6. Industry survey

In addition to the content analysis and conversations with stakeholders, a short, informal survey was created based on the barriers that were identified. The survey was distributed online through the Nordic Sustainable Construction site and its LinkedIn page, through the newsletter of the Emission-free Construction Site project, and on social media groups such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Although the survey is not generalisable due to the small number of responses received, it offers a snapshot into what some construction industry professionals are currently perceiving as minor and significant barriers to emission-free construction sites.

Despite the low number of responses, there was a good balance of respondents from different professions within the construction industry. Responses were received from building owners and operators, on-site construction workers, designers, architects and engineers, and office workers at a construction company.

The majority of the respondents thought that there was a need to reduce emissions from construction sites. Those who responded “No” or “Maybe/I don’t know” were mainly building owners or operators and on-site construction workers.

Over half of the respondents thought increased costs, lack of financial incentives, and limited availability of low-emissions machinery were significant or the biggest barriers to emission-free construction sites. Unreliable energy supply and distribution were seen as not being a barrier or as being a minor barrier by more than half of the respondents, and just under half saw regulatory and compliance challenges as not being a barrier or as being a minor barrier. Nearly 25% of respondents felt no need to reduce emissions, indicating potential cultural or knowledge-related barriers. Additional barriers that respondents noted were: