Promoting green residential buildings in China: Bridging the gap between design and operation to improve occupants' residential satisfaction

Abstract

While many studies have examined the supply of green residential buildings (GRBs), few have focused on the demand and living experience of them. This paper explores the antecedents of existing residents' repurchase intention and the effect of their residential satisfaction through a questionnaire survey in Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, China. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the role of proposed determinants. Multi-group analysis tested the moderating role of residential satisfaction. Results show that residents' satisfaction with respect to their homes in GRBs was heterogeneous with dissatisfied residents account for 55%. Residents' knowledge about GRBs, their environmental attitudes and perceived usefulness of GRB were key determinants of repurchase intentions but trust in relevant institutions was not. Residential satisfaction played a moderating role in predicting repurchase intentions. This study enlightens practitioners in both private and public sectors to improve occupancy experiences of existing residents and to understand the repurchase behaviors of existing customers, by bridging the gap between strong green design and construction and weak operation and maintenance of GRBs. © 2019 by the authors.