MIRI: Malaysia has achieved the fastest rate of buildings under the Green Building Index (GBI) in the Asian region, despite having only about 130 million square feet of buildings GBI-certified.
According to a registered GBI facilitator and director of Exergy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Ahmad Izdihar Supaat, the rate achieved within five years since starting in 2009 shows GBI as a very promising tool. He said with the government’s emphasis on the green building concept and greater public awareness, more people in Malaysia will opt for buildings that are GBI compliant.
“It is a fast growing tool in the region and with both our federal and state governments focusing on green environment, more people will be GBI-conscious and consequently contractors will go for it not only for economic gain but also recognition.
“In Malaysia, it is voluntary unlike in Singapore and India – two top nations in GBI rated buildings as the government(s) made it mandatory,” Ahmad told thesundaypost after conducting a talk on GBI here on Friday.
Ahmad was confident that Miri City too will soon have its first GBI rated building, as currently Sarawak has only two certified GBI buildings – the University College Technology Sarawak in Sibu (GBI rated platinum – the highest accolade) and in Kuching – the Sarawak Energy’s Head Office is GBI rated silver.
GBI certification is based on six criterias, namely energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, sustainable site planning and management, materials and resources, water efficiency, and innovation. GBI currently issues four levels of certification, namely normal (50 to 65 points), silver (66 to 75 points), gold (76 to 85 points), and platinum (86 to 100 points).
Speaking at the talk organized by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Miri Branch was another GBI facilitator, Tan Hwee Yinn. Its president Steven Chin also delivered a talk.
A total of 28 people attended the one-day talk to enhance their knowledge on GBI – its benefits, status and how to achieve it and to introduce Green pages – references/experience for participants.