Adoption Of Sustainable Technologies Research Articles

Character strengths and sustainable technology adoption by smallholder farmers

Sustainable food systems are required to feed a growing world population. Smallholder farmers, who produce a significant share of the food supply in many developing countries, can play a crucial role in applying such systems. In agriculture, various innovative technologies promise to have a significant part in securing a sustainable future. Clearly, however, before new technologies can benefit their users, they must first be adopted. Why do most smallholders avoid using modern cultivation technologies? Rather than focusing on socio-economic geography-related factors and information gaps, we offer a new perspective, suggesting that personal variables, such as character strengths, prompt the adoption of sustainable technologies. We put this hypothesis to an empirical test in a large-scale field study of drip irrigation (DI) adoption in Senegal. Data were collected by face-to-face questionnaires. A binary logistic regression analysis of the data obtained from 335 different plots in Senegal, showed that a significant connection existed between two character strengths, creativity and judgment, and DI adoption. Along with its theoretical and empirical contribution, the value of this study lies in its practical implications: The research focuses on variables that are malleable and likely to be influenced by policy tools and education.

Challenges of adopting sustainable technologies in e-waste management at Agbogbloshie, Ghana

The study investigated why sustainable technologies are not used to collect, dismantle and sell e-waste at Agbogbloshie given the risk of injury and extensive environmental pollution associated with handling of electronic waste. The study objectives were to examine the nature of technologies adopted to manage e-waste, assess challenges faced in adopting sustainable technologies; determine the missing links between formal and informal e-waste workers. Research questions were; what is the current level of technology adopted to manage e-waste and challenges limiting the adoption of sustainable technologies; and what are the missing links between the formal and informal sectors that limit adoption of sustainable e-waste management strategies. Data collection involved use of questionnaire to gather data on technologies used for e-waste management, challenges faced in using such technologies and what the workers consider as solutions to sustainable e-waste management. Field observations helped to explain waste management operations and questionnaire responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Study results show most of the e-waste workers are youthful and not much educated. The use of unsustainable technologies to manage e-waste has contributed to physical injuries to workers and pollution of the environment. A major challenge limiting the use of sustainable technologies is lack of financial resources to acquire modern equipment despite the laborious nature of the work. The paper concludes that sustainable solutions to electronic waste management requires support from government to subsidize the cost of sustainable technologies in e-waste management.

Innovative Technologies to Promote Sustainable Recirculating Aquaculture in Eastern Africa—A Case Study of a Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Hatchery in Kisumu, Kenya

Lake Victoria, regionally important both as a source of food and income, is under pressure due to overfishing and severe pollution. Currently, the vast majority of east African aquaculture is open-pond based. The adoption of modern and sustainable aquaculture technologies and practices-in this case study recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)-will help the region increase food security and decrease its current reliance on imported fish and stressed wild stock. To this end, VicInAqua, a project under the EU Horizon 2020 program, has developed a pilot Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) hatchery in Kisumu, Kenya using RAS adapted to local conditions. The hatchery is designed as a flexible, scalable, and modular system. An online monitoring system enables farmers to access farm data from both fish tanks and the supporting renewable energy systems, allowing around-the-clock monitoring and control. The hatchery is linked to a 14.3 kWp Photovoltaic (PV) system, including a 30 kWh Li-battery storage, to supply sustainable electricity. The water for the RAS, treated by a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and certified for use in aquaculture and agriculture, comes chiefly from Kisumu's municipal sewage, which reduces the farms' reliance on an expensive and occasionally intermittent potable water supply. Combining these technologies represents an industry first and offers a working example for larger-scale future developments. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate the possible technologies and practices in situ as well as provide a template for future development and investment. The hatchery is used by the Department of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Kisumu County, Kenya, as a training and demonstration facility to promote the aquaculture sector and increase the awareness, knowledge, and skills of fish farmers, as well as provide high quality fingerlings to cage farmers within the lake. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:934-941. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

The green economy transition: the challenges of technological change for sustainability

The Green Economy is an alternative vision for growth and development; one that can generate economic development and improvements in people’s lives in ways consistent with advancing also environmental and social well-being. One significant component of a green economy strategy is to promote the development and adoption of sustainable technologies. The overall objective of this article is to discuss a number of challenges encountered when pursuing sustainable technological change, and that need to be properly understood by policy makers and professionals at different levels in society. We also identify some avenues for future research. The discussions center on five challenges: (a) dealing with diffuse – and ever more global – environmental risks; (b) achieving radical and not just incremental sustainable technological change; (c) green capitalism and the uncertain business-as-usual scenario; (d) the role of the state and designing appropriate policy mixes; and (e) dealing with distributional concerns and impacts. The article argues that sustainable technological change will require a re-assessment of the roles of the private industry and the state, respectively, and that future research should increasingly address the challenges of identifying and implementing novel policy instrument combinations in various institutional contexts.

Capturing the diversity of Mediterranean farming systems prior to their sustainability assessment: The case of Cyprus

Prior to any sustainability assessment and/or any effort to understand or develop the agricultural sector, the acknowledgment of the diversity of farming systems (FSs) is crucial. Typologies are often used for this purpose. The goals of this study were, for the first time, to identify and characterize the divergent FSs that exist in southeastern Cyprus, and analyse the main drivers of variability among FSs. Beyond this empirical exploration, this study explores the suitability of typology delineation for understanding the heterogeneity of FSs prior to their sustainability assessment and for the potential of adoption of sustainable intensification technologies. The multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis were employed on data from a representative sample of 324 farms in the study area. Results proposed six FSs, differentiated by land use, livestock, production pattern, farm, household, labour and economic variables. FS1-FS4 were crop-oriented and FS5-FS6 were livestock-oriented cultivating cereals and fodder crops for on-farm consumption. Only FS1 was profitable without subsidies, which were negatively associated with economic results. This casts doubt on the effectiveness of subsidies in providing the basis for a more profitable agricultural sector. FS3-FS5 households sought off/no-farm income mainly for their survival (i.e. complementary source of income), but not to cross-subsidize the farm. Small crop-oriented farms (FS4) and medium-sized livestock-oriented farms (FS5) had several weaknesses, such as elderly, low-educated managers and low profitability; thus, their viability should be the priority of decision makers. It was also observed a weak complementarity between the main system components (crop, livestock, off/non-farm income), which might negatively affect sustainable intensification. The importance of group membership for farm sustainability was also highlighted. The results of this study can be used for a more focused agricultural policy, tailored to the different constraints and opportunities of FSs, but also to inform public decision makers who are responsible to design and implement agricultural policy in Cyprus, or in other European Mediterranean regions with similar FSs and agro-ecological conditions.

Information dissemination and residential solar PV adoption rates: The effect of an information campaign in Sweden

Information campaigns promoting sustainable technology adoption are common. However, knowledge about their effects is limited. In this study, the effect of a Swedish information campaign for solar photovoltaics (PV) adoption is evaluated quantitatively. The campaign took place in Sweden in 2017 and was directed towards homeowners. 41% of all Swedish municipalities participated, creating a ‘treatment’ and a ‘control’ group. As dependent variables, we used applications and approvals for a nation-wide PV subsidy scheme. Few Swedish PV installations have historically occurred outside of the subsidy scheme, which is quite accessible and offers a substantial rebate. Thus, the data were assumed to correspond well with actual installations. Hierarchical linear regression, with a set of control variables, was used. We found that campaign participation was associated with a 29% increase in submitted and approved subsidy applications. Thus, we conclude that the information campaign had a significantly positive effect on PV adoption rates, and that policy makers in other countries with limited PV penetration could launch similar campaigns to elevate PV adoption rates.

Adoption of Sustainable Technology in the Malaysian SMEs Sector: Does the Role of Government Matter?

This paper looks at the role of government as a novel dimension in the adoption of sustainable technology by small and medium enterprises (SME) in Malaysia. This determinant stems from the fact that, in many transitional economies, private sector organizations encounter resource constraints as a barrier to innovation adoption. This is especially the case with sustainable technology incorporated into business operations. Therefore, third party intervention into the adoption process becomes inevitable and it is considered to make the adoption process more effective. A government has both the power and resources to play a pivotal role in the adoption of sustainable technology. Given this state of affairs, this study examines the government’s role as a critical factor in achieving smooth and efficient adoption. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) serves as the theoretical underpinning of this study. The data were collected from a sample of 263 SMEs in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. It was found that government policies and subsidies are critical in encouraging the adoption of sustainable technology in Malaysia. This paper discusses the implications for government-driven adoption of sustainable technology, identifies the limitations of the analysis, and avenues of future research in this very relevant and expanding field.

Going digital in agriculture: how radio and SMS can scale-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies in Tanzania

ABSTRACT In 2016, a study was conducted in Tanzania to assess the impact of radio and SMS in scaling-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices and technologies. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) does participation in the campaign enhance farmers’ knowledge of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies? (ii) what is the impact of the campaign on the adoption of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies?; (iii) does exposure to multiple ICT-enabled channels result in larger gains (in terms of knowledge and adoption) than exposure to only one channel? (iv) is it more cost-effective to use radio or SMS alone or use them in combination? The results show that both awareness and adoption are boosted if SMS supports radio campaigns. However, radio alone is the most cost-effective approach. Each dollar spent on the radio campaign results in 2.1 farmers that have adopted at least one new practice, compared with 0.5 farmers for SMS and 0.4 farmers for radio and SMS combined. Other factors were also important in facilitating uptake of legume-based SAI practices, such as gender, age, education and land size, but were not statistically significant when rated against the communication channels used.

Predictors of Sustainable Energy Technology Adoption Behavior in South-Western Nigeria

This study focuses on the predictors of sustainable energy technology (SET) adoption behavior in south-western Nigeria. Although the extant literature is gorged with plethora of studies on sustainable energy technology adoption, studies that were conducted in a typical emerging economy like Nigeria in general and south-west Nigeria in particular are grossly under-researched and under-reported. The main objective of this study is to empirically investigate the predicting factors that influence the adoption of sustainable energy technology in south-western Nigeria. Based on the foregoing, the study adopted quantitative design and quota sampling as the research design and sampling method respectively. Questionnaire was the research instrument. The validity and the reliability of the research instrument were tested using construct validity and composite validity respectively. Hypothesized relationships were tested using structural equation modeling. It was found that performance expectancy, perceived value and effort expectancy have significant effect on the intention to adopt sustainable energy technology, while social influence, facilitating condition and intrinsic motivation do not. Also, it was revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between intention to adopt sustainable energy technology and the actual adoption of sustainable energy technology. It was concluded that the study provided empirical support that Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) provides a robust and comprehensive theoretical framework to predict, explain and describe sustainable energy technology adoption behaviour in a typical developing country context like Nigeria. The marketers of SET products should use price as their unique selling proposition to attract customers. Also, the quality of the SET products should conform with the expected performance of the product. Also, the SET marketers should endeavour that expected efforts of the prospective SET products consumers are met adequately since social influence, facilitating conditions and intrinsic motivation did not have significant effect on adoption intentions for SET. Keywords: Sustainable energy technology, Adoption behavior, Intention to adopt, Unified theory of acceptance and use technology, Structural equation modeling, Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-8-07 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Model Development for the Prediction of the Resilient Modulus of Warm Mix Asphalt

Increasing material prices coupled with the emission of hazardous gases through the production and construction of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) has driven a strong movement toward the adoption of sustainable construction technology. Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is considered relatively a new technology, which enables the production and compaction of asphalt concrete mixtures at temperatures 15-40 °C lower than that of traditional hot mix asphalt. The Resilient modulus (Mr) which can be defined as the ratio of axial pulsating stress to the corresponding recoverable strain, is used to evaluate the relative quality of materials as well as to generate input for pavement design or pavement evaluation and analysis. Based on the aforementioned preface, it is possible to conclude that there is a real need to develop a predictive model for the resilient modulus of the pavement layer constructed using WMA. Within the experimental part of this study, 162 cylindrical specimens of WMA were prepared with dimensions of 101.6 mm in diameter and 63.5 mm in thickness. The specimens were subjected to the indirect tension test by pneumatic repeated loading system (PRLS) to characterize the resilient modulus. The test conditions (temperature and load duration) as well as mix parameters (asphalt content, filler content and type, and air voids) are considered as variables during the specimen’s preparation. Following experimental part, the statistical part of the study includes a model development to predict the Mr using Minitab vs 17 software. The coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.964 for the predicted model which is referred to a very good relation obtained. The Mr value for the WMA is highly affected by the temperature and moderately by the load duration, whereas the mix parameters have a lower influence on the Mr.

Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil

Waste is a valuable commodity and remains a livelihood source for waste pickers in the global South. Waste to Energy (WtoE) is often described as alternative to landfilling, as it provides cheap fuel while making waste disappear. In some European cities, this method has evolved into an impediment, slowing down the adoption of more sustainable technologies and waste prevention. These plants typically strain municipal budgets and provide fewer jobs than recycling and composting, thereby inhibiting the development of small-scale local recycling businesses. We applied the idea of ‘waste regime’ with an interdisciplinary and situated lens to provide insights to the following questions: How do different political developments in Brazil and Sweden, frame and reframe waste incineration and energy recovery, in the context of sustainability and waste management on local, regional and national levels? What forms of resistance against WtoE exist and what are the arguments of these protagonists? We evaluated the impact of WtoE and compare it with other waste management options with regard to CO2 balances and general environmental and social impacts. We conclude by suggesting more socially and environmentally appropriate ways of waste management, particularly for the context of global South cities.

Survey data on factors that constrain the adoption of soil carbon enhancing technologies in Ethiopia

The data described in this paper were collected in two watersheds – Azuga-suba watershed in Angacha woreda (district) of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) region and Yesir watershed of Bure woreda (district) of the Amhara region – in Ethiopia. The data were collected from 379 households with the main objective being to assess the factors constraining the adoption of sustainable land management technologies (SLMT) that enhance soil organic carbon sequestration. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire that was designed in SurveyCTO. The data cleaning and analysis was done using STATA SE version 14. This data can be used by researchers to assess the extent of adoption of SLMTs in Ethiopia by, for example, comparing the North and the South regions of Ethiopia. It can also be used to assess the probability of adoption as well as the benefit and costs of adopting SLMTs in Ethiopia both at farm and plot level.

Why are cluster farmers adopting more aquaculture technologies and practices? The role of trust and interaction within shrimp farmers' networks in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A common avenue to enable adoption of technologies and practices by small-scale producers is by means of farmer clusters. These are achieved by building networks and partnerships between farmers and other actors within the supply chain. This paper examines the role that farmer clusters play in the adoption of practices and technologies by shrimp farmers in Vietnam. Understanding the decisions that lead to adoption is important because these have a key impact on sustainable land use in aquaculture. We report on two complementary studies that test the role of farmer clusters in accessing different sources of knowledge and the trust associated with each of the knowledge sources. First, a survey (N = 193) tested the relationship between cluster membership and adoption, and showed that shrimp farmers who are members of farmer clusters are more likely to adopt three types of pond management practices (i.e. water quality management, feed input, and disease control practices). Furthermore, frequency of interaction with, and trust related to, key stakeholder actors could partly explain this relationship. Second, focus group discussions further zoomed into the dynamics that underlie the adoption of technologies and practices by cluster farmers and non-cluster farmers, respectively. We found that input retailers, buyers and hatcheries were only valued for their input on specific products and issues, but not trusted, as the information always needed being verified through testing by, amongst others, neighbors. Consequently, trust relations with these actors can be described as strongly calculative. Farmer clusters increase trust and tighten relationships between members. As a result, members trust each other when verifying information or sharing knowledge acquired from less trusted sources. On the basis of these results, we argue that reliance on existing farmer networks (i.e. clusters) is a viable tool to improve adoption of sustainable technologies and achieve land use planning objectives. Further implications for research and policy are discussed.

What drives the adoption of sustainable production technology? Evidence from the large scale farming sector in East China

Sustainable agricultural production technologies such as formula fertilizer and soil testing have caught attentions from government agencies and scholars as a potential solution to environmental problems associated with overuse of fertilizers. A lack of motivation from farmers has slowed the adoption of sustainable technologies in China, resulting in continued deterioration of the rural environment. Recently, China’s agriculture is experiencing rapid consolidation due to structural adjustments and labor migration. Large scale farming is becoming a major force for promoting sustainable rural development and agricultural production. This study applies the theory of planned behavior to explain the adoption of formula fertilizer and soil testing technology among 690 large scale producers in Eastern China. The path analysis shows the attitude, subjective norm (perceived social pressure), and perceived behavior control (perceived ability or risk) significantly increase farmers’ adoption intention. The only path that determines the actual behavior directly is behavioral intention. These findings suggest that, in addition to social, economic and institutional factors, policies aiming at promoting sustainable agricultural production should address the psychological dimensions of technology adoption. Effective approaches should be developed to cultivate farmers’ positive attitudes, social norms consciousness, perceived abilities, as well as reduce perceived risks to increase their interests in adopting the technology.

Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Urochloa species under inoculation with plant-growth-promoting bacteria and nitrogen fertilisation

Ineffective management of pastures still constitutes the main problem in the Brazilian livestock industry, in which recovery of soil fertility is a determinant for soil restoration. In this context and in combination with the adoption of sustainable technologies, the use of plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) may represent an alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers that would reduce costs and environmental impacts. In this study, morphogenetic and structural characteristics were evaluated in three Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) varieties. Urochloa is a genus that is present in the most degraded pastures in Brazil. The three varieties were inoculated with five PGPB (Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, Pseudomonas fluorescens CCTB 03 and ET76, and Pantoea ananatis AMG521) and treated with different doses of nitrogen (N) fertiliser (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha–1) in pots filled with sandy soil under greenhouse conditions. In general, for Marandu grass U. brizantha cvv. BRS Paiaguás and Xaraés, the best performances for leaf and stem elongation rates and number of basal tillers were obtained with strains CCTB 03 and AMG521. For U. ruziziensis, the best performance in the duration and rate of renewal of leaves and leaf senescence was observed with strains AMG521, Ab-V5 and Ab-V6. This result indicated the specificity of the effects of bacterial strains on different genotypes of Urochloa. Differences in the interactions between PGPB and N fertilisation were also verified. In U. brizantha, interaction effects were additive, whereas in U. ruziziensis, they were competitive. The results indicate the feasibility of inoculation of Urochloa with elite strains of PGPB that positively affect the production of forage biomass and allow reductions in N fertiliser usage.

The Role of policies, Regulations and Standards: Towards Sustainability in Kenya’s Building Environment.

This study seeks to explore the policy and institutional frameworks including regulations and standards in promoting sustainability. The paper reports an on-going study on how policies, regulations and standards promotes adoption of sustainable building materials and technologies in relation to utilization of location specific materials and their effects on carbon sequestration potential of the natural ecosystem. The study set to establish the building materials sustainability selection criteria techniques, and supporting policies and institutional frameworks. There are 14 sustainability selection techniques available for application by built environment practitioners. Over 20 policies exists in Kenya that addresses climate change, built environment and urbanization against which to evaluate uptake and effectiveness of building materials sustainability selection criteria techniques. This study is purposive in nature as such, key informant questionnaire assisted tool was used. Our findings demonstrate that 77.4% sampled built environment practitioners did not appreciate that current policies adequately support adoption of emerging building technologies. There is low uptake coupled with ineffective sustainability selection criteria techniques. The study recommends review of existing legislations to accommodate emerging technologies and selection criteria tools, financing of pilot projects, standardization of building materials sustainability selection criteria techniques, training and sensitization, and inventory of building materials and sources.

Adoption of Multiple Sustainable Manure Treatment Technologies by Pig Farmers in Rural China: A Case Study of Poyang Lake Region

The adoption of sustainable manure treatment technologies (SMTTs) in livestock production helps to reduce agricultural contamination. As such, understanding what determines farmers’ adoption of SMTTs is an essential prerequisite for the administrative handling of livestock pollution. Applying a multivariate probit model on a cross-sectional data set of 686 pig farmers in Poyang Lake Region in China, this study discovered that two key factors influencing farmers’ decisions to adopt multiple SMTTs are off-farm labor and environmental awareness. In other words, households with a higher share of off-farm labor are less likely to adopt SMTTs. Farmers with higher environmental awareness are more likely to adopt SMTTs. The results also revealed that because of the inappropriateness of government subsidy and insufficient technical training, the impact of Chinese government subsidy on the adoption of biogas technology is negligible, but the subsidy on composting greatly helps to promote the adoption of composting technology. We also found a substitution effect and complementary effects between different SMTTs. These findings can improve policymakers’ understanding of farmers’ joint adoption decisions. It also helps policymakers to optimize subsidy strategies to encourage farmers’ adoption of SMTTs in rural China.

Prospects for Agricultural Sustainable Intensification: A Review of Research

In recent years, as a way to achieve higher agricultural output while reducing the negative impact of agricultural production on the environment, agricultural sustainable intensification has attracted worldwide attention. Under the framework of "connotation definition-measuring method-influencing factor-implementation path", this paper systematically sorts out the main research results in the field of agricultural sustainable intensification. The results show that: (1) The connotation of agricultural sustainable intensification has not been clearly defined. It is widely believed that sustainable intensification has the characteristics of increasing production and reducing environmental damage, and is widely used in agricultural, biological and environmental sciences; (2) The measurement methods and indicators of agricultural sustainable intensification are diverse, and the measurement cases are mainly distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa and America; (3) The influencing factors of agricultural sustainable intensification can be roughly divided into four aspects: socio-economic factors, farmers’ own characteristics and natural factors, among which population pressure is the potential driving force for agricultural sustainable intensification; (4) The most obvious feature of agricultural sustainable intensification is the reduction of the yield gap. The strategy of implementing agricultural sustainable intensification can be attributed to the effective use of inputs and the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies. Therefore, the implementation path can be summarized as enhancing the effectiveness of external inputs to the agricultural system and optimizing the practice and technology mix within the crop production system. Finally, this paper concludes that research on connotation definition, influencing mechanism, different regional models, incentive mechanism for farmers, impact evaluation and system design of agricultural sustainable intensification should be strengthened in future.

A Typology-Based Approach for Assessing Qualities and Determinants of Adoption of Sustainable Water Use Technologies in Coping with Context Diversity: The Case of Mechanized Raised-Bed Technology in Egypt

Mechanized raised-bed technology (MRBT) is recognized as an important measure to achieve higher crop productivity and water-use efficiency in intensive irrigated systems. Development efforts on spreading this technology require adequate understanding of the qualities and drivers of farmers’ adoption of MRBT. Research in agricultural innovation adoption has identified the importance of the socio-ecological context (SEC) that influences the livelihood of farmers adopting new technologies. This study introduces an agricultural livelihood systems (ALS) typology-based approach for guiding concrete analytical steps and statistical methods in evaluating the effects of system SEC diversity in two Egyptian governorates. We objectively classify a population of sampled farming households into a limited number of ALS types and use inferential statistics for the whole sampled population and individual ALS types to discover adoption drivers. Values added by the ALS approach confirm the widespread role of common determinants of MRBT adoption across ALS types, household groups subject to the effects MRBT, and show new causal effects. The presented advanced approach and empirical findings will be useful for enhancing targeting and out-scaling of MRBT practices toward achieving sustainable agricultural water uses at scale.

Assessing determinants of sustainable upgrade of existing buildings

PurposeEstimates show that close to 90% of the buildings we will need in 2050 are already built and occupied. The increase in the existing building stock has affected energy consumption thereby negatively impacting the environment. The purpose of this paper is to assess determinants of sustainable upgrade of existing buildings through the adoption and application of sustainable technologies. The study also ranks sustainable technologies adopted by the professionals who participated in the survey with an in-built case study.Design/methodology/approachAs part of the overall methodology, a detailed literature review on the nature and characteristics of sustainable upgrade and the sustainable technologies adopted was undertaken. A survey questionnaire with an in-built case study was designed to examine all the sustainable technologies adopted to improve energy consumption in Australia. The survey was administered to sustainability consultants, architects, quantity surveyors, facility managers and engineers in Australia.FindingsThe results show a total of 24 technologies which are mostly adopted to improve energy consumption in existing buildings. A factor analysis shows the main components as: lighting and automation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) systems and equipment, envelope, renewable energy and passive technologies.Originality/valueThe findings bridge the gap in the literature on the adoption and application of sustainable technologies to upgrade existing buildings. The technologies can be adopted to reduce the excessive energy consumption patterns in existing buildings.