Use of technology acceptance model to Increase green building technology use in South Africa

Abstract

Buildings impact the environment as they consume energy and emit greenhouse gases on a high scale. Through technology and design, efforts are expedited to lower the buildings’ negative impact on the environment. In this study, how the Technology Acceptance Model would increase project teams' use of green building technologies in South Africa was explored. A descriptive research design was used to achieve the aim for this study. The mixed-methods research was used to collect data. A multiple case-study design was used, and qualitative data were collected from five case projects in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Quantitative data were collected from eighty-seven (87) construction project team personnel in the Free State, South Africa, using a survey questionnaire. The thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data, and the descriptive analysis was used to analyse the quantitative data. The results were validated using a focus group. Based on this study, a need for more awareness and knowledge about green building technologies to increase adoption was reported. In addition, the lack of skills, research, and development incentives limits the knowledge of the public about green building technologies. This slows down the industry’s uptake, which limits the number of green buildings in society. However, using the Technology Acceptance Model indicates that the increased adoption of green building technologies offers a range of sustainability benefits that cannot be attained from traditional building technologies. Project teams need the perceived usefulness of green building technologies to be emphasised to them to increase the adoption rate. Concurrently, this entails that the project teams should understand the essentiality of green building technologies. These green building technologies have the potential for long-term energy savings, improved indoor air quality, and decreased environmental impact. Moreover, these benefits could lead project teams to embrace the green building technologies. The demonstration of the perceived ease of use should show that green building technologies can be integrated into the existing construction practices without requiring significant changes or additional training but can further eradicate concerns. Concurrently, the increase in awareness and education about green building technologies can enhance the perceived usefulness, making the project teams more confident in their benefits. Additionally, the transition to green building technologies can be made less intimidating through user-friendly technologies and supportive resources that increase the perceived ease of use factor. Implementing the Technology Acceptance Model results in increased uptake of green building technologies, which leads to additional environmental, social, and economic benefits. Compared to conventional building technologies, green building technologies have components that enable innovation and sustainability. Ultimately, leveraging the core concepts of the Technology Acceptance Model could drive the wider adoption of green building technologies, facilitating a shift towards sustainability.