CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Accordingly, the practice of enhancing the efficiency of the buildings and their use of water, materials and energy as well as reduction of building impact on the health of the people and the environment is called green building also known as sustainable building. In doing so, the authorities responsible for green building adhere to this needs by conducting an effective and efficient complete building life cycle which include better siting, designing, constructing, operation, maintenance and removal (, 2002). It is noted that while good design is significant to the context of green building, the actual operation, protection maintenance and deconstruction of the building or ultimate disposal also have very crucial impacts on the overall environmental effect of the building.
As being noted, the related contexts of having sustainable development as well as sustainability are very crucial to green building, especially in green build houses. Efficient green build houses can lead to reduced operating costs through productivity enhancement and through the use of less water and energy. Furthermore, having a sustainable green building also improved public as well as occupant health because of the enhanced indoor air quality and lastly, effective green building can also reduced environmental effects by, for instance, reducing storm water runoff as well as the heat island effect. Those who practice green building often find ways to achieve not only ecological but also aesthetic relation between a structure and its environment both natural and built.
Because of the growing consensus regarding the importance of green building or sustainable designing in creating new structures, the researcher opted to tackle important things that would have an impact on the future and current trends of green building. Primarily, the main goal of this dissertation is to conduct an investigation regarding the regeneration of one area of UK in terms of green build houses. The area that would be considered in this particular research study is Sutton.
Background of the Study
Indeed, the world is facing different problems for today’s generations. One of the major problems that should be given enough consideration is the problem with regards to the regeneration of various communities like Sutton. Different nations and organizations around the world are all aware of such problems and they are trying to establish agencies or create policies that would be able to provide the needs of the people for having sustainable green build houses and one of these is the adherence to the context of green building or sustainable design. Sustainable design brings together an immense array of approaches and practices to decrease or completely eliminate the negative effects of buildings on the environment. Accordingly, sustainable design can be defined as structures or buildings which have minimum or low adverse effects on both natural and build environment as well as the immediate surroundings and the wider regional and global setting.
It is also regarded as building approaches that strive for integral quality which include social, environmental and economic performance in a broader manner. With this context, the rational use of natural resources and efficient management of the building stock may lead to saving scarce resources, reduction of energy and water consumption and enhancing environmental quality. As mentioned above. Green build houses includes the consideration of the entire building life cycle, taking both the functional and environmental quality and the future values. Nonetheless, in strict quantity context, the building and housing market are considered to be saturated in various countries and the demand for a sustainable and quality is growing. In this regard, much belief that the policies which contribute to the sustainability and efficiency of house building practices, to meet current and future needs should be executed and implemented, especially in the existing housing market conditions. Furthermore, sustainable building also highlights the use of renewable resources which include sunlight through active and passive solar and photovoltaic approaches and using trees and plants through rain gardens and green roofs to reduce rainwater runoff (, 2006).
Many places in UK is in need of regeneration in terms of having a sustainable green houses. In this regard, this case study was conducted in order to discuss how UK government should be able to adhere to the needs of having sustainable green house.
Objective of the Study
For this dissertation, the primary objective is to examine and determine the barriers of having a sustainable design for green houses for regeneration of Sutton and to know how this barrier can be controlled. Specifically, this dissertation aims to achieve the following objectives:
Ø To conduct literature review on the fundamental concepts of green houses or sustainable design.
Ø To determine the familiarity of the respondents about the methods and concepts of sustainable/green houses
Ø To explore the barriers for a broader sustainable building practice and to determine how this affects the regeneration of Sutton for having green houses
Ø To identify the types of programs and policies have been or would be the most efficient in reducing and controlling the barriers for UK government and the Sutton councils.
Ø To recommend a sound conclusion based on the findings and literature review gathered.
Research Questions
Generally, the purpose of this study is to conduct a study on sustainable design of the green build houses and to determine the barriers on achieving this. This study tries to answer the following queries:
1. How familiar are you with the techniques and contexts of green houses?
2. What are the main sources of information regarding sustainable building practices?
3. What are the major barriers for Sutton community regeneration for having sustainable green houses?
4. What types of programs and policies have been or would be the most efficient in reducing and controlling the barriers to ensure the effective Sutton Regeneration for green houses will be achieved?
Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study intends to investigate the barriers that affect the sustainable design practices in green building of houses for the regeneration of Sutton. For this study, primary research and secondary research will be used. Primary research will be conducted using anonymous questionnaire that will be sent to selected professionals who have knowledge in green building/houses. The questionnaires will be used to collect quantitative data and the interviews will be used to provide qualitative insights into the data collected.
The data will be analysed and compiled for the statistical treatment of the data. The data will then be presented by means of graphical representations and illustration and the difference would be highlighted.
Further, this dissertation will be quantitative and qualitative in nature. The model of this dissertation will be based on the Input-Process-Output Model; a process is viewed as a series of boxes which are known as processing elements and connected by inputs and outputs. Data or information flows through a series of tasks or activities based on a set of rules or decision points. In IPO model, flow Charts and process diagrams are often used to present such process. Basically, what goes in is the input or those data that have an impact in the process and the output (the result). See Figure 1.1 (Basic IPO Model).
Figure 1.1
Input – Process – Output Model
The IPO model will show the general structure and guide for the path of the dissertation. Substituting the variables of this research study on the IPO model, the researcher came up with the following:
Figure 1.2
Conceptual Framework
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
For this research, the study will focus on assessing the barriers of having sustainable design for green build houses for Sutton Regeneration through the perception of the respondents. The study will give emphasis on identifying the barriers and determining the possible ways on controlling such barriers. For this study, the research will only have respondents related with the building and construction profession to make sure that pertinent data will be gathered.
In terms of the limitation, the dissertation only uses questionnaires which were not intended to serve a standpoint poll for identifying the extent of sustainable design practice in the green build houses. In addition, the distribution method used was not designed to attain a random or representative sample and the information gathered were not meant to be subjected to tests of statistical importance and significance. Rather, both the qualitative and quantitative data in this study provide exploratory points at the views of the chosen building professionals who are enthusiastic in or actively implementing green building or sustainable design.
Rationale of the Study
Although a number of literatures have already discussed the concept of green build houses, there had been limited resources focusing the barriers on having sustainable design practice for construction and building of houses for community regeneration. Considering the importance of identifying such barriers and determining the solution to control such barriers, it is essential that studies like this should be conducted to sustain current and future needs for green build houses. Furthermore, the purpose of the research is to help professionals students, architects, engineers and other environmental protection advocated be open minded in the importance of sustainable design practice, specifically for Housing regeneration like in Sutton. The findings of the study will be able to benefit different industries and the government to identify ways on how to maintain sustainable design practice in green houses for different communities. This means that the results of the study will be beneficial to the construction and building scheme since the research will be able to support previous claims on the importance of green build houses and the adherence to the sustainable design practice.
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE
Overview of Sustainable/Green Build Houses
Due to the adherence of building professionals to protect the environment from natural activities, particularly in housings, sustainable/green build houses have been conceptualised. Sustainable/Green build Houses give emphasise on the sustainability of building process, both as a discipline and as well as a product of such discipline. To professions in the building context, the word environmental has negative implications, because they link it with environmental issues like lead abatement regulation and asbestos. Such remediation requirements are often noted as laboriously, costly, not always necessary or even in some situations, more harmful than leaving the materials where they are. It is very inappropriate that people would have to spend money and time on reducing and removing toxic building materials and finishes which were commonly used in the past years. However, these sorts of problems are exactly what environmentally green/sustainable building aims to prevent or eliminate. Green build houses is about doing all things right for housing projects, by keeping a keen attention to both short and long term consequences.
Green build houses is often referred to as environmentally sound and sustainable architecture. Others referred green building as a high performance or smart building. According to (1998), green build houses should also be called good building and housing design. In this study, sustainable building can also be defined as building construction and design using materials and methods which are resource efficient and which will not compromise the health and associated well-being of the occupants of the houses and the environmental friendly. Since it is noted that building has and will always have some effects on the land and other resources, professionals has been able to establish a standards that would minimise such effects ( & , 1984).
Green build houses has come to represent the holistic concern for a broad array of environmental topics in architecture, from energy efficiency and indoor air quality to resource conservation and land use planning, and from an accounting for the environmental impacts of raw materials acquisition through to the life of a building and beyond. Broadly stated, ‘green architecture’ seeks to design for the health of both the individual and the planet. This rubric suggests the close identification of ‘safe’ and ‘green’ agendas.
This part of the study would discuss the relevant literature for this study. Herein, the discussion will focus on the elements of green build houses, benefits of sustainable/green build houses, and improved practices for green building. This will also discuss some overview of the Sutton community in UK.
Overview of Sutton Housing
Sutton, one of the councils in United Kingdom is considered to be an appealing mix of country and town, which combines the charm of the traditional aspects with the best of the contemporary life. The community of Sutton is regarded as the Greener, Cleaner Borough, having a tree as its community logo. Sutton is located 25 minutes from central London if one will take the train. Herein, the Gatwick Airport to the south si a 30-munited driver and the M23 and M25 are easily accessible. Sutton is a borough of intriguing contrasts from the southern boundaries where it borders North Downs and the open fields to its north where Sutton has various characteristics of inner London with sites of relative deprivation. Sutton community are being benefited from a vibrant economic status and a quality of life which has attracted many major investors. The community has a low rate of unemployment because of the availability of the job in the local community which include professional, service area, retail sectors and light industrial. The Sutton borough has a substantial number of commuters.
The community’s prosperity is very obvious in booming shopping malls and in the districts centres North Cheam, Rose Hill, Cheam, Carshalton, Worcester Part and Wallington. With the transfer of housing management to Sutton’s arms length administration from April 2006, Sutton Housing Partnership, with all the remaining housing and other relevant housing activities are being grouped with a newly established Strategic Housing Services division, which forms part of the Housing group and Adult Social Services. The strategic housing services operations fall into three wider aspects: The housing centre which are responsible for the operations of the housing register, homelessness, community support, home ownership and housing advice; Housing partnerships which are responsible for strategic planning, housing enabling, supporting people, managing the contract with Sutton Housing Partnership, performance management all over the housing functions and the wider partnership agenda with statutory and voluntary agencies, health agencies and the SW London Housing sub-region; and lastly the housing regeneration which is responsible for the major projects at Durand Close, Carshalton and Roundshaw in Wallington (, 2007)
Elements of Sustainable/Green Build Houses
Building professionals, including designers, architectures and engineers have always been involved in evaluation of how the elements, like water, soil and wind will influence the integrity of the structures of the building and in mitigating those impacts. However, building professionals have not conventionally evaluated or mitigated the flip side of such context on how the buildings will affect the given elements. Furthermore, most designers think about how the construction of a built space will affect the occupants, and in aesthetic aspects, designers do not sufficiently consider how the materials which go into making a space will influence the health of the occupants. As noted by (1984), building can be considered as a mini ecosystem; hence the quality of the conditions of the building has a serious impact on occupant health and well-being. In addition, the construction of the building and use account for a relative portion of public health dilemma and of the water, mineral, energy and wood resources used in the society.
In a recent research conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the study found that home-related resources utilised are composed of four of the seven most environmentally harmful human activities which contribute to water pollution, global warming, air pollution and habitat alteration. These four aspects include energy use for household lightning and appliances, energy use for household heating, air conditioning and hot water, materials and land impacts from home and construction and the household water need and sewage generation (, 1999). Apparently, sustainable design and building involve not only the interior, exterior and site aspects but also those off-site elements which include local, regional and international. The local and regional considerations include the unsustainable building procedures can trigger stress on local communities and government service by exacerbating flooding, filling up landfills, utility infrastructure and the spreading of the demand for road building.
On the global aspect, building practices and procedures are said to be affecting the climate, principally because of the use of the greenhouse gas-producing energy sources for cooling, lighting, heating and ventilation and the use of building materials and equipments which contain ozone layer depleting chemicals. Furthermore, sustainable building can also include a broad range of methods and systems. These could be conventional and low-tech equipments or modern or high-tech. But as (1998) mentioned, it is note the gadgets or equipments used by it is the process on how the building is done. On one hand, (1998) noted that Sustainable/Green buil Housesis not about the materials or technology but it is about the approaches and attitudes. Some scholars believed that even if technology can enable people to gain sustainability, it also have the capacity to harm the environment if it will not be used cautiously.
The decision of not using certain high-tech equipments can be as essentials as the decision to use others. In this regard, sustainable building has both active and passive elements. It includes maximising the effectiveness, health and comfort of the internal environments, while continuously minimising or controlling the adverse effect for the environment and public health and the effect of the resources used in the building. The decision for sustainable building usually fall under three classifications: Materials and equipments (which include the application and specification procedures), active/systems designs (like electrical, mechanical and plumbing schemes) and the passive/general design (placement/orientation of construction and building). The last classification relates to how the designers spatially fit the construction and its design procedures into the natural environment in order to take advantage of existing free benefits like heat and light from the sun, the shading from the trees as well as the insulation from hillside topography in order to decrease the land impact and the need for non-renewable resources or wasteful use of resources.
The elements of sustainable building include the general, preliminary considerations for building designs, site selection and land use context, site planning/ land impacts, occupant health and well-being, use of energy and water, and materials’ life cycle impacts.
Benefits of Sustainable/Green Build Houses
At certain times in the practice of a discipline, concepts and strategies based on common themes or concerns can be seen to arise. The continuation, small shifts, fundamental transformations, or replacement of issues can be affected by institutional settings such as political events, changes in technologies, scientific discoveries, calamities (actual or imagined) or economic practices and processes. Viewed in this way, ‘green’, ‘ecological’, and ‘environmental’ are labels that embody the notion that the design of buildings should fundamentally take account of their relationship with and impact on the natural environment. The formation of these concepts can, more or less, be traced to the early 1970s. Emerging from the same period, labels such as ‘low energy’, ‘solar’ and ‘passive’ are used to denote approaches to designing concerned with the concept of reducing reliance on fossil fuels to operate a building. In general, the labels refer to a particular strategy employed to achieve the conceptual outcome, and the strategies that occur in a discourse must be understood as instances from a range of theoretical possibilities. The promotion of a restricted range of strategic options regulates the discourse and the ways of practising the discipline. An examination of sustainable design discourse and practice will reveal something of this regulation. Overall, practitioners modify their concept of their discipline to embrace these new themes, concerns and ways of practice.
Considering sustainable or green build houses are said to have various social, environmental and economic benefits to be reaped. Benefits to the environments includes water and air protection, flood prevention and soil protection, reduction of solid waste, water and energy conservation, ozone layer protection, climate stabilization, protection of open space, habitat and species/biodiversity and natural resource conservation. The environmental benefits also lead to human benefits not only for health and aesthetic aspects, but also as tax payers. For instance, the reduction of energy, water and materials use and siting buildings close to the transportation of the public decreases teg demand for costly infrastructure expansions which include water treatment plants, landfills, roads, utilities and roads.
In terms of societal level, green build houses can improve the national security by reducing the nations’ dependence on fossil fuel imports. Aside from these essential benefits, to the society, sustainable design and building can provide benefits for the building designers, occupants, contractors, owners, developers and construction workers. Such benefits include the following:
· Enhance comfort, health and productivity/performance of the housing occupants and construction workers, and related to the savings of the employers.
· Market differentiation, herein the developers and design firms have the chance to widen their market niche by attracting new clients who are in need of firms with demonstrated experience in terms of sustainable design and building in housing projects.
· Regulatory benefits: through sustainable building the professionals can stay ahead of their rival company by making gradual and voluntary changes through the preparation of some new regulations. Such leadership may also serve to reduce some new regulations.
· Lower construction costs, this benefit can be gained through the reduction of the materials use and savings on disposal costs due to recycling, and downsizing of mechanical equipments and preventing certain infrastructure extension fees.
· Lower operating costs in terms of energy and water savings. Herein, energy efficiency investments, for instance, almost always deliver a payback within one to five years which yields a fasters return on investments.
· Increased building value. Such benefit is essential for owners and developers to remember that the cheapest development is not eventually the most profitable development. In this regard, installing environmentally-sensitive features into building improvers its quality and adds value.
Natural Image
In the natural image, the key to sustainable building or green build houses is to work with, not against, nature; to understand, sensitively exploit and simultaneously avoid destroying natural systems. As a planner and landscape architect, some authors used examples from regional planning in identifying places with intrinsic suitability for agriculture, forestry, recreation and urbanization. Accordingly, architect used the ‘Design with nature’ at the building level as a code for recognizing sun paths, breezes, shade trees and rock formations as natural features that can be ‘worked with’ in making somewhere for people to inhabit, while also giving recognition with significant trees, animal tracks, habitats and natural drainage systems as natural features that must be ‘protected’. When seeking a device with a high shading coefficient in summer and a low coefficient in winter, a vine may be used rather than a mechanical system; the vine shades the building when (and only when) it is needed, and the building provides a ‘home’ for the vine. Thus both the building and the ‘other’ of nature are sustainable. By adding rainwater collection, reed beds for sewage and perhaps wind or solar power for electrical energy the building ‘working with nature’ can be independent of imported services and exported waste, keeping its environmental footprint within the footprint of its site. The archetypal visual image is the remote and isolated self-sufficient building dominated by its surrounding landscape.
The natural image of sustainable design and building, then, mirrors a view that it is necessary to position human activities as a non-damaging part of the ongoing ecological landscape, with a belief that ‘nature knows best’. The ‘eco-centric’ elements that and (2001:) identify in the study of architecture embraces this sustainability image, associating it strongly with a rhetoric of a fragile, delicately balanced earth where straying far from this path will lead to environmental catastrophe. Even if that is the way it occurs in contemporary writing, the natural image has a currency and attraction without this threat of doom.
The symbolic and ‘eco-aesthetic’ manifestations of this image reinforce identification with nature and natural systems ( 1993). Materials are those of nature with little human modification: straw bale, rammed earth and pressed mud brick, or rough-hewn stone, and ‘natural’ timber rather than ‘manufactured’ timber particle boards, all with ‘natural’ finishes. Soft, organic, sensuous curves may be favoured over hard mechanical angles and ‘earth colours’ over brighter hues. Neither does the building dominate its natural setting. Rather it expresses humility in the face of nature, its character coming as much from the play of sunlight and shade over its surface as from its own form. This move from the clearly artificial towards immersion in the subtleties, folds, movement and restraint of nature brings to mind the parallel movement in environmental art. Indeed, for an emblem of the natural image we can turn to art. ‘s literally and metaphorically organic ” (1988) in Grizedale Forest in the Lake District of northern England ‘acts as a filter through which to re-experience the light, sound, colour and space of the dense Spruce’ ( 1991). An impression of shelter (of a kind) is provided, but it is constructed of local materials with minimal impact on its environment and will decay back into the same environment. Even the fact that we can see that to inhabit this ‘building’ would necessitate giving up much of our expectations of personal comfort is a part of the natural image. We are prepared to do so for the benefits to us of ‘living close to nature’ and the benefits to nature of continuing to live undisturbed. But with care, ‘designing with nature’ can provide both physical and spiritual comfort ( 2000). Like its occupants, the building lives in happy harmony with its setting.
The technical image
The technical image of sustainable building and design are said to portray technical innovation in the solution of social, economic and environmental dilemma and conflicts. In this image sustainability of buildings and designs is a matter of developing technical devices that neutralize or make benefits out of what may temporarily appear to be problems. The track record of architects and designers over the centuries in finding technical solutions to innumerable issues inspire confidence that the same will happen in the future. Success is seen as a matter of applying the tools of the social, economic and physical sciences to analyse the situation and discover a range of answers. But neither applying these tools nor implementing the answers is easy. The prerequisite for success is professional expertise.
The technical image forefronts hard ‘facts’ and particularly the measurable ‘environmental facts’ of the constituents of air, lighting and noise levels, resource consumption, etc., along with equally measurable economics. Herein, success can also be measured: reduced energy consumption, reduced embodied energy in materials, internal temperatures and lighting levels within desired levels, reduced initial and operating costs. The key is rationality and efficiency in planning, material use and systems.
The symbolic/aesthetic representation of the image is one of technical proficiency in using the materials of modern and sustainable design and building: sparkling glass, gleaming stainless steel, precision cladding panels in alloys or aluminium (justified by their low weight and long life). Passive and active devices such as double skin external walls and roofs, filtering and responsive glass, ‘sun scoops’, sun-tracking sunshades and photovoltaic panels supplement this international language of architecture. Not visible will be geothermal systems, heat recovery, and the ‘intelligent’ computer control of lighting, heating and cooling via timers and movement detectors. The archetypal visual image is the high-tech corporate office in a city of similar offices: efficient people in efficient buildings, both in control, both responding to challenges through innovation. An emblematic project might be the Commerzbank Headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany (architects and ), described as ‘the world’s first ecological high-rise office block’ (, 1998) and, when constructed, Europe’s tallest building. It has many technical features. Amongst them are double skin walls, dual natural and artificial ventilation systems (openable windows which can all be closed by a central control, with natural ventilation replaced by full air conditioning when weather conditions dictate), four-storey high winter gardens which enable inward-facing offices to have natural light, an atrium acting as a ventilation chimney, and sludge water from the air-conditioning cooling towers used for flushing lavatories ( 1998:; 1995:). But designers could also adopt as an emblematic project a small house or a factory. Indeed, the facilities for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, hailed for the environmental responsibility that was a factor in the original award of the Games to Sydney in a highly competitive bid process, overwhelmingly reinforce the technology image. It is a part of this image that technology can deal with any project in any place.
The ‘eco-technic’ logic that and (2001:) find in the discourse of architectural sustainability projects this image. They note its link to ‘ecological modernization’ at the policy level, which portrays apparently serious environmental side-effects of development as just more problems in the path of modernization which can be managed, like other problems, by international treaties and local regulation. The field of significance is global, the problems are global (with an emphasis on climate change and transnational pollution), and the answers and the expertise to implement them are universally applicable.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter will discuss the methods and procedures used and done in the study. Herein, the research design, respondents of the study, research instruments, data analysis and presentation, validity, ethical consideration and statistical treatment will be discussed.
Research Design
This research requires an organised data gathering to answer the objectives. In this lieu, the research will use the descriptive approach employing a qualitative research method. A descriptive research is a type of study that tries to explore the cause of a particular phenomenon, present facts concerning the nature and status of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study, and portray an accurate profile of persons, events or situations ( 1994). The approach undertaken for such type of study was chosen for a number of reasons.
Because the descriptive approach is quick and flexible, three advantages arise: first, when new issues and questions arise during the duration of the study, this approach allows a further investigation; second, when there are unproductive areas from the original plan of the study, the researcher can drop them; and third, the approach is more practical in terms of time and money ( 1994).
In addition, since the basic objective of this study is to assess the barriers of having sustainable design practice for green building, the descriptive approach will help provide a clear picture of the said phenomena (, 2003).
Finally, this type of study may serve as an extension or a forerunner to a piece of exploratory research, a valuable research approach employed to: discover what is happening; seek new insights; ask questions; and/or evaluate a phenomenon in a new light (, 2002).
In terms of approach, the study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative approach focused on obtaining numerical findings was used with the survey method. The interview on the other hand, made up the qualitative approach of the study as this focused on personal accounts, observations, description and individual insights of the employees. This study employed the combined approach so as to overcome the limitations of both approaches.
On the other hand, the qualitative research method is multi-method in focus and involves an interpretative, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. In this lieu, qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. In order to accomplish this, a wide range of interconnected methods are employed in the hope that a better fix on the subject matter will be achieved.
Two types of data will be used for this study. First type is a primary data gathered from selected participants through a survey utilising questionnaires. The second type of data to be used is a secondary data, which include raw data and published summaries, as well as both quantitative and qualitative data (, 2003).
Respondents of the Study
Participants for this study will be building and designing professionals. In particular, 50 professionals were chosen through purposive sampling, a non-probability sampling technique where usually, there are one or more specific predefined groups. This part of the study is important because the data to be gathered will fulfil one of the objectives of this research project.
Research Instruments
For this study, two research instruments were used to evaluate and determine the barriers and to explore the effect of these barriers to sustainable design practice of regeneration of the Sutton green build houses. These research instruments included the survey questionnaire methods. A structured questionnaire was distributed to the selected company employees. The questionnaire given to the professionals aimed to determine the barriers as perceived by the respondents. The questionnaire was structured in such a way that respondents will be able to answer it easily. Thus, the set of questionnaire was structured using the Likert format with a five-point response scale. A Likert Scale is a rating scale that requires the subject to indicate his or her degree of agreement or disagreement to a statement. In this type of questionnaire, the respondents were given five response choices. These options served as the quantification of the participants’ agreement or disagreement on each question item.
1
Strongly Agree
2
Agree
3
Uncertain
4
Disagree
5
Strongly Disagree
Data Analysis and Presentation
The study utilised first hand data which comes from the chosen respondents who answered the survey-questionnaires given to them. First hand data are those that come from the respondents who have been surveyed prior to the research. The study also utilized secondary data. Secondary data include raw data and published summaries, as well as both quantitative and qualitative data. , & (2003) deduced that secondary data fall into three main subgroups—documentary data, survey-based data, and those compiled from different sources.
Documentary secondary data, accordingly, are the ones often used in research projects that also use primary data collection data methods, although such data can also be used on their own or be combined with other secondary data. This type includes: written documents about green building or sustainable design or building that can be important raw data sources on their own right, a storage medium for compiled data, provide qualitative data, and can be used, as well, to generate statistical measures; and, non-written documents (like tape and video recordings, pictures, drawings, films and television programmes, digital versatile disks and CD-ROMs) that can be analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively, as well be used to help triangulate findings based on other data such as written documents and primary data collected through observations, interviews and questionnaires (, & , 2003, ).
With this particular study, the researcher utilized documentary secondary data (in the form of articles from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers) that are generally about the sustainable design and green building as well as relevant literatures and survey-based data in order to meet the objectives of this study. In order to analyze the data gathered from the survey, the weighted mean for each question item was computed. Weighted mean is the average wherein every quantity to be averaged has a corresponding weight. These weights represent the significance of each quantity to the average. To compute for the weighted mean, each value must be multiplied by its weight. Products should then be added to obtain the total value. The total weight should also be computed by adding all the weights. The total value is then divided by the total weight. Statistically, the weighted mean is calculated using the following formula:
or
The computed mean was then compared to the scale below for interpretation:
Range
Interpretation
0.00 – 1.49
Strongly Agree
1.50 – 2.49
Agree
2.50 – 3.49
Uncertain
3.50 – 4.49
Disagree
4.50 – 5.00
Strongly Disagree
Results of the survey were presented in tables. Excerpts from the interview were integrated based on the analysis outline. Relevant literatures to support the findings are also included.
Validity
In order to test the validity of the evaluation tool which used for this study, the researcher tested the questionnaire to ten respondents. These respondents as well as their answers were not part of the actual study process and were only used for testing purposes. After the questions have been answered, the researcher asked the respondents for any suggestions or any necessary corrections to improve the instrument further. The researcher modified the content of the questionnaire based on the assessment and suggestions of the sample respondents. The researchers excluded irrelevant questions and changed vague or difficult terminologies into simpler ones so as to make the survey more comprehensive for the selected respondents.
Ethical Considerations
As this study utilized human participants and investigated on company practices, certain issues were addressed. The consideration of these issues is necessary for the purpose of ensuring the privacy as well as the security of the participants. These issues were identified in advance so as prevent future problems that could have risen during the research process. Among the significant issues that were considered included consent, confidentiality and data protection.
Statistical Treatment of the Data
After the collection of information from self-administered questionnaire, and related studies, the researcher collated all the data. The statistical analysis for the information from semi-structure questionnaire was conducted using Microsoft Excel where the data is tabulated, graphed, and evaluated. The testing of the level of significance was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and tabulated in the Excel files. The SPSS is the standard software in conducting statistical analysis.
Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire:
where: n = number of responses
N = total number of respondents
Weighted Mean:
where: f – weight given to each response
x – number of responses
xt – total number of responses
To evaluate the information gathered, the percentage analysis and mean analysis are used:
Data Summary
As stated in this methodology part, the research underwent stages. In the research design, the researcher collected secondary data and formulated and developed the self-administered questionnaire. In this stage, these instruments were subjected to approval and validation. During the information collection, the researcher collated and summarised the data obtained from the self-administered questionnaire and survey. The researcher then analysed this information and from these, the researcher came up with findings and recommendations that shall be presented in the next chapters.
CHAPTER 4
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the data gathered from the chosen respondents are presented and analysed. This chapter discusses the results of the survey questionnaires given to the 50 chosen respondents. Prior to the initiation of the survey process, the purpose, the importance, and objectives of the study were relayed to the chosen respondents. They were also assured that all the information they had provided are solely for the purpose of the study while their identities would remain confidential. All questions asked in the survey questionnaire pertain only to the respondents’ insights on the regarding the barriers of having sustainable design or green building.
For a clearer presentation, the findings of the survey are presented in graphs and tables. To give an appropriate flow of discussion, findings are also divided into sections. Section one gives a summary of the demographic profile of the participants used in the study. This profile was categorised according to the respondents’ age, gender, educational background, and occupation. The discussion of the perception of participants who took part in the study about the barriers of having sustainable or green building will be discussed in the next section.
Part A: Demographic Profiles
In order to have a general idea on the general social and economic characteristics of the respondents, the data and discussion provided in this section of the results and findings of the study presents the details of the overall description of the sample population. This part will discuss the demographic profile of 50 individuals who answered the survey questionnaire sent by the research. The description of the respondents includes their age, gender and civil status, years of employment and professional affiliation.
Age. In terms of age, almost three-fourths of the total number (78%) of respondents comprises the adult group categorization (30 – 59 yrs. old) while the age of the remaining participants compose the respondents who are below 20 years old (4%), and 20 to 29 years old (18%). It could be inferred that most of the respondents are people in their mid-life who have already established their careers. A more graphic illustration of the respondents’ age distribution is detailed in the pie chart below.
Figure 1
Gender. The data also indicated that more than half of the respondents (66%) are male while the remaining participants in the research activity are female (34%). It could be inferred that the job nature in sustainable design and building provides career opportunities to competitive individuals regardless of their gender since there findings states that the gap and the sample population difference between the number of male and female employees is negligible. Figure 2 below illustrates the specific results of the research study in terms of the sex of the respondents.
Figure 2
Civil status. Meanwhile, the largest portion of the respondents (64%) indicated that they are married followed by those who are single (20%), thus supporting the inference in Figure 1 regarding their familial responsibilities. Employees who claimed that they are separated comprises of 4% out of 50 respondents and widows/widowers (12%). From these research results, it is evident that three-fourths of the respondents (84%) attend to and meet the needs of their immediate family members. See Figure 3 below for the details of the research findings on the participants’ claimed civil status.
Figure 3
Years of employment
The largest portion of the total number of respondents (50%) stated that they have 6-10 years of working experience in building and designing followed by the respondents who have gained 11-15 years of career experience (36%) in the company. It is remarkable to note however, that there are 14% of the respondents who have below years of work dedicated to the organization. These findings are clear indication that most of the respondents have gained enough experience and knowledge to provide pertinent information to achieve the objective of this study. Details of these findings are illustrated in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4
Professional Affiliation
The data gathered revealed that most of the respondents are professionally affiliated with architecture which comprises of 36% of the total respondent followed by those who are affiliated with Engineering (24%) and Contracting/Building (18%). Other respondents are affiliated with sustainable building consultations and developers.
Figure 5
Part B: Perception of the Respondents
This part of the paper will provide the discussion about the standpoint of the respondents regarding sustainable building and designs based on the answers given to the distributed questionnaires.
1. Familiarity with the Methods and Concepts of Sustainable/green Build houses
In terms of familiarity of the Sustainable/Green build Houses concepts and methods, the answers of the respondents revealed that 82% of them are very familiar with the methods and concepts of sustainable building and the remaining 18% said that they are somewhat familiar with the concepts (see the figure below).
Figure 6
2. Sustainable/Green build Houses Aspects (beyond code) incorporated into the project/worked done by your establishment
Based from the data gathered from the 50 respondents, the analysis revealed that 77% of the respondents believed that their firms incorporate Sustainable/Green build Houses aspects (beyond code) in every projects or work they are doing. 18% of the respondents have said that they incorporate such elements in most of their projects and 5% mentioned that they incorporate it with few of their projects or works.
Figure 7
3. The main sources of information or data on Sustainable/Green build Houses practices
In this question, the most of the participants marked multiple sources. Herein, all the respondents have mentioned that they gain information about Sustainable/Green build Houses practices through personal research. 68% of the total respondents gain knowledge through media and articles, 28% or 7 respondents have revealed that they know about sustainable building practices through continuing education and workshops and through their co-worker. Furthermore, 24% have learned about it through their courses and only 2(8%) have known it through their clients (See Table 1). In this result, it can be noted that since all the respondents have learned about Sustainable/Green build Houses practices through personal research, this may indicate that all of them have personal interest in this context to take some time to be educated about Sustainable/Green build Houses practices.
Main sources of information on Sustainable/Green build Houses practices in Regeneration of Sutton
Table 1
Main resources
Frequency
Percentage
Personal Research
50
100%
Media/Articles
34
68%
Continuing Education/Workshops
14
28%
Co-Worker
14
28%
Courses
12
24%
Clients
4
8%
4. Barriers of having a more Sustainable/Green build Houses for Regeneration of Sutton
Table 2
Statements
1
2
3
4
5
Weighted Mean
Interpretation
1. Lack of training/education in Sustainable/Green builds Houses for design/construction of Sutton as part of their regeneration
33
17
0
0
0
1.34
Strongly Agree
2. Lack of expressed interest from building clients (homeowners and developers)
11
15
2
12
10
2.90
Uncertain
3. Lack of interest from others on the project team
31
19
0
0
0
1.38
Strongly Agree
4. Lack of technical understanding on the part of others on the project team
29
21
0
0
0
1.42
Strongly Agree
5. Lack of technical understanding on the part of subcontractors
35
14
1
0
0
1.32
Strongly Agree
6. Lack of technical understanding on the part of the Clerk of the Works
37
13
0
0
0
1.26
Strongly Agree
7. Inability of the designers and engineers to know where to get information on sustainable building methods to sustain regeneration of Green houses in Sutton
33
17
0
0
0
1.34
Strongly Agree
8. Sustainable/Green build Houses selections are too expensive; competitive disadvantage
23
21
2
2
2
1.78
Agree
9. Difficulty in obtaining financing from banks for sustainable and housing partnerships for housing projects like Sutton regeneration
31
19
0
0
0
1.38
Strongly Agree
10. The recovery of long-term savings not reflected in service fee structure
35
14
1
0
0
1.32
Strongly Agree
11. Some products are not available or accessible in the area; lack of “green” materials suppliers
29
11
0
5
5
1.92
Agree
12. insurance/liability dilemma with offering warranty on non-standard materials or methods
26
12
0
5
7
2.10
Agree
The table above presents the perception of the respondents regarding the barriers of having Sustainable/Green build Houses in their projects or works. Herein, the answers of the respondents ranges from uncertain, agree to strongly agree. The respondents have shown strong agreement on the statements that the lack of training/education in Sustainable/Green build Houses design/construction can hinder the use of green building practices. The respondents strongly agreed that the lack of interest of other members of the project team may also hinder the achievement of sustainable/green building. The respondents strongly agreed that lack of technical comprehension on the part of others on the project team, subcontractors and clerk of the works may also tend to hinder sustainable/green building. Furthermore, the inability of the designers and engineers to know where to get information on sustainable building methods may also obstruct the implementation of sustainable building. Aside from these, the respondents of this study also strongly agreed that the difficulty in obtaining financing from banks for sustainable projects and the recovery of long-term savings not reflected in service fee structure are among the major barriers of having sustainable/green building.
One the other hand, respondents shows their agreement on the barriers which include the expensiveness of Sustainable/Green build Houses selections and competitive disadvantage as a barrier for having sustainable building. The also agreed that the inaccessibility and unavailability of the products in some area and the lack of green materials suppliers also hinders the practice of sustainable green building. In addition, they also agreed that insurance/liability dilemma with offering warranty on non-standard materials or methods also hinder the practice of sustainable building. Lastly, the respondents shows their uncertainness on the lack of expressed interest from building clients (owners/developers) as a barrier for having sustainable/ green design and building.
5. Non-regulatory Sustainable/Green build Houses initiatives to reduce and control barriers for Sutton Regeneration
Table 3
Statements
1
2
3
4
5
Weighted Mean
Interpretation
1. Educational Programs
35
14
1
0
0
1.32
Strongly Agree
2. Economic Incentives
37
13
0
0
0
1.26
Strongly Agree
3. Collaborative Effort from Housing Partnerships and the Local government of the London Borough of Sutton
33
17
0
0
0
1.34
Strongly Agree
In this research study, the respondents were also asked on their perception of what would be the non-regulatory Sustainable/Green build Houses initiatives to reduce and control the mentioned barriers. Based on the gathered information from the survey, the respondents strongly agreed that the non-regulatory Sustainable/Green build Houses initiatives to reduce and control the barriers should include the educational programs, economic incentives and collaborative efforts from housing partnerships the Local government of the London Borough of Sutton to sustain its housing regenerations. Since they believed that one of the barriers is the lack of interest of training/education of the architectures, designers and engineers regarding sustainable/green building, it is important that educational programs that would best educate the concepts and methods of Sustainable/Green build Houses will be provided. Aside from these, respondents also perceived that distributing and developing curricula which include Sustainable/Green build Houses methods and concepts is another efficient way to spread the importance of sustainable/green building. In addition, economic incentives are also perceived as effective initiatives to reduce or eliminate the barriers since it will help boost the interest of the people who will never be bounded by the environmental aspects behind sustainable/green building. The respondents also perceived that economic incentives can also be utilised to sustain voluntary actions. In addition, it is also important that collaborative efforts from both government and non-government organisation should be pursue to support the notion of sustainable/green building.
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Summary
The scope of Sustainable/Green build Houses is inherently significant in regeneration of community in line with housing contexts like in areas of Sutton. Though most of the designers, architects and other professionals relevant to building and designing are able to adhere to the notions and methods of sustainable building/green build houses that would sustain that needs of the residents of Sutton for having a sustainable green build houses, there are still factors which hinder the efficient use of having sustainable/green building. Primarily, the main goal of this research study is to identify the barriers of having sustainable/green build houses for the regeneration of housing in Sutton as mentioned above, to determine how familiar the respondents with Sustainable/Green build Houses concepts, to know the main sources of information about Sustainable/Green build Houses and to determine and understands Sustainable/Green build Houses as well as to know the initiatives that must be helpful in reducing or eliminating the barriers.
To achieve the objective of the study, the researcher have used descriptive approach and gathered pertinent data from 50 respondents who are professionally affiliated with architectural, designs, building, and engineering through its self-administered survey-questionnaires. Based on the data gathered and analysed, it has been found that most of the respondents are familiar with the concepts and methods of sustainable/ green building and design.
This research study has also provided discussion of the definition of sustainable and green build houses and revealed that the main objective of this context is to protect both the environment and the health and well-being of the occupants of the regenerated houses in Sutton. In this research, the barriers mentioned include the lack of expressed interest from homeowners of Sutton or developers, inadequate training/education about sustainable design and building, the recovery of long-term savings are not seen in service fee structures. In addition, the expensiveness of sustainable building options are also stated as one of the barriers for having sustainable building as well as the difficulty in obtaining financing from lending companies and banks.
It is said that by paying attention to importance of Sustainable/Green build Houses among structures in the present and future needs, designers and developers must be able apply the methods and contexts of sustainable/green build houses to ensure that the houses made protects both the environment and the people who will live in the green houses. The result of the study shows that having sustainable building in the future will only be met by adhering to the standards of sustainable/green building. In addition, the result also shows that as perceived by respondents, the non-regulatory initiatives to reduce and control barriers include educational programs, economic incentives and collaborative efforts between the housing partnerships for housing regeneration and the local government of the area (Sutton).
In addition, the study also revealed that as perceived by the respondents that they have learned about Sustainable/Green build Houses concepts and contexts through personal research, media, articles, co-workers, continuous education and workshops and others.
Conclusion
At present, building and designing are becoming more focused on different aspects that would be beneficial not only for human beings but also for the protection of natural and environmental resources. Although, there are various initiatives on environmental protection, it can be said that people should be able to follow specific standards to protect the environment in every project they do and these can only be done through sustainable designing and building. Through this study, it can be perceived that the success of reducing and controlling the barriers of sustainable building in regeneration of housing systems in the London Borough of Sutton may depend on the educational programs, economic incentives and collaborative efforts of the housing partnerships, housing regeneration and the local government. In the gathered data, the following conclusions can be made:
1. That the respondents who are included in this paper are matured and experienced enough to answer the queries provided in the survey questionnaire.
2. That the respondents have revealed that most of them are very familiar with the concepts and methods of Sustainable/Green build Houses and its importance in protecting the environment and the protection of the lives of the residents of Sutton.
3. That most of the respondents have learned about it through personal research which also indicates that most of them are really enthusiasts of sustainable/green building.
4. That the barriers mentioned above includes Sustainable/Green build Houses programs, concepts, individual and group barriers.
5. That the respondents strongly agreed that to reduce the mentioned barriers, educational program, economic incentives and collaborative effort must be pursued effectively.
It can also be concluded that based on the gathered data, all barriers determined to the enhanced adoption of Sustainable/Green build Houses for regeneration of Sutton practices in the building professions could be modified and educational and economic elements. Furthermore, the types of the programs and policies in which the research have reported as having attributed to the sustainable building work were most educational activities and economical activities. It can also be concluded that the findings revealed that educating all segments of the community regarding the need for Sustainable/Green build Houses and training building professionals like architects, designers and engineers are very important to encourage the broader adoption of sustainable building approaches. Furthermore, it can also be concluded that Sustainable/Green build Houses initiatives should also more efficiently address the key barriers to their objectives of regenerating cities and towns through sustainable housing projects. It can be concluded that boosting the demand of the homeowners, expansion of professional education and training opportunities and cost reduction and reduction of costs misperceptions should be given emphasis to control the barriers. Aside from these, it is also important to have technical assistance, incentives, research data, funding and financing information should be met to reduce or control the barriers mentioned.
Recommendation
Effective building practices are essential elements for having a sustainable building that would protect both the environment and the health and well-being of the people or occupants. Through these, many companies are able to utilise the concepts and methods of Sustainable/Green build Houses in all their projects.
In this research paper, it becomes apparent that government and non-government initiatives are among the key factors for achieved the goal of having sustainable/green building. From this discussion, several important points had been suggested. For instance, this research has implied the value of choosing the most applicable and effective Sustainable/Green build Houses approach which will enable them to meet and the needs of the clients and to protect the environment. Sufficient time should be allotted by the company in order to develop effective design and building plans. In addition, time is also necessary during the implementation process.
Skills or expertise is also an important element in implementing Sustainable/Green build Houses practices, specifically leadership and communication skills and to reduce barriers. Accordingly strategies tend to evolve constantly. As Sustainable/Green build Houses practices encounter different pressures and environmental factor over time, their respective project team members must create practices that are appropriate to their current situation. Some of the factors that encourage constant efficient changes include the identification of new environmental threats or opportunities for sustainable/green building, technological advancements, and emergence of Sustainable/Green build Houses trends and requirements, competitive conditions and initiatives to increase environmental protection initiatives.
After citing all these other important needs, perhaps the most important learning from this research is that having Sustainable/Green build Houses is standard matter. Each housing developers are operating in an environment that must be protected and given consideration. This means that sustainable building is subjected to unique internal and external elements, which should be considered in design and building implementation for the regeneration of Sutton for having sustainable green build houses.
Future Research Directions
The study conducted for the Sustainable/Green build Houses can be enhanced further through the following future research recommendations:
1. Future researchers using a similar topic may consider the use of a larger sample instead of just using 50 respondents. This could be helpful in making the findings more applicable in general.
2. Other methods of research and data-gathering such as meta-analysis or correlation may be used in the future regarding sustainable/green build houses for regeneration of communities in UK.
Reference
Appendix
Survey Questionnaire
Design and Sustainability of the green build houses (current and future):
Barriers of having Sustainable/Green Building
The researcher is conducting an evaluation of the barriers of having Sustainable/Green Building. To enable the researcher to make the necessary conclusions and recommendations for this study, it would be very much appreciated if you answer all the items in the questionnaire.
Information given will be treated in strictest confidence.
Thank you.
Part 1. Demographic Profile of Respondent
Direction: Please fill up in all the necessary information about yourself. Don’t leave any item unanswered.
a. Age
Below 20 ( ) 20 – 29 ( ) 30 – 39 ( ) 40 –49 ( )
50 – 59 ( ) 60 above ( )
b. Gender
Male ( ) Female ( )
c. Civil Status
Single ( ) Married ( ) Separated ( ) Widow/Widower ( )
d. How long have you been working in building and design company?
below 5 years ( ) 6-10 years ( ) 11-15 years ( ) 16 years above ( )
e. What is your Professional Affiliation?
architecture ( ) contractors/builders ( ) engineers ( )
other: sustainable building consultants ( ) developers ( )
Part 2. Perception of Respondents
very familiar ( ) somewhat familiar ( ) barely familiar ( )
not at all familiar ( )
1.1 What are the Sustainable/Green buil HousesAspects (beyond code) incorporated into the project/worked done by your establishment?
every projects ( ) most projects ( ) a few project ( ) never ( )
Main resources
Please Check
Personal Research
Media/Articles
Continuing Education/Workshops
Co-Worker
Courses
Clients
1
Strongly Agree
2
Agree
3
Uncertain
4
Disagree
5
Strongly Disagree
Statements
1
2
3
4
5
1. Lack of training/education in Sustainable/Green build Houses for regeneration of Sutton design/construction.
2. Lack of expressed interest from building clients (homeowners/developers)
3. Lack of interest from others on the project team
4. Lack of technical understanding on the part of others on the housing project team
5. Lack of technical understanding on the part of subcontractors
6. Lack of technical understanding on the part of the Clerk of the Works
7. Inability of the designers and engineers to know where to get information on sustainable building methods
8. Sustainable/Green build Houses selections are too expensive; competitive disadvantage
9. Difficulty in obtaining financing from banks for sustainable projects
10. The recovery of long-term savings not reflected in service fee structure
11. Some products are not available or accessible in the area; lack of “green” materials suppliers
12. insurance/liability dilemma with offering warranty on non-standard materials or methods
Statements
1
2
3
4
5
1. Educational Programs
2. Economic Incentives
3. Collaborative Effort for housing partnerships and local government of Sutton in UK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COOPERATION
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