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How Is Building Sustainability Understood?—A Study of Research Papers and Sustainability Reports

Author

Listed:
  • Raine Isaksson

    (Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Max Rosvall

    (Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Maximilian Espuny

    (Production Department, São Paulo State University, Guaratinguetá 12516-410, Brazil)

  • Thais Vieira Nunhes

    (Production Department, São Paulo State University, Guaratinguetá 12516-410, Brazil)

  • Otávio José de Oliveira

    (Production Department, São Paulo State University, Guaratinguetá 12516-410, Brazil)

Abstract

The global process of providing shelter plays an important role in sustainable development. Buildings are estimated to be responsible for up to 50% of global carbon emissions, which makes building a major issue for climate change. The common saying is that what “we cannot measure, we cannot improve”. This assumes that we know what to measure, which requires that we have a common understanding. The indication is that there could be problems in how we understand building sustainability, which, if true, will reduce change towards sustainable building. The purpose of this paper is to assess how building sustainability is understood in building research and building practice. The research approach is to review how building researchers and building companies have interpreted sustainability in leading articles and in leading sustainability reports. These are assessed by studying how sustainability is described and then in more detail applying two maturity matrices on the articles and the reports. The preliminary results indicate that there could be a major problem in understanding sustainability among both building researchers and building company managers, which could constitute a significant obstacle to improving building sustainability. This might not only be related to building sustainability but could be a general problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Raine Isaksson & Max Rosvall & Maximilian Espuny & Thais Vieira Nunhes & Otávio José de Oliveira, 2022. "How Is Building Sustainability Understood?—A Study of Research Papers and Sustainability Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12430-:d:929486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. George Baird, 2009. "Incorporating User Performance Criteria into Building Sustainability Rating Tools (BSRTs) for Buildings in Operation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 1(4), pages 1-18, November.
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    4. José Salvador da Motta Reis & Maximilian Espuny & Thaís Vieira Nunhes & Nilo Antonio de Souza Sampaio & Raine Isaksson & Fernando Celso de Campos & Otávio José de Oliveira, 2021. "Striding towards Sustainability: A Framework to Overcome Challenges and Explore Opportunities through Industry 4.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-28, May.
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    9. Thaís Vieira Nunhes & Maximilian Espuny & Thalita Lauá Reis Campos & Gilberto Santos & Merce Bernardo & Otávio José Oliveira, 2022. "Guidelines to build the bridge between sustainability and integrated management systems: A way to increase stakeholder engagement toward sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1617-1635, September.
    10. Qiance Liu & Litao Liu & Xiaojie Liu & Shenggong Li & Gang Liu, 2021. "Building stock dynamics and the impact of construction bubble and bust on employment in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1631-1643, December.
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    1. Mircea Raul Tudorica & Mihaela Teodora Toadere & Corneliu Ioan Bob, 2023. "The Sustainability Study Done for a Consolidation Work on a Historical Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Luisa María Gil-Martín & Luisa Hdz-Gil & Emilio Molero & Enrique Hernández-Montes, 2023. "The Relationship between Concrete Strength and Classes of Resistance against Corrosion Induced by Carbonation: A Proposal for the Design of Extremely Durable Structures in Accordance with Eurocode 2," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Igor Labuda & Federica Pugliese & Jolanata Dzwierzynska, 2024. "An Innovative Concept for 3D Sand-Printed Sustainable Refugee Shelters in a Sandy Desert in a Hot and Dry Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-31, March.
    4. Łukasz Mazur & Anatolii Olenchuk, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment and Building Information Modeling Integrated Approach: Carbon Footprint of Masonry and Timber-Frame Constructions in Single-Family Houses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Tian Zhu & Guangchen Liu, 2022. "A Novel Hybrid Methodology to Study the Risk Management of Prefabricated Building Supply Chains: An Outlook for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, December.

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