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Influences on Sustainable Innovation Adoption: Evidence from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

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  • Jeffrey Gauthier
  • Bill Wooldridge

Abstract

The adoption of innovations associated with environmental sustainability has been a topic of growing interest among scholars. The research presented in this paper draws on Abrahamson's theoretical framework of fads and fashions to argue that dimensions of uncertainty and degree of external versus internal influence provide significant insights into firms' decisions to adopt sustainable building innovations. We develop three hypotheses, reflecting three views of adoption influence: fad, fashion, and efficient‐choice. We find that adoption of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification in the United States was more likely among firms similarly oriented toward end‐consumers and among firms strategically positioned as environmental leaders. These results provide support for the fad and efficient‐choice views of adoption, respectively. Contrary to expectations suggested by the fashion perspective, adoption was not more likely among firms located in states whose political leaders are more committed to environmental protection. Our findings offer important implications for practitioners and policy makers seeking to encourage sustainable building design. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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  • Jeffrey Gauthier & Bill Wooldridge, 2012. "Influences on Sustainable Innovation Adoption: Evidence from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 98-110, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:21:y:2012:i:2:p:98-110
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.716
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    2. Wang, Ge & Li, Yang & Zuo, Jian & Hu, Wenbo & Nie, Qingwei & Lei, Heqian, 2021. "Who drives green innovations? Characteristics and policy implications for green building collaborative innovation networks in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    3. Dahlin, Peter & Ekman, Peter & Röndell, Jimmie & Pesämaa, Ossi, 2020. "Exploring the business logic behind CSR certifications," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 521-530.
    4. Fabio Montobbio & Ilaria Solito, 2015. "Does EMAS foster innovation in European firms? An empirical investigation," SEEDS Working Papers 1615, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Sep 2015.
    5. Chiara Pellegrini & Eleonora Annunziata & Francesco Rizzi & Marco Frey, 2019. "The role of networks and sustainable intrapreneurship as interactive drivers catalyzing the adoption of sustainable innovation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(5), pages 1026-1048, September.
    6. Fabio Montobbio & Ilaria Solito, 2018. "Does the Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme Foster Innovation in European Firms?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 82-99, January.
    7. Ben Tirone Nunes & Simon J. T. Pollard & Paul J. Burgess & Gareth Ellis & Irel Carolina De los Rios & Fiona Charnley, 2018. "University Contributions to the Circular Economy: Professing the Hidden Curriculum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.
    8. Banjo Roxas, 2022. "Eco‐innovations of firms: A longitudinal analysis of the roles of industry norms and proactive environmental strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 515-531, January.
    9. 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.
    10. Stanley Kam Sing Wong, 2013. "Environmental Requirements, Knowledge Sharing and Green Innovation: Empirical Evidence from the Electronics Industry in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(5), pages 321-338, July.
    11. Sarah J. Tayouga & Sara A. Gagné, 2016. "The Socio-Ecological Factors that Influence the Adoption of Green Infrastructure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-17, December.
    12. Brenda Mutanu Munyasya & Nicholas Chileshe, 2018. "Towards Sustainable Infrastructure Development: Drivers, Barriers, Strategies, and Coping Mechanisms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, November.
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    14. Tariq, Adeel & Badir, Yuosre F. & Tariq, Waqas & Bhutta, Umair Saeed, 2017. "Drivers and consequences of green product and process innovation: A systematic review, conceptual framework, and future outlook," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 8-23.

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