Elsevier

Journal of Building Engineering

Volume 4, December 2015, Pages 86-93
Journal of Building Engineering

Understanding barriers affecting the selection of sustainable materials in building projects

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2015.08.006Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Barriers affecting sustainable materials selection were examined.

  • Top barriers includes perception of extra cost and lack of materials information.

  • Suggestions were provided to mitigate the identified barriers.

Abstract

The selection of sustainable building materials has been identified as an important strategy in the design of a building. Although the sustainability imperative is gaining in importance, there are still major barriers preventing this’‘new style’ architectural practice becoming the norm. This paper examines the major barriers encountered in the selection of sustainable building materials among building construction professionals in Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was developed to capture the perception of construction professionals regarding the significance of the identified barriers as it affects the selection and use of sustainable building materials. Case studies of three completed building projects were conducted with design team to validate the result of the survey. Research results show that perception of extra cost being incurred and lack of sustainable material information are identified as the top barriers to sustainable materials selection. The paper concludes with suggestions and actions that can help overcome these existing barriers.

Introduction

It is estimated that by 2056, global economic activity will have increased fivefold; global population will have increased by over 50%; global energy consumption will have increased nearly threefold, and global manufacturing activity will have increased at least threefold [19]. Being the most populous country in Africa and Africa biggest oil producer, Nigeria has undergone rapid changes since adoption of economic reform in 2003, which affect all sectors of the economy including construction. The sector now contributes about 5% to Nigeria’s annual gross domestic product and one-third of her total fixed capital investment and employs around 8% of the Nigerian labor force [12]. However, construction-contributed environmental impacts have been increasing in Nigeria in line with its economic reforms and fast urban development since the early 1990 s. The extent of its impact is still being debated because information and data about the environmental impacts of the construction industry are still not being collected and analyzed systematically. Building construction practitioners have an important role in contributing to the reduction of the built environment impact on the environment and hence advancing the sustainability agenda across the three bottom lines of sustainability, the economic, environmental and social strands. With respect to such significant influence of the building industry, the selection of sustainable materials has been identified as the easiest way for building professionals to begin incorporating sustainable principles in building projects [4]. According to [5], [28], the selection of building materials is one of several factors that can impact the sustainability of a building project. This was also reaffirmed in the work of [36], [39], that an appropriate choice of materials for a design process plays an important role during the life cycle of a building.

Kibert [23] view sustainable material selection as one of the most difficult tasks to undertake in a building project. In part, this is because:

  • so many different products and materials need to be evaluated, both individually and as assembled building components;

  • assessment parameters are not consistent across product categories or different countries of origin;

  • manufacturing processes lack transparency;

  • products and materials evaluation has no universally agreed approach.

Several manuals now provide guidelines for material selection. These include [4], [8], [14]. Baharetha et al. [8] note that in selecting sustainable materials, designers should aim to maximize durability, energy efficiency, recyclability, maintainability, and use of local materials to reduce the environmental impact of construction. Akadiri and Olomolaiye [4] describe a strategy for the selection of sustainable building materials: design building to be efficient and to utilize as few resources as possible, specify the use of renewable and recycled sources in order to close the life-cycle loop of materials and select materials with the least environmental impact throughout their entire lifetime.

However, it appears that there is limited effectiveness of the consideration of sustainable practices in the existing buildings material selection practices among building professionals in Nigeria. In a recent review of sustainable building finishes in Nigeria, Adeleji and Taiwo [1] found that a very small proportion of building stock in Nigeria can claim to be sustainable in any way, whether judged on sustainable construction, design or performance in use. The question then arises of why is this so? Given such perceived benefit, what is stopping the use of sustainable building materials from being realized in practice?

This paper therefore examines the barriers affecting the selection and use of sustainable materials for building projects, with the aim of enhancing the sustainability of the Nigerian building sector. From a thorough literature review, thirteen barriers affecting the selection and use of sustainable materials for construction projects were identified. A self-administered questionnaire was used to capture the perception of construction professionals regarding the significance of the identified barriers as it affects the selection and use of sustainable building materials. The identification of the major barriers is verified by using three case studies of completed construction projects in Nigeria. The paper concludes by proposing several proactive suggestions on mitigating the existing barriers to help promote the consideration of sustainable materials for building projects.

Section snippets

Empirical studies on barriers to sustainable building materials specification

The overall performance of the building is the most important consideration in achieving more sustainable construction. Building materials play an essential role in increasing the sustainability of buildings and contributing to economic prosperity. The usage of building materials has a substantial impact of the environment, mainly because of the large quantity of non-renewable resources with the potential for depriving future generations of their use [15], [29]. Moreover, all building materials

Survey on factors affecting the selection of sustainable materials in Nigeria

This paper investigates barriers affecting the selection and use of sustainable materials for building projects in Nigerian Construction Industry. The research paper is positioned within the interpretive research paradigm and accorded with action research principles and as the objective being to contribute to the understanding of barriers in the selection of sustainable materials amongst construction experts. In this epistemological positioning, action research seeks to fundamentally change the

Result and discussion

The results derived from the analysis of empirical questionnaire survey were cross-referenced to the published literature wherever appropriate and to complement each other for validation.

Promoting the selection and use of sustainable materials for construction projects

In identifying the 13 barriers, some tentative suggestions can be made regarding priorities for action in overcoming them, and it is pertinent here to return to the stakeholder groups identified in the case study to suggest where some advances could be made. With regard to the interview discussions from the three case studies, it is obvious that barriers occurred throughout the life cycle of a construction project.

Cost figured prominently as the most frequently cited barrier affecting the

Conclusions

This research has revealed a number of key barriers that are hindering the realization of sustainability in materials selection. Broad generalizations cannot be made about the incidence of these barriers in a wider context; however, the fact that they have been discovered occurring in real projects is cause for concern for those seeking to deliver sustainable building in Nigeria. The top three critical barriers encountered in practice are highlighted as “perception of extra cost being

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