SUSTAINABILITY IN CONSTRUCTION

Sustainability in Construction

Sustainability in Construction

Introduction

Sustainability, especially as constructed in mainstream definitions of sustainable development, is very similar to the concept of conservation espoused by the American forester, Gifford Pinchot, in the late 19th century. Conservation emphasized using natural resources wisely, not depleting nonrenewable resources, ensuring that all American men received a fair share of the distribution of benefits, and that consideration be given to the needs of their descendents. Sustainable development globalizes the discourse. The World Commission on Environment and Development report in 1987 defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition is used today in many parts of the world by governments, businesses, environmental groups, and educators. The history of the concept, and the specific term, mean that it may be interpreted as a repackaging of environmental management. The managerial focus and faith in technological progress evident in this definition of sustainability mean that it is critiqued by more radical sustainability advocates.

In Australia, the term ecologically sustainable development emerged as a unique approach as a result of the power of major environmental groups in Australia in the early 1990s. In 1992, ecologically sustainable development was defined as “using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.” This terminology and definition, which arose as a result of the political power of environmental groups in the early 1990s in Australia, highlights the dependence of all life on ecological processes (thermodynamics, hydrological cycles, nutrient cycles, and so on).

The modern definition leans toward what has been termed strong sustainability, meaning that humans should not be substituting human-made capital for natural capital (Purvis, Grainger, 2004)). In contrast, weak sustainability advocates substitution provided the total store of capital is not diminished. Critics of the weak sustainability approach point out that this is what has been happening for thousands of years, leading to the destruction of the environment. Other critics reject the notion of turning nature into “natural capital” and therefore do not engage in the strong versus weak sustainability debates.

Mission

At Eco House we create homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in. A unique advantage in selecting Eco House is the value that the company places on the relationships between builder and buyer.

Objectives

Eco House always operate with the market sensitivity and responsiveness of a small hometown builder. You can start with our library of upscale designs and, together, we design a one-of-a-kind solution. We enable you to control the uniqueness and quality of your house from start to finish, avoid a few minor pitfalls, save money and shorten the time it will take to build your home. We want to assist you to enjoy one of the most rewarding and satisfactory experiences of a lifetime. Most people spend the greater part of their life in their home, ...