Influences of barriers, drivers, and promotion strategies on green building technologies adoption in developing countries : the Ghanaian case

Abstract

Adopting green building technologies (GBTs) is critical to implementing sustainability within the construction industry. Many barriers, drivers, and promotion strategies influence the GBTs adoption. Appreciating these barriers, drivers, and promotion strategies and how they influence GBTs adoption is core to the successful promotion of GBTs adoption. However, there appears to be no studies developing quantitative models to explain how various types of barriers, drivers, and promotion strategies influence GBTs adoption, especially in developing countries such as Ghana. This research aims to investigate and model the influences of various types of barriers, drivers, and promotion strategies on GBTs adoption in Ghana. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey with 43 professionals with green building experience. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. The results showed that: (1) government-related barriers have a significant negative influence on GBTs adoption; (2) company-related drivers have a significant positive influence on GBTs adoption; and (3) two promotion strategies – “government regulations and standards” and “incentives and R&D support” – would have significant positive influences on GBTs adoption. In conclusion, this study highlights the need to reinforce the government's participation in the promotion of GBTs adoption. The findings can help policy makers and practitioners promote GBTs adoption in the construction industry. Based upon the results, an implementation strategy (IPS) to help promote GBTs adoption is proposed. Regarding the quantitative influences of barriers, drivers, and promotion strategies on GBTs adoption, the findings of this study are arguably the first to be presented for the construction industry, and therefore contribute to the existing green building body of knowledge.