Introduction
Construction projects pose enormous challenges to not only finish
within an owner’s schedule and budget, but to also eliminate and
minimize harmful impacts to the environment. Construction has
significant impacts on the natural environment ~Hendrickson and
Horvath 2000!. Even a minor impact, such as a small release or
spill of a hazardous substance, can cause a health or environmental
threat and lead to costly cleanup activities. In many instances,
a company’s impact can be attributed to the lack of an adequate
environmental management system ~EMS!. An increasing number
of construction firms are becoming certified to international standards
worldwide, especially the International Organization for
Standardization ~ISO! 14001 series, which provide guidelines for
implementing an EMS.
The first ISO 14001 standards were published in 1996, thus
aside from articles in trade publications, little research regarding
its implementation in the construction industry has been published
in professional journals.
In this paper, we discuss environmental management systems
and the ISO 14001 standard in particular. We summarize experience
and literature on construction EMSs, including a case study
of an ISO 14001 certified construction firm. Our intent is to summarize
the necessary elements of an EMS, the potential benefits
and costs, and the importance for construction firms to implement
such systems.