The impact of industry 4.0 technologies on the environmental sustainability of commercial property by reducing the energy consumption

Abstract

This research examined the concept of industry 4.0 technologies (IT4) and identified the effects that they have on the environmental sustainability of commercial properties in South African. The extensive literature review revealed that IT4 used to reduce the energy consumption of commercial properties is not widely adopted in South Africa. This could be attributed to South Africa’s energy building regulation, SANS 204, which provides the minimum energy saving specifications for local building requirements. It was discovered that only green buildings implemented industry 4.0 energy-saving technologies to reduce their energy consumption above the SANS 204 standards. Furthermore, it was found that buildings waste large amounts of energy which can be prevented through the use of industry 4.0 energy-saving technologies. The researchers attempted to evaluate the impact of IT4 on the energy consumption of South African commercial properties through an overarching constructivist paradigm. The research was conducted using a multi-case study approach, utilising qualitative and quantitative data on green buildings which have IT4 installed. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the quantitative data (energy consumption), while qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews for an in-depth analysis. The research findings revealed that IT4 could reduce a commercial building’s energy consumption by as much as 23%. The study also found that IT4 reduced a building’s carbon footprint and improved employee productivity. This paper would provide value to developers and landlords who have limited information regarding the factors around the implementation of IT4.