Sustainable construction strategies for building construction projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain: a model

Abstract

Sustainability is defined as meeting the demands of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This study focuses on the sustainable construction strategies used in the Kingdom of Bahrain in terms of sustainable construction technologies and management strategy linked to the environment and the significant relationship between the management strategy and construction technologies used for sustainable building construction. This study employed the descriptive-correlational method of research using a questionnaire for gathering data about the sustainable construction strategies used in Bahrain. The data gathered were analyzed using the weighted mean and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to determine the degree of correlation between construction technologies and management strategy. SPSS software was used in the calculation. Results show that management strategy linked to the environment is often practiced in around 75% of all projects delivered while general sustainable construction methods, energy and material-based techniques, and waste-based techniques are sometimes utilized in around 50% of all the building projects delivered. In addition, the utilization of these sustainable construction technologies is the result of a management strategy linked to the environment which the respondents rated as often practiced for all projects that were delivered. This implies that management strategy in protecting the environment in Bahrain is often practiced in construction for 75% of the projects. From the results of the study, a model of sustainable building construction in the Kingdom of Bahrain was derived to achieve sustainable building construction. This includes the management strategies needed by the different stakeholders like construction firms and government agencies to carry out the implementation of sustainable construction and sustainable construction techniques (e.g., waste management, insulating materials, building envelope with thermal properties, building management system, and efficient fixtures).