A Systematic Review of Green Office Building in Malaysia: Aligning Sustainable Development Goals with Green Building Index Performance

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review examines the relationship between energy-efficient strategies, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and financial feasibility within Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI)-certified office buildings. GBI is a comprehensive rating system that assesses buildings' environmental impact and performance based on sustainable criteria. It is recognized internationally and complies with World Green Building Council (WGBC) standards and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data from GBI reported that as of June 2024, a total of 696 projects were certified from 1,223 projects registered, which equals 29.1 million square meters.   Design/ Methodology/ Approach: Utilizing a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, Articles were selected from two leading databases, Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus, between 2014 and 2024.   Findings: From the review, it can be concluded that there are 32 findings related to the green office buildings in Malaysia were categorized into three key themes: Energy Efficiency and Environmental Performance (EEEP), IEQ and Occupant Satisfaction (OS), and Economic and Cost Considerations (ECC). The study highlights that although initial financial investments may be challenging, long-term operational savings and sustainability can be achieved through passive design strategies and improved building management practices.   Research limitations/implications: The findings can assist in keeping up with the rapid pace of scientific publications and help accelerate the understanding of ideas in the context of localized data and insights that are often missing in global literature. This also can attract interest from various disciplines including stakeholders, architects and engineers in Malaysia, promoting the adoption of energy-efficient practices while ensuring occupant comfort and financial viability. This study could also assist further research on the direction of studies to explore the scalability of these strategies in diverse building types, particularly in the context of different climate conditions contributing to SDG 9, SDG 11 and SDG 12.   Originality /value: This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the key ideas from existing literature and offers a basis for measuring energy efficiency and IEQ in green office buildings, assisting for sustained improvements in the Malaysian context.