Contents -- Introduction -- Sustainable construction techniques - current situation -- Architecture and its materials -- Between tradition and innovation -- Development of sustainability models for buildings -- Principles and fields of action -- Environmental objectives, criteria and assessment methods -- Environmental objectives and assessment criteria -- Life cycle assessments of buildings -- Tools for the ecological assessment of buildings -- Strategies for material use in the construction process -- Design strategies for resource-efficient buildings -- Optimisation of the material life cycle -- Optimisation of the building life cycle -- Design phases and processes -- Optimisation as a process -- Phase 1: Project brief / feasibility study -- Phase 2: Competition /concept design -- Phase 3: Developed design/planning application -- Phase 4: Procurement /execution drawings -- Phase 5: Construction -- Phase 6: Handover / use -- Environmental impacts of building components -- Components in the building biological and building ecological assessment -- Floor constructions -- Opaque facades -- Transparent facades -- Roofs -- Load-bearing and non-load-bearing interior walls -- Floor systems - floor coverings, screeds and impact sound insulation -- Case studies -- Introduction -- Holiday residence on Taylor's Island (USA) -- Refurbishment and conversion of single-family home in Hamburg (D) -- Mixed residential and commercial building in Zurich (CH) -- Office building in Krems (A) -- Lower secondary school in Langenzersdorf (A) -- Appendix.