Energy Efficient Green Building: Importance, Benefits, And Challenges

Background of the study

The construction sector has an important part in the human life and at the same time, it is harmful due to consumption of natural resources to a great extent (Gehl, 2011). In the present scenario, high population demands larger construction of buildings and negatively influences the environment (Goudie, 2018). Apart from this, it also increases the demands of energy because the construction process and building need more energy (Blom, Itard and Meijer, 2011). However, due to limited natural resources, it is difficult to fulfil the requirement of energy. On the other hand, the construction process negatively affects the environment through transportation activities and producing a large volume of waste (Morgan, 2012). Owing to this, several real estate companies targets to construct the energy-efficient green building and contribute to environmental protection. It helps to protect the ecosystem of construction affected areas and increases the biodiversity.

In the current era, the high competitiveness of the construction industry creates several barriers due to increasing awareness of human being towards the environment and rising issues of the natural environment due to high exploitation of resources. Similarly, strict regulatory requirement from the government for the environment conservation enhances the negative circumstances for construction companies because it creates that pressure on the firm. Apart from this, high consumption of natural resources decreases the availability of raw material which is the major issue faced by the construction companies. Owing to this, current study focuses on energy efficient green building which helps in preserving the natural resources and reduces the ill effect of the construction to a great extent. This study would be helpful in increasing the competitiveness of the construction sector and provide the quality services.  

• To analyze the importance of energy efficient green building project
• To recognize the perception of green buildings
• To understand the importance of environment friendly green buildings in the contemporary era
• To evaluate the relation between green building and energy consumption  
• To suggest different ways to explore energy efficient and environment friendlygreen buildings  

According to Pérez-Lombard, Ortiz and Pout (2008), the rapid growth of population is continuously increasing need for energy which has puts lots of pressure on the construction industry. This demand affects the environment severely. In this context, Cajias and Piazolo (2013) found that compared to transportation and industrial, commercial and residential buildings consume more energy. Due to several negative impacts on the environment makes the energy efficiency reason for concern. To overcome these impacts civil organizations introduces the concept of green buildings. In this context, Miller et al. (2009) asserted that green buildings are the projects which consume low resource efficient and environment friendly. It consists of planning to structure design, construction process, makeover and demolition etc. In this regards, Council, (2008) stated that green buildings can be considered as the buildings which have more health and environmental benefits than cost benefits. However, Popescu et al. (2012) argued that the concept of the green building recently been used to make profits and it is not safe. Therefore, green buildings projects are the most effective program to deal with the energy problems and decreases the harmful impact of build environment on the natural environment.

Rationale

  In the present era, the commercialization of buildings generated the issue of higher energy consumption which negatively affect the natural environment. In this context, Kok, McGraw and Quigley (2011) asserted that the construction of green buildings is important for increasing the utilization and saving the resources. Owing to this, they have several benefits like environmental, economic and social etc. In this context, Hwang and Tan (2012) asserted that as compared to conventional buildings, green buildings focus on the efficient uses of resources such as energy, water, land and material. In this regard, Kibert (2016) stated that by using rainwater and greywater harvesting method green buildings water could be saved which can be used in the gardening and other household uses. Further, green buildings recycle and reuse waste material in construction which reduces the waste and promotes energy efficiency in both phases of construction before and after. Moreover, it focuses on providing better lighting and ventilation to tenants in the infrastructure of buildings. This helps in reducing electrical consumption which is more beneficial. In this regard, Ascione et al. (2013) stated contrast to traditional structure, green buildings utilize water and other energy efficient innovation through the solar system, wind turbine and daylighting etc. which further increases the energy efficiency in such a way through which more sustainable and healthier environment can be created.  It also reduces the hazard emission in the environment which produced by fossil fuels. This reduces the air quality issues such as acid rain and smog. It is evident that green buildings construction design is most beneficial in increasing energy efficiency and a healthy environment.

The other stream is an economic sector where green buildings provide significant benefits. In this regards, Yudelson, (2008) stated that in the unique construction design facilitate the lot of day lightning features which reduces the power consumption of the user. This saves water and energy bills which reduces the operational and maintenance cost. In addition to that, for example, they do not need annual paintings which results in saving in time and money. This reduces cost and also increases the income of buildings owner because the high public demands for energy efficient green buildings which generate low maintenance and low utility bills.  However, Berardi (2012) mentioned that the construction of green buildings is costly affair but comparison to traditional buildings it is low. In this regard, Clark, Adriaens and Talbot (2008) proposed that although the construction cost of the green buildings projects is initially higher in project lifecycle but reduced operational and maintenance cost of green buildings makes them much cheaper in long run. Thus, the construction of green buildings is beneficial for both constructor and public because it saves the financial expenditure of public which consumed in higher maintenance cost and utility bills as well as it sells at primum price.  

Green buildings are the futuristic approach which also has several social benefits. In this regards Singh, Syal and et.al (2010) asserted that green building users enjoy many health benefits. For instance, the eco-friendly construction avoids usage of plastic which found to be toxic material. These toxic materials are not only cause skin and breathing issues but also encourages very harmful diseases such as cancer. Further, Yudelson (2010) mentioned that green building also enhances the natural air and light flow in the buildings by the installing operable windows that sunlight and emits those elements which are harmful to the health. These indoor environment qualities reduce the stress of the user and improve the quality of lifestyle.  Therefore, green buildings need to be the most acknowledgeable approach in today’s globalization era which has several socio-economic and environmental benefits as above mentioned.

As above mentioned, by various researchers that green buildings are the most valuable and energy efficient approach in changing global environmental scenario. However, according to Eichholtz, Kok and Quigley (2010) in spite of green buildings sustainable energy performance and various socio-economic benefits, it has significant challenges related to cost, operation and maintenance etc.  In this regard, Eichholtz, Kok and Quigley (2013) stated that cost is the most significant challenge in the implementation of green buildings. However, as above researcher mention that it covers the cost in long-term but the initial cost is the biggest challenge to attain energy efficiency in green buildings. For example, installing solar panel devices is much costlier because the device itself consumes a lot of money. Further, the material availability is the other challenges which also influence the cost. In this regard, Chegut, Eichholtz and Kok (2014) stated that the eco-friendly material has been used in the construction of the green building which is very safe and healthy. However, it incurs an additional cost because the low availability of environment friendly materials in several areas. Thus, the transportation of those materials increases the construction cost of green buildings 

Apart from the cost barrier, lack of information and expertise on energy efficiency is more challenging for companies to attain energy efficiency in green buildings. In this regards, Hwang and Tan (2012) stated that skill, competency and efficient labour are the most important entity for green buildings.  As green buildings have the unique infrastructure and equipped with various devices need skilled workers which is difficult to get. For this purpose, users are advised to get professional help in order to avoid any issue which also becomes a costly liability. In addition to this, Sadineni, Madala and Boehm (2011) asserted that as the performance of energy efficiency depends on the outside climate due to the changing environment it gets difficult to achieve.  Moreover, Hoffman and Henn (2008) mentioned that despite of construction cost and maintenance issue several of bank or mortgage company offers the huge loan for the green buildings in spite of traditional building. In addition to that, the environment-friendly location for the green building is also a challenging job (Wolch,  Byrne and Newell,2014). These are the several challenges stated by various researchers which influence the energy efficiency of green buildings.

1. Research Methodology

Literature Review

The research methodology consists the different procedures which are used to collect and evaluate the information which helps for enhancing the efficiency of research.

For conducting research there are two types of studies including qualitative and quantitative (Bruschi et al. 2011). The qualitative study helps the researcher to conduct an in-depth analysis for the research which consequently drive the valid result. On the other hand, the quantitative study considers the various techniques and statistical tools for achieving the scientific result of research (Morgan, 2013). In this regard, the present study will be based on both qualitative and quantitative study through which the researcher will able to do an in-depth analysis of energy efficient green building project. Apart from this, it will help the researcher to analyze the impact of green buildings project on the consumption of energy. Thus, both approaches will be appropriate for current research.  

Research philosophy is a crucial portion of the research which represents the beliefs and intuition of researcher. The two types of research philosophy including interpretivism and positivism. The selection of research philosophy is based on the nature of the study (Morgan, 2013). In the interpretivism, the researcher is allowed to include own experience and knowledge regarding the particular topic (Goldkuhl, 2012). On the other hand, in positivism, researcher does not put own thoughts for gaining the outcome of research since the outcome derived from the application of statistical tools are considered valid. Owing to this, researcher only focuses on scientific outcome and generate the result of the study (Morgan, 2012).  In this context, in the present research researcher will use the interpretivism philosophy which would allow researcher to be the active part of the study and derive the detailed information on the basis of analyzed information.                 

The research approach is the set pattern for completing the study by selecting an approach out of inductive and deductive. The inductive approach starts with the specific investigation of the research topic and ends with generalization. On the other hand, the deductive approach starts with general facts which are related to the study topic and end up with the specific information (Soiferman, 2010). By considering both approaches, the present research will be carried out with the inductive approach wherein researcher will be able to enhance the awareness for energy-efficient green buildings and will able to produce an effective result of the research.              

The research design is significant for the researcher to represent the information and data related to study in an effective manner. In this regard, three types of research design including exploratory, descriptive and explanatory are used in the research (Malhotra and Malhotra, 2012). The exploratory design is focused on the new insight and facts of the research and works as an initiative to drive the effective result of the study. Apart from this, explanatory research design establishes the cause and effect relationships among two variables of study (Hakim, 2012). Moreover, the descriptive research design engages researcher to bring out the specific outcome regarding the aim and objectives. In this regard, the present research will be carried out with the descriptive research design because it is more justifiable because it will increase the capabilities of the investigator to understand the importance and barrier in constructing the green building projects.                

Concept of Energy efficient green building project

Data collection is a process in which researcher collect the data and information from different sources (Guentsch et al. 2011). The two types of data collection methods including primary and secondary. In the present research both primary and secondary data will be used wherein secondary data will be gathered from different published journals, books and published news articles. Apart from this, the primary data will be gathered with the help of the close-ended opinion poll because the green building is a broad topic and will help the researcher to focus on the energy efficiency aspect of green buildings.        

Sampling is a small part of the population targeted by study which are helpful in providing the valid outcome (Guentsch et al., 2011). The two types of sampling method such as probabilistic and non-probabilistic. In the probabilistic sampling, each respondent has chance to become selected whereas in non-probabilistic sampling each respondent does not have equal chances to become a part of the study (Suri, 2011). In this regard, purposive sampling of non-probabilistic sampling will be used. At this juncture, data will be collected from the 10 civil engineers who work leading construction companies of UK such as Skanska, ISG, Mitie, Carillon and Galliford Try. For this purpose, specific criteria including experience and knowledge of the specific aspects will be considered. This sampling method will be suitable for current research because the sample has an association with the research topic.

Data analysis is a process of analyzing the collected data on the basis of specific purpose of the study (McMillan and Schumacher, 2010). Basically, two types of data analysis methods including qualitative and quantitative approaches are used.  In this regard, the qualitative analysis is helpful to convert the code into major themes which increase the effectiveness of the data analysis process and generates the quality outcome (Cornfeld et al. 2011).  In this context, the current study will be carried out with the thematic analysis wherein different themes will be created according to the objectives of the study. Apart from this, the frequency table will also be created which will support the evaluation of themes. Thus, it is highly suitable for current research.    

 It is crucial for the researcher to sustain the ethical standards of the study because effective research includes properly designed, ethically approved and well planned (Campbell and Groundwater-Smith, 2007). In this context, for conducting the present study, participants of the study will not be forced to provide the data rather their consent will be taken. However, if respondents are selected forcefully then it reduces the quality of the research outcome because the participants do not effectively contribute to the study (Miller et al. 2012). Apart from this, the personal data of respondents will be secured with proper confidentiality because it is a major issue in research wherein the personal information of researcher get leaked with third party and chances of misuse are enhanced.  However, the copy of secondary data is also a major ethical issue in research it shows the unethical behaviour of the researcher for conducting research (Silverman, 2016). In this regard, in the current study secondary data will be properly rephrased and will be associated with the accurate reference list. Therefore, present research will be carried out with the high ethical standard by considering the interest of respondents, confidentiality of their personal data and refreshed secondary data.        

Importance/benefits

The characteristics of study which influences the interpretation of findings and analysis of research are considered as limitations of the study. Every research has some limitations which are considered by the researcher and put the efforts to minimize the impact of the limitations. In this regard, the data collection is most important for study. Due to this, in the present research data will be collected from ten respondents of the five different companies which might cause delay in research in a given time. For avoiding delay in the study, the research will follow the specific timeline for completing each particular activity of the research. Apart from this, due to the availability of respondents also might be a key limitation through which respondents might not actively participate in the research and affect the quality of primary data. Owing to this, in the current research data will be collected through questionnaire method which will help the respondents to fill the questionnaire according to the availability of time. On the other hand, restriction on the access of several academic resources, the in-depth analysis of research might be affected because many facts and aspect might not be considered in the research. Thus, several academic resources will be referred and considered that all the aspect of green buildings related to energy efficiency will be analyzed in the present research.             

The work plan helps the researcher to effectively complete the research in allocated time. In this context, the following table will help the researcher to carry out the study on the exploration of energy efficient green buildings project in an effective time schedule.

Table 1: Work plan

Activities/Weeks	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Constructing research objectives
Creating research proposal
Drafting the introduction
Preparing research methodology
Developing data collection plan
Gathering primary data
Collecting secondary data
Analysis of collected data
Extracting conclusion from analyzed data
Completion of the study

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