An Exploratory Analysis of Risks in Green Residential Building Construction Projects: The Case of Singapore

Bon-Gang Hwang,Helena Phua,Seokho Chi,Ming Shan

doi:10.3390/su9071116

Bon-Gang Hwang, Helena Phua + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071116

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Abstract

Recently, an increasing number of green residential buildings have been developed worldwide owing to active promotion from the authorities and increasing interest from customers. However, in the same way as traditional residential buildings, the construction of green residential buildings faces various risks. The aims of this study are to identify and assess the diverse risks in green residential building construction projects, compare their risk criticalities with those in traditional counterparts, and propose helpful risk mitigation measures. To achieve these goals, a comprehensive literature review was first conducted, and a questionnaire was then administered to 30 construction companies in Singapore. Survey results showed that “complex procedures to obtain approvals”, “overlooked high initial cost”, “unclear requirements of owners”, “employment constraint”, and “lack of availability of green materials and equipment” were the top five critical risks in green residential building construction projects. Survey results also showed that green residential building projects were facing risks at a more critical level than those traditional residential building projects. Additionally, this study proposed fourteen risk mitigation measures to tackle the risks in green residential building construction projects. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by identifying and evaluating the critical risks and mitigation measures in green residential building construction projects. Meanwhile, the findings from this study can also provide an in-depth understanding of risk management in green residential building construction projects to practitioners and thus benefit the practice.

Highlights

Today it is widely recognized that human activities are accountable for various global crises such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, and one representative of these activities is construction [1,2,3,4,5]
Likewise, this study administered a questionnaire survey to assess risks and the relevant mitigation measures in green residential building projects in Singapore. 42 risks and 14 risk mitigation measures obtained from the literature review were utilized to form a questionnaire
The finalized questionnaire consisted of questions meant (1) to profile respondents and their affiliated companies, (2) to assess the likelihood and impact of each risk in both green and traditional residential building construction projects, and (3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the risk mitigation measures

Summary

Introduction

Today it is widely recognized that human activities are accountable for various global crises such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, and one representative of these activities is construction [1,2,3,4,5]. According to the United Nations Environment Program [6], the construction industry has become a big energy consumer who uses 40–50 percent of global energy and 40 percent of global raw materials; and a principal waste contributor who releases 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and produces 40 percent of solid waste worldwide These anxiety-provoking numbers exert considerable pressure on policy makers who eventually decide to adopt and promote green buildings [7,8,9].

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