—TheFirstGreenBuildingMovementthatmarked thebeginningofanideologicalrevolutionoftheeraoccurredin theLate19thCentury.ClimateChangeandGlobalWarming havealwaysbeenamajorconcernforhumanityandjustifythe needforthedevelopmentofinnovativeandgreenertechnologies tohelpconservenaturalresourcesforthefuture.ThisPaper presentsareviewontheHistoricalProgressofGreenBuildings sofarandtheirimpactontheoccupant'shealthandproductivity. Thetermwhichemergedinthecontextofgreenbuildingsasa resultofthesemovementsisHigh-PerformanceGreenBuildings. ConstructionIndustryisconsideredtobethelargestconsumerof powerandcontributesabout1/4ofGlobalGreenHouseGas emissions.TheGreenBuildingMovementwasaninitiativeto emphasizetheneedforasustainableBuiltEnvironment.This paperpresentsthefindingsofasurveyconductedonthe occupantsofGreenTechMalaysia,acertifiedGreenBuilding, andtheresultswhicharesomewhatcounterintuitiveinnature areanalyzed. Keywords—ClimateChange,GlobalWarming,GreenBuildings. I.INTRODUCTION Greenbuildingsaddressthesemajorissuesinsociety OccupantHealth,ResourceEfficiency,andenvironmental impactoftheconventionalconstructionpracticesonthe naturalenvironment.Resourceefficiencyinthecontextof sustainableconstructionmeanslesspower consumption(Electricity)bythebuildingduringitsoperational phase,lesswaterusagethroughmethodslikerainwater harvesting,appropriatelanduse,andlandscaping,using environmentallyfriendlymaterialsandlimitingthebuilding's designandoperation'slifecycleconsequences. BuildingsintheUnitedStatesaccountedfor73.6percentof totalelectricityexpendituresandaround40%oftotalcarbon emissionsin2012,accordingtotheUSDepartmentofEnergy. Asaresult,newbuildingtechnologiesshouldbeimplemented onaregularbasistoreduceelectricityconsumptionandthe building'snegativeinfluenceontheenvironment[1]. Evermoreexperimentsarebeingconductedinthefieldof sustainableconstruction.TheGreenBuildingmovementhada majorimpactinaccumulatingmoreandmoreinnovativeideas aroundtheglobe,specificallyindevelopingcountrieswhere therealestatemarket,buildingdesign,andconstruction industryhasabiggerroletoplayintheeconomicgrowth.As forthedevelopedcountries,SincetheUSGreenBuildingCouncil(USGBC)wasfoundedadecadeago,thenumberof buildingsrequestingforgreenbuildingcertificationshas increasedtremendously.Thisrepresentsthegreenbuilding movementasanimportantormoresothedrivingforceinthe developmentofconstruction,design,andrealestatemarkets. Manystategovt,universities,andprivatesectorfirmsare endorsinggreenbuildingandsustainableconstructionfortheir upcomingprojects. Humanactivitieshavebeenresponsiblefortheexploitationof theenvironment,disturbingecologicalsystems.Thebuilt environmentforresidential/commercialusehasalong-term effectonthebiosphere.Inthedevelopedwesterncountries around7billiontonsofmaterialistransportedannuallyforthe manufacturingofbasicbuildingcomponents.Accordingto research90%ofallmaterialseverextractedresideintoday's buildingandinfrastructureinoneformortheother[1].Waste generatedintheconstructionprocesshasabigcontributionto environmentaldegradation.IntheU.S0.6tonsofwasteper personisgeneratedeachyear.Wastefromrenovation, refurbishmentoccursat318.900KGpersqmeter[2].The demolitionordismantlingofastructureafteritslifecycle generatesastaggeringamountofwastewithlittletonore-use orre-cycleoccurring.Themanufacturingprocessofcement contributesasignificantamounttotheglobalgreenhousegas emissionsi.earound2.4%[3].Manyexpertsand environmentalistsbelievethathumansocietyisontheverge ofamajorcrisis,anddifficultdecisionsmustbemadeto addressconcernssuchasclimatechangeandthedegradation ofnaturalresources,whicharethreateningthehumanrace survival[4].EnergyreleasedintheformofCO2whenfossil fuelsareburntisthemajorcauseofclimatechange. Foralongtime,thegrowthingreenhousegaseshasbeena topicofdiscussion.EnergyconsumedbyBuildingsand automobilesistoblameforarapidriseintemperaturethat exceedsexpectations[5].Theearth'sclimateisdynamic,and systemstheoryhasproventhatitisnon-linear,meaningthata proportionalincreaseinCO2concentrationintheatmosphere wouldnotresultinaproportionalchangeinthetemperature. Asidefromclimatechange,thereareanumberofother repercussionsthatarecausingconcernforsociety- •Lossofbio-diversity. •Lossoftopsoil. •Infertilityofsoil. •Depletionofmajorfisheries. •Toxificationofair,waterduetoreleaseofsynthetic chemicals. WHYGREENBUILDING Thereare3basicreasonsbehindthesuccessofthesehigh- performancegreenbuildings. First,thereisaperceptiveresponsetosociety'swelfare.A traditionalbuildingthatcomplieswithasetofbuildingcodes makesminimaleffortstoreduceenergyconsumptionandwater usage,andfullydisregardsmaterialwasteandtheeffectsof constructionactivitiesontheenvironment[6].Theapproaches andmethodologiestoconservetheenvironmentarenot particularlycoveredbybuildingcodes.Greenbuildingsadhere toamuchmoreconservationorientedcodespecifically developedovertheyearsforthispurpose.Preservingthe environmentandefficientuseofresourcesisofprimary importanceinthedesignandconstructionofthebuilding.The entirelife-cycleofthecomponentstobeusedinagreen buildingisthoroughlyresearched.Itisnecessarytodosoasit allowstheprofessionaltomakeprovisionsforitsreuse,recycle, orproperdisposalattheendofitslife.Theuseofrenewable energy,recycling,reuseofwater,andthematerialsusedareof significantimportanceintheconstructionprocess.LifeCycle Costing(LCC)isaneconomicanalysistoolusedforpredicting thelifecycleofvarioussystems[7]. Figure2.Integrationofrenewableenergysourcesenvironment conservationmethodswithGreenBuildings[28,p.19]. Second,Greenconstructionisalong-terminvestment.Dueto severalcomplexandinnovativetoolsforlessenergyusage, advancedtemperaturemanagementsystemsthatcontinuously monitorexteriorclimaticconditionsandtemperature fluctuations,theinitialcostorcapitalcostofagreenbuilding projectmaybeconsiderable.waterconservationthrough rainwaterharvestingsystemsrequiresadditionalpipings, controls,pumps,collectortanks,filtrationtanks,storageunits. Thesetoolswhenintegratedintoaconventionalbuildingwith propermanagementandmaintenanceprovideareturnoninvestmentinarelativelyshorttime[8].Asthedemandfor energyandwateriscontinuouslyincreasingduetothe increasingpopulationandtechnologicaladvancements,the priceoftheseresourcesincreasesduetolimitedsupply. Fig1.Source:DerivedfromEconofact(Release,August18,2020) Econofact(2020):AllRightsReserved TheabovegraphshowsthechangeinGlobalenergy- relatedCO2emissions1990-2020.Thelargestannualdropin energyemissionssinceWorldWar-Icanbeobservedinthe year2020owingtotheCOVID-19pandemic[9].The emissionsreboundedstronglyandroseabovethe2019levelin December2020.Theenergydemandsincreasedrapidlydueto manyrecoveringeconomiessomeofwhichareseeing emissionsabovethepre-crisislevel. “Theresurgenceinglobalcarbonemissionsattheendoflast yearisaclearreminderthatmoreneedstobedonetospeedup renewableenergytransitionsglobally.Ifnationsdonotactfast toimplementthecorrectenergypolicies,theworld'shistoric potentialtomake2019thedefinitivepeakinglobalemissions couldbejeopardisedsaidDr.FatihBirol,theIEAExecutive Director.“TheInternationalEnergyAgency(IEA) recommendedgovernmentstoprioritisecleanenergyintheir economicstimulusprogrammesinMarch2020toensurea long-termrecovery.However,thefiguressuggestthatcarbon- intensivefirmsareonceagainontherise.Thisyeariscritical forworldwideclimateaction–anditbeganwithgreathopes– butthenewestfigureshighlighttheenormouschallengethat societyfacesinfastchangingtheglobalenergysystem..” Third,GreenBuildingaddressestherisingconcernofthe poorperformanceofconventionalbuildingsregardinghuman health.Evidencecollectedfromvariouscountriesaroundthe worldhasshownthat40%ofillnessoccurringisduetothe buildingwherepeoplelive/work/eat[10].Atypicalbuilding codeofacertainregioncompletelyignorestheissuessuchas SickBuildingSyndrome(SBS),BuildingRelatedIllness(BRI). Greenbuildingreadilyaddressestheseconcernsandpromote occupanthealthbasicallybyeffectivelighting(Morenatural light),ventilation,sanitation,andtemperaturecontrolsystems. II.HISTORY Beforewegetanyfurther,letustakealookatthehistorical progressofGreenBuildings.Twoeventsoccurringin19th centuryhaveplayedamajorroleincausingashiftinthe mindsetofthepeopleandcompellingthemtothinkabout morecleanandresource-efficientwaysofhabitat.The inauguralEarthDayin1970,aswellastheestablishmentof theUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,marked thebeginningofasequenceofdevelopmentsinthebuilding industrythateventuallyledtothecurrentsituation[11].The foundationofthemovementwaslaidbyearly environmentalistslikeBarryCommonerandlesserBrown. Thefirstseriousconcernregardingresourcedepletionaroseas aconsequenceoftheoilshocksoftheearly1970stheArab- Israeliconflict.Followingtheseevents,therewasasurgeof interestamongpoliticians,policymakers,theFederalGovtand privatesectorentrepreneursinenergyefficiency,solarpower, windpower,andretrofittingtechnologies.TheGovernment providedtaxcreditsforinvestmentsintheserevolutionary thoughdevelopingtechnologies.Bythelate1970s,building codesweremodifiedandmanyoftheabove-mentionedefforts becamestandardpractice.However,theinterestwasfading duetofallingrelativeenergyprices.Peoplebegantoseriously wrestlewithenvironmentalissueslikeclimatechange,ozone hole,andwildlifeendangermentafterthepublicationofOur CommonFuture,alsoknownastheBruntlandreport,in1987, theAIAmeetingin1989,andtheestablishmentofthe CommitteeOntheEnvironment(COTE)andRio Conference[12]. Figure2.TimelineofvariousdevelopingGBRSaroundthe globe[29-31]. TheU.SGreenBuildingCouncil(USGBC)wasformedbythe AIAin1993inWashington,DC,andhelditsfirstmeetingin March1994[13].Atthesametime,othercountries reciprocatedtheconcern,andstatecommitteeswerebeing formedtoaddresstheissues.BREEAM(BuildingResearch EstablishmentEnvironmentAssessmentMethod)aratingtool, wasformedin1992.LEED(LeadershipinEntrepreneurship andenergyDesign)wasdevelopedlaterinthe19thcentury alongwiththeeffortstodevelopastandardforgreen buildingsbyASTM(AmericanSocietyforTestingand Materials)However,duetothemuchmoreprofoundanduniversalnatureofUSGBCtocreateastandard,itbecamethe forefront.Oneofthefirstbuildingstoberenovatedtoconform tothenewlyformedgreenbuildingguidelineswasthe AudubonHouseinNewYorkCityin1992.Asthemakingof LEEDcertificationwasnotcompleteduntillate1990.The architectsanddesignprofessionalswereworkingearnestlyon thisbuildingasanexampleforthemakingofLEED guidelines[14]. ORGANIZATIONS TheagendaofGreenbuildingsledbytheenvironmentalists, socialworkers,andpolicymakershavebeensupportedby variousorganizationsaroundtheworldU.SGreenBuilding Council,TheU.SDepartmentofEnergy,TheNational AssociationofHomeBuilders,TheDepartmentofDefenseto nameafew.Theworkthattheseorganizationsdidasateam hasdriventheGreenBuildingmovementtocomeatthe forefront.Byprovidingnewideas,greentechnologiesthese groupshaveproventobeapotentforcehavingthepotentialto changethedesignandconstructionindustryinthenearfuture. iiSBEandCIBhavealargecontributioninbuilding assessmentandexperimentingtodevelopnewsustainable waysbytrialanderrormethodindifferentgeographical conditions[15],[16].Theirmaingoalistomakethegeneral publicaware,spreadtheinformation.Theyholdconferences onthisparticulartopiclikeSustainableBuildingConference. Themostrecentofthesewasthe12July2021-International ConferenceonHigh-PerformanceGreenBuildingandBuilding PerformanceAnalysis(ICHPGBBPA)inOttawa,Canada. III.OCCUPANT'SSATISFACTION/COMFORT Sofar,thisarticlehascoveredthedesignandmanagement ofgreenbuildings,aswellasthenumerousGreenBuilding ratingtechniquesthathavebeenestablished. Theimpactofgreenbuildingsontheiroccupantsisofthe sameimportanceastheotheraspects.Inatypicaloffice building,residentsworkfor5daysaweek,8hoursadaysoit isimportanttodictatewhetherahealthyworkenvironmentor moresoahealthierworkenvironmentascomparedtoa conventionalbuildingisprovidedornot.Forthispurpose,a surveywasconductedonresidentsofGreenTechMalaysia. Thepositiveimpactofahealthyworkenvironmentonthe employeesmayresultinhigherproductivitywhichmeans greaterfinancialgainsforthefirm . IV.METHODOLOGY Variousmethodsformeasuringtheproductivityofresidents ofgreenbuildings,theiradaptationinvariousgeographical regionsaroundtheworld,andtheirfamiliaritywiththe concepthavebeenpresented[17].Asurveyformwith25 questionsandfourcomponentswascreated,testedinthree rounds,andgiventoover500constructionfirmsand professionals.Hong-TrangNguyenandhisteamadoptedthis methodologytovalidatethebarriersthatexistinthecurrent stateofGreenBuildingsinVietnam[17]. KimberlyR.Bunzandhercolleaguesusedyetanotherwayto comparesustainabledesignrulesandpractises[18].The frameworkforthistypeofanalysisisthebuildinglifecycle. Theprogrammingphase,designphase,buildingconstruction, buildingoperation,andeventuallybuildingdemolitionareall studiedforcomparison,andthesustainableguidelines establishedinNorthAmerica,EuropeandAsiaareidentified anddiscussed[18]. Asurveyformwasdesignedconsistingofquestionnairesin thecontextoftheknowntheoreticalbenefitsofgreenbuilding andwasdistributedtothe85occupantsofGreenTechbuilding, Malaysia.Theformcontained2sectionshavingdifferent objectives.SectionAfocusedongaininginformationonthe respondentlikegender,age,workexperience,educational background,andtimeinthisbuilding.SectionBsoughtto assessthefactorsaffectingthecomfortandlevelof satisfactionofoccupiersofGreenTech[19]. InsectionB,respondentswererequiredtoselectanumber betweenoneandfive,onebeingstronglydissatisfiedandfive beingstronglysatisfied.Thisreflectedtheoverallpositiveand negativeviewsoftherespondents.Thistechniquewas developedbyLikertin1967toseektheviewsofrespondents onaparticularsubject[20].Dataobtainedfromthesurvey werecompiledandanalyzedusingIBMSPSS,anIBM softwareforstatisticalanalysis[21]. V.RESULTS SECTIONA 77occupantsrespondedtothesurveyformsdistributedand wereusedforanalysis.Itwasfoundthatthemaletofemale ratio(M/F)inthebuildingwas0.79.Arelativelyhigher portion,27.7%ofGreenTechoccupantswereoftheagerange 31to40years,28.6%wereaged20to30years,23.4%were aged41to50years,and10.4%wereabove51yearsold.As fortheeducationalbackground,51.9%holdabachelor's degreeandwereintheexecutiveposition.Arelativelysmaller percentage1.3%representedthepeopleholdingPh.d.rests wereDiplomeandSPMholders.InnovationDepartment, Energyefficiency,andenvironmentalconservation departmentsallhadnearlyidenticalnumbersofrespondents. Supportservices(22.1percent)andadministrative(6.5percent) departmentshadthemostandleastrespondents, respectively[22]. SECTIONB Withanaveragegradeof3.19,73ofthe77repliesshoweda reasonablelevelofexperiencedcomfort.Afteranalyzingthe remainingfourresponses,itshowedthatventilationwasthe causeoftheirdisappointment. Table1.GreenBuildingBenefitsandLevelsofSatisfaction Residentsarefairlycontentwiththeseelements,asevidenced byhighscoresinEmploymentProductivity,Health,and RainwaterHarvesting.Loweraveragescoresinvariousareas, suchasprivacy/personalspace,useofenvironmentally friendlygoodsorequipment,andlighting,indicateaneedfor moreresearchandinnovation.Aspreviouslystated,themain sourceofresidentunhappinesswasventilation,which receivedthelowestaveragescore. VI.DISCUSSION ManyGreenTech,Malaysiaresidentsthinkthattherainwater harvestingsystemisanexcellentadditiontothebuilding becauseitaddressesthegrowingglobalissueforeffective watermanagement[23].Manyofthebuilding'sresidentsare pleasedwiththeuseofenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialsin thedesignoftheirworkspacesinceitresultsinalessloud atmosphere,allowingthemtoconcentratebetterontheirwork. Manytenantsbelievethatgreaternaturallightduringtheday andenergy-efficientlightingsolutionsareimportantfactorsin theiroveralleffectivenessthroughouttheday[24].However, whenitcomestoventilation,acoupleoftheresidentsdisagree. Somepeoplebelievethatmodernmechanicalventilation systemshaveimprovedtheindooratmospherebymakingit morerefreshingandclean,whileothersbelievethatnatural ventilationwouldallowthemtofocusbetterontheirwork[25]. VII.CONCLUSIONS Overthelastdecade,thegreenbuildingmovementhas exploded.IntheUnitedStatesandmanyothernationsacross theworld,theLEEDBuildingAssessmentStandardisthe mostwidelyutilizedtechniqueforcertifyinggreenbuildings. Understandinghownaturalprocessesarounduscanbe integratedintoabuildingtoprovideforitsrequirementsfor theappropriatefunctioningisthekeytosuccessincreatinga sustainableenvironment,asaresult,thestructureaidstheeco- systembymaintainingitandgivingtherequirednutrientsfor ittothrive.Itisnecessarytohaveamutualrelationshipin whichonecaterstothewantsoftheother. Inaddition,thisarticlehasprovidedthefindingsofasurvey doneontheGreenTechMalaysiaBuildingtoexaminehow variouselementscontributetotheinhabitants'overall productivity.EmploymentProductivity,Health,and RainwaterHarvestingwerefoundtobethemostsatisfying components.Furthermore,afewofthebuilding'sinhabitants wereunsatisfiedwiththeventilationsystem.Hence,more researchisneededtolearnhowanindoorenvironmentcanbe madeequallybeneficialforallofitsoccupants.Despitethe movement'sdevelopment,muchworkhastobedoneinterms ofunderstandingecologicaldesignandproducingecologically responsibletechnologies.