IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i1p207-d194668.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis of Prefabricated Public Housing in Beijing

Author

Listed:
  • Kaicheng Shen

    (Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Chen Cheng

    (China Merchants Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518067, China)

  • Xiaodong Li

    (Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Zhihui Zhang

    (Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

Abstract

In recent years, prefabricated housing has become increasingly popular and widely promoted due to its potential to improve the construction environment, quality and productivity. To develop prefabricated housing and address housing challenges, the Chinese government is encouraging prefabricated public housing. Consequently, evaluating the environmental performance of prefabricated public housing to identify whether it is environmentally friendly and worthy of investment is urgently needed. This paper compares the costs and benefits of prefabricated public projects and traditional projects based on a questionnaire and field investigation. The paper introduces information from the collected questionnaires on the respondents and projects in Beijing; this information includes the prefabrication rate, technology application, barriers, and industrial performance. The paper also reports a cost-benefit analysis of the changing rates of construction costs and environmental benefits (energy consumption, water usage, construction waste, steel and concrete usage, dust and noise pollution) by using the ∆ B /∆ C ratio to show the efficiency of prefabricated housing. The results indicate that the ratio is 1.81, which exceeds 1; therefore, investment in prefabricated public housing is environmentally acceptable and efficient. This paper also discusses the efficiencies in different categories and structures with and without incentives. The results show that the costs are higher and the environmental benefits are efficient but not significant; thus, promoting prefabricated public housing is necessary.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaicheng Shen & Chen Cheng & Xiaodong Li & Zhihui Zhang, 2019. "Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis of Prefabricated Public Housing in Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:207-:d:194668
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/1/207/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/1/207/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen Holland & Jean Cross, 1995. "Cost Benefit Analysis of Industrial Noise Regulation," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 6(1), pages 105-124, June.
    2. Wei Pan & Robert Sidwell, 2011. "Demystifying the cost barriers to offsite construction in the UK," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(11), pages 1081-1099.
    3. Lara Jaillon & C. S. Poon, 2008. "Sustainable construction aspects of using prefabrication in dense urban environment: a Hong Kong case study," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(9), pages 953-966.
    4. Wei Pan & Alistair Gibb & Andrew Dainty, 2007. "Perspectives of UK housebuilders on the use of offsite modern methods of construction," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 183-194.
    5. Shan Zhang & Yuhong Pan & Ning Li & Qi Sun, 2014. "A Comparative Study of the Direct Costs Between Prefabricated Housing System and the Traditional Construction Technology—A Case Study of Precast Concrete Wall Panel," Springer Books, in: Donglang Yang & Yanjun Qian (ed.), Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 349-358, Springer.
    6. Hong Xue & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su & Zezhou Wu, 2017. "Factors Affecting the Capital Cost of Prefabrication—A Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Lei Jiang & Zhongfu Li & Long Li & Yunli Gao, 2018. "Constraints on the Promotion of Prefabricated Construction in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1, July.
    8. Harald Winkler & Randall Spalding-Fecher & Lwazikazi Tyani & Khorommbi Matibe, 2002. "Cost-benefit analysis of energy efficiency in urban low-cost housing," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(5), pages 593-614.
    9. Tudela, Alejandro & Akiki, Natalia & Cisternas, Rene, 2006. "Comparing the output of cost benefit and multi-criteria analysis: An application to urban transport investments," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 414-423, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jeremy Harris & Serdar Durdyev & Serik Tokbolat & Syuhaida Ismail & Nurmurat Kandymov & Saeed Reza Mohandes, 2019. "Understanding Construction Stakeholders’ Experience and Attitudes toward Use of the Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) in New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Hosang Hyun & Hyung-Geun Kim & Jin-Sung Kim, 2022. "Integrated Off-Site Construction Design Process including DfMA Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Wen Jiang & Meng Yuan, 2022. "Coordination of Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain under Cap-and-Trade Policy Considering Consumer Environmental Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, May.
    4. Hosang Hyun & Hyunsoo Kim & Hyun-Soo Lee & Moonseo Park & Jeonghoon Lee, 2020. "Integrated Design Process for Modular Construction Projects to Reduce Rework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. López-Guerrero, Rafael E. & Vera, Sergio & Carpio, Manuel, 2022. "A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the sustainability of industrialised building systems: A bibliographic review and analysis of case studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    6. Ionel-Sorinel Vasilca & Madlena Nen & Oana Chivu & Valentin Radu & Cezar-Petre Simion & Nicolae Marinescu, 2021. "The Management of Environmental Resources in the Construction Sector: An Empirical Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    7. Dalibor Bartoněk & Jiří Bureš & Otakar Švábenský, 2020. "Evaluation of Influence of the Environment on the Choice of Buildings for Residential Living," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    8. Pei Dang & Zhanwen Niu & Shang Gao & Lei Hou & Guomin Zhang, 2020. "Critical Factors Influencing the Sustainable Construction Capability in Prefabrication of Chinese Construction Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, October.
    9. Zezhou Wu & Lirong Luo & Heng Li & Ying Wang & Guoqiang Bi & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, 2021. "An Analysis on Promoting Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Industry towards Sustainability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Jeong-hoon Lee & Jin-sung Kim & Hak-ju Lee & Young-Min Lee & Hyung-Geun Kim, 2019. "Small-Scale Public Rental Housing Development Using Modular Construction—Lessons learned from Case Studies in Seoul, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, February.
    11. Zezhou Wu & Kaijie Yang & Xiaofan Lai & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, 2020. "A Scientometric Review of System Dynamics Applications in Construction Management Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-16, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pei Dang & Zhanwen Niu & Shang Gao & Lei Hou & Guomin Zhang, 2020. "Critical Factors Influencing the Sustainable Construction Capability in Prefabrication of Chinese Construction Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Alasdair Reid, 2023. "Closing the Affordable Housing Gap: Identifying the Barriers Hindering the Sustainable Design and Construction of Affordable Homes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Hong Xue & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su & Zezhou Wu, 2018. "Capital Cost Optimization for Prefabrication: A Factor Analysis Evaluation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Zezhou Wu & Lirong Luo & Heng Li & Ying Wang & Guoqiang Bi & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, 2021. "An Analysis on Promoting Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Industry towards Sustainability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    5. Yongsheng Jiang & Dong Zhao & Dedong Wang & Yudong Xing, 2019. "Sustainable Performance of Buildings through Modular Prefabrication in the Construction Phase: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Hong Xue & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su & Zezhou Wu, 2017. "Factors Affecting the Capital Cost of Prefabrication—A Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Lei Jiang & Zhongfu Li & Long Li & Tiankun Li & Yunli Gao, 2018. "A Framework of Industrialized Building Assessment in China Based on the Structural Equation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Jeong-hoon Lee & Jin-sung Kim & Hak-ju Lee & Young-Min Lee & Hyung-Geun Kim, 2019. "Small-Scale Public Rental Housing Development Using Modular Construction—Lessons learned from Case Studies in Seoul, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, February.
    9. Lei Jiang & Zhongfu Li & Long Li & Yunli Gao, 2018. "Constraints on the Promotion of Prefabricated Construction in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1, July.
    10. Satheeskumar Navaratnam, 2022. "Selecting a Suitable Sustainable Construction Method for Australian High-Rise Building: A Multi-Criteria Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    11. Craig Langston & Weiwei Zhang, 2021. "DfMA: Towards an Integrated Strategy for a More Productive and Sustainable Construction Industry in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Hosang Hyun & Hyung-Geun Kim & Jin-Sung Kim, 2022. "Integrated Off-Site Construction Design Process including DfMA Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    13. Yu, Sisi & Liu, Yanfeng & Wang, Dengjia & Bahaj, AbuBakr S. & Wu, Yue & Liu, Jiaping, 2021. "Review of thermal and environmental performance of prefabricated buildings: Implications to emission reductions in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    14. López-Guerrero, Rafael E. & Vera, Sergio & Carpio, Manuel, 2022. "A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the sustainability of industrialised building systems: A bibliographic review and analysis of case studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    15. Kangning Liu & Yikun Su & Shoujian Zhang, 2018. "Evaluating Supplier Management Maturity in Prefabricated Construction Project-Survey Analysis in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, August.
    16. Seoyoung Jung & Seulki Lee & Jungho Yu, 2021. "Identification and Prioritization of Critical Success Factors for Off-Site Construction Using ISM and MICMAC Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    17. Dandan He & Zhongfu Li & Chunlin Wu & Xin Ning, 2018. "An E-Commerce Platform for Industrialized Construction Procurement Based on BIM and Linked Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, July.
    18. Andrew Agapiou, 2021. "An Exploration of the Best Value Perceptions of Small Housebuilding Developers towards Offsite Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.
    19. Yanjie Wang & Fucheng Wang & Peidong Sang & Huanbin Song, 2021. "Analysing factors affecting developers’ behaviour towards the adoption of prefabricated buildings in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14245-14263, October.
    20. Qianqian Shi & Jianbo Zhu & Marcel Hertogh & Zhaohan Sheng, 2018. "Incentive Mechanism of Prefabrication in Mega Projects with Reputational Concerns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:207-:d:194668. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.