Things change: exploring transformational experiences within the UK construction industry

Our built environment has a significant impact on energy consumption, resource depletion, and ecological degradation - reducing this impact is imperative. Existing policies and research are dominated by the assumption that increased regulation, and an improvement in professional skills and knowledge, will address these issues. Conventional attempts at improving dissemination of good practice are questioned as the construction industry makes slow progress towards environmental responsibility1 . This paper argues for looking beyond a technical or regulatory fix, by exploring the potential opportunities for change that lie within the relationships between experience, learning, and the transformation of individual and professional perspectives. A transformation beyond that of acquiring skills and knowledge alone. An emphasis is placed on examining current practice of profligate energy and material use, whilst addressing the wider ethical and environmental responsibilities of equity and fairness. The paper outlines research based on twenty-two intensive interviews with individuals who worked on building projects with a clear commitment to an environmental agenda beyond that required by building regulation. Individual experiences are explored through nine key emergent themes, which in turn inform potential opportunities for future transformation.