GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION METHOD IN PAKISTAN: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This systematic literature review examines the adoption of green building materials and energy-efficient construction techniques in Pakistan's construction industry. The review synthesises recent evidence from studies published between 2021 and 2025, together with the latest official documents on building energy efficiency, green building regulations, climate policy, and implementation frameworks. The analysis covers a broad range of sustainable materials, including low-clinker and cement-free binders, alternative masonry systems, recycled aggregates, agricultural-residue-based products, bamboo, thermal insulation, cool roofs, high-performance glazing, and low-impact finishing materials. It also investigates key energy-efficient construction strategies, including climate-responsive planning, shading systems, building envelope optimisation, daylighting, natural ventilation, energy-efficient HVAC systems, solar energy integration, smart metering, building retrofitting, green procurement, off-site construction, construction waste minimisation, Building Information Modelling (BIM), commissioning, and workforce capacity development. The review adopts a PRISMA-aligned systematic documentary approach, with thematic coding applied to a corpus of 31 peer-reviewed studies and policy documents. The findings indicate that Pakistan possesses a technically viable portfolio of sustainable building materials and energy-efficiency solutions. However, their widespread adoption remains constrained by weak regulatory enforcement, limited market awareness, inadequate testing and certification systems, fragmented procurement practices, uncertain financing mechanisms, and insufficient professional expertise. The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2023 and its associated implementation tools provide a stronger regulatory foundation for improving building performance; their effectiveness will depend on the institutional capacity of local authorities, robust technical specifications, consistent quality assurance, and post-construction performance verification. The review concludes that sustainable construction should be implemented as an integrated project delivery process rather than as the isolated adoption of individual technologies or materials. It recommends the early incorporation of performance-based design briefs, context-sensitive material selection, an envelope-first design strategy, life-cycle-based procurement, mandatory building commissioning, targeted workforce training, and stronger evidence-based integration of building codes, financing mechanisms, and regulatory inspection systems to accelerate the transition towards sustainable construction in Pakistan.

Keywords: Green Building Materials; Energy-Efficient Construction; Sustainable Construction; Pakistan Construction Industry; Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). 2023.