From building emissions to resident well-being: the role of environmental pollution perception

In recent years, there has been growing recognition that reducing environmental pollution, particularly from building emissions, is essential for improving residents’ well-being. Buildings contribute substantially to worldwide greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions, making effective mitigation strategies a priority in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study examines the relationship between perceived building environmental pollution and residents’ well-being, as well as the mechanism underlying this relationship, through an ordered probit model. The results indicate that higher levels of building environmental pollution significantly reduce residents’ well-being. To explore heterogeneity, the sample was further divided by urban–rural differences, local environmental protection expenditure level, and geographic region. The research found that residents with lower environmental protection expenditures, residents in rural areas and those in the central region are more likely to be negatively affected by building environmental pollution, with the correlation coefficients being −0.111, −0.104 and −0.101 respectively. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that annual income, the number of children, and type of work have moderating effects on this relationship, with correlation coefficients of 0.047, −0.054, and −0.095 respectively. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence for perceiving the social impact of building pollution in the context of building-related emissions and offers policy-related insights for strengthening environmental protection measures in the construction industry to enhance residents’ well-being.