KOTA KINABALU: It takes just a simple gesture, like switching off the lights when not needed, to conserve energy.
FOR YOU: ISM Sabah branch chairman Peter Ting Jack Jong (left) presenting a souvenir to Dompok after the launching ceremony, while the event’s organising chairman, Datuk Kenneth Yen looks on.
“The fundamental principles of the green movement demand a change in our lifestyle and values. We will need to commit to the simplest task such as opening up the window blinds to use daylight or drawing the blackout curtains to keep the interior of the building cool,” advised Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, yesterday.
Speaking at the third Sabah Surveyors Congress here, he said property players should also play their roles in minimising negative impact on the environment as this issue would continue to lead trends in building design and construction.
“The catch word now is ‘green building’. The government is playing its part by giving tax incentives to building owners to achieve the Green Building Index (GBI) ratings,” he said.
He said there was a general expectation that buildings should minimise environmental impact during their life cycle and focus on improving health and well-being for the occupiers.
“We now have modern terminology such as ‘sustainable buildings’ or ‘green buildings’. The aim of these modern environment friendly building concepts gears towards optimising utilities and functions for the occupiers, whilst at the same time, minimising the use of non-renewable resources and presenting low environmental impact, including their impact on biodiversity.
“In fact, today, many developers are even using GBI rating as a marketing tool to market their developments,” he said.
He noted that in the last few years, there have been a great surge of awareness in green and environment movements, and that since GBI was introduced, there have been an increasing interest in sustainable and eco-friendly designs and development.