THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF HEALTHY BUILDING

ABSTRACT

Sustainable development is the balance between environmental protection, social equity and economic development to meet the needs of the present generation without affecting the future generation to meet their own needs. Within the built environment, sustainable development concepts include the materials used to build and a maintain building, the energy and water meant to run a building, and the ability to provide a healthy environment for the occupants. Over the last decade, researchers have shown that the built environment plays a significant role on human health. About 20 hours a day is spent indoors regardless of the structure typology. This perspective highlights the domains in which sustainable development through sustainable construction features and characteristics can impact occupants’ health and wellbeing. We aim to outline the relationship between sustainable development and healthy building to inform future practices in the creation of healthy environments. It is evident that buildings can have both negative and positive impacts on occupants’ health. Within the four walls, buildings influence the air we breathe, the water we drink, the quality of light and many other design features that contribute to occupant health. It is significant for the design process and the construction progress to have a fundamental aim that is focused on making buildings healthy for both working and living in. In addition, the collaboration and involvement of all actors (architects, facility managers, contractors, building scientists, researchers and code officials) is critical in the application and implementation of solutions in order to establish guidelines that could be a step forward for the construction of healthy buildings.