APPRAISAL OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES IN LUSAKA,

ZAMBIA

By

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree

BACHELOR TECHNOLOGIAE

in

QUANTITY SURVEYING

in the

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

at the

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

SUPERVISOR:

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The construction industry plays a pivotal role in the social and economic growth of a country
(Baloi 2003:289). The industry is known to be complex and diverse, covering a wide range of
business interests and activities brought together by common usage and land development.
On the contrary, there is increasing awareness among scientists and scholars that the rate at
which the earth’s resources are being consumed, erodes the earth’s support system
(Ametepey & Aigbavboa, 2014:115). A phenomenon traceable hugely to the activities of the
construction industry.

The construction industry is a heavy contributor towards unsustainable development, and its
impact on both the economy and the environment is tremendous. According to Baloi
(2003:289), the processes and products used in the traditional construction approach have a
negative environmental and social impact. The activities consume massive quantities of
natural resources including numerous energy sources and water. Extraction of raw materials,
manufacturing and transportation tend to lead to a reduction of resources and losses of
biological diversity whilst acid rain and global warming are the result of high energy
consumption. The construction industry also has a poor reputation when it comes to waste
management and the consequence of this is air and water pollution and health and safety
problems. Statistics documented by Pulselli et al. (2007:621), show that the industry
consumes 40% of total energy produced, 40% of all raw materials and 25% of all timber, and
it accounts for 16% of total water consumption and 40% of natural resources extracted in
industrialised countries. In addition, studies revealed that the industry contributes about 35%
of CO2 emissions with its related processes emitting around 30% of the greenhouse gases
globally and with transportation and processing of materials accounting for 18% of the
emissions. In addition, about 45 – 65% of waste deposited in the landfills is generated by the
construction industry (Son et al., 2011:338).

With the current rate at which the earth’s resources are being depleted, there is a growing
urgency to restructure the construction industry globally. In response to this, sustainable
construction (SC) was proposed as a way of making the construction processes, activities and
practices more economically, socially and environmentally responsive (Abidin,
2010:422).This was motivated by the goal of securing the future generations ability to meet
their needs through the application of sustainable development principles in order to meet the
present needs. This can only be achieved if the stakeholders globally can take it upon

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themselves to initiate actions to mitigate the negative impact of construction activities. With
the rising awareness of the need for sustainability, especially in the construction industry, it is
important for Zambia to keep pace with this global movement by adopting sustainable
construction practices. Hence, the goal of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of
SC acquired by the construction stakeholders and what measures need to be implemented to
bridge the gap. In addition, this study identified the environmental impacts of construction
activities followed by the barriers and benefits of adopting SC practices.

2.0 MOTIVATION

Globally, the activities of the construction industry have been identified as the major cause of
environmental degradation and pollution of all kinds. Zambia has not been left out of the
menace of the resultant climate change. This is evident through the rising temperature and the
drought experienced in the year 2015/2016. However, sustainable construction is important in
that it is a holistic process aimed at restoring and maintaining harmony between the natural
and built environments, creating settlements that affirm human dignity and encouraging
economic equity. Therefore, the reason for this study was to set the wheels of sustainable
construction in motion as a way of mitigating the effects of climate change and preserving the
natural resources for the next generation.

3.0 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The decline in the growth of the economy, the 1.3 million housing backlog, upgrade of 80%
of the housing from informal status and the high dependence on solid fuels such as charcoal
for day to day activities are the key issues that Zambia needs to address. It has been identified
that the construction industry is the key to addressing some of the issues due to the influence
that it has on other sectors of the economy. Increased awareness on sustainable construction
practices will lead to growth in the economy due to improved infrastructure and a reduction
in the unemployment rate as this sector accommodates several Small micro medium
enterprises (SMMEs). In addition, better housing and application of sustainable principles
will lead to increased productivity and a reduction in the dependence on solid fuels. The
information obtained from this study will also add to the body of knowledge regarding the
challenges facing the country in terms of adopting sustainable construction practices and the
success factors that will drive the implementation of these practices.

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4.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The construction industry stands out as one of the industries that contribute significantly
towards the socio-economic growth, especially in developing countries. For instance, in
Zambia, the construction industry is one of the largest sectors with a contribution of 27.5% of
the GDP and a growth rate of 12% as indicated in 2014 (Simbeye, 2016:1). The industry is
also regarded as one of the largest polluters to our environment. Research has found that the
primary cause of climate change(Kibert,2013:6) is the increasing levels of carbon dioxide
(CO2) which have resulted in among other things the depletion of rainforests due to drought
which means there are fewer trees to soak up the CO2 in the atmosphere. Furthermore, a
report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 estimated a rise in
sea level of 18 to 45cm by 2100. However, in 2011 a study conducted by the International
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (IAMAP) discovered that the ice in the north
pole was melting at a much faster rate with a rise of 1.7m in sea level expected by the end of
the century. Other factors like population increase as evidenced by the yearly increase of
about 11 million to an existing population of 1.3 billion in China coupled with an expansion
in the economy of 9.5% have led to increased demand for natural resources, shortage of
materials and agricultural products.

From the Zambian context, there has been a significant rise in the rate of urbanisation which
has put a strain on the natural resources especially in the big cities (Onish, 2016:1). About
80% of the population live in informal housing with limited or no access to basic services like
electricity and water. This has led to pollution of groundwater and depletion of forested areas
due to heavy dependence on solid fuels like charcoal (Sustainable housing guidelines,
2016:3-4). Furthermore, traditional construction practices and management have aided the
challenges being faced today such as high carbon emissions and rapid depletion of the
country’s resources. The aim of this research was to set in motion the adoption of sustainable
construction practices in Zambia.

5.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This part of the study seeks to answer the following:

• What are the environmental impacts of construction activities in Zambia?
• What is the level of awareness of sustainable construction practices amongst the
Zambian construction professionals?
• What are the factors driving the adoption of sustainable construction practices?

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 • What are the barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction practices?
• What are the benefits of adopting sustainable construction practices?

6.0 OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY

• To determine the environmental impacts of construction activities in Zambia.

• To assess the level of awareness of sustainable construction practices amongst
Zambian construction professionals.
• To evaluate the factors driving the adoption of sustainable construction practices.
• To establish the barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction practices.
• To determine the benefits of adopting sustainable construction practices.

7.0 PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

The effects of climate change in Zambia coupled with the fact that the construction industry
the world over is a major contributor to the depletion of natural resources, global greenhouse
gas emissions, high energy consumption, air pollution, and high waste generation cannot be
ignored. Therefore, aim of this study was to appraise sustainable construction practices in
Lusaka, Zambia through an investigation the level of knowledge of the construction
professionals on this topic and to examine the barriers, drivers and benefits of choosing
sustainable construction practices. Furthermore, the study determined the environmental
impacts of construction activities.

8.0 VALUE OF THE STUDY

The increasing deterioration of the environment has become a source of concern. This has led
to an increase in the popularity of the sustainability concept. According to Abidin (2010:421),
the pace at which the sustainability concept can be applied is dependent on the knowledge,
awareness and understanding of the consequences of construction activities on the
environment. This study helped to furnish the professionals and other stakeholders with
knowledge on the environmental impacts of construction activities, the various sustainable
construction practices that can be adopted and the drivers, barriers and benefits of adopting
these practices.

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9.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

9.1 The Construction Industry in Zambia

The construction industry plays a vital role in the development of the Zambian economy.
Activities in the sector in the last couple of years have been driven by public and private
projects which include construction of hospitals, roads, schools, stadia and commercial and
residential property. The industry has continued to grow over the last 12 years at a steady
annual average rate of 17.5 percent. This growth is because of increased public and private
sector investment on infrastructure development (Seventh National Development
Plan,2017:27). Despite the growth experienced by the construction industry, Zambia like
other developing countries still faces challenges like inadequate housing, rapid urbanisation
and lack of infrastructure (Du Plessis, 2002:3). In addition, the construction industry suffered
from a rise in project costs due to the rise in prices of raw materials, labour and depreciation
of the local currency. Another issue that has emerged is that the major sectors spearheading
the economy, construction and mining, have had a negative impact on the environment and
evidence of this is in land degradation, high energy consumption and pollution. To mitigate
this situation, the construction industry has been identified as a vehicle towards greening the
economy. The industry has responded through initiatives like the Zambia Green Jobs
Programmes (ZGJP) which has partnered with several organisations like the National Council
of Construction (NCC).

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9.2 Sustainability and Sustainable Development

The sustainability paradigm shift has gained momentum over the last few years as established
by Kibert (2013:1-3). This is as a result of the effects of climate change that are being
experienced at alarming rates, coupled with increased food and energy prices, natural
disasters and financial crises. Sustainability is that which is capable of being maintained and
from the ecological perspective the exploitation of the earth’s resources to a certain degree
without harmful effects. Du Plessis (2002: 9-10) defined sustainability as the state or
condition that would enable the continued existence of human beings. It is a goal that every
human being aims to achieve despite the external and internal changes. Sustainability can be

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viewed as either weak or strong, where weak sustainability considers the notion that different
forms of capital are fully interchangeable and thus natural capital can be used up if it is
converted into manufactured capital of equal value. On the other hand, strong sustainability
encompasses the idea that the environment performs certain functions that are necessary for
the welfare and survival of human species and as such cannot be duplicated by humans.
Sustainability is concerned with three key aspects namely environmental responsibility,
social awareness; and economic profitability.
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9.3 Sustainable Construction

Climate change (Alwan, 2017:349) has become a talking point among all the countries both
the developed and developing. Furthermore, it has been noticed that these countries have
failed to achieve a balance between economic growth and the resulting negative impacts on
the environment. This deduced from the following statistics (BRE,2012:2) from the UK
where it has been found that buildings, through their construction, operation and eventual
demolition, account for 40% of the country’s total energy. These structures are also presently
associated with large emissions of fossil carbon. In addition, 380 million tonnes of materials
and resources are consumed by the construction industry each year. These and many other
examples illustrate how much there has been a neglect of the sustainability vision of 1987 by
the Brundtland Commission.

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9.4 Impacts of Construction Activities on the Environment

The increasing economic development has laid to increased attention on the environment and
sustainability the world over. A lot of this attention is on the construction industry as it is a
large consumer of resources and energy and its activities have a significant impact on the
environment. (Ge and Gao, 2008:239). Majdalani et al (2006:33) observed that the
construction industry plays a significant role as it provides the facilities and infrastructure
that prosperous economies require to maintain economic development. This development
comes at a price as it exerts pressure on natural resources and this has had a serious impact on

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all living organisms and on the environment. The degradation of the environment has
captured the world’s attention and has been one of the most discussed subjects locally,
nationally and globally (Ametepey and Ansah,2014:934). Other scholars like Du Plessis
(2002:13) discovered that environmental impact of the construction industry is highest in
developing countries and Zambia falls in this category. This is because developing countries
are still under construction and have a relatively low degree of industrialisation. Ametepey
and Ansah (2014:935) and (Son et al (2009:339), found that the impact of the construction
industry on the environment are significant because they occur throughout the project life
cycle. Construction activities are not only restricted to the construction stage but also include
the operation, maintenance and demolition of building facilities (Pearce, 2012:2).
Furthermore, construction activities impact the environment and society negatively

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10.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

For this study, the quantitative approach was adopted. It is known to be scientific and
deductive in nature. This is because it simplifies situations to a point where they can be
measured, tested and examined. The methodology allows the researcher to determine the
methods, tools and techniques to be used for data collection.

10.1 Research Approach and Design

For this research, a quantitative approach was adopted. A descriptive survey design was
applied and a questionnaire was prepared and distributed to the respondents by the researcher.

10.2 Research Area and Targeted Respondents

The research was conducted in Lusaka, Zambia and the targeted respondents were
professionals in the Zambian construction industry.

10.3 Sample and Data Collection

A sample is the selection of a portion of the total population that the researcher wishes to
study. The sample should be representative of the population. For this research, non-
probability sampling technique was adopted. This technique consists of the following
methods convenience sampling, snowball sampling, purposive sampling and quota sampling.

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For this study convenience sampling was used to obtain a more scientific representation to be
used to appraise the SC practices in Zambia. A questionnaire prepared based on the literature
reviewed was used as a tool for collecting data from the respondents.
11.0 DELIMITATIONS

This research was centered on the construction industry in Lusaka the capital city of
Zambia. The basis for its selection was that being the capital city, all major reforms in the
country start from there. The respondents were the various construction professionals. This
research only explored the environmental impacts of construction activities as well as the
level of awareness of SC practices. Furthermore, it identified the drivers, barriers and
benefits to the adoption of sustainable construction.

12.0 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

This research took into consideration the professionals in the industry who have contributed
to the literature by ensuring that their work is properly cited and recognized. Secondly, the
research sought to protect the interests of the respondents by ensuring that they were well
informed about the purpose of the study and the basis for their selection. They were also not
coaxed into participating in the survey and were assured of protection through anonymity and
that all the information obtained would be used for academic purposes only.

13.0 OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS

The following chapters will form part of the study and these are briefly discussed.

Chapter one

Introduction
This chapter gives an overview of the problem that was investigated. It clearly describes the
research questions and objectives that were addressed and gives an outline of the course of
action that was adopted for the completion of the research.
Chapter two

Literature Review

This chapter reviews published articles, books, dissertations, journals just to mention a few
on the topic by recognised researchers and scholars. The review provides readers with ideas
and knowledge of the topic from different viewpoints as established by other researchers.

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Chapter Three

Research Methodology

This chapter demonstrates the methods utilised by the researcher to obtain participants and
gather information from them. It also conveys what was done with the findings with a view to
reaching a conclusion on the research questions.

Chapter Four

Data Analysis
This chapter highlights how the data collected from the respondents using the descriptive
survey was analysed using appropriate analytical procedures. Statistical techniques were used
to analyse the data. The results obtained from the analysed data were to provide feedback on
the formulated questions.

Chapter Five

Discussion of Findings

In this chapter, the results of the analysis in chapter four were discussed and compared with
the literature reviewed. The purpose of doing this was to establish if the research objectives
have been achieved.

Chapter Six

Conclusion & Recommendations

The conclusion tests the hypothesis in order for the researcher to determine whether the
findings were adequate or provide an answer to the research questions. Finally, the chapter
gave recommendations on the findings of the research.

15.0 CONCLUSION

This chapter clearly introduced the various components of the research including the research
problem that the study seeks to resolve. In addition, the chapter gave an insight as to how the
research was to be carried out in order to achieve the objectives. The next chapter presents
work done by other scholars in relation to the questions presented.

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16.0 REFERENCES

Abdullah, S., Razak, A.A. & Mohammad, I. S. (2009). Towards producing best practice in
the Malaysian construction industry:The barriers in implementing the lean
construction approach., Building, pp. 1–15.

Abidin, Z. N. & Pasquire, C.L. (2005). Delivering sustainability through value

management. Engineering, construction and architectural management, 12(2):168-180.

Abidin, N.Z. (2010). Investigating the awareness and application of sustainable construction
concept by Malaysian developers. Habitat International,34(4), pp. 421-426. Available
at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ha.tatint.2009.11.011.

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