Sustainable construction management practices in a Brazilian medium-sized city

Abstract

The construction industry has a great impact on the environment worldwide. The diffusion of sustainability concepts has led the industry to improve environmental performance in building projects. This paper aims to identify sustainable practices adopted by managers in the construction industry in a medium-sized city in Brazil. An online survey with 17 questions regarding knowledge and application of environmental sustainability strategies in project design and construction management was applied to managers in the industry. The sample considered 20 construction companies, members of the city’s Civil Construction Union. Results show that, despite being aware of sustainability principles and their importance, only 30% of the companies apply at least one strategy related to waste management, waste production, sound, visual, water and soil pollution and energy and water consumption. This paper may contribute to the development of strategies to encourage sustainability in the construction sector.