A Qualitative Study of a Green Building Policy

This qualitative study examined perceived advantages and challenges encountered using third party green building certifications compliant with the United States Air Force¿s (USAF) 2007 Sustainable Design and Development Policy (SDD), for construction of military facilities worldwide. Research compared design and implementation of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the German Green Building Council (DGNB) certifications at two USAF installations, in America and Germany, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Emergent themes regarding policy design addressed a lack of policy awareness and support, and other regulatory concerns. Critical implementation challenges included (a) uneven support for the USAF-SDD policy, (b) difficulties integrating renewable energy technology, and (c) cost. While small sample size limits generalizability, the identified challenges will inform decision-making for future USAF-SDD policies. Implications for practical application include considerations for businesses endeavoring to implement policies supporting sustainability strategies.