Factors that encourage developers to adopt more sustainable constructi

on practices include social e.g. health, community, environmental (energy, waste, resources, flood risk, climate change) and economic (costs). These are often determined by regulatory, client requirement and voluntary drivers.

Building Regulations introduce performance standards that deliver higher levels of sustainability;
?Approved Documents
oPart L- includes 20% reduction in CO2, low and zero carbon (LZC) systems.
oPart H- includes stormwater and grey water recycling systems.

From May 2008 The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) (developed from BREEAM) has 6 performance levels and requires that new homes are provided with information about their sustainability.

Energy Performance Certificates require energy performance to be displayed (public buildings) or available (new or marketed homes).

Planning guidance , , , can require certain actions to promote sustainability such as sustainable urban drainage or renewables policies . Sustainability Appraisals and Strategic Environmental Assessments can also ensure consideration of sustainability in development and construction.

Clients procuring buildings can specify sustainability standards to be met; e.g. environmental management systems, BREEAM , CSH. Occupants can demand more sustainable construction materials for health reasons such as sick building syndrome (SBS) due to chemical, biological and physical health impacts.
The use of economic instruments such as Landfill Tax , provide financial incentives on construction companies to reduce the levels of waste going to landfill through resource minimisation, whilst mortgage companies target green homes .

Stern identified the economic importance of action now rather than later. Building a Greener Future identified a policy of achieving zero-carbon new homes by 2016.

(b) The draft strategy supported by published data demonstrate clear links between sustainable construction and climate change because of materials used, design, construction, location and occupants? behaviour. CSH3 identifies sustainable construction practice (Table 1) and Ecotowns encourage sustainable design and awareness.
Measures MitigationAdaptation
CO2 emissionsConstruction processes Rainwater storageLow embodied energy Flood risk Site design LZC systems Energy labelled devices Water Protection against extreme weather eventsTransport???????????????
Table 1
But housing stock turnover is only 1% per annum and 27% emissions arise from existing housing stock . Retrofitting is thus very important with sustainable construction helping with adaptation (to flooding, water stress and overheating) and mitigation (improved heating and energy efficiency) to reduce climate change impacts.
Finally sustainable design is important in changing occupant behaviour and can be achieved through, for example, site location, low energy design, public transport infrastructure.

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