MITIGATING KEY BARRIERS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: A THEORETICAL ASSESSMENT

Abstract

The construction industry is a significant consumer of energy, natural resources, and water, as well as a major polluter. The need to construct more facilities to meet society's needs has exacerbated the construction industry's inherited detrimental effects on achieving long-term sustainability. In order to foster these endeavors, this paper aims to mitigate sustainable construction barriers in order to promote sustainability in South Africa. To accomplish the goal, three (3) major innovative practices were identified through cross-analysis of structured interviews with reference to published theoretical literature. The primary findings indicate that (1) energy conservation, (2) material conservation, and (3) water conservation are the most influential innovative practices for reducing barriers to promoting sustainable construction in South Africa. To be considered sustainable, a building must meet certain criteria such as resource and energy efficiency, emission reduction, pollution prevention, noise reduction, and improved indoor air quality, which are some of the common parameters, and it must be based on integrated and systematic approaches. The findings of the study will benefit and will add to the body of existing knowledge of construction industry professionals, owners, and policymakers.