Ibrahim Sipan

The effect of green envelope components on green building value

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify green envelope building components of residential buildings applicable under hot and humid climates and to analyze the effect of these components on building value. Design/methodology/approach The authors place an emphasis on green envelope components that influence building value and which are derived based on their integration into a building envelope structure that is applicable under hot and humid climates. This is performed through identification of green benefits of each green envelope component based on literature reviews and in relation to green criteria listed by the Malaysia Green Building Index (GBI). Consequently, a quantitative analysis has been conducted to determine the effect of these green envelope components on building value by means of a questionnaire distribution among 550 property valuation practitioners in Malaysia. However, in order to certify respondents’ credibility, the authors analyzed questionnaires answered by property valuation practitioners with experience in green valuation. Findings The findings show that there are ten green envelope components currently certified under GBI Malaysia and applicable for hot and humid climates. There are three green envelope components that can increase property values, specifically: solar photovoltaic, green living wall and green roof. However, eight of the green envelope components have no effect on building value. Research limitations/implications Due to the relative immaturity of the green building market in Malaysia, the authors were unable to analyze the actual percentage of increment on building value as conveyed by each green envelope component. Originality/value This paper aims to provide understanding of the effect of individual green envelope components on building value rather than merely the value of green buildings in general. It proves that green building envelope components do in fact contribute to an increase in green building values. As the green building market in Malaysia is still in its infancy, this study is significant in that it prepares the Malaysian green building market to attain a new level by providing valuation practitioners with awareness of green building values and new knowledge concerning the effect of individual green components on building values. Hence, it is anticipated that this study can assist property valuation practitioners in conducting valuations of green buildings in the future.

Awareness of 3R's Critical Success Factor for Greener Higher Educational Institutions

Awareness of solid waste reduction programs is the priority in institutions of higher learning nowadays for a greener environment, thus brought about the issues of 3rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) practice by all the waste generator within Urban and Higher educational institutions (HEIs) around the globe. Integrated solid waste management hierarchy was adopted to enlighten the waste generators to use them in 3rs critical success factor as a substantial method to deal with the situation, given priority to the waste reduction. This paper highlight the awareness method of 3rs and interdependent nature of the higher education institutions environment, as these can result in cost avoidance, and enhance the systematic practice and lessen environmental impacts for effective and efficient solid waste management in HEIs.

Spatial–temporal neighbourhood-level house price index

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a spatio-temporal neighbourhood-level house price index (STNL-HPI) incorporating a geographic information system (GIS) functionality that can be used to improve the house price indexation system. Design/methodology/approach By using the Malaysian house price index (MHPI) and application of geographically weighted regression (GWR), GIS-based analysis of STNL-HPI through an application called LHPI Viewer v.1.0.0, the stand-alone GIS-statistical application for STNL-HPI was successfully developed in this study. Findings The overall results have shown that the modelling and GIS application were able to help users understand the visual variation of house prices across a particular neighbourhood. Research limitations/implications This research was only able to acquire data from the federal government over the period 1999 to 2006 because of budget limitations. Data purchase was extremely costly. Because of financial constraints, data with lower levels of accuracy have been obtained from other sources. As a consequence, a major portion of data was mismatched because of the absence of a common parcel identifier, which also affected the comparison of this system to other comparable systems. Originality/value Neighbourhood-level HPI is needed for a better understanding of the local housing market.

An assessment model of FM organisational performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to improve the existing model developed by Hsu and Sabherwal (2012) by developing a new dimension of the relationships between a group of constructs (knowledge elements, mediating constructs and facility management [FM] organisational performance) in the model of FM organisational performance. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the theoretical studies empirically to all of the knowledge elements (learning culture, intellectual capital and knowledge management) literature, mediating constructs (customer performance, efficiency, innovation and dynamic capabilities) and the organisational performance that relates to FM. Findings The paper identifies the relationships between the knowledge elements, mediating constructs and the FM organisational performance. Subsequently, a proposal of relationships was made to develop the FM organisational performance model. Research limitations/implications The model provides a possible explanation of relationships between the knowledge elements, mediating constructs and the FM organisational performance. Thus, the understanding of the identified relationships will provide a new direction in improving the FM organisational performance. Originality/value Addressing lack of research in identifying the importance of relationships between knowledge and the FM organisational performance, the paper conceptualises the potential relationships into a proposed model. The proposed model integrates with a new mediating construct into the existing research model, which is customer performance. Moreover, knowing that the nature of FM organisation is more towards the non-financial aspects, the paper investigates the nature of the efficiency and organisational performance that is not based on the financial performance, but rather the ability to optimise organisational resources, to achieve organisational goals and customer needs.

Informal worker phenomenon in housing construction project

The informal workers phenomenon on housing construction projects in Indonesia is different from workers in other sectors who would always request as permanent employees. Substantively, the informal workers are disinclined to be bound as permanent employees which different from the general labor paradigm. Hence, the objective of this study is to find out how the labour selection process, the factors that affected their performance, and the suitable wage system to achieve the target completion of housing construction project. The qualitative method is used to uncover and understand the meaning behind the phenomena (numina) of informal workers action and their influence on housing construction project which called phenomenological approach. Five informal workers and two project managers were selected as informants based on predetermined criteria with in-depth interviews. The results showed that the informal worker were more satisfied with the wage based on unit price while working in the housing construction...

Data quality control for survey instrument of office investors in rationalising green office building investment in Kuala Lumpur by the application of Rasch analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to attempt to verify the quality of the survey instrument of office investors in rationalising green office building investment in the city of Kuala Lumpur using the Rasch measurement method. It investigates whether the quality of the data obtained from the survey is statistically acceptable and aims to ensure that the scales used are based on the same measurement model and fit with the Rasch model. Design/methodology/approach In achieving this objective, a questionnaire survey was developed consisting of six sections. Some 394 questionnaires were distributed, and in total, 106 responses were received from office investors who own and lease office buildings in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The data obtained from this survey were entered into Rasch software, and the analysis aims to consider three main parameters, specifically: point measure correlation 0.32 < x < 0.8; outfit mean squared 0.5 < y < 1.5; and outfit z-standard −2 < z < 2. It also provides a separable or independent measurement instrument for the parameters of the research object. Findings The analysis performed using the Rasch model confirmed that all items in the questionnaire construct were statistically reliable and valid. The Rasch analysis consists of, namely, the summary statistics; item unidimensionality to provide interval measures of item endorsements and fit statistics on persons involved; and items for further investigation. Unidimensionality, as a pre-requisite to the Rasch analysis, provides statistics on whether the items are on the same latent variable intended by the instrument. The results were also supported by Cronbach’s alpha at 0.91 which showed excellent reliability for person data. The results showed that the summary statistics, unidimensionality and item fit analysis were excellent. Originality/value This paper introduces the application of the Rasch analysis as a provision for a new dimension and technique in examining data reliability and validity of the instrument.

Identifying Critical Attributes Using an Importance-Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA): The Case of Stratified Residential Property Management in Malaysia

Stratified residential property management, one of the sub-sectors of the real estate industry in Malaysia, has been facing the pressures as the awareness amongst buildings occupiers of effective management has increased. In line with recent literature on the increasing awareness of residents and the critically needs of effective property management, efforts are required to identify and clarify the critical activities and its attributes in managing the stratified residential properties that could effects the property management service delivery. This study used the partial least squares (PLS) and structural equation modeling (SEM) and followed by Importance-Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA) to examine the 11 activities and their attributes. There were 11 activities and each of them consists of attributes that played as measurement variables that were believed could affect the property management. The IPMA results indicated that maintenance and financial is the key activities that critically affect the stratified residential property management service delivery. Interestingly, it is also found that tenancy & marketing negatively affect the property management service as tenancy and marketing services are not major services for the residential property. It is believed that an identification of the critical attributes for stratified residential property management will lead to more effective and efficient in service delivery

Students Waste Reduction Intentions for Greener Hostel Buildings in Universities

This study predicts the reduction behavioral intention of students residing in universities hostel buildings, by examining the effect of socio-demographic background, using theory of planned behavior. A total sample of 234 (49.8%) students from Bayero University Kano and 236 (50.2%) from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria have completed the questionnaires that consist of measures related to their self-reported waste reduction behavioral intentions (RBI), attitudes, subjective norms and their behavioral control towards the waste reduction practice. Structural Equation Modeling (SME) were used, which predicts that subjective norms have strongest influence towards reduce behavioral practice, while perceived behaviour control is the second, finally attitude have a negative influence on RBI. In accordance this variables may likely improve the predictive validity of the existing conceptual models of waste reduction behavioral intentions for a green hostel buildings.

Green Attributes Affecting Investment Returns for Green Office Buildings

Green real estate investment paradigm brings a new investment option to property investors. The green office buildings are gradually replacing the conventional buildings due to the fact that green office building provides better return such as high market value and rental value, high occupancy rate and cost savings. Energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning and management, materials and resources and innovation are prerequisite green criteria that determine the level of greenness which distinguish it from a non-green office building. This paper discusses the green attributes in office building and its enhancement to return on investment.

Approach to calibrated simulation tool for improved building performance

Simulation tools represent continuous, stochastic processes in buildings by discrete time-step, deterministic model estimations. All models make assumptions when representing real buildings. Detailed models more closely represent the operation of the real building and allow Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) to be investigated at finer resolution, using fewer assumptions. This paper presents a systematic, evidence-based approach to calibrated simulation. This approach yields a calibrated model that is based solely on referenced sources of information about the building. The proposed methodology builds on some of the best techniques from the reviewed literature and combines these with an evidence-based approach that uses version control software to track the calibration process.Although the process produces a single, deterministic model for an inherently stochastic process (building operation), such an approach can produce meaningful conclusions where sub-utilities hourly measured data and significant resources for further investigation and measurement are available.