Assessing Building Sustainability: Economic, Environmental, and Social Dimensions Explored
Abstract
This research focuses on the importance of impact assessment in the construction sector, aligning with the United Nations' 2030 agenda for sustainable urban development. It emphasizes the need to incorporate economic, environmental, and social considerations into these assessments. A bibliometric analysis reveals an escalating interest in this field, particularly since 2015, illustrating the significant contribution of academic research to disseminating knowledge in this area. The paper highlights the crucial role of integrating these three sustainability dimensions in evaluating building impacts. Life cycle analysis, sustainable material use, and environmental impact assessments emerge as thematic clusters. Geographically, China stands out as the leading contributor to the topic, followed by the USA, Italy, and the UK, suggesting profound cross-country collaborations. The analysis indicates an inverse relationship between renovation costs and sustainability, emphasizing the need to balance demands and costs during the construction and renovation. Within this context, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) stands out as the favored measurement model, accounting for various inputs and outputs, including environmental, social, and economic impacts. European policies champion building sustainability, advocating for circular economy approaches and CO2 emission reductions. Independent committees or agencies are perceived as a catalyst for sustainability in building processes. However, the study acknowledges limitations, including exclusive reliance on the Scopus database and potential subjectivity in thematic analysis. Future research could benefit from additional databases like Web of Science, advanced thematic analysis software, and comprehensive case studies. Further engaging consumers in the building sustainability perspective may also present a promising research avenue.
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