SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES: LEGISLATIVE AND ECONOMIC INCENTIVES

misbe2011 Tracking Number 59

Sustainable building has become the buzz word of commercial construction in the U.S. during the past decade. While sustainable building practices and energy efficiencies have been on the building industries radar screen for a number of years, the media intensity and owner interest seam to ebb and flow with the cost of energy. However since the LEED system has gained such popularity in the commercial construction arena in the U.S., more and more owners are demanding that their project be LEED certified; or owners are at least having serious talks with their architect and builders regarding sustainability and the LEED certification process. A natural outgrowth of public awareness of energy efficiencies in the building process is governmental pressure to achieve certain prescribed outcomes. Is government leading the charge, following a surge or acting as an impediment to the use of sustainable building practices? Building practices in various countries will be examined to determine if there is a trend towards either of the scenarios. While this research will primarily focus on building practices of developed countries, along with local laws that have an impact on the built environment; a cursory look at the efforts of other countries and their energy practices will be performed to provide some insight into the worldwide efforts towards sustainable building. As most of the information regarding laws that govern the building practices of countries is available on-line, this research will consist of a web-based analysis of governmental actions and influences such actions have on the design and construction of commercial buildings.