In a bold challenge to conventional sustainability practices, a new study published in the journal *Buildings* (translated to English) proposes a radical shift in how we approach the built environment. The research, led by Ronald Rovers of the Research Institute Built Environment of Tomorrow (RiBuilT) in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, argues that current sustainability efforts are too narrowly focused on individual buildings and short-term impacts. Instead, Rovers advocates for a resource-centric approach that prioritizes long-term system balance and post-fossil logic.
The study highlights several critical flaws in contemporary sustainability practices, including the misconception of non-renewable resources, the outdated reliance on primary energy metrics, and the undervaluation of residual material impact. “We need to move beyond just mitigating harm,” Rovers explains. “Sustainability should be about actively supporting resource regeneration and creating a built environment that contributes positively over time.”
This resource-centric approach could have significant implications for the energy sector. By focusing on predictable, annual resource budgets and integrating material, ecological, and human systems, the built environment could become a key player in the transition to a post-fossil economy. “Buildings should take responsibility for their energy and material footprints,” Rovers emphasizes. “This means re-inventing the way we evaluate and organize our built environment.”
The study draws on historical analogies and real-world observations to outline a framework for a regenerative built environment. This framework could shape future developments in the field, encouraging architects, engineers, and policymakers to think beyond the boundaries of individual buildings and consider the broader system impacts of their designs.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and resource depletion, this research offers a timely and thought-provoking perspective. By advocating for a holistic, resource-centric approach to sustainability, Rovers and his colleagues are challenging the status quo and paving the way for a more regenerative built environment. The study, published in *Buildings*, serves as a call to action for the industry to rethink its approach to sustainability and embrace a more integrated, system-based perspective.