Environmentally Sustainable Construction is No Longer an Oxymoron

On May 27, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced a new set of principles for environmentally and socially sustainable construction, called “Sustainability in Building Construction--General Principles.” The principles are a framework for applying a group of related ISO standards on sustainable construction to local conditions. The ISO describes sustainable construction as using related activities, products, or services in a way that maintains the ecosystem for future generations.

The principles include: (1) continually improving building construction sustainability; (2) considering environmental and social equity projects; (3) taking moral responsibility for actions; (4) considering short, medium and long-term implications; (5) managing risk to avoid unwanted outcomes; and (6) providing open, comprehensive, and understandable project information.

In issuing the standards, the ISO said that buildings directly affect the environment, human health, and cultural identity because they absorb considerable resources and contribute to the transformation of areas, so evaluating a project’s effects on the quality and quantity of resources in an area and assessing the project’s lifecycle are particularly important.

We were intrigued that the ISO, a widely respected international organization, has taken a stand on green building principals. There must be something to this after all!