Exploring the Barriers of Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBS) Implementation in Malaysia: Perception of Malaysian Construction Practitioners

Malaysia is a country which is undergoing a booming phase of urbanization. However, the rapid development in the construction sector leads to major concerns on sustainability for this sector. For instance, the increase volume of carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, depletion of resources as well as excessive of waste generation. Besides that, it is beyond doubt that energy invested in building construction has a significant threat towards climate change and sustainability, thus by addressing the issues on energy in building sector, the net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) has emerges to be an important concept to confront with these issues. However, previous studies found that the Malaysian construction industry is still unfamiliar with the concept of NZEBs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers of NZEBs implementation in Malaysia based on a review of the existing literature and by utilising semi-structured interviews with 5 experienced practitioners. The result of this paper indicates that there are three barriers areas that need to be consider which are cost barriers, technical and technologies barriers, and government policies barriers. This study provides an exciting opportunity to advance our knowledge of barriers that will exists in the Malaysian construction industry context

Kerja baikpulih bangunan komersial yang terbengkalai di kawasan Melaka Tengah

Industri pembinaan merupakan satu sektor yang menjadi pemangkin kepada pertumbuhan sosio-ekonomi dan sebahagian besar sumbernya digunakan kearah pembangunan yang pesat dalam pentadbiran negara. Projek-projek mega seperti Kuala lumpur internationa airport (KLIA), Pusat pentadbiran kerajaan di putrjaya dan banyak lagi pembinaan bangunan komersial yang menjadi tanda aras perkembangan yang memberangsangkan. Selain dari itu, pembangunan bagi sesuatu kawasan menyebabkan pertambahan penduduk. Ini menunjuk industri binaan merupakan salah satu sektor yang menyumbang dalam pembangunan dari aspek sosial dan ekonomi kepada sesuatu kawasan. Walaupun banyak teknologi dalam industri pembinaan telah digunakan pada masa kini, ia masih lagi tidak dapat mengawal kehadiran bangunan yang terbiar di Malaysia dan kesan kewujudan bangunan terbiar itu mengakibatkan kerugian kepada pelbagai pihak dan mengancam keselamatan penduduk sekitarnya

An investigation on current green design practices towards net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) application in Malaysia healthcare projects

These days, the topic on the sustainable building has become one of the most important concerns in the academic studies, construction industries, as well as governmental agencies. Sustainability in the building sector has raised the attention towards a new concept called net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs). With regards to the development of Malaysia’s buildings sectors, the government has realised the undesirable effects of inefficient of energy usage by demonstrating their efforts in Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) 2016-2020. Commonly, healthcare buildings are among the greatest energy consumers of any institution and the extensive use of various medical equipment, mechanical ventilation of this building has caused a high level of carbon emission. Hence, by concentrating on these issues, NZEBs become an important concept to be implemented in healthcare buildings. However, the awareness of NZEBs in Malaysia is still low and the construction industry in Malaysia still unaware of NZEBs. This paper aims to investigate the current design practices of healthcare buildings in Malaysia as well as the architect’s understanding of NZEBs through preliminary investigation among architects. Literature was reviewed and pilot studies by using semi-structured interviews were conducted. The results uncover that some green practices related to the design practices in healthcare buildings has been carried out and some of these practices are similar to the NZEBs design practices even though the term of ‘NZEBs’ is not being used. It is predicted that the paper will provide a basic knowledge for future research in NZEBs for healthcare buildings, challenges of NZEBs implementation and designing NZEBs for healthcare buildings in Malaysia

Examining the Influence of Passive Design Approaches on NZEBs: Potential Net Zero Healthcare Buildings Implementation in Malaysia

Nowadays, net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) concept has gained considerable attention not only between the developed countries, but also among the developing countries including Malaysia. The rapid development in Malaysia, especially in the construction of healthcare buildings needs to be given due attention since these developments lead to all sorts of environmental problems. As the number of healthcare buildings increases, the energy consumes to operate these buildings will increase. The consequences of uncontrollable energy consumption may result in the increased volume of carbon dioxide emissions as well as depletion of natural resources. Thus, NZEBs has emerged as a proactive concept to confront with these issues. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of passive design approaches on NZEBs as well as the potential of net zero healthcare buildings implementation in Malaysia based on a review of the existing literature and by utilising semi-structured interviews with 3 experienced architects. The result of this paper indicates that there are four main passive design components has strong influences on NZEBs which are building orientation, shading devices, ventilation, and thermal insulation. These practices are being actively practiced in Malaysia construction industry; thus, it shows that net zero energy healthcare buildings are potential to be designed in Malaysia. The study has gone some way towards enhancing our understanding of the significance of passive design approaches towards net zero healthcare buildings for future implementation in Malaysia context