Critical success factors of green finance on zero carbon buildings

• Green finance (GF) supports zero carbon buildings (ZCBs). • Several success factors promote GF in ZCBs. • Five key success factor groups were revealed in this study. • The eco-friendly investment factors are the most influencing success factors. Zero carbon building (ZCB) is an innovative project model catalysing transition to no-emission buildings. It is critical to climate mitigation and adaptation strategies by consuming eco-friendly energies and reduction of carbon footprints in the lifecycle of buildings. In recent times, building councils, professionals and researchers within the built environment are embracing ZCB in agreement with Paris Climate Accord and targets to reach zero carbon emission status around the world. However, there is a huge financial gap of investment products that match up to the ZCB agenda. Green finance (GF) has been touted by international bodies, financial institutions and the scientific research community as a viable solution to fill this gap. GF supports resilient and renewable transition towards zero carbon emission economy. There is a growing demand for GF to promote zero carbon building (ZCB) projects in the built environment. Empirically, the key critical success factors (CSFs) involved in this environmental-friendly financing of ZCBs is minimally explored within the construction and engineering management literature. The understanding and application of GF for ZCBs in the building sector also has limited coverage and documentation. Therefore, the aim of this article is to assess the critical success factors promoting GF for zero carbon buildings. The methodology of the study follows an exhaustive review of documents (articles from journals and conferences, books and theses). Key CSFs were extracted from the documents for the design of a questionnaire. Data was obtained from PMPs in different countries solicited through online survey of the questionnaire. The analysis of the data includes the use of factor and fuzzy synthetic methods. The findings revealed were CSFs from operational, macroeconomic, risk management, eco-friendly investment and regulatory measures which enhance GF to support ZCBs. Practically, the study contributes to understanding of the essential factors underlying the relevance of GF in the built environment. The results could also be a reference to support further studies.