Barriers in Implementing Sustainable Construction among Contractor

Abstract

The construction industry is developing rapidly and become one of the backbones of the country. At the same time, building and sustainability are often highlighted important and connected to one another. Even the country has come out with a momentous milestone of the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) with 14 game-changers, where one of them is focusing on advancing green growth for sustainability and resilience. Hence, Green Building Index (GBI) is introduced in Malaysia as a rating system that aims to promote the use of energy efficient. Sustainable construction in building development have been shown to have a clear positive impact on the environment, it has been highlighted as the current trend in environmental protection. However, different advantages and disadvantages are enticing and discouraging the contractors from implementing sustainable construction in their projects. Therefore, this study is conducted to determine the barriers in implementing sustainable construction among contractors in Malaysia. In attaining the objectives of this study, quantitative approach is adopted, where quantitative data is utilised in the methodology phase via questionnaire survey. The data collected were analysed using SPSS Software and presented in the form of descriptive analysis of mean, standard deviation and ranks. The findings of the study found that the main critical barrier faced among contractors in the application of sustainable construction in Malaysia is the sustainable construction requires more time and cost investment ranked as number 1 with the mean of 4.94 and standard deviation 0.243. Thus, this study has provided the initiative to overcoming the barriers in sustainable construction is significant to ensure the contractor can acquire the benefits from implementing sustainable construction. From the study, it is suggested that further research should be made in identifying initiatives to promote the application of sustainable construction among contractors in Malaysia to adapt sustainable lifestyle in the country.