Master’s Thesis Proposal

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PERCEPTION AND AWARENESS ON DESIGN OF

GREEN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AMONG DESIGN CONSULTANTS IN
KATHMANDU METROPOLITANCITY

Submitted To:
The Program Coordinator
M.SC. Program (Construction Management)
Pokhara University

Submitted By:
Aayusha Prajapati
RN: 2021-1-06-0076
(M.SC. Construction Management)

May, 2023
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................

LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................................................

ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................................

CHAPTER 1................................................................................................................................

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................

1.1 Background...........................................................................................................1

1.2 Statement of problem...........................................................................................2

1.3 Research Questions..............................................................................................3

1.4 Research objective................................................................................................3

1.5 Significance of study........................................................................................3

1.6 Scope and limitation.............................................................................................4

CHAPTER 2................................................................................................................................

LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................

2.1 General.................................................................................................................6

2.2 Conventional Building..........................................................................................6

2.3 Green Building.....................................................................................................6

2.4 Cost benefit of green buildings.............................................................................7

2.5 Challenges of Green Building..............................................................................7

2.6 Principles of Cost Benefit Analysis......................................................................8

2.7 Definition of Green building by LEEDs............................................................11

2.10 Green Building Initiatives in different countries..............................................12

2.10.1 In India.......................................................................................................12

2.10.2 In Bhutan....................................................................................................13

2.10.3 In Nigeria...................................................................................................13

2.10.4 In South Africa...........................................................................................14

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2.11 Different related researches on Green Buildings in Nepal and International...15

CHAPTER 3..............................................................................................................................

METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................................

3.1 Research Design.................................................................................................16

3.2 Research approach..............................................................................................17

3.3 Study area...........................................................................................................17

3.4 Study population and sample selection..............................................................18

3.6 Method of data collection...................................................................................18

3.7 Data analysis.......................................................................................................18

3.8 Ethical consideration..........................................................................................19

3.9 Research matrix..................................................................................................19

RESEARCH PLAN...................................................................................................................

BUDGET PLAN........................................................................................................................

REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 2. 1: List of research on Green Buildings......................................................15

Table 3.4: Research matrix.......................................................................................19

Table 5: Proposed Work Schedule...........................................................................20
Table 6: Budget Plan..................................................................................................21

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1: Research Process Flow Chart................................................................16

Figure 3.2: Map of Study area Nagarjun Municipality..........................................17

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 ABBREVIATIONS

GON Government of Nepal

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

HVAC Heating, Ventilating and air conditioning

ILO International labor organization

KII Key Informant Interview

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
A large portion of the world's energy consumption, resource depletion, and
environmental deterioration can be attributed to the building industry. The idea of
green buildings has become more popular all around the world as a means of
addressing these problems. By embracing sustainable design principles, energy
efficiency, water conservation, and the use of ecologically friendly materials, green
buildings seek to reduce the negative environmental effects of their creation and
operation.
To lessen and eliminate the negative effects that buildings have on the environment
and people's health, green construction brings together a wide range of practices,
approaches, and abilities. It frequently places a focus on utilizing renewable
resources, such as making use of sunshine through photovoltaic, passive solar, and
active solar technology, and using plants and trees through the creation of rain
gardens and green roofs in order to reduce runoff from precipitation. Numerous
alternative strategies are employed, such as the use of low-impact building materials,
packed gravel, or permeable concrete in place of standard concrete or asphalt to
improve groundwater recharge.

In Nepal, the construction industry has expanded quickly, especially in cities like
Kathmandu. There is growing interest in green building design due to rising
environmental consciousness and the necessity of sustainable development.
Engineers, who are essential to the design and construction process, must actively
participate and bring their knowledge to bear on the application of green building
techniques.
To lessen and eliminate the negative effects that buildings have on the environment
and people's health, green construction brings together a wide range of practices,
approaches, and abilities. It frequently places a focus on utilizing renewable
resources, such as making use of sunshine through photovoltaic, passive solar, and
active solar technology, and using plants and trees through the creation of rain
gardens and green roofs in order to reduce runoff from precipitation. Numerous

1
alternative strategies are employed, such as the use of low-impact building materials,
packed gravel, or permeable concrete in place of standard concrete or asphalt to
improve groundwater recharge.

Research from many nations has revealed that there is wide variation in engineers'
perception and knowledge about green building design. Education, professional
experience, exposure to sustainable design ideas, and company culture can all have an
impact on how well they grasp and apply sustainable principles. It is crucial to
evaluate the perception and awareness levels of engineers working in consulting firms
in order to ensure the successful application of green building design principles. By
analyzing how engineers in consultancy firms view and comprehend green building
design, their degree of knowledge about its advantages, and the difficulties they have
in adopting sustainable design principles, this study seeks to close the knowledge gap.

1.2 Statement of problem

The concept of green building and sustainable design practices is a relatively recent
development, with a history spanning only a few decades. It was during the 1970s,
prompted by the energy crisis, that green building transitioned from being a subject of
research to a practical reality (Stone, 2011). In Nepal, the design and construction of
green buildings are still not widely prevalent, and many customers and builders lack
awareness about the benefits and performance of such buildings.

While sustainable construction practices are becoming more crucial, there is a lack of
comprehensive research that specifically investigates the perspectives and awareness
of engineers working in consultancy firms when it comes to green building design.
This gap in knowledge obstructs the successful adoption of sustainable design
principles and the incorporation of environmentally friendly building methods within
the construction industry.

The objective of this thesis is to examine and assess how engineers employed in
consultancy firms in Kathmandu perceive and comprehend the design aspects of
green buildings. The study addresses the issue of inadequate comprehension regarding
the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of engineers with regards to green

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building design, specifically within the context of consultancy practices in
Kathmandu.

1.3 Research Questions

The major research questions for the proposed study are listed as follows:

1. What is the level of perception and awareness of engineers in design

consultancy firms in Kathmandu regarding green building design and its
principles?

2. What are the knowledge gaps, challenges, and barriers faced by engineers in
integrating green building design practices in consultancy projects?

3. What is the economic benefit of green residential building?

1.4 Research objective

The main objective of this research is a Comparative Study of Perception and
Awareness on Design of Green Residential Building among design consultants in
Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The Specific objectives of the study are:

Specific Objectives

 To find out the level of perception and awareness of engineers in design

consultancy firms in Kathmandu regarding green building design and its
principles
 To identify the barriers, challenges, and gaps in knowledge and practices that
hinder the integration of green building design in consultancy projects.
 To determine the economic benefit of green residential building

1.5 Significance of study

The quickest, most affordable, and frequently simplest way to cut back on energy and
water use is through the use of green building technologies, but there have been
questions raised about how much these structures will cost to build initially. The
operational and maintenance costs of a green building are lower than those of a

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conventional building, despite the initial cost being higher. According to the US
General Services Administration, green buildings have 19% lower average
maintenance costs, 25% lower energy costs, and 34% lower CO2 emissions. Installing
or retrofitting green solutions could result in energy and water savings in public
buildings; however, some implementation difficulties impede progress even more
than in the residential sector. Many home builders, public and private stakeholders,
and decision-makers are debating the specifics and concepts of green homes,
especially the higher initial costs in comparison to the long-term advantages of
additional green features. The main barrier to the adoption of green buildings is
consumers' unwillingness to pay additional construction costs.

The study contributes to the academic field by addressing a research gap and
expanding the understanding of engineers` perception and awareness of green
building design in the specific context of consultancy firms. The research findings
have practical implications for engineers, consultancy firms, policymakers, and the
construction industry. The study can inform professional development programs,
guide consultancy firms in promoting sustainable practices, contribute to policy
recommendations for incorporating green building principles, and ultimately lead to
reduced environmental impact through the construction of more sustainable buildings.
The significance of the study lies in its potential to advance knowledge, enhance
professional practices, and contribute to environmental sustainability in the
construction industry of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

1.6 Scope and limitation

Society frequently benefits from public projects that are frequently undertaken. Any
project receiving public funding is regarded as a success, and it is frequently preferred
to deliver benefits and generate value for money. Although there are various ways to
assess a project's profitability, CBA is particularly suitable for projects that are funded
by the government. Because many public and private investors, as well as government
officials, lack a proper understanding of how to develop the cost-effectiveness of any
intervention, the goal of this study is to increase understanding of the usefulness of
CBAs as a basis for project selection.

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The present study is limited to residential buildings. The study aims to collect
information from a representative sample of engineers in the city who work for
various consultancies. Its main objective will be to ascertain their understanding of
the concepts of green building design, rating systems, and sustainability practices. To
gather information and gain insights, the study will combine quantitative and
qualitative research techniques, such as surveys, interviews, and possibly focus group
discussions.

Limitation

Each research work is subjected to some sorts of limitation and such limitation may
sometime lead to slight variation in research outcome and thus those limitations need
to be addressed. This study has following limitations:

 The research is limited to engineers in consultancy firms within the city, and
their perceptions and awareness may differ from engineers in other regions or
sectors.
 It may not capture the full extent of the dynamic nature of the field and
evolving trends in sustainable construction practices.
 Engineers' perception and awareness of green building design can be
influenced by various external factors, such as the availability of resources,
training opportunities, client preferences, and government regulations.

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 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 General

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in green buildings, and
several studies indicate that green buildings are energy efficient, environmentally
friendly, and structurally sustainable throughout the building's life cycle. During the
1970s energy crisis, the concept of green building was first introduced. It has since
been widely used to achieve a safe and resilient society by making optimal use of
natural resources such as PV solar panels and rainwater harvesting. A green building
is designed differently than a conventional building, and recent research shows that
several green technologies can be incorporated into the building. For example, one of
Korea's zero-emission buildings implemented 95 different green solutions, reducing
energy consumption to 1.82 kWh/m2 and connecting excess energy to the national
grid

2.2 Conventional Building

Conventional Building” refers to a building built according to the common practice of

a specific country in a specific period (2007). These buildings are designed and
constructed with common methods and techniques. Conventional Building
Construction refers to the traditional method of construction to design, construction,
operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction (2015). There are several
methods which can be used to achieve sustainability in buildings.

2.3 Green Building

Green building, also known as sustainable building or green construction, is the

concept of designing and constructing structures and processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the life cycle of a
building, from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and
deconstruction. Its primary goals are to conserve resources such as raw materials,
energy, and water, to combat global warming (greenhouse gas emissions), to reduce

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waste and other pollutions, and to maximize overall life-cycle performance.
Sustainable building also aims to provide occupants with comfort and health by using
materials of high sanitary and environmental quality, both for actual construction and
for insulation.

2.4 Cost benefit of green buildings

There is a growing body of literature that investigates the costs and benefits of green
buildings. Green building costs are frequently direct costs such as initial cost,
operating and maintenance cost, and replacement cost. Several studies demonstrate
the economic, social and community, environmental, and government benefits of
green buildings.

Economic aspect: There are several economic benefits to green buildings. For
starters, it creates a competitive market for renewable energy, which leads to the
creation of new jobs. Second, it lowers the building's life cycle cost; for example,
installing solar panels reduces energy consumption and significantly lowers operating
costs. Third, homeowners benefit from green building values such as higher rent and
increased productivity with lower medical expenses.

Social and community aspect: green construction increases job opportunities for local
residents, lowering unemployment. The experienced employee has the opportunity to
transfer knowledge through training and workshops, which generates additional
economic benefits. Green solutions have the potential for numerous research
activities. The study's findings and recommendations foster global networking by
sharing best practices for community well-being.

Environmental aspect: The most widely recognized benefit of green building is its
ability to reduce negative externalities in society. Green building reduces CO2
emissions and increases the use of renewable energy, which is in line with the goals of
sustainable development.

Government aspect: Though since green building saves money, increases economic
activity, and addresses social and environmental issues, it assists the government in
achieving the sustainable development goals.

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2.5 Challenges of Green Building

A significant number of researchers indicates that the main barriers to implementing

green construction are high initial investment costs and client demand. The cost of
green building begins with the design phase. According to Green Building Costs
(2016), incorporating green building features into the design stage reduces
construction costs by 10% while increasing the initial cost by 3%. Besides, other
researchers identify the lack of knowledge and awareness about green construction, as
well as the contractor's reluctance to use new technologies, as a barrier to
implementing green building. In conclusion, the main obstacles to implementing
green buildings are higher initial investment cost, lack of client's interest, knowledge,
and awareness on the benefits of green buildings. To overcome these obstacles, the
costs and benefits of green buildings must be defined. Several authors have suggested
using cost-benefit analysis as a toolkit to identify and monetize the real costs and
benefits items, as well as to determine the project's economic feasibility. Until now,
most studies have only used cost-benefit analysis of green buildings in the context of
developed countries, with very few researchers introducing it to developing countries.
Green technology characteristics are poorly understood in developing countries such
as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Laos. Green building is also not well understood by public
officials, policymakers, and decision-makers. As a result, a number of questions about
the use of cost-benefit analysis in project appraisal and green building policy
formation remain unanswered in developing countries

2.6 Principles of Cost Benefit Analysis

CBA is a toolkit for determining the economic feasibility of an individual project by
comparing the benefits and costs for the entire society. From the perspective of social
welfare, CBA provides consistent and objective project selection criteria. The CBA is
about welfare, not money. Money is used as an alternative measure of well-being.
CBA entails comparing the social value of project outputs to the value of other goods
sacrificed elsewhere for the sake of the project. Conducting a CBA assists in
identifying interventions that provide the best value for money while also positively
contributing to social welfare. Conducting a CBA assists in identifying interventions
that provide the best value for money while also positively contributing to social
welfare. Producer benefits are measured by changes in producer surplus, whereas
consumer benefits are measured by changes in consumer surplus. Sunk costs are not

8
to be included in CBA because they are past opportunity costs that are partially or
completely irrecoverable and, as a result, should be considered irrelevant to future
decision making. Various taxes and simple income transfers for distributional
purposes are not included as benefits or costs because they are transfer payments that
should be ignored [17, 18]. All costs and benefits are added together and discounted
Un-monetarized welfare benefits with no market value must be disclosed. CBA
calculates the difference in welfare between the with-the-case and without-the-case
scenarios, which is a comparison of "with-the-case" and "without-the-case." It is not a
"before" and "after" situation comparison [17].

Step-1: Define the Objective and Scope of the Project: Before evaluating the objective
of the project has to be clearly defined. In this stage, the analyst has to examine
relevant alternatives to achieve similar results and have to answer whether the
proposed intervention is the best way of solving the problem. The analyst should also
define the scope of the project.

Step-2: Identify Cost and Benefits Items: The project’s direct cost and benefits are
identified. Indirect impacts such as social, environmental, and economic should be
taken into consideration.

Step-3: Analyze the impacts of the project (Quantification of costs and benefits):
CBA estimates welfare changes of difference between with-the-case and without-the-
case scenario. It replicates the world without the project and imagines the world with
the project. It forecasts the main changes to the counterfactual. Excepted changes are
the comparison with the counterfactual. CBA assesses the costs and benefits from a
proposed project (intervention) against what would happen otherwise the status quo or
baseline, also known as the counterfactual [16]. Converting as many of the costs and
benefits into monetary values, including those that are not usually bought or sold
under market conditions, allows the analysis to generate a single value such as a
social Net Present Value, which estimates whether the proposed project is better for

9
society than the status quo. This approach is generally most useful when most of the
impacts identified can be monetized.

Step-4: Monetize the Impacts: A key prerequisite of any CBA modeling is that the
costs and benefits associated with any chosen intervention must be easily identifiable
and monetized where possible, to maximize the robustness of the analysis undertaken.
Benefits can be measured through individual willingness to pay, sometimes observed.
The costs are measured in opportunity cost.

Step-5: Aggregate Benefits and Costs: The benefits and costs project are aggregated
to a lifetime. In the time horizon calculated costs and benefits will need to cover the
entire economic/functional lifetime of a project. The number of years adopted for this
will largely depend on the nature of the intervention being chosen, with benchmarks
often varying depending on the sector in question. The time horizon chosen for CBA
will play a large role in determining the overall reliability and outcome of model
outputs. This is due to the decline in the direct effect of an intervention over time.

Base year: Adopting an appropriate base year for discounting, from which the costs
and benefits of alternative interventions will be compared, forms an integral part of
any CBA approach

Choice of social discount rate: An important point to note at this stage is that all future
costs associated with intervention will need to be appropriately adjusted. There are
two major theories to SDR, which are social rate of time preference (SRTP) and
Marginal Social Opportunity Cost (MSOC) [17, 18].

Step-6: Calculate NPV, B/C, and IRR: The criteria for CBA analysis are B/C
(Benefit-Cost Ratio), NPV (Net Present Value), and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) [2,
16].

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 Net present value (NPV): The Net Present Value (NPV) discounts all the
monetized future costs and benefits, which are anticipated from intervention to their
present value or the selected base year. If the NPV is positive, the benefits outweigh
the costs and generate positive cash flow. If the NPV is negative, the project will
never pay back its investment. The higher NPV values assure a greater rate of return
on investment. Also, the NPV effectively determines the payback periods associated
with an intervention.

Internal rate of return (IRR): The IRR is the discount rate for which the NPV of the
project is zero, which represents the rate of return on investments. If the IRR is higher
than the rate of return on other alternatives, then the project is economically viable. It
can be easily interpretable; however, in the case of more than one alternative, its result
can be misleading. For example, a project with a short life cycle might have a high
IRR and yield high returns for few years while a project with a lower IRR but with a
longer life cycle, might yield higher total investment return over the long term;
therefore, it should be used in conjunctions with other parameters.

Benefit-cost ratio (B/C): Benefit-Cost Ratio is one of the primary outputs of CBA that
will help to determine the overall cost-effectiveness of an intervention [2, 16]. It is the
ratio of net monetized benefits to net monetized costs for a given base year. The
intervention with B/C value less than one is an inefficient investment while the B/C
ratio greater than one represents cost-efficient intervention.

Step-7: Conduct Sensitivity Analysis: It is the technique to determine the robustness

of CBA results by accounting for different levels of uncertainties. Sensitivity analysis
is performed to determine the overall effect that changes in input data and model
assumptions have on CBA outputs [16]. It analyses how sensitive the CBA model is
to changes in assumptions of the analysis such as changes in the discount rate, and
changes in assumptions on demand.

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Step-8: Interpret results and make a decision: The results of CBA are interpreted with
the help of standard economic evaluation parameters that help in effective decision
making

2.7 Definition of Green building by LEEDs

Creating structures and processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-
efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction,
operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. Its main goals are to preserve
resources like raw materials, energy and water, fight against global warming
(greenhouse gases emission), minimize waste and other pollutions, and maximize the
whole life-cycle performance. Sustainable building also aims to bring comfort and
health to occupants by the use of materials of high sanitary and environmental quality,
both for the actual construction and for the insulation.

Fundamental principle linked with green building

 Minimize resource consumption (energy and water efficiency).

 Maximize reuse resource.
 Use renewable and recycle resource.
 Protect the natural environment.
 Create a healthy, non-toxic environment.

Green building technology

The philosophy of sustainable architecture in various practices that aims to reduce the
negative impact of a building on its environment and to take care of the quality of life
of users and neighboring communities.

 Biodegradable materials/
 Solar power for heating, insulating and air conditioning (HVAC).
 Green insulation and lighting smart appliances, cool roots.
 Sustainable resource sourcing.
 Low energy house and zero energy building.
 Water efficiency technologies.
 Electrochromic smart glass.
 Self-powered buildings.
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2.10 Green Building Initiatives in different countries
2.10.1 In India
In India, green building initiatives started to pick up speed in the early 2000s and has
since gained significant momentum. Key milestones include the launch of the GRIHA
rating system in 2001, the establishment of the Indian Green Building Council
(IGBC) in 2003, and the completion of the first green building project, the TERI
Retreat, in 2004. Subsequent years saw the introduction of additional rating systems
such as IGBC Green Homes and the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).
The government's initiatives, including the Smart Cities Mission and the promotion of
solar energy integration, have further accelerated the adoption of green building
practices in the country. Today, India is recognized as a leader in sustainable
construction with a growing number of green buildings across residential and
commercial sectors.

2.10.2 In Bhutan

Bhutan's dedication to sustainability, the welfare of its citizens, and the preservation
of the environment has fueled a recent upsurge in the use of green building techniques
in the nation. The Bhutan Building Rules and Regulations (BBR&R), which were
created in 2002 and placed an emphasis on using traditional building methods and
materials in order to reduce environmental impact, are credited with sparking the
development of green building initiatives. The Bhutan Green Building Standards
(BGBS), a thorough framework promoting sustainable building design, energy
efficiency, waste management, and water conservation, were introduced in Bhutan in
2008. Bhutan's commitment to environmentally friendly practices is further
demonstrated by the development of notable green buildings like the Royal Thimphu
College.

2.10.3 In Nigeria
In recent years, green building practices have slowly but surely begun to emerge in
Nigeria. The nation has made significant efforts to support green building initiatives
as a result of a growing understanding of the significance of sustainable development
and environmental conservation. The creation of the Nigerian Green Building Council

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(NGBC) in 2006 has been instrumental in advancing sustainable construction methods
and increasing public awareness of green structures.

In order to direct green building projects, Nigeria has adopted internationally

renowned rating systems like the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) certification. The government has demonstrated its commitment to
sustainable construction methods by introducing the National Building Code, which
includes provisions for energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management.
Incorporating sustainable design elements and materials into their projects, developers
and construction firms demonstrate the private sector's willingness to adopt green
building principles. Famous green construction initiatives like the Nigerian
Conservation Foundation (NCF) Headquarters in Lagos serve as motivating examples
of green building in the nation.

The NGBC and other organizations have carried out awareness campaigns, training
initiatives, and capacity-building projects to further promote green building practices.
These initiatives seek to inform the public and professionals alike about the
advantages of green construction and sustainable design principles.

Even though Nigerian green building practices are still in their infancy, there is a
positive momentum and growing understanding of the significance of sustainability in
the construction sector. Nigeria has the potential to advance its green building
initiatives and contribute to a more sustainable built environment with continued
efforts from the government, business, and organizations like the NGBC.

2.10.4 In South Africa

Due to a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, green
building practices in South Africa have accelerated and begun in recent years. Green
building initiatives have been promoted and advanced all over the nation with the help
of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

A thorough framework for assessing and certifying the environmental performance of

buildings has been made available with the introduction of the Green Star rating
system, which was adapted from Australia's Green Star system. Developers,

14
architects, and construction firms have been encouraged as a result to adopt
sustainable design principles and incorporate energy-efficient and renewable energy
sources into their projects.

The South African government has also shown support for green building methods,
with various departments putting energy-saving and renewable energy projects into
action as well as incorporating sustainability into their work. The Silo District and
Menlyn Maine, two well-known green building initiatives, have become models of
sustainable design and innovation in the built environment.

The GBCSA has played a significant role in promoting green building practices,
offering training, and accrediting professionals. Their initiatives have promoted a
sustainability culture in the building industry, encouraging the adoption of green
building principles across the board.

Green building practices are incorporated into sustainable neighborhoods and

communities in South Africa from the planning stage forward. This all-encompassing
strategy guarantees the creation of livable and sustainable environments for locals.

2.11 Different related researches on Green Buildings in Nepal and International

Table 2. 1: List of research on Green Buildings

S.
No Authors/Date Title Conclusion
.
There is a growing awareness of
Bhattarai, D.,
Green building green building in Nepal, but there
Shrestha, A., &
1. practices in Nepal: are still some challenges to the
Kshetri, S.
A review widespread adoption of green
(2018)
building practices.
The most important factors
Factors influencing
influencing the adoption of green
the adoption of
Shrestha, S., & building practices were the cost of
green building
2. Shrestha, S. green building materials, the lack of
practices in Nepal:
(2019) awareness of green building benefits,
A case study of
and the lack of government support
Kathmandu Valley.
for green building.
3. Upadhyay, B., Barriers to the The lack of knowledge about the
& Shrestha, R. adoption of green advantages of green building, the
(2020) building practices in lack of government support, and the

15
 Nepal: A case study high cost of green building materials
of Kathmandu were the main obstacles to the
Valley adoption of green building practices.
Green building and Green buildings can provide a
Ahern, A., & the built number of benefits, including
4. Murphy, J. environment: A reduced energy consumption,
(2017) review of the improved indoor air quality, and
literature. increased occupant productivity.
De la Cuesta, LCA can be used to assess
Life cycle
M., & the environmental impacts of
5. assessment of green
Azapagic, A. green buildings throughout
buildings: A review
(2018) their life cycle.
Green buildings: A Green buildings can provide a
Gupta, S., &
review of the number of benefits, but there are also
6. Kumar, A.
literature on benefits some challenges to their widespread
(2019)
and challenges adoption.

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 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

The overview of the overall body of research is presented in this chapter. Different
research steps, including data collection, analysis, and result presentation, were
visualized prior to the start of the study. Data from both primary and secondary
sources were gathered, and conclusions were drawn after analysis. The flow chart of
overall research design is presented in the figure 3.1.

3.1 Research Design

Research Idea

Research Problem Statement

Formulate Research Questions

Research Objective

Methodology

Supervisor Consultation
Literature Review

Data Collection

Primary Data Secondary Data

Field Observation Report of stakeholders
Questionnaires survey Government reports
KII Drawings

Data Analysis and Interpretation

Result and Discussion

Conclusion and
Recommendations

Figure 3.1: Research Process Flow Chart

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3.2 Research approach

A mixed-method study will be used in the following research by utilizing both

qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data will also include detailed
description of the personal observations of the researcher regarding the area of study.
In terms of the secondary research, report of stakeholders, journals in maintenance
practices, government and stakeholders’ data and literature will be utilized.

3.3 Study area

The study will be conducted in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Figure 3.2: Map of Study area Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Kathmandu is the capital and eldest metropolitan city of Nepal and covers an area of
50.7 km2 (19.6 sq mi). The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the
Himalayas, which also contains two sister cities namely Patan or Lalitpur, 5
kilometres (3.1 mi) to its southeast and Bhaktapur, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to its east.

18
Geographically, this metropolitan City is located between 27°27′E to 27°49′E
longitude and 85°10′N to 85°32′N latitude. The city stands at an elevation of
approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal
surrounded by four major mountains, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and
Chandragiri. It is inhabited by 671,846 (2001) people. As there is a trend of gradual
migration from other parts of the kingdom, different castes and religions are living
here. There are majority of Newar, Bahun, Magar, Sanyasi and Chhetri castes in this
city, most of the population follow Hinduism and Buddhism.

3.4 Study population and sample selection

In this study, the population means all the design engineers working in Kathmandu
Metropolitan city will be selected and the consultant, designer who are involved in
planning and designing of residential building in Kathmandu Metropolitan City will
also be selected. Regarding the sample sizes for designer, a convenient sampling will
be conducted as per the population size.

3.6 Method of data collection

The questionaries’ survey will be done with the engineers as a data collection
technique for the quantitative part. The questionnaire will use Likert scale with five
(5) categories to measure level of satisfaction of the respondents. The categories will
be 1: Very unsatisfied, 2: Unsatisfied, 3: Moderated satisfied, 4: Satisfied and 5:
Highly Satisfied.

3.7 Data analysis

For quantitative

The data will be collected through questionnaires survey. On each day of the data
collection, collected data will be checked for errors. Editing and correction of the data
will be also being done on the same day. The collected data will be entered in SPSS
for analysis. Both univariate and bivariate analyses will be carried out for the
quantitative study. For univariate analysis, descriptive statistics such as mean,
standard deviation, frequency, and percentages will be used to describe the
demographic variables. Further, the bivariate analysis will be done based on the

19
 objectives of the research. A p-value less than 0.05 will be considered statistically
significant.

3.8 Ethical consideration

Approval letter will be taken from the research committee of Pokhara University,
Pokhara, Nepal. An explanation of the study's goals will be given to the respondents.
Before collecting any data, each respondent will be asked for their written, informed
consent. Data collection will be done using an interviewing technique. As names of
participants won't be made public, anonymity will be preserved.3.9 Research matrix

Table 3.1: Research matrix

S Objectives Data Data Tools Expected

. Required Source Outcome
N s
.
1 To find out the Awarenes Design questionnair Current
s and Consultants e survey and Perceptio
perception and
Perceptio KII n and
awareness levels of n Awarenes
s Levels
municipal engineers and
of
consultant designers on Engineers
green buildings who are
involved in designing
and construction of
residential buildings

2 To identify the barriers, Views of Design Questionnair Challenge

challenges, and gaps in Consulta Consultants e survey and s and gaps
knowledge and practices nts KII in
that hinder the theoretical
integration of green knowledg
building design in e and
consultancy projects. practical
work
3 To determine the Drawings Municipalit Estimation Economic
y and Benefit of
economic benefit of
quantificatio green
green residential n building
building

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21
 RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan will be based on the activity as recommended by Pokhara

University's curriculum in order to carry out the research work. The probable dates of
presentation and submission of thesis are mentioned on table 5. I look forward to
complete my research work on within the academic year 2023.

Table 2: Proposed Work Schedule

S.N. Month May June 2023 July 2023 August 2023

2023

Activity 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 Proposal Approval

2 Literature Review

3 Questionnaire
Preparation

4 Data Collection

5 Data Analysis

6 Mid-term preparation

7 Comment Incorporation

8 Final Defense and

Submission

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23
 BUDGET PLAN

As this one is academic research, it would be self-funded. The total expenses of the
research work were through my own resources.

Table 3: Budget Plan

S. N. Particulars Unit Rate Amount

1. Logistic Support L.S. - 10,000

2. Book, Journal, Magazines, L.S. - 10,000

Stationary etc.

3. Travelling Expenses and L.S. - 20,000

Communication

4. Printing L.S. - 5,000

5. Photocopy and Binding L.S. - 5,000

6. Literature Collection L.S. - 5,000

7. Miscellaneous L.S. - 10,000

Total 65,000

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