Objective conflicts in green buildings projects: A critical analysis

Abstract

The construction industry has significant environmental, social and economic impacts on the society. As a result, the last decades have witnessed the rapid growth of the green building sector in order to mitigate the negative impacts associated with construction related activities. Similar to conventional building projects, green building projects have a variety of objectives that may not necessary be compatible. These include upfront cost vs. ongoing savings; and energy savings vs. building users' health and wellbeing. In China, it has been reported that some green buildings consume 26% less energy compared to conventional buildings. However, due to the incremental cost, it is not uncommon that enterprises and governments in China are unwilling to bear this kind of risk. This has presented significant challenges to industry practitioners as they are also facing extra demands related to sustainability. This research aims to investigate the conflicts amongst various objectives of green building developments. A theoretical framework was established to depict the potential conflicts amongst various objectives of green building projects across its life cycle. This theoretical framework was tested with empirical data collected via semi-structured interviews. Rough set theory was employed to investigate the conflict degree amongst various project objectives from stakeholder's point of view. Implications were discussed and recommended to resolve these conflicts.