Material Flow Analysis as a Tool for Sustainable Management of the Built Environment

In Switzerland, infrastructure construction is frequently discussed in regional sustainable development because it causes extensive movement of materials. But construction itself is of decreasing importance in industrial countries, as we expect a slowdown in the growth of the built environment. Hence, the focus of research on sustainability is shifting to management of the existing building stock. As the following figures indicate, management of the built environment is a key process of sustainable regional development. First, maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) as well as refurbishment and structural modification require extraction of raw material, use of biomass and generate a large amount of waste (75% of the total mass of waste in Switzerland in 2000). Second, use of the built environment (transportation, dwelling, production) needs almost 60% of the total national energy consumption in Switzerland. Third, the built environment represents an important capital in the national economy that generates demand for the construction industry and capital income for all economic actors.