Emerging trends in building environmental assessment methods
Cole, R. J.
1998 Building Research & Information, 26(1), 3-16
environmental assessments, building design, sustainability, trends, life-cycle assessment, building assessment methods
Cole, R. J., (1998), "Emerging trends in building environmental assessment methods", Building Research & Information, 26(1), 3-16.
Abstract:
The building environmental assessment field is reviewed since it first came into prominence in the early 1990s. Key limitations of existing building environmental assessment methods are identified and the emerging importance of issues, such as sustainability, life-cycle assessment, globalization and standardization are discussed. The author-provides a constructive, direction for emerging 'second generation' building environmental assessment methods and protocol. This includes a standardization of environmental assessment methodologies, a common, generalized framework which allows for adaptation of specific and changing explicit criteria and an increased emphasis on building performance over time.