Abstract
The world population has doubled during the past 45 years [9]. This has created a huge
increase in the demand for natural resources. Extremely high levels of carbon dioxide emissions
have been witnessed during the last decade. Natural resources like plantations, construction
aggregate, coal, oil, water, and agriculture land have come under extreme pressure due to the
high demand for these and other scarce resources. During the last two to three decades there
have been increased efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses, to save and to protect water
sources, and to use materials and products sparingly. Phrases like green buildings, sustainable
construction and high-performance buildings are being used more widely amongst role players
in the construction industry. High-performance buildings also referred to as green buildings or
sustainable buildings are designed and developed with the aim of reducing the demand on fossil
fuel energy and potable water. The indoor environmental quality, another major aspect of highperformance
buildings, ensures that building occupants show signs of being healthier and more
productive. To ensure the successful implementation of green building design and development,
some important aspects like design implementation strategies, integrated design, building life
cycle assessment, and passive design have to be considered. Management of the design and
development processes also requires some technical knowledge of sustainability. The main
barriers that prevent the implementation of the development of high-performance buildings have
to be addressed and removed. The urgent need for developing energy-efficient and waterefficient
buildings has to be acknowledged and supported by senior management and executive
officers of organisations involved in building development. The development of highperformance
buildings is most effectively achieved through a process referred to as integrated
design. This process requires the early involvement of all relevant role players. The
development of high-performance buildings through the process of integrated design is
regarded by a number of experts as two inseparable concepts. It is therefore essential that
managers and leaders who are involved in the development of high-performance buildings are
equipped with knowledge and skills in the principles of sustainability and integrated design.
M.Ing. (Engineering Management)