Exploring Issues in Green Building Policy Adoption in Australia

This thesis investigates the challenges and issues surrounding the adoption of green building policies in Australia's construction industry. It highlights the importance of green building policies in reducing environmental pollution and promoting sustainability through the use of green materials. The research identifies obstacles such as economic costs, lack of financial support, and skepticism towards green technologies. It employs both quantitative and qualitative data analysis to assess the perceptions of various stakeholders in the construction industry regarding the viability and necessity of implementing green building policies. The study also discusses drawbacks from financial, technical, and governmental perspectives, and emphasizes the need for the Australian government to reconsider its green building policies and provide adequate incentives. The role of stakeholders and policymakers is deemed crucial in raising awareness and promoting the adoption of green building technologies.

Running head: GREEN BUILDING POLICIES
Issues Regarding the Adoption of Green Building Policies
Jay Parikh
APIC

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 2
Acknowledgement:
 First of all, I would like praise the almighty GOD for providing me the opportunity to carry out the study.
 I am also highly indebted to {Prof…………….} for his guidance and advice in conducting this work. I would like to thank
{Prof……….} for his encouragement and direction during the work.

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 3
Abstract:
The thesis highlights the variables regarding green building technologies of Australia. The green building policy is crucial in current
scenario as it may enhance the use of bamboos and green materials reducing environment pollution, national expense and adversities
caused by ecological burden. Cost effectiveness and implementation towards correct profitability and sustainability are maintained
towards the green building technology. Improved maintenance, operation, deconstruction and renovation processes would lead to a
correct policy making towards green building technologies. The thesis aims to identify general challenges or adversities to effective
policy adoption of initiatives in green building. The research also has an objective to the issues from the perspectives of the various
stakeholders in the construction industry and their perceptions regarding the viability as well as the need of execution of green
building policies in the economy of Australia. The main challenges or hurdles confronted in the adoption of policies and
implementation of Green Building Technologies in the construction industry of Australia. The primary data analysis discovered that
adoption of economic costs and prices, financial schemes and supports, lack of interest towards green buildings, adoption of
technologies towards green technologies and inadequate support towards green technology of Australia is present significantly. Higher
degrees of data base and skepticism are found to be significantly correlated with each other. Drawbacks of financial, technical and
governmental point of view are discussed and qualitatively analyzed. Government of Australia should reconsider its green building
policies and provide adequate incentives to the building authorities. The role of stakeholders and policy makers in this subject would
be very crucial and future-decider. Proper policy of government or non-government authorities would increase awareness of the
people.
Key words
Global construction, Ecology, Durability, Sustainability, Green building policy, Construction industry, Stakeholders, Legal and
Judicial Systems, Inductive and Deductive research, Reliability, Factor analysis, Correlation coefficient, Homogeneity, Tax and
Subsidiary systems, Costs and benefits.

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 4
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction and Background Information............................................................................................................................3
1.1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................................3
1.2. Background Information...............................................................................................................................................................3
1.3. Purpose of the Study.....................................................................................................................................................................3
1.4. Objectives......................................................................................................................................................................................3
1.5. Research Questions.......................................................................................................................................................................3
1.6. Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................................................4
Chapter Two: Literature Review.................................................................................................................................................................4
2.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................................................4
2.2. Green buildings.................................................................................................................................................................................4
2.3. Nonexistence of knowledge and awareness......................................................................................................................................4
2.4. Economic Issues................................................................................................................................................................................4
2.5. Government barriers..........................................................................................................................................................................5
2.6. Attitude and Market...........................................................................................................................................................................5
2.7. Inexistence of Incentives...................................................................................................................................................................5
2.8. Nonexistence of Green technologies champions...............................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY...............................................................................................................................................................6
3.1. Research Hypotheses.........................................................................................................................................................................6
3.2. Research Design................................................................................................................................................................................6
3.3 Research Philosophy..........................................................................................................................................................................6
3.4 Research Approach.............................................................................................................................................................................7
3.5 Data Collection Procedure..................................................................................................................................................................7
3.6 Data collection techniques and analysis.............................................................................................................................................8
3.7 Ethical consideration..........................................................................................................................................................................8
3.8 Research Limitations..........................................................................................................................................................................8
3.8 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................................................................8
4. Data Analysis and Findings:....................................................................................................................................................................8
4.1. Findings of Quantitative Study and its Analysis:..............................................................................................................................8
4.1.1. Descriptive statistics with visualisation:.....................................................................................................................................8
4.1.2. Correlation coefficients:............................................................................................................................................................13
4.1.3. Factor Analysis:........................................................................................................................................................................14
4.1.4. Reliability of the variables of dataset:.......................................................................................................................................16
4.2. Thematic Qualitative Analysis and its Findings:............................................................................................................................17
5. Conclusion:............................................................................................................................................................................................17
6. Recommendation:..................................................................................................................................................................................18
7. References..............................................................................................................................................................................................19
8. Appendix:..............................................................................................................................................................................................20
8.1. Survey questionnaires for quantitative study:.................................................................................................................................20
8.2. Survey questionnaires for qualitative study:...................................................................................................................................20

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 5
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Higher economic costs and market prices adopt Green Building Technology as compared to the conventional technologies 10
Figure 2: Lack of financial schemes and supports to implement in Green Building technologies...........................................................11
Figure 3: Unwillingness to replace the conventional methods by new green building techniques is the reason of slow adaptation.......11
Figure 4: High degree of scepticism about the implementation of the GB technologies..........................................................................12
Figure 5: High conflicts among the different stakeholders stall the growth of the GB Technology in the contemporary construction...12
Figure 6: Lack of sufficient and productive databases regarding the adoption and implementation of GB technologies........................13
Figure 7: Lack of inadequate incentives of government to promote and encourage the implementation of GB technologies.................13
Figure 8: The Scree Plot of Factor Analysis..............................................................................................................................................16
Table of Tables
Table 1: Higher economic costs and market prices adopt Green Building Technology as compared to the conventional technologies. 10
Table 2: Lack of financial schemes and supports to implement in Green Building technologies.............................................................10
Table 3: Unwillingness to replace the conventional methods by new green building techniques is the reason of slow adaptation.........11
Table 4: High degree of scepticism about the implementation of the GB technologies...........................................................................11
Table 5: High conflicts among the different stakeholders stall the growth of the GB Technology in the contemporary construction....12
Table 6: Lack of sufficient and productive databases regarding the adoption and implementation of GB technologies.........................13
Table 7: Lack of inadequate incentives of government to promote and encourage the implementation of GB technologies..................13
Table 8: Table of Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the variables..............................................................................................14
Table 9: Testing the sphericity of the variables.........................................................................................................................................15
Table 10: Principal Component Analysis in Extraction Method...............................................................................................................16
Table 11: Factor or Component Matrix.....................................................................................................................................................17
Table 12: The value of reliability statistic.................................................................................................................................................17
Table 13: Validity levels of each variables of the data set........................................................................................................................17

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 6
Chapter One: Introduction and Background Information
1.1. Introduction
The aspect of environmental protection and sustainability has become an integral part of every industry. Sustainable
development is aimed at meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the right of the future generation to meet
their needs with the same resource. According to Cooper et al. (2016), there are three essential aspects of sustainable development.
These include the social development, environmental protection, and economic development. Over the years, owing to the
considerable changes in the climatic conditions in the global framework, which has been becoming more apparent with time, the
preservation of climate and prevention of environmental degradation have become as issue immense concern, among the politicians,
economists, environmentalists as well as the population as a whole across the world (Young, 2012).
In this context, the different industries across the globe have been trying to cut down their share of contribution to the pollution
and environmental degradation, which primarily includes the global construction industry. The global construction industry is counted
as one of the highest consumer of global energy, thereby contributing majorly to the carbon dioxide emissions. It has been empirically
observed that the global construction industry consumers nearly 40% of the total energy and contributes to the emission of nearly one
third of the total amount of green gas in the international scenario (Kibert, 2016). Keeping this into consideration, over the last few
decades, the concept of “green building” has been gaining popularity in the construction industry across the world. The concept of
green building has been considered as the forth component of the environment development in the current period (Tam et al., 2017).
Green building (GB) is the process of adopting structures by the use of processes that consider resource-efficient and environmental
responsibility as the primary goal throughout the life-cycle of the building process (Ciora, Maier & Anghel, 2016). It covers the
construction and design all through to maintenance, operation, deconstruction, and renovation processes. The notion of green building
refers to the result which is derived by implementation of sustainable approaches of construction, with the primary benefits of the
same. These are the production of enhanced health conditions of humans, higher protection and sustainability of environment,
efficiency in usage of resources and energy as an overall increase in the profitability and environmental sustainability of the industry
into consideration (Zuo & Zhao, 2014). In the construction industry, green building is gaining an increased acceptance as a viable
solution to achieving the growing demand for a healthy and environmental friendly building with considerable focus on the
sustainability issues. Also known as the high performance or sustainable buildings, green buildings consider the comfort, durability,
utility element, and economy of a building.
1.2. Background Information
In the current global construction industry, the concept of green building is being adopted in the global wake of environmental
stewardship. With the rise in demand of healthy lifestyles as well as with the increase in the global concern regarding the
environmental preservation and prevention of greenhouse emissions, the concept of green building is taking a stole whether it is the
design of an office or a house. The concept and the practice has also begun to be implemented in the construction industries across the
world abruptly. However, there is still limited knowledge on sustainable or green building in the global construction industry.
According to Tam et al. (2017), the adoption of green housing requires various rating systems for sustainable buildings as they have to
meet certain standards to qualify as green building. There also remains considerable debates regarding the feasibility and cost
effectiveness of such initiatives. The implementation of green building also needs incorporation of the same and its provision in the
policy frameworks of the different countries across the globe. This procedure is not expected to be smooth and easy provided the fact
that implementation of such initiatives and building procedures are expected to bring a disruption in the existing frameworks of
construction industry across the world and in the activities and profitability of the different stakeholders of this industry (Eichholtz,
Kok & Quigley, 2013). As a result, there is a need to take into consideration the initiative and concern of green building policy
adoptions as well as the aspects of the different hurdles which are expected to be cropping up in the implementation of policy
frameworks targeted to enhance the scopes of green building in the construction industry, while planning for the process within the
industry.
1.3. Purpose of the Study
Cooper et al. (2011) denote that the uptake of GB technology is not as apparent as is expected in the international construction
environment. With the growing interest, there still exist many barriers that persist in adopting green building policies. The
examination of these barriers is essential is it creates lack of efficiency in the potentiality of the economic and environmental benefits
on the green building policies in the construction industry. Just as important is the evaluation of issues affecting the adoption of green
building policies to effectively foster the implementation of sustainable building. The main aim of this study is thus to identify
common challenges or barriers to effective policy adoption of initiatives in green building. The paper evaluates these aspects from the
stakeholder perspectives with the aim of proposing effective recommendations that can be adopted as solutions to the policy
challenges identified.
1.4. Objectives
Keeping the fact that green building has been developing as one of the primary components in the construction industry, the
concerned research aims to study the different hurdles and issues which are found in the aspects of implementation of policies
regarding green building initiatives in the construction industry. The research also aims to view the issues regarding the same from the
perspectives of the different stakeholders in the construction industry and their perceptions regarding the viability and need of
implementation of green building policies, in the economy of Australia.
1.5. Research Questions
To study the probable issues hampering the smooth and abrupt adaptation of the Green Building technologies in the
construction, the following research questions have been taken into consideration in the concerned research.
The primary research question in this aspect is as follows:
What are the main issues or hurdles faced in the policy adoption and implementation of Green Building Technologies in the
construction industry of Australia?
Based on the primary question, there are few secondary research questions which the concerned research explores and analyzes
based on the data collected and interpreted, the questions being as follows:

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 7
 Is there any conflict of interest among the stakeholders regarding the adoption of Green Building Technologies vis-à-vis
conventional ones in the construction industry in Australia?
 Are there sufficient databases and information available regarding the adoption as well as profitability and sustainability of
such technologies?
 What are the benefits perceived by the stakeholders from implementation of the GB technologies?
 What are the threats perceived by the stakeholders from the implementation of the GB technologies?
 What are the cost advantages or disadvantages of implementation of GB technologies over conventional ones?
 What is the level of trust prevailing in the industry and among the different stakeholders behind the implementation of the
same?
1.6. Conclusion
Thus, as can be seen from the above discussion, in the contemporary period, Green Building has been developing as a new
component in the construction industry and shows the potential to be an alternative in the construction sector in the global framework,
much of which can be attributed to the increase in the awareness regarding the prevention of pollution and degradation of the
environment. Green Building technologies are expected to be incorporated in the policy frameworks of the different countries.
However, there remains different hurdles and issues in the aspect of development of policy frameworks in this aspect. The concerned
research aims to study these hurdles which are present in the aspect of policy framing for implementation of green building
technologies in the construction industries, especially in Australia.
Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.1. Introduction
In this section, we will go through the literature relating to understanding green buildings and issues regarding adoption of
green building policies. As a whole, the issue of adopting the construction of green buildings comes with a fair share of challenges as
they occur in any green management initiative. According to Visscher, Laubscher, and Chan (2016), barriers that affect affecting
environmental management systems are information scarcity, inadequate information, inappropriate knowledge, ineffective financial
resource management, improper implementation techniques and harsh organizational culture. The paper is thus focused on pointing
out the gaps that exist in barriers conjoint in the adoption of green building policies. In detail, this chapter covers the barriers to
adoption of green building policies.
2.2. Green buildings
For a building to be termed green, then it would be appropriate for the construction project to allow the preservation of the
natural environment that surrounds it. Putting up the building will enhance a healthy environment that will not interrupt the land,
water, and resources within and outside the building. The green building should be in a position to promote the development of
environment, health, and economy.
2.3. Nonexistence of knowledge and awareness
Information is critical to be able to have adequate information or understanding, and it also entails creating acceptance and
public awareness of the Australian’s. It is important to note that green building technology is usually sophisticated than the
conventional building technology. Therefore, the availability of knowledge is significant in green building arena. McAuley (2018)
points out that, the carrying out of green technology research is a matter that is tedious to developers, contractors, and clients. In
Australia, some researchers point this challenge to the scarceness of green building information, familiarity, technical expertise,
research, and education according to Miller, Spivey, and Florance (2008). With these paucities, it is crucial to point out that these
hindrances are correlated and in turn affect implementation of green building policies in Australia.
Without proper research, it is a challenging task to come up with a business idea for a green building that is considerable. With
information and reliable research being inadequate, for stakeholders to improve their awareness and understanding they will not be in
a position to act in a manner that suggests that they support the matter. Lack of information is the critical barrier for stakeholders to
adopt green policies (Nath, 2014). Together with the lack of research, these impact the stakeholders negatively to be able to be aware
of the importance of green building technologies in Australia. Even if investors or the government understand green technologies,
several populations do not understand green technologies making implementing the programs trying (Hwang, Zhu, Wang, & Cheong,
2017). Improper or lack of understanding may result in the inappropriate definition of green building and this, in turn, hinders green
development in Australia. Implementing green building guidelines will be a daunting task because stakeholders will desist from green
building adoption reason being, they are not familiar with the green designs, products, materials and related technologies.
2.4. Economic Issues
Economic or financial concerns are a major hindrance to the adoption of green building policies leaves alone other policies
worldwide. During construction of green building projects, the cost is one of the critical economic factors. When a general comparison
is carried out, it costs more to start and finish green building projects due to its expensive materials compared to the conventional
buildings and such factor translates to their policy adoption. Third party costs thwart embracing of green building policies (Visscher,
2016). Such third part costs in Australia include high consultant costs and green building costs. McAuley (2018) denotes that,
financial barriers to green building guidelines include inaccurate perceptions that green building has the possibility of inviting high
initial investments. Economic issues occur in the form that in Australia, new conventional buildings are increasing at skyrocketing
rate, energy prices aren’t low, and the use of resourceful technologies such as green technologies and renewable technologies are not
efficiently exhilarated.
Necessary calculations have been carried out by investors, and the results are that they discover that the costs of green building
are high and this makes the buildings have an extended payback period. It, in turn, discourages their participation in the coming up or
implementation of green building policies. Green building specialists put an approximation that the cost of green building is 3 to 4%
higher than the conventional structures (McAuley, 2018). In China, the high additional costs that are related to green building
technologies are considered as one of the primary barriers to their policy implementation. In developed counties such as Canada, the

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 8
situation is of no difference. In Australia stakeholders are forced to import the green technology from other countries, this raises the
costs in most cases and turns to affect policy execution. Policy implementation becomes an uphill task when financial institutions and
individuals are not willing to fund green building projects.
2.5. Government barriers
According to Love et al., (2012), governments play a vital role in the elevation and relegation of green technologies. The
Australian government is in a position of creating rules and systems that favour environment conservation and these results into the
Australians obligations to green technologies applications. With this being taken to effect, contrary to the outcome can be realized
when green technologies are not given the serious attention they deserve. Such government barriers represent a hindrance to the
adoption of green building policies in Australia. Enforcing regulations by the government are critical for the accomplishment of
government strategies, and the nonexistence of enforcement bodies can creep up rules related to green buildings like in China (Koski
& Lee, 2014). Legal systems with penalties exist in Australia, but sometimes, the weak judicial system makes it challenging to enforce
such laws. In a country like China, the management and monitoring systems are vulnerable in green building systems. Australian
government push will be significant in accelerating green building development. Thus, they should have the capacity to provide
incentives (both financial and non-financial), act as a green building supporter, form and regulate standards.
2.6. Attitude and Market
It is important to note that there is a significant role played by stakeholder’s attitude and this cannot be wished away in the
green building market. The attitude in this point also entails behaviour and lifestyle. Stakeholder’s such as the government, investors,
and clients approach significantly influence the adoption of green technologies (Love et al., 2012). The Australian citizens being the
users and the ones with funds put them in the stakeholder's category in the development of green building policies. Hence, they are in
the in the top level of decision making. If the Australian citizens have less or no interest in matters green technologies, then it is not
practicable for other project teams to adopt green building policies. The clients form an integral part of the green building policy
implementation and if they show eagerness, then there is a source of stimulus for other players in the policy adoption.
Koski and Lee (2014). Note that stakeholder’s attitude being negative affect green building market and when they are resilient
to change from using the conventional building technologies and practices then it negatively affects policy adoption. Due to the lack
of information concerning green technologies and the stakeholder’s unchangeable traditional ideas, many Australians become
uncertain of the quality and performance of the green buildings. The suspicion impedes espousal of the green building policies.
2.7. Inexistence of Incentives
Australia faces numerous challenges in green building policy adoption. Economic or financial barrier being a vital issue, then
there are high chances that lack of incentives will also cripple the policy execution. This makes it demoralizing for those who
participate in green technology to contribute to the policymaking. Green designs are not approved quickly in several countries due to
inappropriate knowledge to its benefits, and this discourages the stakeholders to participate in green technology policy enactment
(Joachim et al., 2017). Many Australians who occupy the green buildings raise concerns about the green buildings. Different issues
come into play with topics ranging from querying how comfortable the buildings are and if they are worthy of the cash they pay. The
occupant’s problems are influenced by the same barriers of green building technologies discussed in this literature review. The green
building occupants raise numerous concerns making it uncomfortable for stakeholders to engage in the green building policy
implementation.
2.8. Nonexistence of Green technologies champions
There have been severe barriers to green building technology development in Australia. The restrictions make it challenging
for green technology defenders to be available. Nath (2014) asserts that in many countries it’s difficult to find green technology
development defenders since the citizens in most cases usually are resistant to change from the conventional to green buildings. The
resistance to change and inefficient knowledge causes lack of green building champions who can be part of the stakeholders to drive
implementation of the policies.
2.9. Conclusion
Australia faces the task of developing its economy and protecting its ecological environment is on top of its priorities. Green
buildings have the capabilities to diminish the negative impact of constructing buildings on the natural environment. The adoption of
green building policies is affected by many barriers. Australia faces numerous obstacles to adoption of green building policies. This
literature review aimed at analysing the problems in adoption of green building policies in Australia. With the comparison of different
experts and journals, most of the barriers explained in this review are found to be critical. The barriers that are most critical include
non-existence of knowledge, financial issues, government barriers, attitude, and market.

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 9
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
This section evaluates and expresses the methodological designs which have been adopted in the concerned study. It presents
the hypothesis and research questions that guides the research towards finding objectives related to the research. It also focuses on the
instrumentation as well as related factors that directly or indirectly affect the study process.
3.1. Research Hypotheses
Keeping into consideration the purposes and the objectives of the research, the following hypotheses have been formed, which
have been studied in the light of the empirical evidences collected and analysed. Based on the results of the analysis these following
hypotheses have been accepted or rejected and the implications and interpretation of the same have been discussed in the result section
of the research.
The hypotheses are as follows:
H1: There exists higher economic costs and market prices in the aspects of adoption of Green Building Technology as compared to the
conventional technologies used in the construction industry
H2: Unwillingness to change or replace the conventional methods by new green building techniques have been one of the primary
reason behind its slow adaptation
H3: There exists a lack of financial schemes and supports (like that of bank loans) in the aspect of implementation of Green Building
technologies
H4: There exists high degree of scepticism about the implementation of the GB technologies
H5: There exists a lack of sufficient and productive databases regarding the adoption and implementation of GB technologies
H6: There exist lack of inadequate incentives on part of the government to promote and encourage the implementation of Green
Building technologies in the construction industries
H7: High conflicts of interests among the different stakeholders in the industry stalls the growth of the Green Building Technology in
the contemporary construction scenarios
3.2. Research Design
The research design shows the type of construct in which the concerned studies are constructed and data are collected and
interpreted. There remain three general types of research designs which are as follows:
Figure 1: Types of research design
(Source: As created by the author)
The explanatory research design helps in identification of the different types of occurrences in the domain of research while
the exploratory research design helps in collecting and exploring the different aspects related to the concerned research topic, thereby
helping in the development of new insights about the topics. On the other hand, the descriptive research design enables the collection
and expansion of the domain of knowledge based on the collection and analysis of data (Meyers, Gamst & Guarino, 2016).

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 10
Keeping this into consideration, the concerned research takes a descriptive research design in order to examine and analyse the
issues and their impacts regarding the design and implementation of policy frameworks for encouraging adaptation of the Green
Building Technologies in the construction sector of Australia.
3.3 Research Philosophy
There exist three philosophical approaches in the general global research framework, which are as follows:
Figure 2: Types of research philosophies
(Source: As created by the author)
The Positivism research philosophical approach facilitates the testing of different hypotheses and assertions on the basis of the
empirical data collected and based on the acceptance or rejection of such hypotheses, helps the research to reach its conclusion. On the
other hand, realism can be used for both quantitative as well as qualitative researches due to the absence of highly structured research
frameworks like that of the positivism framework (Hughes & Sharrock, 2016). On the other hand, interpretivism philosophy deals
with in-depth analysis of small and generally qualitative research samples.
The concerned research taking into account both quantitative as well as qualitative research methods for analysing a small but
detailed sample, both the positivism and realism philosophical frameworks are taken into account.
3.4 Research Approach
There are two broad types of approaches which are incorporated in the research frameworks usually, which are as follows:
Figure 3: Types of research approaches
(Source: As created by the author)
The inductive approach facilitates the formation of research aims and questions and executing the research on the basis of the
same. Conversely, in the deductive research approach the hypotheses are first formulated and then their viability is tested on the basis
of the information or evidences collected. Keeping this into consideration, the concerned research takes a deductive approach, thereby
forming the relevant hypotheses and testing the same in the light of the data collected.
3.5 Data Collection Procedure
For the purpose of analysis of concerned research topics quantitative and qualitative data can be collected. The quantitative
data collection helps in analysing and observing the numerical and cardinal aspects of the concerned research topics and also helps in
making the results more comprehensive and easy to apprehend (Mertens, 2014). However, there are different aspects, especially the
ordinal and abstract ones which are crucial but cannot be taken into account by the quantitative methods, for which qualitative data are
required to be collected. Keeping this into consideration, both qualitative and quantitative data are collected to provide the opportunity
for varied comparisons of the data. Chan et al. (2017), observe that a viable research must be supported by reliable and accurate data.

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 11
Data can be primary or secondary in nature. While primary data sources collected by the researcher directly, helps in
enhancing the data quality and authenticity, however, the same is a time taking and costly process. However, the secondary data
collection method, in spite of being cost efficient, easy and time saving, often face the problem of biasness or faults in the data,
thereby distorting the analysis as a whole. Keeping this into consideration, primary data is collected and analysed in the concerned
research (Hewson & Stewart, 2016). The main instruments for the collection of primary quantitative and qualitative data are by the
methods of interviews and research surveys in the sample population.
3.6 Data collection techniques and analysis
For the purpose of the concerned research, primary data has been collected in the form of interviews and surveys from a
sample size of 60 respondents consisting of Green Building experts from different fields, with the relevance of the construction
industry of Australia. Primary quantitative data has been collected in the form of quantitative surveys from these 60 chosen
respondents, focussing on the primary issues which are present in the aspects of policy development and implementation of GB
technologies. The research also takes into account the need for in depth and qualitative analysis of the individual perceptions of the
relevant respondents. For the purpose of the same, 10 out of the chosen 60 respondents are re-selected on the basis of random
sampling and in depth and open-ended interviews have been conducted with them in order to take into account their perceptions in
these aspects.
The quantitative data collected has been analysed statistically with the help of software platform SPSS and correlation and factor
analysis have been done to analyse the viability of the hypotheses formed previously. On the other hand, thematic analysis is done on
the qualitative data collected to make the research findings robust and with proper insight (Auberlet et al., 2014).
The value of correlation coefficient 0 to 1 indicates a positive correlation and the value of correlation coefficient from (-1) to 0
refers a negative correlation. On the other hand, the value of correlation coefficient between (±1) to (±0.7) means strong correlation
between two scale variables. The value of correlation coefficient between (±0.7) to (±0.4) refers the moderate correlation between two
scale variables. The value of correlation coefficient in the interval form (±0.4) to (±0.1) interprets a weak correlation. Finally, the
correlation coefficient in the interval (±0.1) to 0 refers that the two variables are uncorrelated to each other (Hall, 2015). The
correlation coefficient helps to find the direct one-to-one link between two variables. The table also displays the significance of the
correlation coefficients. The significances of the correlation coefficients are tested with respect to 5% level of significance. The
researcher can find whether the association is positive or negative. Also, it could be interpreted whether the link is one of the three
cases that are weak, medium and strong. On the other hand, factor analysis is a technique that is used to decrease a large number of
variables into lesser number of factors. This method extracts maximum common variance (MCV) from all the variables and combine
them into a common score. Actually, factor analysis is a part of Generalised Linear Model (GLM). This method ignores
multicollinearity and accepts correlation between variables. Factor analysis is accomplished by principle component analysis and used
for hypothesis testing.
In the qualitative data analysis thematic analysis is incorporated. Thematic analysis is a broadly used qualitative data analysis
method or the cluster of methods that focus on detecting patterned meaning across a data set. There are many ways of thematic
analysis could be found for data analysis. These are inductive approach, deductive approach, sematic way, constructionist approach,
realistic or essentialist approach and latent way. In this thesis, the researcher takes into account constructionist approach. It focuses on
looking at how certain reality is generated by the data.
3.7 Ethical consideration
According to Nix and Hall (2016), ethical consideration means that respondents should not suffer physical pain, loss of privacy,
discomfort, or embarrassment. Ethical consideration also stipulates that dignity of the research respondents should be upheld. Ethical
consideration also underscores importance of assuring confidentiality and anonymity of the respondents (Chan, Darko, Ameyaw, and
Owusu-Manu, 2017). Besides, any deception or misleading information regarding research objectives should be avoided. Based on
these criteria, adequate measures will be taken to ensure that respondents do not suffer in any way by participating in this research.
The identities of the respondents will be adequately secured. Throughout the survey and interview, high level of objectivity has been
observed. The interviews have been conducted with the consent of the respondents and to preserve their dignity, anonymity has been
maintained in the concerned research (Resnik, 2015).
3.8 Research Limitations
Whereas deliberate steps will be taken underscore the validity of the research, some limitations may be inevitable. For
instance, the study is limited to a sample of population. Due to time and cost, the questionnaire will rely on small sample of those who
were issued with survey questions. Also, the research specifically concentrates on the respondents in Australia, thereby making the
findings the recommendations based on the research findings subjective and applicable to the country itself as the scenarios may or
may not be the same in the other parts of the world, which is also another primary limitation of the concerned research.
3.8 Conclusion
This chapter has discussed the research data collection methods that will be adopted during the study. The chapter has
illustrated how interview and survey instruments have been chosen according to their best fit and how the same have been employed
to collect relevant data with the aim of addressing research questions and hypotheses formed for the concerned research. The chapter
has also examined the design of the interviews and the questionnaire in accordance with the feedback and methods of analysis.
4. Data Analysis and Findings:
4.1. Findings of Quantitative Study and its Analysis:
As discussed above, the concerned research takes a mixed method of analysis of data collected, involving both quantitative as
well as qualitative data analysis techniques. In the quantitative analysis, with the usage of SPSS statistical software platform,
correlation and factor analysis tests have been conducted on the quantitative data collected. On the other hand, a thematic qualitative

GREEN BUILDING POLICIES 12
analysis has been done on the qualitative data collected, the primary themes being technical, financial and governmental facts. The
results of the analysis, both quantitative and qualitative are arranged and interpreted in the following sections of this chapter of the
research.
4.1.1. Descriptive statistics with visualisation: Do the higher economic costs and market prices adopt Green Building Technology as compared to the conventional
technologies?
Frequency Percent
Valid
Strongly Disagree 2 3.3
Disagree 9 15.0
Neutral 17 28.3
Agree 26 43.3
Strongly Agree 6 10.0
Total 60 100.0
Table 1: Higher economic costs and market prices adopt Green Building Technology as compared to the conventional technologies
Out of 60 respondents only 11 (18.3%) employees either strongly disagree or disagree with the fact that there exists higher economic
costs and market prices in the aspects of adoption of Green Building Technology as compared to the conventional technologies used in
the construction industry (Field, 2013). 32 people either agree or strongly agree with that fact.
The heights of bars are proportional to the frequencies of each level of a variable.
Figure 1: Higher economic costs and market prices adopt Green Building Technology as compared to the conventional technologies
 Is there the lack of financial schemes and supports to implement in Green Building technologies?
Frequency Percent
Valid
Strongly Disagree 4 6.7
Disagree 8 13.3
Neutral 17 28.3
Agree 26 43.3
Strongly Agree 5 8.3
Total 60 100.0
Table 2: Lack of financial schemes and supports to implement in Green Building technologies
Among 60 responders a significant number of 26 (43.3%) responders regard that there exists a lack of financial schemes and supports
in the aspect of implementation of Green Building technologies. Only 12 (20%) responders denied the proposition.