Drivers and barriers to implement green building practices in higher education institutes in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Higher education institutes have a vast variety of humans, processes, and activities with significant waste generation, transportation, water and material consumption, and energy and electricity consumption. They have the potential to disseminate and lead future generations in the transition towards sustainability. Green buildings are designed, constructed, and operated by efficiently utilizing resources to provide a healthy and comfortable built environment while minimizing the life cycle cost. Higher education institutes across the world are several steps ahead of Sri Lanka in implementing green building practices. Thus, this research aimed to find approaches to increase the implementation of green building practices in higher education institutes in Sri Lanka. The research aim was approached through a qualitative case study. Accordingly, three cases were studied by collecting data through nine semi-structured interviews. Collected data were coded by using the NVivo 11 software and analysed using the cross-case analysis. Findings revealed that benefits associated with green buildings, leadership, specialization of the institute, institutional policy, and imposed regulations drive Sri Lankan higher education institutes to implement the green building practices. Lack of awareness, professional knowledge, skilled labour, and funds, political regime changes, poor planning, and stakeholder management were identified as barriers. The research outcomes guide the policymakers and management of the Sri Lankan higher education institutes to effectively implement green building practices. Further, the research outcomes will help to make strategies to reinforce the drivers and mitigate the barriers.