To read this content please select one of the options below:

Emerging climate changes and the risks to the operation of building assets in the UK

Abdullah Alzahrani (School of Architecture, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)
Halim Boussabaine (School of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)
Ali Nasser Alzaed (Department of Architectural Engineering, Taif University-Al-Haweiah, Taif, Saudi Arabia)

Journal of Facilities Management

ISSN: 1472-5967

Article publication date: 1 February 2016

1612

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report results from a survey on emerging climate changes and the risks to the operation of building assets in the UK. The property sector is facing major challenges as a result of projected climate change scenarios. Predictions concerning future climate change and the subsequent impact on building operations are still subject to a high degree of uncertainty. However, it is important that building stockholders consider a range of possible future risks that may influence the operation of their assets.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review and questionnaire are used to elicit and assess the likelihood of occurrence of climate change risks impacting building operations. The survey was carried out among building stockowners and professionals in the UK. Statistical methods were used to rank and compare the findings.

Findings

The majority of the respondents strongly agreed that the list of risks that were elicited from the literature will have an impact on their building assets within a 0-5 years’ time horizon. It was found that the professionals were most concerned about higher energy prices and an increase in operation costs in general; they were least concerned about an electricity blackout.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to the UK, and regional variations are not explored. Nevertheless, the buildings’ operation risk study provides a starting point for further investigations into the emerging risks from climate change, and their impact on the operation of building stock. Future work could investigate direct mapping between climate risks and the financial value of properties.

Originality/value

Findings of this paper can help professionals and building stockowners improve their understanding of climate change risks and the impact on their assets. This paper could also help these individuals to formulate appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Keywords

Citation

Alzahrani, A., Boussabaine, H. and Alzaed, A.N. (2016), "Emerging climate changes and the risks to the operation of building assets in the UK", Journal of Facilities Management, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 21-35. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-11-2014-0038

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles