A systematic review on the success factors of the energy efficiency rating systems

Energy efficiency has long been an area with joint efforts from the government and the construction industry to reduce carbon emissions from the operating phase of the buildings. While numbers of energy efficiency rating systems (EERs) were developed and have been advocated in various countries, their effectiveness in fostering carbon reduction was questioned. This study aims to identify the success factors of the EERSs being used in different countries. A systematic review approach is adopted. Five dimensions that contribute to the success of the EERS are identified and presented in a conceptual model: [1] System design, [2] Cost, [3] Policies and Incentives, [4] Marketability and [5] End users' behaviour. It is found that some EERSs are too localised to be adaptable in other countries. Cost remains a hindrance that impedes the developers to obtain higher ratings for their buildings. Existing policies and reward schemes may have successfully driven the use of EERSs but hardly direct professionals to work out better plans for the end users. While developers encapsulate EERSs as a marketing strategy, buyers may not be knowledgeable about how to utilize and maintain the buildings. Directions of future research for enhancing the EERs are then suggested.