Assessment of Sustainability Practices in Recently Constructed Commercial Buildings in Ethiopia

Amid increasing global focus on sustainable development, the integration of sustainability into the construction sectors of developing countries remains underexplored, with Ethiopia’s rapid urban growth offering a vital case for study. This research assesses the level of sustainability practices incorporated into recently constructed medium- and large-scale commercial buildings in urban Ethiopia, utilizing a locally adapted, indicator-based assessment framework. Based on international standards, national sustainability goals, and expert insights, an initial set of 36 indicators was refined by 41 experts through Likert-scale surveys and the Relative Importance Index (RII), resulting in a core set of 24 prioritized indicators covering environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The framework was applied to 23 purposefully selected commercial buildings, categorized by gross floor area into medium (5000–20,000 m2) and large (>20,000 m2) groups, according to local definitions. Results reveal very low adoption of sustainability practices across both groups, with over 70% of buildings scoring below 15%, highlighting a significant gap in sustainable construction. This study presents a context-specific, empirically based evaluation tool aligned with Ethiopia’s expanding sustainable building initiatives. It establishes key benchmarks for policymaking, supports targeted efforts, and enhances the broader understanding of sustainability practices in developing countries.