Understanding barriers affecting the selection of sustainable materials in building projects

The selection of sustainable building materials has been identified as an important strategy in the design of a building. Although the sustainability imperative is gaining in importance, there are still major barriers preventing this"new style' architectural practice becoming the norm. This paper examines the major barriers encountered in the selection of sustainable building materials among building construction professionals in Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was developed to capture the perception of construction professionals regarding the significance of the identified barriers as it affects the selection and use of sustainable building materials. Case studies of three completed building projects were conducted with design team to validate the result of the survey. Research results show that perception of extra cost being incurred and lack of sustainable material information are identified as the top barriers to sustainable materials selection. The paper concludes with suggestions and actions that can help overcome these existing barriers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.