Assessing the feasibility of using value management to accelerate the implementation of sustainability

The present demand for economically viable buildings in the Saudi Public Sector is coupled with the need to maximise the efficient use of Saudi Arabian natural resources. The lack of consideration paid to sustainability issues during the concept phase has resulted in higher consumption of materials and energy during both the construction and operational phases of many building projects. Although there is extensive Value Management (VM) knowledge and experience, many who work in the Saudi Public Sector appear to have less experience of sustainable development, consequently sustainable construction is all too often not a major consideration. This paper is part of an ongoing research which aims to exploit the VM experiences and skills of those in the Saudi Public Sector in order to accelerate the understanding and implementation of sustainable development in the country. It provides an overview of the current situation of VM and sustainability in the Saudi Public Sector by investigating in-depth the: application of VM and sustainability; clients’ attitudes towards both subjects; identification of the barriers that impede their application and the determination of the level of existent knowledge about both topics in the Saudi Public Sector.