Investigation of green assessment criteria & sub-criteria for public hospital building development in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia as a developing country has extreme motives towards sustainable development as a lifestyles practice, thus the need to prepare for the change is required. The implementations of sustainability have become important initiatives discussed and undertaken by both private and public sector dealing with residential and non-residential buildings including hospital buildings. A hospital, healthcare facility, has been upgraded from essential to very essential in the context of Sustainable City. Buildings are known as human habitat and shelter. Peoples' health and the environment condition are highly influenced by the way the buildings have been designed, constructed and operated. Compared to other building types, the 24 hours' scenario use of healthcare buildings have a particular large impact on the environment. The problems created by rampant urbanisation are among the most important challenges recently. Thus, the development of green hospital is important in order to create a healthy lifestyle that viable economically, environmentally and socially. The investigation of green assessment main criteria and sub criteria for public hospital building development in Malaysia is the primary aim for this research. Healthcare buildings' essential criteria of existing green rating systems worldwide and the difference between each criterion compared to Malaysian green rating system all are compiled. Guideline and existing tools are thoroughly reviewed, analysed and divided according to similar categories covers all aspect of building design, construction and operation. The data then will be analysed using content analysis in order to identify the various sub criteria to hospital buildings development. The results from the analysis demonstrate a set of assessment criteria for green public hospital building corresponding to Malaysia's scale.