Green building, pro-environmental behavior and well-being: Evidence from Singapore

Abstract

This paper incorporates environmental psychology insights into a well-being framework related to the built environment to predict the relations between green buildings and their residents in terms of pro-environmental behavior and well-being. To test our predictions, we apply a generalized structural equation modelling technique to a household survey dataset collected from the Singapore private housing market. We find that green building residents have a higher assessment of their residential environment. This increases the level of their residential satisfaction, which subsequently enhances their quality of life and reduces their intention to move. We demonstrate that green buildings provide a supportive and educational environment for motivating and educating their residents to behave in a pro-environmental manner. Residents' improved pro-environmental behavior and enhanced well-being are attributed to some, though not all, green features. We find that tangible green features (i.e., greenery, ventilation, indoor environments, and waste facilities) have greater impacts on residents than intangible ones (i.e., energy efficiency and accessibility to public transport). The findings contribute ideas and solutions to the future development of green buildings by taking a social perspective to pursue urban sustainability. This paper also inspires future multi-disciplinary research at the intersection of urban studies, psychology, and behavioral science.