Abstract:
The construction sector plays a pivotal role in a nation’s economic development, although it ranks as one of the least sustainable industries globally. This industry heavily relies on non-renewable resources, accounting for more than half of humanity’s consumption for construction, especially in housing projects. This has led to significant environmental pollution and resource depletion. This study focuses on evaluating the viability of incorporating green building materials within Nigeria’s construction sector, aiming to propose an effective adoption strategy. The research employed a Mixed Method Design, distributing 372 questionnaires and analyzing 156 valid responses. Employing descriptive analysis, including percentages, frequency, Mean Item Score (MIS), and Relative Importance Index (RII), the study examined factors through both questionnaire responses and interviews. The findings indicate that construction stakeholders are familiar with certain green materials like empty plastic bottles, clay, mud, grasses, bricks, stones, and timber. However, the correlation analysis shows an insignificant relationship (p>0.05). Key drivers for adopting green building materials encompass resource efficiency, reduced lifecycle costs, legal requirements, financial incentives, and cost reduction. Resource efficiency ranked as the most influential factor, whereas regulatory development ranked lowest. Barriers to adoption involve higher construction costs, lack of expertise, insufficient management support, financing gaps, and a lack of government incentives. The study emphasizes the highest barrier as increased costs in green construction and the lowest as extended repayment timeframes for green building technology implementation. Strategies for enhancing green building material adoption include providing incentives for innovation, robust governmental promotion, implementing deconstruction and recycling technologies, and establishing well-funded research and training centers. The research concludes that a positive connection exists between awareness and adoption of green building materials. Recommendations include enacting favorable legislation, garnering support from top industry stakeholders, and offering financial incentives to drive green building practices in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Tactics for Incorporating Eco-Friendly Building Materials in Nigeria’s Building Industry. GET MORE, ACTUARIAL SCIENCE PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS
