Edwin H.W. Chan

Factors affecting the implementation of green specifications in construction

Green specifications constitute one of the important elements in green construction. New sustainability requirements and changing priorities in construction management have spurred the emerging green specifications to a faster pace of development. A cross-sectional survey has been conducted in Hong Kong in 2007 to identify principal factors leading to the success of preparing green specifications. Based on extensive construction management literature, 20 variables concerning sustainable construction were summarized. Using the Mann-Whitney U-test, the subtle differences between stakeholders in specifying construction work have been detected even with the high consistency of the responses among the groups. Moreover, five independent factors for successful specification of green construction have been categorized by factor analysis. They are related to (1) green technology and techniques, (2) reliability and quality of specification, (3) leadership and responsibility, (4) stakeholder involvement, and (5) guide and benchmarking systems. Whilst the first and fourth factors are generally more important, different stakeholder groups have different emphases. The results of the survey have been validated against established principles.

Environmental management system vs green specifications: How do they complement each other in the construction industry?

Environmental Management System (EMS) has been one of the important tools for sustainable construction for around two decades. However, many issues concerning sustainable development have not been properly addressed, and there is a need for the introduction of green specifications to advance green performance in construction through contract management. This paper defines green specifications, identifies the reasons for adopting green specifications and highlights the environmental issues that may not be addressed by solely adopting EMS. It also presents the results of a recent survey of practitioners concerning their opinions towards green specifications and possible impacts arising from their adoption. From the results of the survey, a framework for developing green specifications is deemed valuable for the cities striving for sustainability. Interestingly, the level of acceptable changes brought about by green specifications as perceived by different industry stakeholders is found to be unrelated to whether they were from organizations implementing EMS or not.

Dispute resolution management for international construction projects in China

Purpose – Unfamiliar with the Chinese culture and ways of doing business, foreign architects/engineers/contractors (AEC) firms will encounter differences with the local parties. With reference to the characteristics of Chinese culture on disputes, this paper studies the problem areas of dispute and of resolving disputes in international construction projects in China. The objectives are to: examine the fundamentals of Chinese culture and ways of doing business; examine the characteristics of international projects and investigate any differences in the dispute problems arising from China International Projects; identify the most popular dispute resolution mechanism(s) for international projects in China; and recommend possible ways to reduce and resolve disputes of these projects.Design/methodology/approach – After literature review, a questionnaire was designed for face‐to‐face interviews with 40 practitioners to collect their opinions.Findings – The results show that the problem areas giving rise to dis...

Is the development control legal framework conducive to a sustainable dense urban development in Hong Kong

Abstract Like many Western countries, Hong Kong as a densely populated modern city is moving towards the goal of urban sustainability. However, the implementation mechanisms towards achieving such a goal are indeed a complex and often contentious process. Increasing demands have been made by the public in requesting developers to minimise the impact of property development on the environment. These global concerns can be much more difficult to implement in a city like Hong Kong that has a high concentration of urban population, constant pressure upon infrastructures and a limited supply of land resources. This paper argues that much of the rationale behind the prevailing development control laws today is not conducive to meeting with the requirements of “sustainability”. A research was carried out to identify the obstacles in the area of planning and building laws that hinder the implementation of sustainable dense urban development. The research is backed with a review on the criteria anticipated by the Hong Kong government for sustainable development and an appraisal of the development control legal framework in Hong Kong to find any defects in the existing system. Following a questionnaire survey, a series of in-depth interviews was also conducted to explore the possibility of improvements. The correlation of several major issues is also identified. Recommendations are presented in this paper with the aim to minimise the barriers created by the current development control legal framework towards the goal of a sustainable dense urban development.

Density control and the quality of living space: a case study of private housing development in Hong Kong

Abstract The increased concentration of urban populations is a global phenomenon. Hong Kong, like many Asian cities such as Singapore, Tokyo, and Shanghai, is famous for its compactness and high-density living. This paper argues that Hong Kongs floor area control mechanism has a major adverse effect on the development potential of private housing, and more importantly on the quality of living space. Private residential buildings are built in accordance with statutory requirements imposed by the government. Under the current system, private developers attempt to maximize the usable floor area efficiency at the expense of common area. Consequently, building layouts generate the maximum number of housing units clustered around a cruciform, high-rise compact core. The built form does not take adequate consideration of living quality issues. Its undesirable impacts notwithstanding, the dense cruciform floor plate design is now widely replicated in many mainland Chinese cities. This paper argues that, although such a built form appears modern to some city dwellers, it is a direct result of an outdated density control mechanism that fails to meet present day requirements. A review of this mechanism should be undertaken, and this paper suggests some possible solutions to strike a balance between dense living and a better environment.

A study of measures to improve constructability

Purpose – This paper is aimed at identifying the common approaches for improving constructability and evaluating their effectiveness of implementation.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive survey has been carried out on contemporary literature, i.e. from 1990 onwards, to trace the development of the buildability and constructability concepts and the common approaches of improvement.Findings – Results show that buildability is mainly concerned with design, quality of built products, ease of construction, as well as efficient and economical construction. Constructability emphasises integration of construction knowledge and experience at various project stages; optimisation of different project requirements to achieve overall goals; and ease of construction. Therefore, “constructability” embraces the concept of “buildability”. The implementation of Quantified Assessment, Constructability Review and Constructability Programmes are the three commonly adopted approaches.Practical implications – Improvem...

Amicable dispute resolution in the People's Republic of China and its implications for foreign-related construction disputes

A combined mediation/arbitration process is unique to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). This paper looks at how this amicable, out-of-court dispute resolution system works if the dispute is foreign-related, as defined under the Foreign Economic Contract Law. First, it outlines Chinese culture and its relation to the PRC legal framework and also to the amicable dispute resolution system discussed. Second, the system is appraised in the context of the uncertainty of the local judicial system. Third, distinctive features of domestic and foreign-related dispute resolution mechanisms are discussed by comparison with international practice. Finally, the amicable dispute resolution system for resolving construction disputes and its enforcement mechanisms are analysed, with statistical data to explain their implications for foreign investors in the construction industry of the PRC.

Government measures needed to promote building energy efficiency (BEE) in China

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the major differences between the governments role in building energy efficiency (BEE) in China and three developed countries, and to further the understanding of market expectations of the most effective government measures to encourage BEE development in China.Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken was: establish a framework for a critical comparative study; compare and assess the BEE promotion measures available to governments in the USA, Canada, the UK and China; survey the BEE market expectations of building design professionals to better understand the favourable measures the Chinese Government could take to further promote BEE; and triangulate the findings of the comparative study and questionnaire survey to develop recommendations for BEE promotion in mainland China.Findings – Economic incentives are important for BEE promotion at the current stage, but they are lacking in China. Active government interventions, such as adjusting energy ...

Management of client requirements for design and build projects in the construction industry of Hong Kong

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the prevailing practice of managing client requirements for design and build (D&B) construction projects in Hong Kong. It attempts to evaluate the limitations and addresses the need for a practical framework for facilitating the implementation of client requirements management within the industry.Design/methodology/approach – Two research instruments were used in this paper: semi‐structured interviews and case studies.Findings – The study revealed that the limitations of the current practice included the lack of a comprehensive clients project brief, inadequate involvement of client in the briefing process, the lack of impartial agents, the controversy caused by the uncertain legal status of end‐users and the improper timing of raising requirements by key project stakeholders. Recommendations are given that an inclusive project brief is necessary in clarifying the goals and covering all‐rounded perspectives. A practical framework is needed to improve the client re...

Regulatory incentives for green buildings: gross floor area concessions

Incentive schemes formed by regulatory or administrative instruments are measures to promote green building (GB) and increase the motivation of developers to meet higher standards. The hidden costs to different stakeholders during the GB transaction are often ignored. Understanding these hidden transaction costs (TCs) helps appraise the costs and benefits of GB and policy effectiveness. The example of a gross floor area (GFA) concession scheme is used systematically to explore and understand the fundamental issues of TCs’ typology and chronology in the GB development process. The GFA concession scheme is a popular incentive due to its indirect compensation to developers by allowing additional floor area without expenditure by government to implement GBs. A TCs’ framework is used critically to review and evaluate the costs and benefits of the GFA concession scheme. Its particular implementation in both Hong Kong and Singapore is explored. Hong Kong is used as a case study, complemented with in-depth expert interviews on GFA concession in Hong Kong. The key contribution is to establish the parameters for estimating the optimum GFA bonus that could both motivate various stakeholders and minimize the negative impacts on the built environment in future.