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Can Green Building Promote Pro-Environmental Behaviours? The Psychological Model and Design Strategy

Author

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  • Xiaohuan Xie

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
    Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Built Environment Optimization, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Shiyu Qin

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Zhonghua Gou

    (School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia)

  • Ming Yi

    (Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co. Ltd., Shenzhen 518031, China)

Abstract

A green building has a long lasting benefit through cultivating the occupants’ energy and resource-saving behaviours. To understand how green buildings can cultivate occupants’ pro-environment behaviours, the research applied the value–belief–norm model to investigate 17 pro-environmental behaviours which are related to a variety of green building design strategies. Two green and two non-green certified office buildings in the city of Shenzhen in China were surveyed, based on which structural equation modelling was established to confirm the relationship between personal values, environmental beliefs and norms that lead to pro-environment behaviours. Green and non-green building occupants showed significant differences in altruistic values, environmental awareness, personal norms, and pro-environmental behaviours. Green building users had more frequent pro-environmental behaviours than those in non-green buildings. The strategies that require fewer additional efforts were more likely to be adopted as pro-environmental behaviours, such as meeting daily needs within walking distance and adjusting sunshades, while the strategies that need extra physical efforts (taking stairs) or knowledge (garbage sorting) were less likely to be adopted as pro-environmental behaviours. This study pointed out important intervention opportunities and discussed the possible design implications for green building guidelines and programmes to cultivate green occupants and their corresponding pro-environmental behaviours.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohuan Xie & Shiyu Qin & Zhonghua Gou & Ming Yi, 2020. "Can Green Building Promote Pro-Environmental Behaviours? The Psychological Model and Design Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7714-:d:415423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Chengpeng Lu & Xiaoli Pan & Xingpeng Chen & Jinhuang Mao & Jiaxing Pang & Bing Xue, 2021. "Modeling of Waste Flow in Industrial Symbiosis System at City-Region Level: A Case Study of Jinchang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Lim, Xin-Jean & Cheah, Jun-Hwa & Ngo, Liem Viet & Chan, Kara & Ting, Hiram, 2023. "How do crazy rich Asians perceive sustainable luxury? Investigating the determinants of consumers’ willingness to pay a premium price," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Pankaj Tiwari, 2023. "Influence of Millennials’ eco-literacy and biospheric values on green purchases: the mediating effect of attitude," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1195-1212, September.
    5. Sayani Saha & Rahul B Hiremath & Sanjay Prasad & Bimlesh Kumar, 2021. "Barriers to Adoption of Commercial Green Buildings in India: A Review," Journal of Infrastructure Development, India Development Foundation, vol. 13(2), pages 107-128, December.
    6. Su, Yuan & Wang, Linwei & Feng, Wei & Zhou, Nan & Wang, Luyuan, 2021. "Analysis of green building performance in cold coastal climates: An in-depth evaluation of green buildings in Dalian, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    7. Yuan Wu & Jin Zhang & Shoulin Liu & Lianrui Ma, 2022. "Does Government-Led Publicity Enhance Corporate Green Behavior? Empirical Evidence from Green Xuanguan in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, March.

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