CHAPTER 2

Chapter Content

2.1: SUSTAINABLE ?

2.2: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ?

2.3: SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ?

2.4: MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVES
2.1: SUSTAINABLE
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 The ability to maintain at certain rate or level.

 Attaining sustainability does not mean the eradication 
of adverse impact, which is an impossible vision at 
present, but rather the reduction of it to a certain 
reasonable level.

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2.2: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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• A philosophy called ‘sustainable development’ was introduced in
1987 in Brundtland Report.
• Maintaining a delicate balance between the human need to improve
lifestyles and feeling of well-being on one hand, and preserving natural
resources and ecosystems, on which we and future generations depend.

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• “Creating and operating a healthy built environment based on
resource efficiency and ecological design” Charles J. Kibert
• “The balanced uses of resources on a global scale including physical
elements, human elements, and national political context” Ronald Rovers

• “The development which meets the needs of

present without compromising the ability of
future generation to meet their own need”
Bourdeau

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…all the same, only details varied
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 Economic  • various strategies that make it possible to use available 
resources to their best advantage.
Sustainability

• reducing the amount of waste produce or using less 
Environmental  energy, but is concerned with developing processes that 
will lead to businesses becoming completely sustainable in 
Sustainability the future.

Social  • encompass human rights, labor rights and corporate 
governance.
Sustainability

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• to alter or improve our conventional way of
development into a more responsible approach which
can satisfy our needs for development without
harming the world we live in.

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• Climate change: Long-term climate changes have been
observed across the globe. Changes are happening as a result of
human activity, including man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

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• Human activities!!

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• Human activities!!

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Consider life-cycle cost
1. Consider life‐cycle cost 1. Consider life‐cycle cost

ECONOMY
Reduce
2. the energy required for transforming goods and supplying
Consider alternative financing mechanism 2. Consider alternative financing mechanism
services.
3. Develop appropriate economic instruments to promote 
3. Develop appropriate economic instruments to promote sustainable consumption
Enhance a participatory approaches by involving stakeholders sustainable consumption
4. Consider the economic impact on local structure
Consider alternative financing mechanism 4. Consider the economic impact on local structure
5. Internalize external costs
Consider the impact of planned projects on air, soil, water, flora
5. Internalize external costs
and fauna
Support the instruments of international conventions and
agreements
1. Enhance a participatory approaches by involving stakeholders
Promote the development of appropriate institutional frameworks 1. Enhance a participatory approaches by involving stakeholders

SOCIAL
Consider the influence of the existing social framework 2. Promote the development of appropriate institutional 
2. Promote the development of appropriate institutional frameworks
frameworks
3. Consider the influence of the existing social framework
Develop appropriate economic instruments to promote sustainable 3. Consider the influence of the existing social framework
consumption
4. Assess the impact on health and the quality of life 4. Assess the impact on health and the quality of life
Increase materials efficiency by reducing the material demand of 5. Promote public participation
non-renewable goods.
5. Promote public participation
Assess the impact on health and the quality of life
Reduce the materials intensity via substitution technologies
Consider the economic impact on local structure 1. Reduce the energy required for transforming goods and 
supplying services.
1. Reduce the energy required for transforming goods and supplying services.
Enhance materials recyclability

ENVIRONMENT
2. Consider the impact of planned projects on air, soil, water, 
2. Consider the impact of planned projects on air, soil, water, flora and fauna
Reduce and control the use of dispersion of toxic materials flora and fauna
3. Support the instruments of international conventions and agreements
Maximize the sustainable use of biological and renewable resources 3. Support the instruments of international conventions and 
agreements
4. Increase materials efficiency by reducing the material demand of non‐renewable goods.
Internalize external costs 4. Increase materials efficiency by reducing the material 
5. Reduce the materials intensity via substitution technologies
Promote public participation demand of non‐renewable goods.
6. Enhance materials recyclability 5. Reduce the materials intensity via substitution technologies
6. Enhance materials recyclability
7. Reduce and control the use of dispersion of toxic materials
7. Reduce and control the use of dispersion of toxic materials
8. Maximize the sustainable use of biological and renewable resources
8. Maximize the sustainable use of biological and renewable 
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2.3: SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
• Subset to the philosophy of “Sustainable Development” is
“Sustainable Construction”.
• Sustainable construction, which has been dubbed ‘green
construction’.
• The term “sustainable construction” was originally
proposed to describe the responsibility of the construction
industry in attaining “sustainability”.
• Kibert proposed that sustainable construction means
“creating a healthy built environment using resource-
efficient, ecologically-based principles”.

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 Long‐term project 
> financial scale

Long‐term service 
> public comfort & 
satisfaction

SOCIAL ECONOMY

ENVIRONMENT High energy & resource 
consumption > environment 
protection

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 Uncontrolled Wastage
Management

Depletion of Natural
Construction Materials

Accidents & Deaths

Disease Outbreak

Unpaid Debts

Illegal Labour

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• Construction activities!!

• Before: through materials

• During: energy consumption

• During: the pollution

• After: waste!!

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 During  During & After 
Before Construction
Construction Construction

Utilization or earth 
resources for the 
production of   Clearing of forest, 
construction materials  and land for 
Contributing to: 
(e.g. fossil, wood,  development.  High energy usage
cement, hydrogen, air,   Environmental   High CO2 Emissions
water, ore etc.)  pollution (air, water,   Large water usage
Transportation to/from  land)   Large Solid Wastes 
factory involving fuel   High Solid waste  generation
consumption and causing  generation
pollution and green 
house emissions. 

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• “Sustainable Construction”; the responsibility of
the construction industry to attain sustainability.
• Construction Industry; those providing design,
consulting and construction services.

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• Sustainable Construction; it requires
willingness to explore new territory in
construction approach and prepare to adopt
new products, ideas and practices.

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• The direction of the
construction industry is now
shifting from developing with
environmental concern as a
small part of the process into
having the development
process being integrated within
the wider context of
environmental agenda.

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 4 Strategic Thrusts under CITP

QUALITY, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTIVITY INTERNATIONALISATION

PROFESSIONALISM SUSTAINABILITY

Quality, safety and Malaysia’s sustainable

More than doubling Malaysian champions
professionalism to be construction to be a
productivity, matched to lead the charge
ingrained in industry model for the emerging
by higher wages locally and globally
culture world
 4 Strategic Thrusts under CITP
QUALITY, SAFETY &  ENVIRONMENTAL  PRODUCTIVITY INTERNATIONALISATION
PROFESSIONALISM SUSTAINABILITY
Quality, safety and  Malaysia’s sustainable  More than doubling  Malaysian champions 
professionalism to be  construction to be a model for  productivity, matched by  to lead the charge locally 
ingrained in industry culture the emerging world higher wages and globally

Drive innovation in sustainable 
construction

Drive compliance to environmental 
sustainability ratings and requirements
CITP 
TRANSFORMATION 
INITIATIVES 
TOWARDS  Focus on public projects to lead the 
ENVIRONMENTAL  charge on sustainable practices
SUSTAINABILITY

Facilitate industry adoption of 
sustainable practices

Reduce irresponsible waste during 
construction
The Principles of The Interpretation of Sustainability Principles
Sustainable Development within Construction Industry

Putting people at the centre  Show concern for people by ensuring they live in a healthy, safe and productive built 
environment and in harmony with nature

Taking a long term perspective  Safeguarding the interests of future generations while at the same time, meeting today’s 
needs
Taking account of costs and benefits Evaluate the benefits and costs of the project to society and environment

Creating an open and supportive economic system Creating a system which can flourish trades, improve collaboration and resource efficiency

Combating poverty and social exclusion Improving the quality of buildings and services, create jobs opportunities and promote 
social cohesiveness

Respecting environmental limits  Minimising damage to the environment and its resources

The precautionary principle  Assessing risk and uncertainties before any action and rectify possible damage at source.

Using scientific knowledge  Using technology and expert knowledge to seek information and in improving project 
efficiency and effectiveness
Transparency, information participation and Opportunities to improve access to information and encourage ethics and professionalism
access to justice
Making the polluter pay Legislation compliance and responsibility

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• The concept of sustainability must be applied into
construction industry to influence the manner in which a
project shall be conducted to strike a balance between
conserving the environment and maintaining prosperity in
development.

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• The concept of sustainable
construction governs three
main pillars:
• environmental protection,
• social well-being and
• economic prosperity.

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1. ENVIRONMENT
• The built environment refers to the activities within the 
construction project itself, which may, if not handled 
effectively, have a serious adverse impact on the 
environment.
• Conserving natural resources. Although builders have little 
influence over the extraction of natural resources, they can 
help discourage this activity by demanding less non‐
renewable natural resources, more recycled materials, and 
efficient use of energy and mineral resources.

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2. SOCIAL WELL‐BEING

• Social well‐being concerns with the benefits of 
the workers and the future users.
• This aspect is concerned with:
• human feelings: security, satisfaction, safety and 
comfort, and 
• human contributions: skills, health, knowledge 
and motivation.

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3. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
• Micro economic focuses on the factors or 
activities which could lead to monetary gains 
from the construction.
• While macro economic relates to the advantages 
gained by the public and government from the 
project success.

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1. Minimize resource consumption (conserve)
2. Maximize resource reuse (reuse)
3. Use renewable or recyclable resources
(renew/recycle)
4. Protect the natural environment (protect nature)
5. Create a healthy, non-toxic environment (non-toxics)
6. Apply life cycle cost analysis and true cost
(economics)
7. Pursue quality in creating the built environment
(quality)
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Based on Kibert’s “Principles Concepts of Sustainable Construction”

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1. Procurement: Specific procurement strategies to ensure sustainable construction requirements are addressed.
2. Site / Environment: Methods to reduce the environmental impact of construction on the project site and
surrounding environment are identified.
3. Material Selection: Identifies environmentally friendly building materials as well as harmful and toxic
materials that should be avoided.
4. Waste Prevention: Methods to reduce and eliminate waste on construction projects are identified.
5. Recycling: Identifies materials to recycle at each phase of construction and methods to support the onsite
recycling effort.
6. Energy: Methods to ensure and improve the building’s energy performance, reduce energy consumed during
construction, and identify opportunities to use renewable energy sources.
7. Building and Material Reuse: Identifies reusable materials and methods to facilitate the future reuse of a
facility, systems, equipment, products and materials.
8. Health and Safety: Methods to improve the quality of life for construction workers are identified.
9. Indoor Environment Quality: Methods to ensure indoor environmental quality measures during
construction are managed and executed properly.

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 Construction Project Management Facilities Management
Construction Management
Site Management SEVERAL SUSTAINABLE 
STRATEGIES:
1.Procurement
2.Site / Environment
3.Material Selection
4.Waste Prevention
5.Recycling
6.Energy
7.Building and Material Reuse
8.Health and Safety
9.Indoor Environment Quality

Construction
3+4+5+6+7+8+9 Decommissioning
Planning Design Procurement Site activities  Handover
5+7 Liability period 6+7
3+5+6+7 3+4+5+6 1 started 5+7
+7 2+4+5+7+8+9

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• The concept of green building costs lower than
conventional method and saves energy.
• Sustainable buildings will contribute positively to better
quality of life, work efficiency and healthy work
environment.
• Sustainable construction will enable the construction
players to be more responsible to the environmental
protection needs without neglecting the social and
economic needs in striving for better living.
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2.4: MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVES
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• Tanarimba at Janda Baik, Pahang.
• sustainable housing project
• blends man-made and natural elements
• exciting concept of ecologically sensitive
community development
• introduces the world to eco-tourism
opportunities in Malaysian highlands
• has been dubbed as the forefront of the
ecological movement in construction

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• Menara Mesiniaga, Subang Jaya:
• Sky gardens that serve as villages
• Spiraling vertical landscape
• Recessed and shaded windows on the East and
West
• Curtain wall glazing on the North and South
• Single core service on hot side -East
• Naturally ventilated and sunlit toilets, stairways
and lift lobbies
• Spiral balconies on the exterior walls with
• full height sliding doors to interior offices

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ZEO (Zero Energy 
Office), Bangi GreenEO & 
LEO, Putrajaya

LEO (Low Energy Office), Putrajaya 52
 …it can reduce up to…

…comparison of energy with normal building…
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