Sustainable construction in Central/Eastern Europe: implications from SB04 in Warsaw

Abstract

The outcomes and implications from the regional Central and Eastern European Conference on Sustainable Building (SB04) are considered in conjunction with the current state of sustainable construction within Central/Eastern European countries. Central/Eastern European countries are coping with shifting and reorganizing economic, political and legal systems within the wider framework set by the European Union, which are now shaping the course of future development. At the same time, the whole region is under intense development for various reasons (e.g. international investors increasingly recognize the attractiveness and opportunities of the region's commercial property markets and a huge backlog demand for new housing facilities leads to intense construction activity within the housing sector). It is argued that, on the one hand, significant opportunities exist for implementing the principles of sustainable development in the property and construction sector. However, on the other hand, needs-driven construction activity might focus on quantitative delivery without taking into account sustainability issues as well as the long-term consequences of construction projects. This can lead to aberrations that are very difficult to remediate. Appropriate actions and future strategies (developed within the scope of SB04) are identified to help promote and foster sustainable development within the Central/Eastern European region. A multifaceted approach to sustainable construction is required for use by policy-makers, practitioners and civil society. The description and assessment of interactions between different aspects of sustainable development in property in construction is the prime research priority (for both, the older Western European countries and the new Central and Eastern European Member States).