Assessing SDG 7 performance: identifying relevant KPIs for the Sri Lankan construction industry

The construction industry is the primary driver in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy. However, the progress towards SDG 7 in Sri Lanka is unclear, and there is not enough consideration given to the construction industry. This highlights the need for measurable indicators related to the Sri Lankan Construction Industry. Therefore, this study aims to assess the relevance of six United Nations (UN) established key performance indicators (KPIs) in achieving SDG 7 in the Sri Lankan construction industry and to examine perception among three different professional groups such as Architect, Engineer and Quantity Surveyor (QS). A quantitative research approach was adopted, and a questionnaire was administered to collect the information from industry professionals. In data analysis, the analyse of differences in perception across professional groups was done by Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc tests based on the normality of the data. Significant differences in perception were identified regarding Access to Electricity (K1) and Renewable Capacity per Capita (K6), suggested the diverse priorities in promoting sustainable energy practices. Furthermore, Relative Importance Index (RII) was utilized to rank the KPIs. The results revealed that Renewable Capacity per Capita (K6), Renewable Energy (K3), and International Financial Flows (K5) are the most relevant KPIs, whereas Access to Clean Cooking (K2) and Access to Electricity (K1) are ranked as least important. The study highlights the KPIs that can effectively measure and accelerate SDG 7 achievements in Sri Lanka’s construction industry. These findings provide a path to policymaker to guide the sustainable energy integration within the construction industry.