Investigating the awareness and application of sustainable construction concept by Malaysian developers

In Malaysia, the issues of environmental dissatisfaction with construction projects have regularly appeared in newspaper headlines. The government has urged the professional bodies and developers to take proactive actions to promote the sustainability concept within their domain and be responsive to the need for better environmental and social protection. Given rising concerns over the deterioration in the environment, developers should get their acts together and revisit the development approaches they have been so used to. The pace of actions towards sustainable application depends on the awareness, knowledge as well as an understanding of the consequences of individual actions. Two field studies, surveys and interviews, have been conducted to investigate the level of awareness, knowledge and implementation of sustainable practices based on the perceptions of the project developers in Malaysia. Presently, only large developers are beginning to take heed towards sustainable implementation in their projects. Due to limited understanding and the concern about cost, many developers are still reluctant and uncertain concerning pursuit of sustainability in their projects. To improve the momentum of sustainable practice in the industry, actions should be directed towards improving this knowledge at all levels of developers.