Awareness, benefits and drawbacks of net zero energy building practices: construction industry professional’s perceptions
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In a bid to overcome climate change and global warming, the adoption of net zero
energy building (nZEB) practices in construction projects has become a viable measure of
reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions in buildings. nZEB is a facility with a
significantly lowered energy needs such that the rest of the energy requirements can be supplied
by on-site or off-site renewable technologies. The present study therefore investigated the
awareness, benefits and challenges confronting the actualization of nZEB in Nigeria construction
industry. A cross sectional survey design was adopted wherein a close ended questionnaire was
purposively administered online to construction industry professionals who have understanding
of nZEB initiatives. Descriptive statistical tests were conducted, with the results showing about
9% and 25% of the selected professionals been not aware of nZEB concepts and have not been
involved in the concept in their professional career. Further details revealed that reduction in the
land use effect, reduction in vulnerability of power infrastructures to vandalism and economic
competitiveness were dominant benefits of nZEB practices. However, low return on investment,
conflict with public policy regulation and policy clarity, lack of evaluation and valuation
processes were perceived as the top hindering factors to nZEB practices. The implication for
practice is for construction stakeholders to participate and develop effective implementation
strategies towards nZEB for could be ecological and economical friendly.
Keywords
QC Physics, TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering