Developments in the Built Environment (Apr 2024)
A strategic roadmap for combating barriers negating the implementation of prefabricated net-zero carbon buildings
Abstract
In the global push for carbon neutrality and the emergence of net-zero carbon buildings (NZCBs), the lack of substantial progress in achieving NZCB goals due to unaddressed barriers is a pressing issue. While there are ongoing initiatives for NZCB, a crucial research gap exists in the thorough examination of specific barriers and their interconnected complexities, impeding progress in the NZCB agenda. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying and investigating the barriers negating the implementation of Prefabricated NZCBs through a systematic literature review and analyzing their relationships using Interpretative structural modeling (ISM) analysis. Additionally, the study aims to provide a strategic roadmap to overcome the barriers that impede the successful implementation of prefabricated NZCBs. The findings reveal that the regulatory barriers, including regulations, policies, and implementation efforts, emerge as the most significant, followed closely by uncertainties related to long-term financial returns and payback periods. The study concludes that the acceleration of NZCB goals depends on addressing these identified barriers and underscores the imperative for collaboration among government bodies, supply and demand sectors, and end users. Policymakers are urged to integrate these findings into their guidelines for promoting NZCB. The implications of this research are substantial, offering a path forward that prioritizes regulatory obstacles and addresses the most crucial barriers, ultimately propelling the NZCB agenda and contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.