Sustainable building and construction

Concepts and instruments for a sustainable

construction sector

Holger Wallbaum, Senior Consultant, Wuppertal Institute, and Director for Research, Triple Innova, Luisenstrasse 102, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany
([email protected])
Claudia Buerkin, consultant, Hebelstrasse 35, 77960 Seelbach, Germany ([email protected])
mental impact of materials in the construction
Summary industry is the “ecological rucksack”, which
This article presents an overview of methods used by the Wuppertal Institute to determine sus-
tainability targets in the construction sector and to develop pathways for achieving targeted
describes the total quantity of material that must
improvements. Resource productivity is considered over a building’s entire life cycle (MIPS). be extracted to obtain a unit of pure (and thus
The COMPASS concept integrates environmental, economic and social aspects for single com- usable) material. For example, for iron ore extrac-
panies or industrial sectors in order to make progress towards greater sustainability. Profiting tion the ecological rucksack can be expressed as a
from each of these approaches, and based on various types of research, recommendations are ratio of 14:1 – that is, 14 metric tonnes of waste in
derived for companies and policy makers. Multi-stakeholder processes can be used to promote the form of tailings or mine waste are created in
overall sustainable development in the construction sector, and eventually to integrate con- the production of one metric tonne of iron. In the
cepts related specifically to the micro and meso levels. case of rarer materials such as gold and platinum,
the ratio can range up to 350,000:1.
Résumé With their knowledge of these impacts and the
L’article examine les méthodes employées par le Wuppertal Institute pour fixer des objectifs de extent of material consumption in today’s soci-
durabilité dans le secteur du bâtiment et élaborer les filières qui permettront les améliorations eties, senior governmental, non-governmental,
recherchées. La productivité des ressources est étudiée sur la totalité du cycle de vie du bâti- industry and academic leaders argue the follow-
ment. Le concept de COMPASS intègre les aspects environnementaux, économiques et sociaux
pour des entreprises isolées ou des secteurs industriels entiers, afin de progresser vers une plus
ing: to redirect our course towards that of a sus-
grande durabilité. Tirant parti de chacune de ces approches et des divers travaux de recherche tainable economy, each country’s total resource
engagés, des recommandations sont formulées à l’intention des entreprises et des décideurs. productivity should be increased by a factor of 2;
Des processus associant de nombreux acteurs peuvent être mis en place pour promouvoir le and in industrialized countries it should be
développement durable dans l’ensemble du secteur du bâtiment, voire pour intégrer des con- increased by a factor of 4 within the next decade
cepts spécifiques aux niveaux microsectoriels et mésosectoriels. and by a factor of 10 overall within one genera-
tion. To achieve these increases, every actor with-
Resumen in the economy must optimize resource use from
El artículo presenta una visión general de los métodos del Instituto Wuppertal para definir obje- the national (macro) level, through the sectoral
tivos sostenibles en el sector de la construcción y para desarrollar procedimientos que permi- and regional (meso) levels and on down to the sin-
tirán lograr las mejoras deseadas. Se estudia la productividad de recursos durante todo el ciclo gle firm and household level (micro) levels.
de vida de un edificio (MIPS). El concepto COMPASS integra aspectos medioambientales, Different tools have been developed to measure
económicos y sociales para compañías individuales o sectores industriales con miras a pro-
resource productivity and the potential for improve-
gresar hacia una mayor sostenibilidad. Aprovechando cada uno de estos enfoques y basándose
en varios tipos de investigación, se preparan recomendaciones para las compañías y los encar- ment. These tools can be applied to the construc-
gados de elaborar las políticas. Procesos que cuentan con la participación de múltiples partes tion sector. A sustainable construction sector also
interesadas pueden ser utilizados para promover el desarrollo sostenible en general en el sec- has to consider other dimensions (e.g. economic
tor de la construcción y, con el tiempo, integrar conceptos relacionados específicamente con and social considerations) in order to take the holis-
niveles medianos y pequeños. tic approach needed to build a sustainable future.

From resource management towards a

sustainable construction sector
“Only what is measured gets done” is often the
ustainable development has been an interna- many, Japan and the United States show that the underlying principle of the factor X discussion.

S tionally recognized aim since the UN Con-

ference on Environment and Development
in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Its central challenges are
construction sector accounts for between one-
third and one-half of commodity flows when
expressed in terms of weight (Figure 1).1
The method we use to measure resource produc-
tivity depends on the extent of information (unit)
we desire. For information based on mass units, we
the maintenance of social security and justice, sus- chose MIPS (Material Input per Service Unit), and
tainable economic development, and the preserva- Setting the target for mass and monetary units combined with social
tion and creation of an intact environment. Look- In many cases buildings are harmful to workers considerations we chose COMPASS (Companies’
ing at industrial sectors, the construction sector is during the construction period, as well as to occu- and Sectors’ Path to Sustainability). The different
of particular importance. On one hand, it makes pants due to unhealthy air and indoor climate. methods will be briefly explained below to show
a vital contribution to the social and economic Longer-term environmental impacts also result which periods in a building’s life cycle offer poten-
development of every country by providing hous- from buildings’ use and maintenance. In Ger- tial for improvement within the fixed targets.
ing and infrastructure; on the other, this sector is many about one-third of total primary energy is
an important consumer of non-renewable used just to maintain existing structures and keep MIPS: a monitoring tool for
resources, a substantial source of waste, a polluter them running. Moreover, demolition generates material flows
of air and water, and an important contributor to enormous amounts of waste to be deposed of. MIPS is a methodology for measuring material
land dereliction. Material flows analyses for Ger- A core instrument for determining the environ- input at the level of products, including all their
UNEP Industry and Environment April – September 2003 ◆ 53
Sustainable building and construction

“ecological rucksacks” – that is, the total achieved. Further dematerialization can be
Figure 1
mass of material flows activated by an item Material input per capita for different types of
achieved through technological progress.
of consumption in the course of its life needs in western Germany, 1990 Summarizing the potential for improving
cycle (www.wupperinst. org).2 MIPS is the environmental sustainability of build-
computed in material input per total unit 16 ings, Stefan Bringezu suggests what he
of services delivered by the product over its calls the “Golden Rules of Eco-Design”:4
entire useful life span Resource extraction, non-saleable production 14 1. Potential impacts on the environment
manufacturing, transport, packaging, soil excavation should be considered on a life cycle-wide
operation, reuse, recycling and remanufac- erosion basis.

Material input per capita (tonnes)

turing are accounted for, as well as final 12 2. Intensity of use of processes, products
mineral raw materials
waste disposal.3 The total MI carried by a fossil energy carriers and services should be maximized.
finished product the product’s ecological biotic raw materials 10 3. Intensity of resource use (material, ener-
rucksack. gy and land) should be minimized.
The S in the MIPS formula (Figure 2) 4. Hazardous substances should be elimi-
8
stands for the total number of units of nated.
service (utility) delivered by the product 5. Resource inputs should be shifted to-
during its lifetime, or the expected total 6 wards renewables.
number of service units that the product How these suggestions could be imple-
might supply during its lifetime (in the 4 mented in practice by enterprises in the
MIPS concept, products are “service construction sector is illustrated in Table 1.
deliver machines”). The S number is usu-
2
ally greater than that implied by product Building renovation: a chance
warranties. for climate protection and the
Resource productivity can thus be 0 labour market
s
improved by lowering MI for a given S, or u
g
sin tritio
n
t h ing ealth ation isure a
n
tio neou Having shown how resource productivity
o H c e t r
Ho Nu Cl Ed
u L
nis scell
a
by increasing S with a fixed quantity of ad
m i
M i and environmental sustainability in the
resources. Either can be achieved through b lic construction of new buildings can be
Pu
technological or managerial/societal Source: Behrensmeier und Bringezu 1994 improved, it is important to consider the
changes/innovations. contribution of existing buildings to meet-
What does this mean for the actual con- ing sustainability targets. In this case, the
struction site? “use phase” is of crucial importance because of
For eight years the Wuppertal Institute has Natural resources are the basis of life – the current high energy demand for heating,
been working in the field of resource efficient today and for future generations with around 200 kWh/m2 per year or 20 litres
building and construction (www.mipshaus. of oil/m2/year. In a study called “The Renova-
de). Having analyzed and assessed over 100 tion of a Building – A Chance for Climate Pro-
buildings of various sizes using the MIPS con- tection and the Labour Market” we have
cept, we have been able to show that, in terms investigated the possible effects on the environ-
of resources, the relevance of various life-cycle ment, and on the labour market in the con-
phases differs greatly between new and existing struction sector, of the extensive renovation of
buildings (see next section). Unlike existing residential buildings to optimize energy savings.
buildings, new buildings show a relatively small The starting point was the joint project “Das
importance of the “use phase”. For example, a Plus für Arbeit und Umwelt”, which the indus-
pair of new semi-detached houses in the eco- trial union Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU)
logical settlement of Flintenbreite have a TMR and Greenpeace intend to initiate in coopera-
(total material requirement) of 122 kg/m2 per tion with the housing industry (www.arbeit-
year. As shown in Figure 3, the renovation and und-umwelt.de).
construction phases dominate the entire life The assumption underlying the study is that
cycle in terms of material requirements. The through this initiative and additional measures
enormous relevance of the renovation process (such as incentives, above all on the part of the
in this case results in particular from the alu- federal government), the number of residential
minium roof, which will have to be replaced buildings to be renovated to introduce energy-
twice (according to German statistics) during saving measures could be increased from
Source: Lucas Epret
the calculated life expectancy of 80 years. around 150,000 today to approximately
Consequently, in order to achieve an 330,000 per year To achieve this, around DM
improved MIPS value, true dematerialization 15 billion (approximately Euro 7.65 billion)
must focus on virgin resource extraction and not The ecological rucksack of some products would have to be invested annually between 1999
just intensity of use. The environmental impacts or services is too heavy and 2020. This sum corresponds to almost 3% of
of the technologies and substitutions that lead to total construction volume in 1997. Investments
dematerialization therefore need to be scrutinized at this level would:
carefully. Dematerialization must also focus on a ◆ secure and create on a long-term basis approxi-
shift to reuse, recycling and remanufacturing – in mately 430,000 jobs (174,000 of these in the fin-
short, all the important aspects of closing materi- ishing trade alone);
als loops. Additionally, de-energization, decar- ◆ decrease energy costs by reducing final energy
bonization and detoxification of the input by 1111 PJ (50%) and avoid up to
industrial system should accompany 97.5 million tonnes (58%) of CO2 com-
dematerialization if significant resource pared with 1999, the reference year;
and environmental benefits are to be ◆ achieve considerable resource savings

54 ◆ UNEP Industry and Environment April – September 2003

 Sustainable building and construction

(balance of expended and saved material flows), Figure 2 involved in the COMPASS assessment. The prod-
which will reach a scale of around 68 million met- The MIPS formula ucts in question were detached houses of varied
ric tonnes per year by 2020. design, appealing mostly to the same type of
This investment plan, which is now activated
by a governmental support programme (www.
MIPS == MI
MIPS MI prospective buyers. The resulting indicators con-
sidered by the company are:
kfw.de) among other measures, will entail higher SS ◆ resource consumption (production and use);
state revenues from national insurance and from ◆ energy consumption;
direct and indirect taxes. At the same time, expen- ◆ reduction of costs;
diture for social benefits will decrease because of Figure 3 ◆ effects on man;
an improvement in the labour market situation. Resource intensity of the new ◆ effects on the ecosystem;
Comparing the potential of existing and new Flintenbreite Housing Estate ◆ acceptance by tenants;
buildings, we can conclude that on the German in Lübeck, Germany ◆ profitability.
and similar European markets the (energy relat- Renovation 53% All indicators will be applied to the service unit
ed) renovation of existing buildings offers a far “living space and year”. Only the “acceptance”
more promising contribution to sustainable con- indicator will be assessed per tenant or buyer ques-
struction than construction of new ones. Further- tioned. Taking the “resource productivity” indi-
more, economic and social benefits as well as land cator as an example, the structure and procedure
savings should lead us to direct our efforts towards are briefly explained. The “system-wide resource
the modernization of existing buildings. It goes consumption” indicator can be subdivided into
without saying that where new construction is part indicators (Figure 4). The subdivision into
necessary, the utmost resource productivity and part and sub-indicators, for example, depends on
eco-efficiency must be targeted. production processes and responsibilities within
Windows
Construction Use phase
(heating, gas) 1% companies.
(shell without
COMPASS: the path to sustainability windows) 3% An assessment scale (performance comparison)
for companies and sectors 37% Electrotechnics
6%
for all indicators was determined, ranging from 1
It is important for companies and sectors to know (very good) to 6 (unsatisfactory). Grade 4 (satis-
Source: Holger Wallbaum, Denk- und Kommunikationsansätze zur
what kind of targets and actions will lead them Bewertung des nachhaltigen Bauens und Wohnens. factory) corresponds to the state of the art. With
towards sustainability. Resource productivity is Dissertation, Fachbereich Architektur, University of Hannover, the help of “traffic lights” – grades 5 and 6 (red),
2002. (Also see www.flintenbreite.de.)
only one important path; in the broader context grades 2, 3 and 4 (amber) and grade 1 (green) –
of sustainable development there are also numer- the management decisions or measures intro-
ous other economic targets (e.g. high profits, high duced can be observed, discussed and evaluated
competitiveness, low rate of investment pay- decisions. It includes a methodological frame- with respect to their effects at all indicator levels.
back), environmental targets (e.g. low toxicity, work, instruments and measures to put the nor- The grades will then be equally weighted from the
high biodiversity, low erosion) and social targets mative concept of sustainable development into bottom up and identified as the arithmetical mean
(e.g. employee satisfaction over low unemploy- practice. Step by step, it helps the user understand of the overall grade of the indicator at the next
ment rate, overall stability in society) that have to what sustainable development means for an enter- higher level. The grading system can, of course,
be addressed. prise or a sector – from a life-cycle perspective of a be freely chosen and can be shown in the stan-
COMPASS (Companies’ and Sectors’ Path to product or service – and shows the extent to which dards of other countries.
Sustainability)5 is a tool developed to provide a development in the direction of a sustainable To compare the houses of the company men-
decision makers in a company or a sector with suf- economy has already been achieved. tioned above, results were clearly presented on the
ficient information for integrated analysis and In cooperation with a company in the housing topmost indicator level as in Figure 5. In the so-
industry, the sustainability of its product range called “Sustainable Development Radar” (COM-
(four residential houses) was investigated. Eco- PASSradar) the economic, environmental and
nomic and environmental issues were the main social efforts of entrepreneurial development are
The “Cement and
focus.6 However, it was important to record accep- portrayed. The axes show the selected indicators
Sustainability” initiative tance by tenants or buyers of the houses being whereby the determined grades describe the dis-
It is widely recognized that to achieve sus- offered. Product specific indicators apart from tance to the defined target (grade 1) and the state
tainable development, it is essential for dif- MIPS were determined in dialogues with people of the art (grade 4).
ferent actors to work together. The federation
of the German Cement Industry (Bun- Table 1
desverband der Deutschen Zementindustrie, Eco-efficiency strategies in the construction sector
BDZ) and the industrial union for the build- Level of product components Level of product structure
ing and construction industry (IG BAU) Selection of materials with little environmental impact, e.g. Optimization of product techniques, e.g.
have concluded a sectoral agreement to facil- • environmentally compatible materials • alternative product processes
itate joint consideration of economic, eco- (small ecological rucksack, no substances toxic to • more efficient energy use
humans or the environment) • less product waste
logical and social challenges throughout the • renewable materials (if sustainably produced)
whole life cycle of cement products. Based on • materials with low energy content
stakeholder dialogue and practical projects, • recycled materials
• recyclable materials
this initiative tackles the issues of biodiversi-
Reduction of material inputs, e.g. Optimization of distribution systems, e.g.
ty, protection of resources, sustainable trans- • reduction of product weight • less, environmentally compatible and reusable packages
port and logistics, as well as workers’ • reduction of product volume • use of more energy efficient transport systems
qualifications. The stakes in the cement • choice of more energy efficient logistics
industry are particularly high due to large Reduction of environmental impacts during use phase, e.g.
• more efficient energy use
capital investments and long amortization • energy from environmentally compatible sources
periods in an increasingly globalized market. Shifting from product-oriented to service-oriented approaches
• mobility management, e.g. car sharing, removal services, caretaker services

UNEP Industry and Environment April – September 2003 ◆ 55

Sustainable building and construction

Figure 4 As for the organizations seen as collective actors,

Indicator tree: material intensity it is important to note their specific logic and
(system-wide resource consumption per product and service) functioning. Most serve specific aims in the first
1
2
3
place and find it hard to justify any slightly differ-
4 entiating position to their members. This is espe-
5

Comparison of buildings 6 cially true for the federations of the German

construction industry concerned with overcom-
ing the grave economic crisis, and for unions con-
cerned with the preservation of jobs and fair
working conditions in times of economic reces-
Alternatives House 1 House 2 House 3 House 4 sion. In addition, a long tradition of corporatism
in Germany has produced well-established rela-
tionships and modes of negotiation that are diffi-
Materials Energy Dismantle- Pollution Toxic Social Profitability
cult to change.
Indicator 1: In examining the commitment of business in
productivity requirement ability pressure effects aspects
stakeholder processes, we must identify the dif-
ference between the construction industry itself
and producers of building material. The first, rep-
resented by its federations, shows very little com-
Indicator 2: Construction Maintenance Heating Recyclability Dismantling Demolition Advertising
phase productivity of materials Deposition mitment to sustainability issues, which is
explained by the fact that firms only carry out
decisions taken by others. The latter are exposed
Indicator 3: … … … Source: Holgar Wallbaum, Christa Liedtke, Stefan Bringezu, to much higher pressure from civil society because
Wuppertal Institute, 1998
of their direct access to resources. This is directly
noticeable by neighbours and concerned citizens.
Multi-stakeholder processes as a denominator among the actors involved instead As a result, we can observe increasing readiness to
means of integration of leading a big step towards sustainable develop- cooperate by manufacturers of building materials,
The construction sector involves a multitude of ment. The constraints can be found in the orga- as seen in the BDZ/IG BAU initiative at the
actors and stakeholders, including building mate- nizations themselves, the relationships between national level as well as the World Business Coun-
rial manufacturers, building and construction the different actors, and general considerations cil for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
companies, small and medium-sized enterprises such as the sector’s economic situation. “Cement and Sustainability” initiative.
(above all those engaged in trade), These examples and others show
unions, planners, environmental that rather than abandoning multi-
Figure 5
NGOs, users, governmental institu- Comparison of two different buildings using
stakeholder processes before they
tions, financial institutions and COMPASS methodology have even started to work efficiently,
research institutes. Stakeholder-based we should seek to explain the con-
approaches are widely seen as a House A Service unit area for use (m x a) 2 straints and try to find ways to
promising way to use on an equal improve their performance. In par-
Sustainability index
basis the expertise and experience of Materials ticular, power relations between
Ecology: 1 productivity
all those involved and affected. With a 2
actors and stakeholders and the per-
Economy:
view to finding quality sustainable 3
Energy ception of indivisible problems are
Society: Profitability requirements
development solutions, such an 4
main fields for further investigation.
approach is opposed to the concept of 5
negotiation, which favours the solu- 6 Simultaneous action at
tion proposed by the strongest rather 1 = very good Social Dismantle-
different levels
than the best and most sustainable 2 = good acceptance ability The old saying that too many cooks
solution. 3 = satisfactory (polls of
spoil the broth is certainly not the
4 = sufficient tenants/
A recent study from Germany7 5 = poor
purchasers)
right approach to creating a sustain-
found that the large majority of 6 = unsatisfactory
Toxic Pollution
able construction sector. The call for
stakeholders asserted the need for effects pressure simultaneous action at different lev-
multi-stakeholder cooperation. els can only be repeated as a conclu-
Many went so far as to state that it House B Service unit area for use (m2 x a) sion to this article. Necessary
represents the only viable solution to Sustainability index Materials coordination through a broadly
avoid misleading incentives and to Ecology: 1
productivity accepted framework could be estab-
improve industrial governance. As a Economy: 2 Energy
lished in national and regional
result, stakeholder processes can lead Society: Profitability 3 requirements multi-stakeholder processes. This,
to voluntary self-governance or to 4 along with the COMPASS method-
improved and more informed gover- 5 ology, also seems a suitable approach
nance by the state (through incen- 6 to push forward integration of the
Social
tives or legislation). acceptance
Dismantle- core dimensions of sustainability. In
ability
However, this approach also gives (polls of
tenants/
addition to the MIPS concept on
rise to considerable criticism and purchasers) the environmental side, and eco-
scepticism. Critics mostly refer to nomic indicators, more effort still
these processes as merely serving as an Toxic Pollution needs to be put into determining the
effects pressure
alibi for political inertia. Further- social dimension of sustainability in
more, they fear that solutions will be Source: C. Liedtke, Working group on eco-efficiency and sustainable enterprises, 1999
order to use the COMPASS indica-
limited to the lowest common tor set.

56 ◆ UNEP Industry and Environment April – September 2003

 Sustainable building and construction

Notes 3. Ritthoff, M., H. Rohn and C. Liedtke (2002) 6. At first, social criteria were deliberately kept in
1. Adriaanse, A. et al. (1997) Resource Flows: The MIPS berechnen: Ressourcenproduktivität von Pro- the background, mainly because at this point the
Material Basis of Industrial Economies. World dukten und Dienstleistungen. Wuppertal Spezial 27 discussion of social indicators on both the nation-
Resource Institute Washington, D.C. (downloadable at www.wupperinst. org). English al and international level has not yet reached a level
2. Schmidt-Bleek. F. (1993) Wieviel Umwelt translation will soon be available. equal to that of the development of environmental
braucht der Mensch? MIPS – Das Mass für oekolo- 4. Bringezu, S. (2001) Construction ecology and and economic indicators.
gisches Wirtschaften, Birkhaeuser (English transla- metabolism: re-materialization and de-materializa- 7. Buerkin, C. (2003) Multi-Stakeholder-Prozesse
tion: The Fossil Makers – Factor 10 and More). tion. In: Construction Ecology and Metabolism: als Chance für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften: eine kri-
Birkhäuser Verlag, Berlin, Basel and Boston. Also Nature as the Basis for the Built Environment, C. tische Betrachtung am Beispiel des Bausektors. The-
see F. Schmidt-Bleek (1995) Increasing resource Kibert, J. Sendzimir, G. Guy (eds.), Spon, London. sis, University of Passau/Wuppertal Institute.
productivity on the way to sustainability, Industry 5. Kuhndt, M. and C. Liedtke (1999) COMPASS
and Environment, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 8-12. – Die Methodik. Wuppertal Institute. ◆

Construction products and life-cycle

thinking

Suzy Edwards, Principal Consultant, Centre for Sustainable Construction, BRE, Garston, Herts WD25 9XX, UK ([email protected])
Philip Bennett, Secretary General, Council of European Producers of Materials for Construction, Gulledelle 98 Box 7, 1200 Brussels, Belgium ([email protected])
onstruction materials and products are
Summary
Life-cycle concepts, in the context of the building and construction sector, are particularly suit-
ed to analysis of building products. Such products play an essential role in increasing the ener-
gy efficiency of buildings and contributing to economic prosperity. It has been estimated that
C essential to life as we know it – with respect
to both buildings and infrastructure.
Humans spend around 80% of their time (on
the construction sector is responsible for up to half of material resources taken from nature average) in some type of building or on roads.
and of total waste generation. To manage and minimize the impacts of construction prod- Construction products play a major role in
ucts, the impacts have to be measured using a life-cycle approach. This article reviews life- improving the energy efficiency of buildings and
cycle concepts and considers recent developments. Materials and sustainable construction, contributing to economic prosperity.
environmental product declarations, embodied energy and differences encountered in the On the other hand, construction products also
assessment of construction products in the North and South are among the topics addressed. have a considerable impact on the environment.
According to one source, the construction sector is
Résumé responsible for 50% of the material resources taken
Dans le contexte du bâtiment, les concepts fondés sur le cycle de vie se prêtent particulière- from nature and 50% of total waste generated.1
ment bien à l’analyse des produits de construction, lesquels jouent un rôle essentiel dans
l’amélioration de l’efficacité énergétique des bâtiments et la prospérité économique. On estime
The impact of construction products relative to
que le secteur du bâtiment est responsable de près de la moitié des ressources naturelles con- the overall lifetime impact of a building is cur-
sommées et du volume total de déchets produits. Pour gérer et limiter le plus possible les rently 10-20%. For infrastructure this value is sig-
impacts des produits de construction, il faut pouvoir les mesurer selon une méthode fondée sur nificantly higher, greater than 80% in some cases.
le cycle de vie. L’article fait le point sur les concepts liés au cycle de vie et sur les tendances As buildings become more energy efficient, the
récentes dans ce domaine. Matériaux et techniques de construction durables, déclarations de impact of construction products will make up an
produits respectueux de l’environnement, contenu énergétique et différences entre le Nord et increasingly significant proportion. This has
le Sud dans la façon d’évaluer les produits de construction figurent parmi les sujets abordés. already been seen in recent entrants for the Green
Building Challenge, where construction products
Resumen contributed up to 50% of the impacts of some of
Los conceptos de ciclo de vida, en el contexto del sector de la construcción y edificios, resultan the buildings (www.buildingsgroup.nrcan.gc.ca/
particularmente apropiados para los productos de construcción. Estos productos desempeñan projects/gbc_e.html).
un papel capital para el aumento de la eficiencia energética de los edificios y el desarrollo de la
prosperidad económica. Según estimados, el sector de la construcción utiliza la mitad de los
recursos materiales provenientes de la naturaleza y es responsable de la mitad de todos los Different contexts for considering
desechos generados. Para poder administrar y minimizar el impacto de los productos de con- construction products: North and South
strucción, es necesario medir dicho impacto utilizando criterios de ciclo de vida. Los autores When considering differences related to con-
examinan conceptos de ciclo de vida y analizan la evolución reciente. Algunos de los temas struction products in the North and South, it is
tratados son: materiales y construcción sostenible, declaraciones de productos ambientales, important to make a distinction between “global”
energía incorporada y diferencias en la evaluación de productos de construcción en el Norte y and “local” construction. At the most simplistic
el Sur. level, this can be considered as a split between city-
based commercial buildings and dwellings, and
rural dwellings and public buildings. The distinc-
tion can also be applied to products required to
UNEP Industry and Environment April – September 2003 ◆ 57