Quantitative study on external benefits of prefabricated buildings: From perspectives of economy, environment, and society

The traditional construction industry has been considered as an industry in need of urgent improvement for its high natural resources consumption and serious green-house gas emissions. It has been confirmed that prefabricated buildings have significant advantages in energy saving, emission reduction, and other environmental aspects. This kind of lean construction mode will lead the future development trend of the construction industry. More and more external benefits are created for the implementation of prefabricated buildings. However, there is still a lack of quantitative analysis of the external benefits of prefabricated buildings. Therefore, an external benefit evaluation index system was established from the dimensions of economic, environmental, and social. Moreover, a quantitative evaluation model of prefabricated buildings was designed. Finally, the feasibility of the model was verified by an empirical study. Based on the external theory, the external benefits should be shared through the participants of prefabricated buildings such as real estate developers, consumers, and governments. The quantitative results based on the research can provide the foundational data for the proper distribution and allocation of the external benefits for implementing prefabricated buildings, which can contribute to the sustainable development of construction industry and society.