Developing an Assessment System on Green Construction Sites in Australia

Around the world, there are many assessment systems for green building, such as the LEED system in America and the BREEAM system in the U.K. In Australia, the Green Star rating system is widely considered the standard for assessing healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. However, these assessment systems are generally limited to new buildings from life-cycle viewpoints, and are less focused on environmental sustainability assessment at construction sites. Moreover, few countries have published green assessment systems for construction projects. How to assess and improve the environmental sustainability of projects during the on-site construction stage plays an important role in enhancing the sustainable performance of construction companies and products. This study will develop an assessment framework for rating green construction projects during the on-site stage. An extensive literature review was first conducted to develop the framework based on identifying the relevant system and indicators of green construction practices. The developed framework will be further tested and improved through the Expert Evaluation method. Therefore, the framework could be used to assess green construction practices and provide education resources for construction managers, engineers, academics, students and workers to improve their awareness and abilities in promoting green construction in Australia.