Critical factors for implementing sustainable construction practices in project delivery and management
Authors: Mohammed A. Yusuf; Joyce Mdananebari Obuso Lewis; Stepehen O. Boansi
Year: 2024

Introduction/Background: The construction Industry is central to world economic growth and the ongoing process of urbanization. However, it is also an environmental problematic area as it causes pollution, resource depletion and emission of the greenhouse gases. Modern construction is experiencing significant concerns with sustainability hence the need to shift from the conventional construction practices and embrace sustainable construction. This paper looks at key issues based on construction project delivery and management for sustainability. It also focuses on how the industry can maintain the triple bottom line of sustainability in the different phases of project life cycle.
Materials and Methods: This research uses literature review as the method for integrating and analyzing the existing knowledge in the construction sustainable practices. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used in the present study and the most relevant sources of information consisted of peer-reviewed journal articles, industry reports and literature as well as sustainability assessment tools were also used to analyse the findings and identify the major themes and effective measures in the field. The study focuses on three main areas: A)Functions of construction business in sustainable development, B)Measures towards improving sustainability in social, economical and environmental aspects in construction projects and C)Sustainable construction project management. Further, the research assesses sustainable assessment tools with more emphasis put on sustainable neighborhood development through LEED-ND.
Results: The result finds several key factors for supporting a sustainable construction approach. They are; procurement and management of materials, use of green building practices, use of LCA in decision making and engagement of stakeholders. A viewpoint for the research is an integrated approach to the use of sustainable practices within the processes of implementing particular projects, taking into consideration the environmental, social and economic factors at the various stages of the project. Simultaneously, the LEED-ND has presented itself as an all-encompassing instrument for measuring and directing the sustainable development of neighbourhoods, focusing on both the level of buildings and of whole communities.
Discussion: These are some of the key findings which indicate the interaction between different sustainability issues in construction projects. However, unlike other approaches that focus on the use of technology or even green building, the study brings out the issue of integrated design process, stakeholder engagement, and long term thinking as critical in sustainable development. They also confirm the effectiveness of targeted and case-based approaches because the issues of sustainability and their priorities differ from country to country and from one type of construction project to another.
Conclusion: The need to understand critical implementation factors for sustainable construction is what has informed this research work and so, this study will add to the existing body of knowledge the world over. It stresses the imperative for constructing higher order change in the construction industry towards the type of sustainability solutions that are based on the idea of utilising a life cycle approach to problem solving. Therefore, understanding the nature and the degree of the elements impacts will help the practitioners, policymakers and the researchers to design measures towards making construction projects sustainable. Future studies should build on stronger linkages of impacts, longer time horizons of assessment, and the identification of new sources of financing sustainable practices