Exploring Sustainable Development and Its Interpretation in the Built Environment

Building industry is a significant contributor to a majority of environmental issues. Design, construction, operation and disposal of buildings and cities also impact social and economic standards. Building industry’s triple and high interaction with the human development requires professionals within the industry to reevaluate their development approaches. This requires designers such as architects and engineers, as well as the builders to understand the basics of sustainable development and how it has been and can be incorporated into their professions. Many resources in this area focus on the technical aspect of sustainability as an effort to train professionals in sustainable applications. However, sustainability is a more complicated concept that evolves based on time, location, and intent. Thus it is critical for building professionals to evaluate sustainability and sustainable development at a conceptual level, which can allow them to make better decisions in a continuously changing global world. This paper introduces the philosophical concepts behind sustainability in the built environment and specifically focuses on the role of builders, designers, and owners in the implementation of these concepts.