scholarly journals Environmental performance indicators for assessing sustainability of projects in the Ghanaian construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kofi Agyekum ◽  
Seth Yeboah Botchway ◽  
Emmanuel Adinyira ◽  
Alex Opoku
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Sequential Design ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Performance Indicators

PurposeRecent reports based on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) have revealed that no country is in line with achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, with the slowest progress being witnessed mainly on goals that are focused on the environment. This study examines environmental performance indicators for assessing the sustainability of building projects.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an explanatory sequential design with an initial quantitative instrument phase, followed by a qualitative data collection phase. An extensive critical comparative review of the literature resulted in the identification of ten environmental sustainability indicators. One hundred and sixty-seven questionnaire responses based upon these indicators from the Ghanaian construction industry were received. Data were coded with SPSS v22, analysed descriptively, and via inferential analysis. These data were then validated through semi-structured interviews with six interviewees who are fellows of their respective professional bodies, a senior academic (professor in construction project delivery) and a government official. Data obtained from the semi-structured validation interviews were analysed through the side-by-side comparison of the qualitative data with the quantitative data.FindingsThe findings from the study suggest that all the indicators were important in assessing building projects' environmental sustainability across the entire life cycle. Key among the identified indicators is the effects of the project on “water quality, air quality, energy use and conservation, and environmental compliance and management”. The interviewees further agreed to and confirmed the importance of these identified indicators for assessing the environmental sustainability of building projects in Ghana.Originality/valueCompared to existing studies, this study adopts the exploratory sequential design to identify and examine the critical indicators in assessing the environmental sustainability across the entire lifecycle of building projects in a typical developing country setting, i.e. Ghana. It reveals areas of prime concern in the drive to place the local construction industry on a trajectory towards achieving environmental sustainability.

The use of environmental performance indicators in “the greenest city in Europe”

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Alpenberg ◽  
Tomasz Wnuk-Pel ◽  
Philip Adamsson ◽  
Johannes Petersson
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Municipal Managers ◽  
Environmental Performance Indicators

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine why and how municipal managers and CEOs for municipally owned companies use the environmental performance indicators. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach as a research design was used. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted among managers for administrative departments and municipal company CEOs. Findings This study found that the environmental performance indicators are used by department managers mainly for resource allocation, control and for teaching the employees. The CEOs of the municipal companies use the environmental indicators for communicating with external stakeholders and see the indicators primarily as marketing tools. The main reason why the environmental performance indicators are used in the municipality can be the strong demand from the local politicians to push the “green agenda,” and therefore the managers have to comply. Research limitations/implications As in any case study, generalizations from the research should be made with care, but since this is only one municipality, further research is needed to find additional evidence. Practical implications The findings of this study have a number of implications for future practice, and it is worth mentioning that clear guidelines for how the information could be made more useful for managers at the managerial level in Växjö municipality (VM) are requested for both the municipal managers and the CEOs. Social implications Overall, this study strengthens the idea that environmental performance indicators could be used to a larger extent for communicating with external stakeholders both for municipal departments and companies. Originality/value The research adds to the literature by examining different patterns of using environmental performance indicators in a unique setting – in VM, which is called “the greenest city in Europe” and is one of the “pioneers” in environmental work and extensively uses performance indicators.

Is corporate disclosure of environmental performance indicators reliable or biased information? A look at the underlying drivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-686
Author(s):  
Hani Tadros ◽  
Michel Magnan ◽  
Emilio Boulianne
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Corporate Disclosure ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Disclosures ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Environmental Performance Indicators

Purpose This study aims to examine the disclosure determinants of environmental performance indicators (EPIs) for a sample of US firms to understand if these disclosures are reliable or whether they are biased towards the reporting of positive information. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a panel data analysis to examine the association between firms’ EPIs disclosures and their environmental performances, and other economic and legitimacy factors. Findings The results show that firms’ disclosures are not associated with the level of environmental performance and that firms continue to provide EPI information even if they witness a decline in their environmental performance. The evidence suggests that firms’ environmental disclosures are reliable and indicative of their environmental performance. Practical implications The findings suggest that mandating EPI disclosures may increase the level of the information reported and reduce firms’ discretion over the disclosure of such information. Originality/value Reporting of EPIs is directly linked to firms’ environmental performances. By examining the association between EPI disclosures and environmental performance, the study contributes to the ongoing debate about firms’ reporting and whether it is informative to its stakeholders or whether firms use this type of information to legitimize their operations and portray it in a positive light.

Barriers to environmental sustainability of construction projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Graft Joe Opoku ◽  
Joshua Ayarkwa ◽  
Kofi Agyekum
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Agenda

Purpose The construction industry plays an important role in the achievement of the 11th and 15th of the Sustainable Development Goals. Efforts have been made by most developing and developed economies toward the achievement of these goals. Despite the efforts being made by the construction industry toward the achievement of these goals, there are still barriers that prevent built environment consultants from advancing environmental sustainability (ES) of construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to ES of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review on barriers to the adoption of ES was conducted and face-to-face semi-structured interviews of purposively selected built environment consultants in Ghana were carried out. Thematic template analysis of qualitative data was conducted. Findings The key findings from the study include perceived initial costs, lack of knowledge on ES, technological difficulties, external pressures in adopting ES practices and environmental conditions in developing countries. Originality/value The outputs of this study offer strategies which are very significant to the construction industry in embracing ES. Further, the findings contribute to knowledge on achieving the sustainable development agenda.

scholarly journals Environmental performance analysis for the construction phase of building projects by using the indicators recommended by PBQP-H

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-26
Author(s):  
Luara Lopes de Araujo Fernandes ◽  
Dayana Bastos Costa
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
A Company

Abstract The construction industry uses certain performance indicators to monitor the impacts generated by their associated activities. However, the strict determination of these indicators cannot enhance the performance of a company, and certain benchmarks must be established to guide the goals and evaluate the performance of the companies. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the scenario and evolution of the environmental performance of the construction phase of building projects by using the indicators recommended by the Brazilian Program for Quality and Productivity in Habitat (PBQP-H) and to establish benchmarks for these indicators. The research strategy adopted in this study corresponded to a survey with 186 building projects. The results involved environmental performance scenario of the building sector in different scopes. The main contribution of this study is the establishment of a set of parameters and benchmarks that can help enhance the performance of the building construction sector. As practical implication, the presented analysis and trends may provide guidance to governments and sectoral initiatives to formulate public policies to enhance the environmental performance of the sector.

Urban resource use and environmental performance indicators. An application of decomposition analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amalia Zucaro ◽  
Maddalena Ripa ◽  
Salvatore Mellino ◽  
Marco Ascione ◽  
Sergio Ulgiati
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Environmental Performance Indicators

CRITERIA AND PRINCIPLES OF THE TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS APPLICABLE IN ECOLOGY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Stefan Trandafir ◽  
Adrian Ioana ◽  
Roxana Marina Solea ◽  
Daniela Tufeanu ◽  
Diana Cristina Labes (Craciun)
Keyword(s):  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
New Religion ◽  
Environmental Performance Indicators ◽  
Comparable Time

Environment protection, like a new religion consists of: environmental programmes, objectives and targets, training, incentive schemes, audit frequency, site inspections, administration and community relations. This paper presents the main environmental performance indicators. They should therefore be cost-effective and appropriate to the size and type of organization and its needs and priorities. Organizations should make the optimum use of the environmental information they collect. To this end the indicators should fulfill the dual purpose of assisting the management of the organization and providing information to stakeholders. In article we present a set of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPI). These indicators should therefore be cost-effective and appropriate to the size and type of organization and its needs and priorities. We present many categories of environmental performance indicators: comparability (indicators should enable a comparison and show changes in the environmental performance); balance between problematic (bad) and prospective (good) areas, continuity (indicators should be based on the same criteria and should be taken over comparable time sections or units); timeliness (indicators should be updated frequently enough to allow action to be taken); clarity (indicators should be clear and understandable).

The sustainability of urban renewal projects: a model for economic multi-criteria analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Nesticò ◽  
Francesco Sica
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Renewal ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Compromise Solutions ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Investment Programme

Purpose The decisions taken today relating to urban renewal interventions are rarely supported by logical and operational methodologies capable of effectively rationalising selection processes. For this purpose, it is necessary to propose and implement analysis models with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of the territory. The purpose of this paper is to define a model for the optimal allocation of scarce resources. Design/methodology/approach The Discrete Linear Programming (DLP) is used for selecting investments aimed at achieving financial, social, cultural and environmental sustainability. Findings The proposed model lends itself to the construction of investment plans on behalf of both types of decision makers, of both a public and a private nature. Research limitations/implications All projects are evaluated according to multi-criteria logics, so that it is possible to find compromise solutions, in accordance with the stakeholders’ different preferences. Practical implications The model, written with A Mathematical Programming Language using DLP logics, is tested – case study – so as to define an investment programme finalised for urban renewal of a vast area. Social implications The proposed econometric model makes it possible to obtain the optimal combination of projects for urban renewal with a view to achieving the sustainable development of the territory. Originality/value Using the proposed model, all projects are evaluated according to multi-criteria logics, so that it is possible to find compromise solutions, in accordance with the stakeholders’ different preferences.

Self-counciousness competence as driver of innovation and environmental commitment in higher education students

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1507-1523
Author(s):  
Marian Buil Fabregá ◽  
Núria Masferrer ◽  
Josep Patau ◽  
Albert-P. Miró Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Commitment ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
Management Students

Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyse the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and innovation commitment and entrepreneurial skills and environmental commitment as drivers of awareness on sustainable development of higher education students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 1,318 business and management students out of the 3,535 students of Tecnocampus Pompeu Fabra University in Spain during the 2017-2018 academic year was selected to conduct a survey regarding their entrepreneurial skills and sustainability commitment, resulting in a total number of responses of 515. A structural equation model is proposed to contrast the hypothesis. Findings The statistical analysis showed the existence of a positive relation between the entrepreneurial skill of self-consciousness, innovation and environmental commitment to foster sustainability and sustainable development. It is one of the few studies related to the self-conciousness competence of the entrepreneurial skills which found, as a novelty, that the entrepreneurial skill of self-consciousness is the skill with the greater impact on innovation and environmental commitment. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the study are that it is based on a sample of students taking entrepreneurship courses at a specific Spanish University that is not representative of all entrepreneurs in all universities. Practical implications The research proposes including entrepreneurial skills programmes in higher education and research programmes as a way to assure commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability. Originality/value Promoting entrepreneurial skills among higher education students could act as drivers for sustainable development.

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