Prioritizing sustainability indicators for Uganda's built environment: Expert perspectives using the Delphi technique

• The Delphi approach enabled experts to identify key sustainability indicators • Expert consensus validation using IRA boosted the study's reliability and credibility • The prioritized indicators will enhance building energy performance in Uganda • High inter-group agreement highlights the role of stakeholders in consensus building • The findings influence policy, practice, and research on sustainable construction The growing emphasis on energy efficiency within the built environment, driven by global concerns over climate change, has resulted in notable shifts in building energy consumption patterns. Achieving reductions in building energy use and CO₂ emissions through sustainable strategies necessitates the development of country-specific policies. While numerous energy assessment tools are available internationally, they often lack contextual relevance for Uganda and many Sub-Saharan African countries.Therefore, there is a pressing need for a tool tailored to Uganda's distinct climatic conditions. This study aimed to identify key building sustainability indicators to promote energy efficiency in Ugandan buildings. Utilizing the Delphi Technique, experts from academia, construction, energy consulting, and government agencies evaluated 35 building indicators over two assessment rounds. The consensus among experts was validated using the Interrater Agreement, with a significant Kendall's W value exceeding 0.6, rising from 0.655 in the first round to 0.704 in the second. Construction consultants showed the highest W value (0.77) in the second round, followed by energy consultants (0.74), while academicians had the lowest (0.7). The Chi-square test demonstrated strong agreement in ranking indicators across 34 degrees of freedom. The most significant indicators identified include "B20 - Optimization of energy use," "B8 - Advanced design and construction technology," and "B27 - Natural ventilation design," among others. The Delphi Technique was instrumental in achieving expert consensus, while interrater agreement was used to validate and ensure the reliability of the findings. The developed framework provides critical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to advance energy efficiency and sustainability within Uganda's built environment.