Managing Energy Demand in Buildings through Appropriate Equipment Specification and Use

The high demand for electrical energy in virtually all human endeavour has engendered the continuous rapid growth of electricity production, transmission and distribution worldwide. Every habitable building structure usually requires electrical appliances and mechanical systems such that the cost of electrical and mechanical installation in a building is generally between 10% and 35% of the total construction cost. This chapter examines the equipment used for electrical, mechanical and lighting systems in contemporary buildings in Cape Town, South Africa, towards determining those materials and equipment aiding energy efficiency in these buildings. The research employs a multiple case study approach, consisting of recently completed buildings. The study established that the equipment used in these contemporary buildings to effect a reduction in energy consumption are compliant with the main specifications and policies guiding energy efficiency in buildings in South Africa and that owners of the Case Study buildings obtained a significant reduction in power consumption as a result of the installation of the identified equipment. Based on these findings, the study concludes that a building that is compliant with energy efficient systems installation standards will experience a significant reduction in utility bills, and savings for commercial buildings and private property owners

Relationship between degree of risk, cost and level of compliance to occupational health and safety regulations in construction

This paper investigates the role of statutory health and safety (H&S) regulations in managing construction project risks. The study examines whether the decision made by contractors to comply with the regulations, the cost of compliance and savings of H&S regulatory requirements is influenced by the degree or level of risk, which the regulations are trying to prevent. The rationale for the examination stems from previous studies which establish that building designers and contractors perceive the cost of complying with regulations as additional burdens, which they have to conform to, and which are in some cases unnecessary, and also the fact that construction related injuries and fatalities are on the increase. Qualitative and quantitative data obtained from a descriptive survey and H&S site audit by the Master Builder Association of the Western Cape (MBAWC) were used as the measurements of risk, level of compliance to regulations, cost of compliance and savings. By correlating the quantitative and qualitative data, there is empirical evidence to support a negative relationship between the degree of risk, level and cost of compliance and cost savings. Based on the study’s findings, this paper concludes that the decision made by contractors to comply with H&S regulatory requirements is influenced by the perceived cost saving on account of compliance and that cost savings are influenced by the probability of accident occurrence which is an element of the degree of risk which the regulation is trying to prevent or control.

A framework for managing contextual influence on health and safety in construction projects

This study examines the construction environment in developing countries towards developing a conceptual framework for managing contextual influence on health and safety (H&S) in construction projects. This is on the grounds that the solution to the challenging state of H&S in developing countries depends on understanding the internal and external environment that construction contractors operate in. While the contextual environments of construction contractors in developing countries continue to receive little attention, according to literature review; the little attention does not proffer process-based solutions for companies. In filling the above gap, an existing framework in literature is modified, demonstrating how contextual influence on H&S can be managed in construction activities. This framework will enable organisations to identify the contextual factors (CFs) that will impact on H&S and rank the perceived impact, degree of dynamism, influenceability, producing the outcome of calculated level of awareness for proportionate attention. While identifying the CFs could significantly challenge the use of the tool, the level of awareness it creates puts the organisation that adopts it at the forefront of H&S management

The South African Construction Industry: Perceptions Of Key Challenges Facing Its Performance, Development And Growth

The paper investigates the challenges influencing the performance, development and growth of the South African construction industry. The paper examines whether there is a key challenge perceived by construction industry stakeholders as affecting the development and growth of the sector. The rationale for the examination stems from the varied and largely unexamined assumptions available in the literature as to what the key challenge is. The research adopts a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews of 120 construction industry stakeholders based in Cape Town. The respondents were selected using the convenience and snowball sampling technique. The results of the study show that from a ranking perspective, the key challenges perceived by stakeholders as affecting the performance, development and growth of the construction industry in South Africa include the increasing costs of building materials, access to mortgage/credits, high interest rates and the high rate of failure of contracting enterprises. The paper concludes that to foster construction industry performance and growth in South Africa, there must be further studies to identify the factors responsible for the increases in the costs of building materials and to test the assumption that exploration and development of new materials and technologies, rather than exploitation of existing ones, will ensure stable building material prices

Organizational Factors, Construction Risk Management and Government Regulations in Nigerian Construction Companies: Data Screening and Preliminary Analysis

The aim of this paper is to investigate the accumulated data pertaining to the organizational factors, construction risk management and government regulations in Nigerian construction companies. A total sample of 238 were selected from the total population of 338 contractors operating in Abuja and Lagos State construction companies in Nigeria. Therefore, a proportionate stratified random sampling approach was employed for this study to further divide the companies into different strata, and they were all picked randomly from each stratum. Furthermore, data cleaning and screening were conducted with the intent to fulfil the multivariate analysis assumptions. Hence, this study carried out various tests like missing data analysis, outliers, normality, Multicollinearity, non-response bias and common method variance with the use of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) v21. Lastly, it was discovered that the data fulfil all the requirements for multivariate analysis

Modelling the domino effect of advance payment system on project cash flow and organisational performance

Purpose Previous studies have postulated that an advance payment system (APS) positively impacts the contractor's working capital and is paramount to ensuring an efficient and effective project cash flow process. However, scant research has been undertaken to empirically establish the cash flow performance and domino effect of APS on project and organisational performance. Design/methodology/approach The epistemological design adopted a positivist philosophical stance augmented by deductive reasoning to explore the phenomena under investigation. Primary quantitative data were collected from 504 Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) registered contractors (within the grade bandings 1–9) in South Africa. A five-point Likert scale was utilised, and subsequent data accrued were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings Emergent findings reveal that the mandatory use of an APS does not guarantee a positive project cash flow, an improvement in organisational performance or an improvement in project performance. Practical implications The ensuing discussion reveals the contributory influence of APS on positive cash flow and organisational performance, although APS implementation alone will not achieve these objectives. Practically, the research accentuates the need for various measures to be concurrently adopted (including APS) towards ensuring a positive project cash flow and improved organisational and project performance. Originality/value There is limited empirical research on cash flow performance and the domino effect of APS on project and organisational performance in South Africa, nor indeed, the wider geographical location of Africa as a continent. This study addresses this gap in the prevailing body of knowledge

Relationship between degree of risk, cost and level of compliance to occupational health and safety regulations in construction

This paper investigates the role of statutory health and safety (H&amp;S) regulations in managing construction project risks. The study examines whether the decision made by contractors to comply with the regulations, the cost of compliance and savings of H&amp;S regulatory requirements is influenced by the degree or level of risk, which the regulations are trying to prevent. The rationale for the examination stems from previous studies which establish that building designers and contractors perceive the cost of complying with regulations as additional burdens, which they have to conform to, and which are in some cases unnecessary, and also the fact that construction related injuries and fatalities are on the increase. Qualitative and quantitative data obtained from a descriptive survey and H&amp;S site audit by the Master Builder Association of the Western Cape (MBAWC) were used as the measurements of risk, level of compliance to regulations, cost of compliance and savings. By correlating the quantitative and qualitative data, there is empirical evidence to support a negative relationship between the degree of risk, level and cost of compliance and cost savings. Based on the study’s findings, this paper concludes that the decision made by contractors to comply with H&amp;S regulatory requirements is influenced by the perceived cost saving on account of compliance and that cost savings are influenced by the probability of accident occurrence which is an element of the degree of risk which the regulation is trying to prevent or control. </p

The influence of government targeted procurement strategies on the growth performance of construction small and medium-sized contractors (SMCs) in South Africa

This paper examines government targeted procurement (TP) strategies in South Africa and whether these strategies have an influence on the growth performance of Small and medium-sized contractors (SMCs) in the construction industry. The rationale for this study stems from reports that while TP has been widely used as an instrument to improve the position of SMCs in the South African construction industry, three out of five SMCs do not become established firms. In addition, the nature of the influence of TP strategies on the growth performance of SMCs is not known. Following a review of existing literature, the study mainly adopted a quantitative research approach. Questionnaire surveys were administered to Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) Grades 3 to 6 contractors that have executed TP projects within the last 5 years. The collected data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses – Spearman’s rank order correlation was used as an index of association between the study variables. The study found that tendering equity is the most frequently used TP strategy, closely followed by preferencing and mandatory subcontracting. The study also found that positive significant associations exists among preferencing and turnover; third-party management and company assets; tendering equity, turnover and number of employees; as well as accelerated rotations, turnover and number of employees. The study concluded that government intervention through targeted procurement has the potential to achieve its intended results of improving the position of historically disadvantaged SMCs in the construction industry in South Africa if selected and implemented appropriately