Development of a computer based green highway energy efficiency index assessment for Malaysia

Abstract

Green assessment tools are needed to improve behaviour, promote sustainable practices, and indicate the sustainability status of construction projects. The establishment of Manual of Malaysia Green Highway Index (MyGHI) in year 2014 was based on five main criteria which includes energy efficiency. There are significant claims that energy efficiency is very important to be considered when reducing carbon emission, and crucial to highway development. Electronic tools for MyGHI are necessary to expedite the evaluation of all criteria including energy efficiency in information technology era. This research developed computer based assessment tools of energy efficiency performance rating for MyGHI. Energy efficiency was identified as one of the most important criteria in green assessment tools. A thorough comparative review process on green highway assessment tools has been done by using cross-nation comparison. Energy Efficiency factors and elements that are suitable for Green Highway were identified using Questionnaire survey of 5-point Likert scale method and verified by several experts through focus group sitting. The data were analysed using Factor Analysis of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17 (SPSS v.17) software. Later, the analysis was extended by developing the scores and weightage that resulted in five criteria, eleven sub-criteria, and twenty three elements with a total score of sixty four for Green Highway Energy Efficiency Index (GHEEI). Subsequently, a computer-based programming of GHEEI by using Visual Basic 6.0 that is suitable for web application was developed. This computer-based programming of GHEEI helps to visualise an audit assessment process, indicate the score performance of energy efficiency for highways and enhance the current implementation of MyGHI. In conclusion, this innovative research outcome assists stakeholders to speed up the decision-making process in planning and implement sustainability oriented highway projects that considered energy efficiency by a computer-based programming of GHEEI evaluation tool.