A computer-based scoring method for measuring the environmental performance of construction activities

Abstract

In line with the promotion of sustainable construction in the past decade, construction professionals have been contributing efforts in protecting the environment in implementing construction activities. Whilst such efforts will be contributed continuously, it is important that the level of the environmental performance in implementing construction activities can be properly measured and communicated to the public and project participants. This paper presents a scoring method for measuring the environmental performance committed by a contractor through calculating the contractor's environmental performance score (EPS). The level of EPS serves as a simple indicator for measuring and communicating the level of a contractor's environmental performance. The procedure for calculating EPS is formulated as an information technology (IT)-supported program. The program is designed not only to calculate EPS but also to allow for assisting contractors in diagnosing the causes of possible poor environmental performance. The diagnosis should enable the project parties involved to identify and adopt proper measures to improve environmental performance during implementing construction activities. A case study is formulated from a simulated environment for demonstrating the application of the EPS system. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reseverd.