A Study on Factors Influencing Cost Management in Green Building Construction

Green buildings represent a crucial solution for reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector, which accounts for approximately one-third of global energy-related emissions. However, high initial costs remain a significant barrier to widespread adoption of sustainable construction practices. This study addresses the critical gap in understanding how cost factors interconnect throughout the entire lifecycle of green building projects. Using a comprehensive life cycle approach combined with Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and MICMAC (Matrix of Cross-Impact Multiplications Applied to Classification) methodologies, this research examines 20 key factors influencing green building construction costs across four major phases: planning and design, construction and building, maintenance and recovery, and policy and environment. The analysis reveals that "Policy Support" functions as the primary root cause factor, exerting the strongest influence on green building design, certification requirements, and operational strategies. Energy-saving technologies and green construction standards emerge as critical mediating factors within the system hierarchy. The ISM analysis constructs a seven-level hierarchical structure, while MICMAC classification identifies independent, dependent, and interactive factor categories based on their driving power and dependence relationships. This research provides the first systematic mapping of cost factor interdependencies in green building projects, offering both theoretical advancement in cost analysis methodologies and practical guidance for governments, developers, and investors. The framework enables stakeholders to optimize cost efficiency, prioritize regulatory interventions, and develop strategies that promote economically viable sustainable construction practices.