Title: Drivers and barriers of developing low-carbon buildings in China: real estate developers' perspectives

Authors: Lianying Zhang; Jinli Zhou

Addresses: College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China ' College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China

Abstract: With great potentials to reduce carbon emissions in the building sector of China, developing low-carbon buildings (LCBs) is of great significance. As real estate developers play a large role in the development of LCBs, this research aims to investigate their attitudes toward drivers and barriers of developing LCBs in China. Based on the questionnaire results and followed up interview results, this research concluded that achievement of good corporate reputation, policy drive of low carbon and commercial opportunity are the main drivers for developers to develop LCBs. Besides, the barriers are categorized into five types of financial, political, market, knowledge and technical barriers. Finally, five corresponding policy proposals are presented to overcome the existing barriers, among which providing economic incentives is the most effective and urgent one at present. As a result, this research provides a useful reference for policy makers to promote the development of LCBs in China.

Keywords: low carbon buildings; LCBs; drivers; barriers; real estate developers; China; economic incentives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2015.071177

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2015 Vol.18 No.3, pp.254 - 272

Received: 10 Sep 2014
Accepted: 07 May 2015

Published online: 13 Aug 2015 *

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