## 4 Results and Discussion  
### The Current Application of Carbon Reduction Strategies in Construction Procurement  
The first set of analyses from the interview findings explored the current application of carbon reduction strategies in construction procurement in New Zealand. When participants were asked to provide perspectives on this matter, most responses (28 references) indicated that several carbon reduction strategies had been adopted in the current construction procurement. This aspect is illustrated in Table 2, which collates several quotes from the research participants about their understanding and perceptions.  
To further explore the current application of carbon reduction strategies in construction procurement, the participants participating in the interviews were asked to share their experiences applying carbon assessment methods and tools. Most participants (22 references) referred to several common methods and tools available in the construction market. For example, one participant commented: \"Principles and guidelines of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), defined by ISO 14040 and 14044, are used to calculate carbon footprint\" [Client #2]. In the same vein, the interviewee [Contractor #3] expressed that \"a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach is typically used to calculate the whole-of-life embodied carbon emissions of a construction project\". Besides LCA tools, Green Star was acknowledged as another method to identify carbon reduction strategies for buildings. As [Client #4] mentioned, \"there are tools available in the market such as Green Star\". In addition, the interviewees in the contractor category recognised an energy and utility management cloud platform named Carbon EMS, which provided the total energy and operational carbon performance of buildings. According to the participants, this tool was usually used in the facility management and building operation stages.  
These findings have revealed several common carbon strategies, assessment methods, and tools available in New Zealand's construction market are adopted in the procurement  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Participants** & **Illustrative Quotes** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Client \#1} & “Two procurement agencies have applied carbon strategies in the tender document. This document included the specifications and life cycle cost (LCC), which refers to the total cost of ownership over the life of an asset, such as a building asset.” \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Client \#3} & “Some organisations have adopted the carbon reduction strategies. We are working with a public organisation to develop an integrated embodied and operational carbon reporting tool.” \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Contractor \#1} & “In the education sector’s construction procurement process, there are a lot of tender documents that incorporate carbon reduction strategies, such as upgrading LED lighting tender, school design and construction tender.” \\ \cline{1-1}  & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 2: The perceptions of research participants regarding the current implementation of carbon reduction strategies in construction procurement.  
process. Although many have been found in the literature, only a few have been adopted widely in the current practices. The LCA method is acknowledged as the most appropriate for carbon-related procurement. An explanation is that the LCA method allows practitioners to measure whole-life carbon impacts [42]. Through LCA, clients can uncover how changes in their decisions at one point in the design and construction processes affect the overall carbon performance, while contractors can identify essential life cycle-based information to provide appropriate solutions [24; 43]. Therefore, integrating a carbon calculation and reporting tool in the procurement process is necessary to determine a more accurate procurement outcome.