Green Building Public Awareness for Client`s Benefits Realization in Kano, Nigerian

Abstract

Despite all the global stakeholders call for a paradigm shift from the traditional design and construction practices, green buildings awareness for greater client`s benefits realization is still lagging in the Nigerian construction industry. It is premise that, lack of adequate client awareness on the potential benefits realization and high costs associated with design and construction are seen to be key barriers in delivering green and sustainable buildings in the construction industry. Viewed from the concept of community of practice (CoP), it is the corporate social responsibility of the construction industry stakeholders to improve the current level of client`s awareness on green buildings and benefits realization. It is argued that a major setback to green building programs adoption is the lack of public awareness. This paper seeks to assess the level of client`s awareness on green building designs and the potential long term benefits to be achieved by delivering green and sustainable buildings. The study adopts an inductive approach and qualitative method. The data for analysis was collated through interview with both informed and ill-informed in the Nigerian construction industry and analyzed using thematic analysis. In this paper, design and developing green buildings is seen to have a great potential to optimize client's/owners benefits realization, through energy efficiency; organizational level of productivity and minimize building lifecycle operation costs in Nigerian commercial buildings. This can only be achieved if the client is well informed of the benefits to be realized in short term and in the long term

Optimising the Awareness of Benefits of Sustainable Construction Practices in Nigeria

“…The study also suggested through the effect size computation that these factors could cause the differences to have a large effect (r = 0.843). This result supports that of Komolafe and Oyewole (2018) and Ibrahim and Raji (2018) who found a low level of awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction among building users and clients (non-professionals), respectively. It also aligned with such studies as Ifije and Aigbavboa (2020), Nduka and Sotunbo (2014) that recognised the increasing awareness level among construction stakeholders.…”

“…The study also suggested that in the event of unavailability or difficulty in application of those strategies with a high importance level, alternative strategies with a medium-high importance level could be adopted. This also supported the positions Ganganaboina and Raiz (2017), Ibrahim and Raji (2018), Oluwole (2017), Sunthonkanokpong and Murphy (2019).…”

“…The fact is that this problem is still subsisting calls for a reconsideration of the knowledge and awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction practices among construction stakeholders. Ibrahim & Raji (2018), Ifije & Aigbavboa (2020), and Komolafe & Oyewole (2018) recommended for the need for increasing awareness and sensitisation of the benefits of sustainable construction practices as part of corporate social responsibility of construction stakeholders.…”

“…Only very few have attempted to look in the direction of awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction. For example, Ibrahim & Raji (2018) assessed the level of client's awareness on green building designs and the potential long-term benefits to be achieved by delivering green and sustainable buildings. Nduka & Sotunbo (2014) investigated the construction professional's perception on the awareness of green building rating systems and the accruable benefits in construction projects in Nigeria.…”