CONTRACTORS’ READINESS FOR ENERGY AWARENESS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i39.1905Keywords:
Facilities Management, Energy Management, Energy Awareness, Government BuildingsAbstract
The Malaysian government has implemented Energy Management (EnM) within its Facilities Management (FM) practices to support Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC), aligning with national sustainable development goals. In government buildings across Putrajaya, energy awareness initiatives central to EnM are driven by Facilities Management and Maintenance (FMM) contractors under the supervision of Jabatan Kerja Raya Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya (JKR-WPP). Despite these efforts, energy-wasting behaviours persist, highlighting gaps in current awareness programmes. This study evaluates the readiness of FMM contractors to effectively implement energy awareness initiatives. Using an exploratory sequential design, the research began with qualitative phase using interviews to uncover readiness dimensions, followed by a quantitative phase to assess the extent to which these dimensions are present across contractors in Putrajaya This study identified six key readiness factors: personnel, competency, processes, tools, monitoring mechanisms, and management support. The findings indicate that contractors demonstrate moderately above-average readiness but lack structured and standardised methodologies for planning, implementing, and evaluating awareness initiatives. The study highlights the need for comprehensive procedural guidelines to ensure consistent execution and sustained behavioural change among building occupants. Enhancing contractor capability is crucial to achieving broader EEC and sustainability objectives in government facilities. These improvements are crucial for supporting Malaysia’s long-term sustainable development agenda.
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