scholarly journals DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PROJECTS – CHALLENGES, REALITY AND SUCCESS

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haleh Rasekh ◽  
Timothy J. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Research Centre ◽  
Research Facility ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Living Building Challenge ◽  
Key Participants

This research concerns the delivery of sustainable building projects. These projects are defined as those which either attempt to achieve green ratings or are claimed to address certain sustainability issues. A key focus is to examine how the client's vision for sustainability is achieved or compromised by the practicality of construction. Two sustainability rating systems, the Australian Green Star and the Living Building Challenge from the U.S. are discussed. This research examines two projects; one university multipurpose building (SMART Infrastructure Facility); and an advanced research facility, the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC). The methodology used is semi-structured interviews of key participants and stakeholders for the two university building. The outcome of this research indicates that environmental rating systems are useful tools to construct reasonably sustainable buildings. Many interviewees, however, believe that for their next projects the concern would be to continue to construct sustainable buildings but not necessarily by following the strict criteria and reporting requirements of the environmental rating system.

scholarly journals Using Early-Stage Assessment to Reduce the Financial Risks and Perceived Barriers of Sustainable Buildings

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renuka Ranaweera ◽  
Robert H Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Feasibility Assessment ◽  
Decision Making Processes

For sustainable buildings to become mainstream they must demonstrate not only improved environmental performance but also financial performance, benefiting both end users and investors. The perceived financial constraints and risks are often major barriers to sustainable design. This paper discusses the application of a new tool that formalizes the traditionally intuitive-based early-stage decision making processes and assesses the potential for creating a financially feasible best-practice sustainable building across a range of environmental, social and economic parameters, using the limited data available at the outset of a project. It considers the total cost of ownership, demonstrating the link between the recurrent and capital costs. A detailed feasibility assessment of those areas where greatest potential for improving environmental and financial performance exists can then be carried out, saving a considerable amount of time, money and effort otherwise spent on looking at all possible strategies for achieving a sustainable outcome. This approach also identifies areas where incorporating environmental strategies might be financially risky, reassuring investors and developers by reducing investment risks. By reducing some of these risks and perceived barriers to sustainable building development, it is hoped that clients and investors will be further encouraged to adopt a more sustainable approach to their building projects.

scholarly journals Investigating the Constraints to Buidling Information Modeling (BIM) Applications for Sustainable Building Projects: A Case of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Zhenwei Chu ◽  
Qing He ◽  
Peipei Zhai
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Technology Application

China’s construction industry is facing significant challenges in achieving sustainable development and digital operations. Integrating building information modeling (BIM) and sustainable construction is a good method for achieving these goals. However, barriers impact the applications of BIM technology to sustainable buildings, resulting in significant cost loss and time. As such, it is important to identify the constraints, hindering the application of BIM technology in sustainable buildings. This study used the factor analysis method, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the key constraints and conducted a questionnaire survey with 389 respondents to investigate the applications of BIM technology in sustainable building projects. The results showed that there were four main constraining factors: “Public participation”, “technology application”, “economic cost”, and “application management”; “public participation” was particularly important. The study offers practical and managerial implications based on the findings for local government and the private sector and thus can improve the implementation of BIM technology in sustainable buildings and contribute to the accomplishment of China’s sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals LEED–PDRI Framework for Pre-project Planning of Sustainable Building Projects

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gamini Weerasinghe ◽  
Karthik Soundararajan ◽  
Janaka Ruwanpura
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Green Building ◽  
The United States ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Sustainable Projects

Green buildings help in sustainability, in terms of achieving energy efficiency and minimizing the utilization of natural resources. Additional benefits include long-term sustainable building management and maintenance. There is, therefore, compelling motivation for the building of sustainable projects. This inspiration has led to the development of the leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) rating systems and projects by the United States Green Building Council and the Canadian Green Building Council. Proper building project management (BPM) of such projects is warranted. Pre-project planning is a crucial part of BPM that ensures delivery and performance of construction projects. Pre-project planning is defined as the process that encompasses all the tasks between project initiation and detailed design. There is a positive relationship between comprehensive pre-project planning and enhanced project performance. Given the motivation for environmentally sustainable projects and proper management of constructing such projects, diligent pre-project planning for such projects is required. This paper investigates the use of the LEED rating system in pre-project planning of sustainable construction projects by developing a matrix that combines the LEED and the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) developed by the Construction Industry Institute. The conceptual matrix and its application to a case study demonstrates that the value of linking pre-project planning with LEED to improve the decision making process during planning and designing of building projects to improve sustainability.

scholarly journals Towards Sustainable Residential Buildings in Saudi Arabia According to the Conceptual Framework of “Mostadam” Rating System and Vision 2030

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 793
Author(s):  
Ashraf Balabel ◽  
Mamdooh Alwetaishi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Comprehensive Development ◽  
Vision 2030 ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Building Standards

Saudi Arabia vision 2030 adopts comprehensive development standards in all fields of Saudi society. To achieve such standards, many initiatives and programs have been launched to achieve sustainable goals while meeting the needs of the present without compromising the requirements of future generations. Sustainable buildings are highly important in achieving sustainable development goals due to their excellent ability to reduce energy consumption, increase building efficiency, and reduce harmful emissions of greenhouse gases. The Kingdom aims to be the largest investor in the world in the sustainable buildings sector. To this end, the “Mostadam” evaluation service was recently launched in order to assist existing and new buildings in achieving sustainable building standards in a way that is in keeping with the privacy and principles of Saudi society. The present paper presents an extensive investigation to assess the current state of sustainable buildings in Saudi cities. Moreover, the main categories of sustainable residential buildings according to the “Mostadam” rating systems are discussed, and the potential of such categories in Saudi Arabia is explored. Finally, suggestions are given for some practical strategies and future policies targeting the total transformation towards sustainable buildings and, consequently, towards sustainable cities. This will have a great impact on achieving comprehensive sustainable development in Saudi Arabia in line with vision 2030.

scholarly journals The Key Strategies to Implement Circular Economy in Building Projects—A Case Study of Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 754
Author(s):  
H.-Ping Tserng ◽  
Cheng-Mo Chou ◽  
Yun-Tsui Chang
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Pilot Projects ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
The World ◽  
Project Phases ◽  
Future Project

The building industry is blamed for consuming enormous natural resources and creating massive solid waste worldwide. In response to this, the concept of circular economy (CE) has gained much attention in the sector in recent years. Many pilot building projects that implemented CE concepts started to appear around the world, including Taiwan. However, compared with the pilot projects in the Netherlands, which are regarded as the pioneer ones by international society, many CE-related practices are not implemented in pilot cases in Taiwan. To assist future project stakeholders to recognize what the key CE-related practices are and how they could be implemented in their building projects in Taiwan, this study has conducted a series of case studies of Dutch and Taiwanese pilot projects and semi-structured interviews with key project stakeholders of Taiwanese pilot projects. Thirty key CE-related practices are identified via case studies, along with their related 5R principles (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle) and project phases. Suggestion on CE-related practices, their 5R principles, project items, and phases to implement in building projects in Taiwan is also proposed while discussion on differences between two countries’ pilot projects is presented.

scholarly journals Zero Carbon Building Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4455
Author(s):  
Thao Thi Phuong Bui ◽  
Suzanne Wilkinson ◽  
Niluka Domingo ◽  
Casimir MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Zero Carbon

In the light of climate change, the drive for zero carbon buildings is known as one response to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Within New Zealand, research on climate change mitigation and environmental impacts of buildings has received renewed attention. However, there has been no detailed investigation of zero carbon building practices. This paper undertakes an exploratory study through the use of semi-structured interviews with government representatives and construction industry experts to examine how the New Zealand construction industry plans and implements zero carbon buildings. The results show that New Zealand’s construction industry is in the early stage of transiting to a net-zero carbon built environment. Key actions to date are focused on devising a way for the industry to develop and deliver zero carbon building projects. Central and local governments play a leading role in driving zero carbon initiatives. Leading construction firms intend to maximise the carbon reduction in building projects by developing a roadmap to achieve the carbon target by 2050 and rethinking the way of designing and constructing buildings. The research results provide an insight into the initial practices and policy implications for the uptake of zero carbon buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

scholarly journals Estidama and the Pearl Rating System: A Comprehensive Review and Alignment with LCA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5041
Author(s):  
Ayyagari Ramani ◽  
Borja García de Soto
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Rating System ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
System A ◽  
Robust Implementation ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Sustainability Standards

Multiple sustainability standards and rating systems have been developed to draw attention to constructing sustainable buildings. The Pearl Rating System (PRS) is a mandate for all new construction projects in Abu Dhabi. Hence, it is important to understand the main components, advantages, and limitations of the PRS. The feasibility and the practical relevance of the PRS are still being studied. This paper addresses this gap and critically evaluates the PRS against some of the well-established rating systems like LEED and BREEAM. The analysis suggests that the PRS considers the cultural aspect of sustainability, in addition to the environmental, societal, and economic aspects. It was also found that most rating systems, including the PRS, have a very superficial inclusion of life cycle assessment (LCA). The paper finally concludes with other observations and outlook for a more robust implementation of the PRS.

scholarly journals Knowledge-based Lean Six Sigma maintenance system for sustainable buildings

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasim Aldairi ◽  
M.K. Khan ◽  
J. Eduardo Munive-Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Rule Base ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Knowledge Based

Purpose This paper aims to develop a knowledge-based (KB) system for Lean Six Sigma (LSS) maintenance in environmentally sustainable buildings (Lean6-SBM). Design/methodology/approach The Lean6-SBM conceptual framework has been developed using the rule base approach of KB system and joint integration with gauge absence prerequisites (GAP) technique. A comprehensive literature review is given for the main pillars of the framework with a typical output of GAP analysis. Findings Implementation of LSS in the sustainable building maintenance context requires a pre-assessment of the organisation’s capabilities. A conceptual framework with a design structure is proposed to tackle this issue with the provision of an enhancing strategic and operational decision-making hierarchy. Research limitations/implications Future research work might consider validating this framework in other type of industries. Practical implications Maintenance activities in environmentally sustainable buildings must take prodigious standards into consideration, and, therefore, a robust quality assurance measure has to be integrated. Originality/value The significance of this research is to present a novel use of hybrid KB/GAP methodologies to develop a Lean6-SBM system. The originality and novelty of this approach will assist in identifying quality perspectives while implementing different maintenance strategies in the sustainable building context.

scholarly journals How Rating Systems Support Regenerative Change in the Built Environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 131-144
Author(s):  
Melinda Orova ◽  
András Reith
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Living Building Challenge

AbstractUrban development principles have evolved from sustainability, where the focus was on limiting the negative impact of urban environment, to restorative and regenerative sustainability, where positive impact is needed on global social and ecological systems. This recent paradigm shift requires the development of new tools for practitioners, like design methodologies, new technologies, and assessment methods.To measure the impact of sustainability on the built environment, several building-scale assessment tools exist. The question is how these widespread rating systems support restorative change in the built environment.The main question of the research is answered in three methodological steps. First, the goals of restorative sustainability are summarized from the available extensive literature, including the topics of Place, Energy, Water, Well-being, Carbon, Resources, Equity, Education, and Economics. Then different rating tools (Living Building Challenge, WELL, LEED, BREEAM, DGNB) are analysed how the considered issues and indicators in these rating tools are connected to restorative goals. Then these indicators are assessed how they serve that goal.The result of this study shows the main strengths and gaps in current wide-spread international rating tools regarding their support of restorative sustainability.

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