%

100%

100%

10%

10%

10%

Materials

Total
Innovation
(additional)

BREEAM rating benchmarks

The BREEAM rating benchmarks for projects assessed using the 2014 version of
BREEAM UK New Constructional e as follows:
BREEAM Rating
OUTSTANDING
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
PASS
UNCLASSIFIED

% Score
85
70
55
45
30
< 30
22

Conclusion

This report seeks to define methodologies and objective contents to achieve newer and larger
real estate projects supported by sustainability concepts. Different countries have been
developing studies and financial tools with the main purpose of implementing sustainable
construction and disseminating a new mentality into the marketplace. Through actions that
establish a balance between environmental, economic and social factors.
8

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