Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AN EVALUATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY LEVEL OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ HOSTEL BUILDINGS

Kwami Husayn Idi, Adi Irfan Che-Ani, Nik Lukman Nik Ibrahim and Mohd Zulhanif Abd-Razak

Abstract

Conventional building process is said to be unsustainable due to its high footprint effects on the people and the environment. In order to determine the sustainability level of the UKM studentsÂ’ hostels, the study analyzed and validated the sustainability level of the buildings in all the dormitories. The authors employed a survey questionnaire that solicited for the perceptional responses of 228 randomly selected students that are categorized based on their dormitories, faculties, gender and levels of education. Hopefully, this can be used as a base line for future sustainability rating and ranking in the University. The result showed that the students rated their hostels at a medium sustainability level with a mean of 2.92/5.00 and a 64.2% score at silver rating. Out of the 22 questionnaire items administered, 5 rated the hostels high, 9 medium and 8 low. The students are homogenous in their responses on the sustainability level of the hostels based on gender and faculties, but differ significantly in level of education and dormitories. The higher frequency in the medium level implies that all is fair but if care is not taken, with students population increase, there will be higher demand on water, more waste generated and the energy cost of running the hostels. This will invariably have negative effects on the people and the biophysical environment. To mitigate both the building and human footprints in the hostels, the paper recommended that building processes should be in line with the Malaysian Green Building CouncilÂ’s requirement among others.