Model for promoting green certification of buildings in developing nations: a case study of Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeSeveral studies have shown that climate change is a threat to sustainable human living and high consumption of energy by buildings is a contributory factor. However, green practices in buildings have been proved as one of the successful technologies to mitigate global warming. Previous studies have shown lax green practices in developing countries’ buildings, but how far concerning green certification of buildings in Nigeria is yet to be explored. Therefore, this paper investigated the barriers to green certification of buildings (GCB). Also, the paper proposed a model for promoting GCB in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachEighteen experts with green building certification knowledge were engaged across three of Nigeria’s cities (Benin City, Abuja and Lagos) via scheduled WhatsApp video and teams calls. Collated interview data were analysed and presented in themes.FindingsFindings show that there is an absence of a framework to promote GCB in Nigeria. Hence, GCB is low across the states. Twelve main sub-themes emerged as the barriers to GCB in Nigeria. Also, eight key sub-themes emerged as the possible concepts that can be used to improve GCB in Nigeria and formulated into a proposed framework to promote GCB in Nigeria.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is limited to GCB in Nigeria and only 18 participants were engaged. Thus, this paper suggests that a mixed-methods approach should be conducted in future studies with wider coverage. This may assist to validate the paper’s findings.Practical implicationsFindings from this paper will stir up practitioners in green building and influence the promotion of GCB in the sector. As part of this study’s implications, suggestions through the paper’s proposed framework will benefit Nigeria’s policymakers to make decisions towards achieving GCB. This can be achieved via the proposed framework to promote the concept across Nigeria.Originality/valueThis paper is probably the first that attempted to investigate the barriers and proffer policy solutions via a framework to promote GCB in Nigeria and by extension in other developing countries.

The role of policy and regulation in promoting green buildings

“…Harmonizing green building standards and certifications globally is essential for ensuring consistency and promoting the adoption of sustainable building practices , Ebekozien, et. al., 2022.…”

Towards More Green Buildings in Tanzania: Knowledge of Stakeholders on Green Building Design Features, Triggers and Pathways for Uptake

“…Dadzoe et al [20] and Anzagira et al [18] identified a lack of awareness as one of the limiting factors hindering the uptake of GB in Sub-Saharan Africa. Other impediments include but are not limited to inadequate training and education, existing policy/regulation, implementation capability, higher initial costs of green construction practices and materials [16,18,[21][22][23][24], lack of integration of local culture, traditional construction methods [18,19,25], and challenges related to design and construction implementation of green building processes [19,22,24]. Inferring from the cited literature, low GBP uptake seems to be a crosscutting feature prevailing in most African countries.…”

“…In Nigeria, Opoko et al [67] advocates for an intensive campaign to raise awareness of the tremendous benefits of green practices. According to Ebekozien et al [23] and Komolafe and Oyewole [68], awareness and sensitization regarding green building certification is a crucial driver promoting GB practices. While stakeholders consider increased awareness among stakeholders (DG08) to be the most important perceived driver, there is still limited uptake of GBP due to a lack of knowledge and awareness on the advantages of GBRS.…”