Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
9-2009
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/41020(339)34
Abstract
Current business models employ the concept of the triple bottom line to integrate three aspects of sustainability into the organizational process: economic growth, environmental protection and social equity. This concept is evolving toward a regenerative design approach that promotes a triple "top" line, moving accountability to the beginning of the design process by assigning value to a variety of economic, environmental and social factors. There is an increasingly important need for proactive participation from the construction community in this new generation of sustainability efforts. Otherwise, there will be a widening gap between design and construction, in which the contractor role in sustainability is marginalized, relegated to merely minimizing end-of-project impacts rather than adding value and innovation throughout the project. This paper examines the triple top line in the context of construction projects and identifies opportunities for construction professionals to play a collaborative role in developing the next generation of regenerative facilities.
Copyright Statement
This is an author-produced, peer-reviewed version of this article. The final, definitive version of this document can be found online at Proceedings of the 2009 Construction Research Congress, published by American Society of Civil Engineers. Copyright restrictions may apply. DOI: 10.1061/41020(339)34
Publication Information
Mirsky, Rebecca and Songer, Anthony. (2009). "Beyond Sustainability: The Contractor’s Role in Regenerative System Design". Proceedings of the 2009 Construction Research Congress, 330-337.