Sustainable real estate management practice: Exploring the priority of operational stage for actualizing sustainable built environment goal in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

In the real estate and construction industry, the built environment contributes to environmental crises and climate threats . However, what are the environmental negative effects/impacts at the post-development stage (operational stages)? Are they different from those at virgin constructions? After the construction phase, what factors inhibit the adoption of sustainable real estate management practice, herein referred to as the green lease movement? To what extent has sustainable real estate management practice been adopted in Nigerian commercial cities? Specifically, this study examines negative environmental crises at the operational stages and confirms if different from the conventional counterpart. It also examines the factors inhibiting the full adoption of sustainable real estate management practices. Similar to conventional construction, carbon dioxide emissions and toxic waste generation emerged as the major negative effects/impacts during the operational stage. Lack of prerequisite skills, enforcement of green leases, inadequate training, and empowerment of licenced property managers and occupiers on how such leases operate significantly inhibit the full adoption of green leases in the region. Energy conservation bulbs and digital metering are the most adopted features. The current property management practice does not address these negative effects/impacts.