Building Construction Activities and the Environment: Towards Achieving Sustainable Development

Abstract

Buildings are a major consumer of natural resources, through both their construction and operation. In fact the construction activities account for an estimated 40% of natural resource consumption. This has resulted in pressure on the environment’s finite natural resources, besides creating impacts on human health and well-being. Thus, a major challenge in the twenty-first century has been the need to consider human activities within an ecological framework—the sustainability issue. This paper discusses the prime environmental issues that have to be dealt with in totality in construction activities to ensure sustainable development. These include land degradation, biodiversity, air pollution, energy, and management of fresh water. It suggests ways that can steer the construction industry to design, develop and operate sustainable buildings.