Decarbonization of construction projects: a review and interpretive structural modelling of carbon reduction drivers
Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology
ISSN: 1726-0531
Article publication date: 1 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Extant studies have discussed numerous carbon reduction drivers, but there is a dearth of holistic review and understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between the drivers from a system perspective. Thus, this study aims to bridge that gap.
Design/methodology/approach
The study conducted a review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and adopted interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to analyse and prioritise the drivers.
Findings
Eighteen drivers were identified and grouped into five, namely, policy instruments, bid-related, cost and risk, education and training, and reward and penalty drivers. The ISM revealed two hierarchical levels of the drivers with only higher cost of electricity/fuel on the higher level, making it the most important driver that could influence others.
Practical implications
The study presents an overview of decarbonisation drivers in the literature and would be of benefit to the government and stakeholders towards achieving net zero emissions in the construction industry.
Originality/value
The findings of the study present drivers of carbon reduction and prioritise and categorise them for tailored interventions within the construction sector. Also, it could serve as foundational knowledge for further study in the construction process decarbonisation research area.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study forms part of a much larger doctoral study on carbon reduction in construction projects. The authors wish to acknowledge the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University and YORhub for their partial funding support for this study. Finally, the authors duly thank the editors and reviewers for their input in improving the quality of the manuscript.
Funding: This study was partially funded by YORhub and Leeds Beckett University.
Disclosure statement: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Citation
Arogundade, S., Dulaimi, M., Ajayi, S., Saka, A. and Ilori, O. (2023), "Decarbonization of construction projects: a review and interpretive structural modelling of carbon reduction drivers", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-05-2023-0202
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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