<b>Rating the Barriers to Implementing Building Energy Performance Certification Schemes in Developing Economies: A Best-Worst Method Approach</b>

Purpose: The implementation of energy performance certification (EPC) schemes has been country-specific, considering the differences in climatic and cultural contexts, and the availability of resources. The aim was to empirically determine the relative impact of each barrier from the perspective of experts in a developing economy in sub–Saharan Africa. This paper assesses the barriers that impede the implementation of EPC schemes. Design/Methodology/Approach: Publications from the Scopus database were reviewed to identify the challenges faced during EPC scheme implementation. A questionnaire was administered to 30 purposively sampled building energy experts from Ghana, including architects, engineers, and officials from governmental institutions. Of these, 25 were retrieved and used for analysis. The Best-Worst Method was used to rate the responses according to their weighted averages. Findings: The findings indicated bureaucracy and political interference, cost of the certification process, lack of qualified energy certifiers, stakeholder apathy, and misperception and inadequate trust as the topmost rated barriers to building EPC schemes’ adoption and implementation in Ghana. Research Limitation: The study focuses solely on three regions in Ghana, limiting the generalisability of findings to other developing economies. Practical Implication: It is envisaged that this research would broaden standpoints on the best practices to adopt for operational energy performance certification schemes for buildings in Ghana. Social Implication: It contributes to a growing research domain prompted by the urgent need for energy conservation and climate action, as articulated in the Sustainable Development Goal. Originality/Value: This study offers a structured prioritisation framework that evaluates what barriers exert the most significant influence in specific contexts. This methodological approach enables more targeted and context-sensitive policymaking.