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Challenges and Opportunities for Promoting Sustainability in Public Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Darmawan Atmoko

    (Indonesian Ministry of Finance, Jakarta 10410, Indonesia)

  • Connie Susilawati

    (Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia)

  • Bernadetta Devi

    (Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia)

  • Sara Wilkinson

    (Faculty of Design Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2007, Australia)

  • Intan Puspitarini

    (School of Public Asset Management, Polytechnique of State Finance STAN, Tangerang Selatan 15412, Indonesia)

  • Jose Arif Lukito

    (Indonesian Ministry of Finance, Jakarta 10410, Indonesia)

  • Ashantha Goonetilleke

    (Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia)

Abstract

The building and construction sector remains largely climate-unfriendly as a significant global greenhouse gas emitter. Public buildings can play a significant role in promoting sustainability practices. Unlike developed countries that have successfully promoted sustainable building practices, developing countries have experienced slow progress in implementing sustainable practices in public buildings. This research study investigated the challenges and opportunities for improving sustainability practices in public buildings from a multi-stakeholder perspective within the context of developing countries. Using Indonesian public buildings as a case study, a wide range of stakeholders directly involved in the public building sector such as policy-makers, building owners, building professionals, and building users were interviewed over two time periods of 2019 and 2023. The interview results show consistent findings on challenges and possible opportunities with respect to regulation, occupant behavior, and the primacy of technical intervention in the practice of sustainable buildings. Despite the importance of strong policy and the role of technology in sustainability practices in public buildings, this study advocates the need for greater intervention in occupant behavior so that sustainable practices in public buildings can be continuously promoted.

Suggested Citation

  • Darmawan Atmoko & Connie Susilawati & Bernadetta Devi & Sara Wilkinson & Intan Puspitarini & Jose Arif Lukito & Ashantha Goonetilleke, 2025. "Challenges and Opportunities for Promoting Sustainability in Public Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:403-:d:1561891
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sara Wilkinson & Tim Dixon & Danny Norm & Danny Miller & Sarah Sayce, 2018. "The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Real Estate," Journal of Sustainable Real Estate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 190-194, January.
    2. Cees J. Gelderman & Janjaap Semeijn & Rob Vluggen, 2017. "Development of sustainability in public sector procurement," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6), pages 435-442, September.
    3. Trencher, Gregory & Castán Broto, Vanesa & Takagi, Tomoko & Sprigings, Zoe & Nishida, Yuko & Yarime, Masaru, 2016. "Innovative policy practices to advance building energy efficiency and retrofitting: Approaches, impacts and challenges in ten C40 cities," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 353-365.
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