Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Force of Green Buildings in Guangzhou, China

Abstract

Green buildings are characterized by energy saving and emissions reduction. To achieve the goals of peak emissions and carbon neutrality, large-scale development of green buildings contributes to relieving the pressure of resource shortage and environmental degradation. The extant literature on China's green buildings has mainly focused on standards and rating systems. With regard to the rapid growth of green buildings, research has increasingly focused on the development patterns and mainly concentrated on the nationwide or regional scales. It is essential to study the spatial and temporal patterns of green buildings and explore their dynamics in urban China within a particular city. Taking Guangzhou as a case study, this study comprehensively explored the spatial and temporal patterns of green buildings which were awarded the Chinese Green Building Evaluation Standard or LEED certification from 2008 to 2021, and further identified main factors in terms of market, economy, environment, and resources driving such patterns with the aid of ArcGIS spatial analysis and GeoDector. It was found that: (1) Temporally, the growth of green buildings demonstrates a policy-driven trend of rising first and then descending. (2) Spatially, there are significant differences in green buildings project, construction area, and types in terms of green office, residential, and other public buildings. The green buildings in the city center of Guangzhou have considerable differentiation and complex levels. The high-level green buildings are primarily concentrated in Tianhe, Zengcheng, and Huangpu Districts, while the low-level green buildings are mostly located in Conghua, Panyu, and Nansha Districts. (3) The spatiotemporal patterns of green buildings exhibited the following features: The gravity center of green buildings moved northward and then southward;. The range of distribution has continuously expanded. The developing trend in Guangzhou present northwest-southeast direction with gradually enhanced directionality. (4) With regard to the driving forces, resource factors are the primary driving force in the development of green buildings, followed by economic, market, and environmental factors. Specifically, among the three types of green buildings commercial, residential, and office, resource factors are the most important driving force in developing green commercial and residential buildings, while market factors deeply affect the spatial variation of green office buildings. Notably, environmental factors also play a key role in green residential buildings. From the perspective of geography in the spatiotemporal dimension, this study systematically reveals the evolution and determinants of green buildings in China. The findings provide scientific evidence for governmental decision-makers and urban planners in green buildings, new insights into green buildings development and enrich the theoretical framework of green buildings.

Keywords

• green buildings
• green buildings rating
• geodetector
• guangzhou