Design for Sustainability – Demands for the Integrated Performance of Buildings

Since a few years sustainable construction is a main topic in civil engineering. Including the operation phase the construction sector is the biggest consumer of natural resources, i.e. material, energy and soil surface. Whereas energy consumption for heating and cooling is now part of nearly all planning guidelines developers, architects and structural engineers do not consider resource efficiency, maintenance, dismantling and recycling with adequate significance. Life cycle design is growing driven by economic aspects. Recently real estate consultants have discovered the added value of certificates for sustainable buildings. But an assessment in platin or gold (LEED, DGNB) has to be planned beginning with the project development stage. The pre-condition for it is the declared intention of owners and developers and the early forming of an integrated planning team (architect, structural engineer, consulting engineers, FM etc.). A brief survey of the basic demands for sustainable design of buildings is presented.