Green index to be launched in Malaysia
Monday, January 5th, 2009The green drive is gaining momentum in Malaysia with the Green Building Index (GBI) to be launched in April this year, reported The New Straits Times.
Developed by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and Association of Consulting Engineers Malay-sia (Acem), the GBI aims to reduce the nation’s urban carbon footprint.
The GBI is Malaysia´s first certification tool that will provide guidelines for environmentally friendly construction.
The index is private sector-driven to address issues of climate change and sustainability in Malaysia.
The Malaysian government has not made it compulsory for buildings in Malaysia to attain the green certification unlike Singapore.
Acem past president, Chen Thiam Leong, acknowledged it would be a tall order for the GBI initiative to make inroads without explicit government backing.
“If we can get the government in, that would be good. But we need to find a way to bring it in. For example, in many countries, including our own, the government is one of the biggest lessors of (landed) property, so it could set criteria, and if a building has no green rating it can say no,” he told The New Straits Times.
Sunrise Berhad is the first developer in Malaysia to lead the green drive when it attained Singapore´s Green Mark certification in 2008.
Source: Property Report Asia