Measuring perception about sustainability of building materials in Kosovo

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop the empirically tested framework about the knowledge and perception about sustainability of building materials in Prishtina, Kosovo from the perspective of users, construction industry, and facility managers. A survey of representative sections of the population was designed and carried out in the capital city of Kosovo to determine the knowledge and perception of the population about the sustainability of building materials and to determine the main criteria of selection of sustainable building materials. The study may be used as guidelines for sustainable real estate developers in Prishtina during the materials selection process. Qualitative interviews were conducted with architects, consulting engineering companies, construction companies and facility managers from the region of Prishtina with open-ended questions also being used. Results of quantitative research find that embodied energy, durability, and low energy consumption are used as key criteria that influence the materials selection process on the part of users. The results of the cross-case analysis of qualitative measure the perceptions of construction industry and facility managers, according to which durability to a large degree is the main criterion for selection of sustainable building materials followed by embodied energy and low energy consumption. The study of measurement of level of knowledge and perception about sustainability of building materials in Kosovo focuses only on one pilot city, hence further research is needed throughout Kosovo to validate the empirically tested tool within other geographical settings in Kosovo. This survey represents the first quantification of knowledge and perception regarding the sustainability of building materials among users, construction sector, and facility managers.