Building Energy Efficiency and Internet of Things: Exploring Barriers and Integrating Factors from an African Variant

Abstract

This study examines the barriers to adopting Internet of Things technologies to improve building energy efficiency in Ghana. The study addresses the increasing energy demand in the built environment and the need for intelligent, data-driven systems that support real-time monitoring, energy optimisation and sustainable building performance. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, targeting building managers, facility managers, energy managers and technical professionals involved in building energy management. Data were collected from 150 respondents using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, mean scores, standard deviations, and rankings. The findings revealed that all identified barriers recorded mean scores above 4.00, indicating strong agreement that they significantly constrain IoT adoption in buildings. The most critical barriers were high initial implementation costs, stakeholder unawareness, and inadequately skilled professionals. Other important barriers included insufficient financial incentives, limited qualified suppliers or manufacturers, weak legal and institutional support, lack of expertise, slow return on investment, compatibility issues and limitations in existing building designs. The study concludes that IoT adoption in Ghana’s building sector depends not only on technological availability but also on financial support, stakeholder education, professional capacity building, regulatory clarity, supplier development and smart-ready building design. The findings provide evidence for policymakers, building owners, and industry practitioners seeking to advance intelligent and energy-efficient buildings in developing-country contexts.