{"id":2849,"date":"2013-05-23T17:12:54","date_gmt":"2013-05-23T17:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.japhethlim.com\/?p=2849"},"modified":"2016-10-26T17:30:39","modified_gmt":"2016-10-26T17:30:39","slug":"green-building-industry-in-malaysia-reality-check-market-perceptions-of-developers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.japhethlim.com\/index.php\/2013\/05\/23\/green-building-industry-in-malaysia-reality-check-market-perceptions-of-developers\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Building Industry in Malaysia: Reality Check : Market & Perceptions of Developers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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So i thought it’s good to have a reality check on the Green Building Industry in Malaysia. It happened across my mind when i flipped out TheStar Land&Property section with some articles on property management, or the perceptions of the end users today. It’s true that the bread and butter factors of a property today is still ultimately location and\u00a0resellable value. Developers seem to eye on the best piece of land, which is highly competitive in terms of infrastructure, that can assure investors to come, and yes that rises to the era where people sees housing properties as an asset to invest and this disturbs the housing agenda for our nation i suppose.<\/p>\n

\"Desktop2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So there you go, MRT line 2 and 3 will be kept in view by many developers I suppose. In the next 8 years all the way towards 2020, we shall see a tight, rapid growing property booming around Klang Valley still (that really tempts me to write about the Greater Klang Valley ETP could be a real nightmare) But yes that’s the concern, with this race of more property developments by more enthusiastic developers, how far is GBI Green Building Index is coming along to spread the green agenda? Where are we really heading to actually? And what are the strategies for next 5 years to put the idea of Green Building across effectively? Is GBI just a trend & fashion, or it remains here? Is it because the world market is heading towards the “green building” agenda and top property developers want to be the first to set the trend?<\/p>\n

\"GreeningMalaysia\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Green Building Index<\/a> has claimed on the successful benchmark of greening 50 Million square feet certified buildings. But I personally think that there are much more to be done and the number of projects and its categories somehow wouldn’t be a tangible measurement of the key performance index. I love to be a critic in this matter because we really need to give a reality check on this ever since GBI started in 2009, and I am glad that a lot of research has been done such as comparing GBI rating to LEED, GreenMark.. and also GBI still continues to fine tune its mechanism such as the latest GBI certification for Retail.<\/p>\n

THE CHRONOLOGY of GREEN BUILDING in MALAYSIA<\/strong><\/p>\n

The scene of building energy performance awareness in Malaysia can be observed since 2006 onwards. \u00a0There were some prototypes or buildings built then there are well referred as case studies today such as the ST Diamond Building<\/a> and also the GEO Green Energy Office. There were studies done on Household Energy Usage (DDC) project by CETDEM<\/a>, and there was MS1525, which is the backbone for GBI today as well. As far as there are private small scale properties who took up the initiative to have a more energy efficient building premises for the good CSR Corporate Social Responsibility effort, there is certainly a need for a mechanism to put the benchmark for the building industry to move forward.<\/p>\n

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In terms of policies, we could see how Malaysia has involved with international agreements such as Rio, Kyoto, and the recent COPs.\"Roadmap1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And ever since 2008, we see a transformation in governance to encourage green policies. KETTHA was then a new ministry restructured from the old ministry, Income Tax Exemption for GBI certified buildings, GreenTech Malaysia<\/a> is set up as the implementation arm for KETTHA, Sirim had its Ecolabel<\/a> scheme started, \u00a0SEDA<\/a> was formed and actively pushing for Solar Power through its various programs promising good FiT rates, Suruhanjaya Tenaga<\/a> also started Energy Efficiency labeling then. These are the Push factors for the Green Building industry then.<\/p>\n

\"roadmap2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

THE CURRENT REALITY OF GBI in MALAYSIA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes with all the push factors above, frankly speaking we are still at the very stage of awareness and knowledge. Awareness of the public on what Green Building is truly about, which is more than the typical understanding of Energy Efficient CFL and also rainwater harvesting and some PV panels on the rooftop. Knowledge as in the industry’s capability in embracing this new benchmark of change, skilled and dedicated talents are to lead this industry to the new paradigm shift. I do agree that the general scene of green building industry has made a significant milestone but there is certainly more to be expected in the next few years.<\/p>\n

\"Figure1\"<\/p>\n