PERCEIVED FACTORS INFLUENCING GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The green concept is a way of conserving energy, water, and materials to mitigate the effects of human activities on the environment. This research investigated factors influencing the adoption of green buildings in higher educational institutions. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 119 university staff members in five construction and engineering departments: Architecture, Building Technology, Estate Management, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering at Covenant University, Nigeria, using purposive sampling to obtain data in the study area. The descriptive statistics ranked environmental impact assessments, green planning design and specification, evaluation of social sustainability from the design stage, emphasis on negative human impacts on the environment, and reduction of construction demolition wastes as top-ranked factors influencing the adoption of green practices in Higher Education Institutions. The study recommends strategies for adopting the green concept in Higher Education Institutions, including 'establishing green policies and regulations, 'adopting green planning, design, and specification,' 'standardized local green construction materials and technologies,' and 'enhancing the economic advantage of reuse, recycling, and waste management'. This study concluded that constructing infrastructure facilities in Higher Education Institutions in the 21^st century must integrate sustainable materials and practices into their processes to avoid depleting natural resources that may impact the environment.