Enhancing Environmental Performance for Green Building Projects: Assessment Study due to the Applicability of Industry 4.0 Technologies.

Abstract

The construction industry is embracing Industry 4.0 (I4.0) to improve environmental performance. This study thus evaluated the application of I4.0 on certified green buildings (GBs) projects. The study determined awareness level of I4.0 technologies on GBs, identified factors influencing I4.0 application, and proposed strategies for enhancing GBs' environmental performance. The results of the awareness assessment showed that, among all I4.0 technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) was the most well-understood. GBs apply some I4.0 technologies, including AI, Internet of Things, and cloud computing, and the awareness level for most I4.0-related technologies was found to be high, ranging from 2.68 to 4.68 (for the scale of 1-5). The awareness level of the GBs' principles was assessed, and the result showed that respondents were completely aware of two principles: energy efficiency and waste reduction. The overall mean score for the principles of GBs was 4.06, indicating a high level of awareness. The study also assessed the challenges of implementing I4.0, and noncritical challenges were a lack of standardization and certification, culture and aesthetics, client demands, and regulation and policy. The R-value was 0.723, indicating a high correlation. The R² = 0.523 shows how much the predictor variables technology, top management commitment, staff skills, infrastructure, financial arrangement, and operational control factor can account for the variation in the environmental performance. Consequently, the study found perception-based projections rather than outcomes verified through objective measurements that the I4.0 technologies are projected to enhance energy efficiency (15%-25%), water conservation (≥ 20%), improve indoor environmental quality, improve material selection and lead to waste reduction. Therefore, I4.0 technologies can enhance GBs' performance by enabling real-time monitoring and data-driven optimization. I4.0 facilitates energy and resource management through smart systems, extends system lifecycles via predictive maintenance, and supports better environmental impact assessments in construction design. Despite challenges like high costs and cybersecurity risks, I4.0 technologies apply to both new and existing buildings, enabling dynamic, evidence-based decision-making that significantly improves environmental metrics and operational efficiency.