Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Identifying Key Factors Influencing the Selection of Sustainable Building Materials in New Zealand(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2025-10-13) Araghi AH; Rasheed EO; Vishnupriya V; Seadon J; Caggiano AThe construction sector is a major contributor to climate change, with embodied carbon emissions from building materials representing a critical share of its environmental footprint. Selecting zero-carbon materials is therefore essential for reducing life-cycle emissions while advancing global climate goals. This study investigates six decision-making factors, including cost-effectiveness, durability, buildability, embodied carbon, availability, and aesthetics, and evaluates four alternative materials (wood, hemp, rammed earth, and straw bale) in the New Zealand context. A survey of 203 industry professionals was analysed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and structural equation modelling (SEM). Using a 5-point Likert scale, the survey assessed six factors affecting material choice: cost-effectiveness, durability, buildability, embodied carbon, aesthetics, and material availability. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SEM via Partial Least Squares analysis. The results revealed that embodied carbon and material availability were the most influential factors shaping zero-carbon material selection. Among the available alternatives, hemp emerged as the most preferred material, while cost-effectiveness and wood showed moderate impacts, and aesthetic considerations had the least influence. These findings highlight that environmental performance and practical accessibility are central drivers of decision-making when adopting zero-carbon materials. This study contributes to developing effective strategies for promoting the widespread adoption of zero-carbon materials, thereby supporting New Zealand’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Item Zero-carbon building materials in New Zealand context: a systematic literature review(Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2025-06) Hashemi Araghi A; Rasheed EO; Vishnupriya V; Seadon JThe transition towards zero-carbon building materials represents a critical pathway for mitigating carbon emissions in the construction sector. Utilising recycled materials in construction offers many benefits, most of which are resource conservation. This natural resource conservation helps mitigate environmental degradation and preserve delicate ecosystems. As such, this study aimed to identify the most suitable zero-carbon construction materials for use within New Zealand's building sector by systematically reviewing the literature focusing on wood, rammed earth and strawbale materials. To explore the effectiveness of each material, six primary factors have been identified such as sustainability, cost-efficiency, longevity, visual attractiveness, energy conservation, and ecological ramifications. Therefore, 1808 studies were found on Scopus, IEEE, and Google Scholar. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria in this study, the final 20 eligible studies published from 1999 to 2024 were reviewed. This study followed the PRISMA Statement to comprehensively explore the existing literature. Results highlighted that environmental factors such as moisture can directly influence the durability of these construction materials and structures. Although sustainability is often defined in terms of thermal behaviour and life cycle assessment, limited research addresses the aesthetic aspects and comprehensive economic implications of material choices. The findings demonstrate sufficient thermal properties of straw bales and the lower embodied energy of rammed earth compared to other traditional materials, emphasising their potential to enhance energy efficiency in construction. This study recommended future research, contributing valuable insights for stakeholders seeking eco-friendly building components in sustainable construction practices.