Overcoming the barriers to the adoption of green building in Malaysia

Tong, Kok Chin (2025) Overcoming the barriers to the adoption of green building in Malaysia. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

The Malaysian construction industry is a major contributor to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the importance of the sustainable solution, green building. Despite the existence of frameworks and policies such as the Green Building Index (GBI), adoption remains limited. This study investigates the barriers hindering implementation, evaluates the effectiveness of current green building policies, and proposes practical solutions to enhance uptake. A quantitative approach was employed through a survey questionnaire distributed to construction stakeholders, generating 60 valid responses analysed using SPSS Version 27. The findings reveal that high initial costs and lack of awareness are the most critical barriers. Although policies are generally clear in design, their effectiveness is hampered by weak enforcement and the limited accessibility of financial incentives. Respondents strongly supported the financial measures, such as tax rebates, complemented by nonfinancial strategies including professional training and stricter regulations. In conclusion, both financial and non-financial barriers are essential, and an integrated approach that combines financial, regulatory, educational, and technological measures is recommended to overcome the barriers and achieve Malaysia’s sustainability goals. Keywords: Green building, barriers, effectiveness, green building policies, solutions Subject Area: HD9715-9717.5 Construction Industry

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