Dwellers' perception on challenges and motivators of greening existing buildings in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

PurposeGreening existing buildings (GEB) considerably improves energy efficiency of old buildings, along with other benefits, but it is not widely practiced. As a part of a wider study, this paper aims to evaluate the perception of building dwellers/owners on the challenges and motivators to GEB in Brunei Darussalam.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire survey collected 109 responses from building owners/dwellers. Cronbach's alpha tested the reliability of the data collected. One-sample t-test examined if sample means are consistent with population means. ANOVA examined if different respondent groups significantly agreed on the importance levels of individual factors. Moreover, factor analysis narrowed down the long list of factors in to a smaller number of components.FindingsA set of 30 challenges and 19 motivators of GEB was identified. “Lack of a GEB infrastructure” was identified as the collective key challenge, leading dwellers to recognize lack of support and knowledge and develop wrong perception on GEB. However, “framework of supports,” as a summative motivator, improves knowledge and awareness on GEB, which allows recognizing other benefits and developing a momentum of practicing GEB. Factor analysis suggested a consolidated approach for challenges through six interrelated components, but for motivators to focus on somewhat four independent areas.Originality/valueHouse/building dweller/owners' decision is the key to undertake GEB. This study, apparently for the first time, contributes to identifying the challenges and motivators that influence their decision-making.

Roles of stakeholders for adopting sustainable design in buildings

“…The remaining 122 responsive responses (as seen in Table 1) were used for analysis. This registered 32% rate of response (122/381), which is more than the average of 30% in most construction management studies [49,50]. So, the rate of response was regarded as acceptable.…”

Opposing approaches for enhancing energy efficiency in buildings

“…The project was decided to be approached through SLR, two questionnaire surveys and one interviewbased survey, to eventually develop a framework for wider practice of GEB. At the beginning, the SLR identified different GEB methods or processes, common green features that can be equipped in existing buildings, suitability of building types for GEB, and three broad groups of motivators and eight broad groups of challenges to GEB [16]. The first of the two planned questionnaire surveys dealt with identifying motivators and challenges to undertake GEB.…”

“…Data from this survey is being analyzed. Meanwhile, a case study identified potential savings from GEB and verified the pay-back period of various household electrical appliances that can be replaced through GEB [17], and the theoretical construct of the second questionnaire survey on technology adoption has been conceptualized [18]. The second questionnaire is being drafted.…”

“…GEB refers to the process of ensuring energy efficiency of otherwise viable old buildings, through furnishing with sustainable, modern and energy-efficient 'green' appliances, features or emerging technologies that are cost-effective and more energy efficient, in place of old and unsustainable appliances or features, as and when suitable, e.g. during their repair, renovation, maintenance, or retrofit works [10,16,31,43]. Examples include upgrading lighting systems, window or door shutters, cooling or heating systems, constructing green/cold roofs (or roof top gardens), installing movable solar shading devices, and the likes [17,[31][32]42].…”

“…80 % of all residential buildings in Malaysia will be in this category by 2050 [12], and 95 % of such buildings consume much higher energy than newly constructed buildings using SusD [13]. Such old but economically viable buildings are suggested to be equipped with energy efficient and modern 'green features' using 'greening existing buildings'(GEB) approach, whenever suitable, aiming at improvement in building energy efficiency and consequent reduction in CO2 emissions [10,[14][15][16][17][18]42].…”