Factors for the adoption of green building specifications in China

Purpose: Green building specifications, as some of the most important strategies for energy saving, describe the best practice in the field of sustainable construction. They have great effects on resource saving and environmental protection. The demand of sustainable construction has spurred the emerging and development of green building specifications. However, there are many factors that affect the adoption of green building specifications in China. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that exert influence on the adoption of green building specifications in China. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the comprehensive literature review, a questionnaire survey has been conducted with major stakeholders in the construction area to identify issues concerning the adoption of green building specifications in China. 18 variables that affect the adoption of green building specifications were summarized. Then, in this study, factor analysis and the mean score method are adopted to analyze 18 variables which were obtained from the questionnaire. Findings: By using the rank analysis and factor analysis, the variables have been ranked, analyzed and categorized into five independent factors that are (1) green technology and techniques, (2) awareness and attitude, (3) policies and regulations, (4) marketmarkets, and (5) economics. Besides, in this study, a variable reference is provided for policy makers to put forward focused policies and incentives for green building specifications implementation and industry practitioners to better understand green understand of green building specifications adoption in China. Originality/value: This paper makes a contribution to the understanding of the factors that affect the adoption of green building specifications in China. The results can also contribute to better adoption of green building specifications in other developing countries