Volume 2

Foreword

This Special Issue contains the scientific papers that were presented in the International Conference on Sustainable Development in Building and Environment (SET2). The authors from the UK, USA, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Hong Kong and the mainland China presented research activities and findings related to Sustainable Development in Building and Environment.

Sustainable development provides the framework for the integration of the overall system of social, economic, technological, environmental and ecological. The role of buildings and cities is fundamental to the realisation of sustainable development. On the one hand buildings in the worldwide are responsible for a major part of the carbon emissions which cause climate change, on the other hand buildings need to adapt to the predicted climate change. Sustainability is at the top of the agenda, firmly and irreversibly coinciding with a growing public awareness and creating a new mood, which should be put to maximum effect. The duty lies collectively with all architects and building engineers to have the vision for the future that will enable mankind to live in harmony with its host environment.

China currently accounts for about ten percent of global carbon dioxide emissions from energy use. China signed the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change and is formulating policies to fulfil its obligations under the convention. China is currently researching the integration of its social, economic, and environmental policies to make a significant contribution to mitigate this current adverse trend.

The conference focuses on the topics of philosophy, methodology, and technology on energy usage and efficiency, design methods and standards, new and renewable energy, recycling techniques, health and safety, management of solid waste, water resource usage and management and so on. It reports the state-of-the-art developments and provides information and results for architects, engineers, researchers, students, building developers and decision makers involved in the process of producing our future environment.

I would like to express my sincerely thanks to the conference sponsors and scientific committee. I would like to express my sincerely thanks to the keynote speakers and the authors for their contributions and for sharing their knowledge and experiences. I believe that expertise and the recognised value of the forefront research will lead to building and construction to the sustainable development and provide a useful contribution to China and international efforts.

Professor Baizhan Li (PhD)Chairmen of the International Conference on Sustainable Development in Building and Environment, in Chongqing, P. R. China, 24–27 October 2003Professor Saffa B RiffatCo-Chairmen of the International Conference on Sustainable Development in Building and Environment, in Chongqing, P. R. China, 24–27 October 2003