The promotion of sustainable construction practices in Kuwait

(Thesis restricted indefinitely) The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment. It is responsible for a large proportion of global CO2 emissions, as well as the use of both natural resources and energy reserves. Green building practices are becoming increasingly recognised as a way of mitigating CO2 emissions and energy consumption, with economic, environmental, social and financial benefits accruing. The aim of the research reported here is to investigate the opportunities to promote sustainable construction practices in Kuwait. This entails identifying the current status of green construction practices, the awareness level of construction stakeholders, the key drivers that motivate the implementation of green practices, as well as barriers to green construction and the risks associated with its implementation. After comprehensively reviewing the literature, primary data were collected and analysed in three phases, using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The three phases of primary data gathering consist of conducting a questionnaire survey, an interview survey and running a simulation. Local stakeholders associated with the Kuwaiti construction industry are the target population and are used as a platform from which to obtain the data. A total of 678 questionnaires were distributed and 504 completed questionnaires were received, while a total of 96 interviews were conducted. The quantitative data is then analysed through descriptive analysis and inferential statistics with the help of SPSS and Microsoft Excel, while the qualitative data is analysed using the content analysis method. Simulation analysis is performed using IES VE (Integrate Environmental Solution) computer simulation software in order to demonstrate the impact different construction materials have on the energy efficiency of the building. The main findings of this research are as follows: implementation of the concept of sustainability is low in the Kuwaiti construction industry; more action and strategies to improve and encourage this concept are therefore required in order for it to be applied efficiently in future construction projects; lack of awareness is found to be the main barrier to the use of green construction methods in Kuwait; the Kuwaiti government must take initiatives in terms of introducing standards, policies and incentives to promote green construction; the risks affecting the development of green construction processes vary and are unevenly distributed throughout the construction industry in Kuwait, but common risks, such as ‘lack of experts', ‘limit of a green supply chain', ‘lack of experts ‘ and ‘higher cost', are considered the most important risks overall; improved measures concerning the use of energy-saving materials can facilitate the achievement of energy-effective building design. The findings of this study provide valuable information for organisations that intend to participate in green construction projects in Kuwait. Recommendations based on the research findings and conclusions are offered to the Kuwaiti construction industry and government. Recommendations for further research are identified.