Abstract
M.Tech. (Construction Management)
The construction industry is one of the largest contributing industries towards socio-economic
growth in South Africa. However, the industry has not overcome the problems facing other
developing countries worldwide in relation to the impact of society on the environment and
socio-economic development that has been contributing considerably to the consumption of
natural resources and energy from the construction industry. The present research assessed the
use of ecological economics, also known as eco-economics (EE) as a model of sustainability
and innovation within the construction sector and the built environment as a whole in the
Gauteng Province of South Africa.
Ecological economics is a concept that embodies both the ecology and economic perspectives
under one umbrella. From this the objectives of the study were to evaluate the ecological and
environmental awareness of the EE model in South African professions within the built
environment, appraise the factors preventing the adoption of EE in the South African
construction industry and also to assess ways that can encourage the adoption of EE amongst
professionals in the South Africa construction industry. In addition, analysing the EE measures
of mitigating building construction impacts on the environment and evaluating the effects of
building construction activities on the environment were part of the research objectives. The
data employed in this research was derived from both primary and secondary sources. The
primary data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire which was distributed to
construction professionals. Out of 200 questionnaires that were distributed, only 132 usable
questionnaires were received, representing a response rate of 66 per cent that was deemed
viable for this study. The questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistical procedures.
The study revealed that construction professionals had little or no knowledge of ecological
economics as a model of sustainability in the construction industry. Similarly, the findings
further showed that procurement practices and lack of capacity for sustainable empowerment,
amongst others, are the major factors hindering the adoption of ecological economics as a
driver of sustainability in the construction industry.
In addition, major findings also revealed that communicating new ideas through conferences
and serminars amongst others and also incentivizing ideas for change relating to greener
construction methods are widely considered as being existing factors hindering the adoption of...