Major challenges in implementing green construction

• Main Authors: Afzan, Ahmad Zaini, Intan Rohani, Endut
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medwell Publishing 2018
• Subjects: TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/22545/1/Afzan%2C%20Binti%20Ahmad%20Zaini.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/22545/; https://www.medwelljournals.com/abstract/?doi=jeasci.2018.8865.8869&keyword=Major%20challenges%20in%20implementing%20green%20construction
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Green construction is associated with a plethora of challenges. On the account of these challenges, this research strived to explore the major challenges associated with the implementation of green construction. A total of 346 survey questionnaires were gathered from the top to middle managerial positions in Malaysia’s construction industry. The theoretical framework was established and the data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-AMOS). The rotated dimensions were renamed as “Operational Concerns,” “Government support,” “Economic and financial constraints,” “Lack of education and regulatory compliance,” “Industrial barriers” and “Organizational challenges” based on the theoretical framework. The results from the SEM-AMOS analysis denoted that all the major challenges were full moderation. Consequently, these results were complemented with 25 semi-structured interviews among construction stakeholders. The findings from the semi-structured interviews were analyzed using NVivo-9 Software. The insights revealed that the challenges were referenced 85 times. “High overall and up-front cost” was referenced 19 times as the highest reference, while “Difficulties in transportation and logistics” was referenced one time as the lowest reference. The original contributions in this study can be seen through the mixed method approach (i.e., qualitative and quantitative) in order to identify the most prominent challenges in the construction industry. The findings concluded that identifying the major challenges would help construction stakeholders minimize these challenges and encourage them to be more attentive and open towards the challenges in green construction.