Green Material Technologies in the Malaysian Construction Industry: Current Trends and Future Prospects

Rapid urbanization and industrialization coupled with growing population causes rapid development of the construction industry. The construction activities carried out and improper construction waste management can result in significant environmental impact if not mitigated such as air and dust pollution, surface water pollution and noise pollution. Government policies and initiatives for sustainable construction has been formulated and implemented in Malaysia to promote green construction. The adoption of industrialised building system (IBS) is encouraged to achieve construction waste minimization and reduction starting from the design and planning stage of construction. The implementation of 3Rs strategies is also significant to reduce the construction waste generated and minimize the environmental pollution caused by landfill disposal of construction waste. Agricultural waste can be incorporated in the manufacturing of concrete as substitute for cement or aggregate hence can decrease the greenhouse gases emission associated with cement manufacturing. Several green materials technologies including solar photovoltaic system, cooling roof system and rainwater harvesting system are implemented in Malaysia.