An English synopsis taken from the Spanish version of the

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. A conceptual and operative approach to
sustainability principles for the construction sector
Víctor Manuel López-López
Civil Engineer
An English synopsis taken from the Spanish version of the
Doctoral thesis
(a condition required for the award of the European Doctorate)
Barcelona, 2001.
i
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. A conceptual and operative approach to
sustainability principles for the construction sector.
ENGLISH SYNOPSIS
Contents
Contents of the English synopsis
Contents of the original Spanish version of the thesis
Executive summary
Introduction
ii
iii
vii
xi
FIRST PART
THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABILITY
(chapter I and synopsis of chapters II and III).
3
SECOND PART
TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS USED IN SUPPORTING
SUSTAINABILITY (synopsis of chapters IV and V)
33
THIRD PART
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
(synopsis of chapters VI, VII, VIII and IX)
45
FOURTH PART
TOWARD SUSTAINABILIT Y MEASURING
(synopsis of chapters X, XI and XII).
77
FIFTH PART
COMPENDIUM OF THE APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
(synopsis of chapter XIII and epilogue)
ii
115
COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT OF THE ORIGINAL SPANISH VERSION
OF THE THESIS
Contents
Executive summary
List of figures and tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction
FIRST PART
THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF
SUSTAINABILITY
CHAPTER I . FRAMEWORK OF THE THESIS
1. Justification
2. Objectives
3. Goals
4. Hypothesis
5. Methodology
6. State of the art
CHAPTER II. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, GENESIS AND EVOLUTION
1. Historical aspects
2. The Brundtland Report
3. The Earth Summit
4. Agenda 21
iii
CHAPTER III. THE CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATIONAL DEBATE OF
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
Conceptualization
Sustainable Development definitions
From the interpretation to the operativeness of the sustainability
Weak Sustainability and Strong Sustainability
SECOND PART
TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS USED IN SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY
CHAPTER IV. THE THERMODYNAMIC ACTION OF ENVIRONMENT AND ITS
SUSTAINABLE IMPLICATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Energy and materials
The Entropy law
Entropy and life
Entropy and environment
Sustainable production and Sustainable Consumption
CHAPTER V. SUPPORT TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Environment Impact Assessment
Sustainability indicators
Life-cycle Assessment
Standards ISO 14 000
Decision-making process
Economic life-cycle of the construction materials
THIRD PART
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER VI. FUNDAMENTAL PREMISSES IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
1. Justification for Sustainable Construction of buildings through their
environmental impacts
2. Concepts and basic approaches
3. Sustainability principles applied to the Construction Sector
iv
CHAPTER VII. PLANNING AND DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
1. Planning (pre-design)
2. Architectural design and facilities
3. Structural design
CHAPTER VIII. CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE FOR BUILDINGS AND SELECTION
OF BUILDING PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS
1. Choosing building products and materials taking into account Sustainability
principles
2. Environmental characteristics for some construction materials commonly
used in buildings
3. Life-cycle analysis and its usefulness for selecting building materials
4. Construction processes on site
CHAPTER IX. SETTING OUT SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES TO OPERATE AND
DISUSE BUILDINGS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Buildings operation and maintenance
Recycling building products and materials
Solid waste from buildings construction and demolition
Buildings deconstruction
FOURTH PART
TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY MEASURING
CHAPTER X . SETTING OUT A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK TO IDENTIFY
SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS
1. Selecting a real region case study
2. Selected region baseline
3. Minimal proposal for regional Sustainability indicators
CHAPTER XI. IDENTIFICATION OF SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS IN A
REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
1. Setting out Sustainability indicators
2. Developing Sustainability indicators
v
CHAPTER XII. EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
INDICATORS IN SELECTING BUILDING MATERIALS–A CASE STUDY
1. A regional ( northwestern Mexico) middle-class standard house
2. Choosing an appropriate assessment method for selecting standard house
materials
3. Applying the chosen method
4. Output interpretation
FIFTH PART
COMPENDIUM OF THE APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY
PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
1. Hypothesis validity
2. Conclusions, comments, and recommendations
3. Main findings from the thesis
EPILOGUE
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
A.
B.
C.
D.
APPENDICES:
Abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols
Glossary
Institutions and personnel contacted in the research phase
Miscellaneous
vi