ECONOMICS, SUSTAINABILITY AND CONCRETE

Despite the environmental importance of energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, the legislative and fiscal measures introduced to date have been restricted in their efficiency and effectiveness, and have tended to focus on production-related issues. Improvement to the long-term energy performance of buildings is a key part of sustainability and there is a clear business case for specifying concrete. An holistic approach involving whole-life assessments must be central to any future measure, and the construction industry has a vital role to play in providing such an analysis. Such an approach will be one outcome of the sectoral sustainability initiative on concrete in construction, which will build upon existing industry expertise in life-cycle analysis and supply chain management, and other sustainability initiatives.

• INTRODUCTION

• REGULATORY DRIVERS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

• CLIMATE CHANGE

• EFFECTS OF TAXATION REGIMES

• INDUSTRY INITIATIVES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

• TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT AND DESIGN

• TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

• TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE BUILDING USE

• SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

• CONCLUSIONS

• REFERENCES