Contractor Perspective on Overcoming Cost Consideration as a Barrier to Using Sustainable Building Materials in Affordable Housing: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The construction industry greatly contributes to environmental degradation, and sustainable building materials are becoming more important in minimizing this impact. However, the construction industry, especially affordable housing projects, confronts several obstacles that make it difficult to employ sustainable building materials widely. Many studies have investigated and advocated various barriers to using sustainable building materials within the construction industry. However, no attention has been paid to the cost consideration barrier for using sustainable building materials in Malaysia's affordable housing. In light of these challenges, This paper presents a systematic literature review that takes a broad approach, includes stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria, a thorough search strategy that includes a variety of databases and additional sources, a strict study selection procedure with multiple reviewers, quality assessment of included studies, and a narrative synthesis of findings focusing on several strategies for overcoming the cost consideration issues in using sustainable building materials in Malaysia's affordable housing from a contractor perspective. This study is important to improve affordable houses’ costs and ensure their residents’ comfort. By implying these strategies, Contractors may reduce costs and encourage sustainable construction materials in affordable housing projects.