Assessment of Green Building Practices in Commercial Real Estate Development in Lagos

This study assesses the adoption and extent of green building practices in commercial real estate development in Lagos State, South West Nigeria, examining the drivers and barriers to sustainable construction and the current state of environmental performance in newly developed commercial properties. Global momentum towards sustainable buildings and growing corporate ESG commitments are beginning to influence commercial property development in Lagos, but the pace and depth of green building adoption in the Nigerian context has not been comprehensively assessed. The study employs a descriptive mixed-methods design, surveying 20 commercial property developers, 15 architectural firms, and 30 commercial property occupiers. Physical assessment of green feature adoption was conducted at 12 newly completed commercial buildings in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and Lekki. Assessment parameters include energy efficiency systems, water conservation features, waste management provisions, natural ventilation design, and certification status under recognised green building rating systems. Findings show that green building features are present in a growing minority of new high-specification commercial developments, driven primarily by tenant demand from multinational and financial sector occupiers. Energy efficiency measures, particularly LED lighting and smart building management systems, are the most commonly adopted features. Solar energy integration is present at three of twelve assessed buildings. Formal green building certification is rare, with only two buildings in the study holding or pursuing certification under the EDGE or BREEAM systems. Cost perception and lack of incentive from building regulations are the primary adoption barriers. Recommendations include integrating green building standards into Lagos State's Building Regulations and creating incentives for certified developments. Keywords: green building, sustainable real estate, commercial property, Lagos, environmental performance.