Equatorial Plaza achieves GBI Gold certification

• Hotel Equatorial Group CEO Donald Lim said EQ Kuala Lumpur is currently the only 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur to have a GBI Gold certification.
• The assessment by the GBI consists of six criteria, including energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning and management, materials and resources, water efficiency, as well as innovation.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 15): Equatorial Plaza has received the Green Building Index (GBI) Gold certification, according to a press release on Feb 3. The 52-storey building comprises Grade A office spaces as well as the 5-star EQ Kuala Lumpur hotel.

In the statement, Hotel Equatorial Group CEO Donald Lim said EQ Kuala Lumpur is currently the only 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur to have a GBI Gold certification. “The [Equatorial Plaza] building was designed to be energy-efficient. Some of the features incorporated into its design are innovative, and reflect the care and consideration that went into the early design development.

“With the GBI Gold certification for Equatorial Plaza, it meets or exceeds most requirements for modern office space. It also means that the EQ is currently the only 5-star hotel rated as such,” he added.

The assessment by the GBI consists of six criteria, including energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning and management, materials and resources, water efficiency, as well as innovation.

The building also features passive design features and active design measures, such as a high-efficient chiller plant, efficient lighting system, waste heat recovery system, wastewater treatment system, rainwater harvesting, and sustainable construction materials.

According to the release, the building is 55% more energy-efficient than the benchmark, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 6.5 million KgCO2e per year, equivalent to planting 300,000 trees, the statement added.

Furthermore, the long axis of the building is oriented east-west, which provides plenty of natural light and minimises solar heat gain via direct sunlight. The building also includes generative lifts.

In order to reduce water consumption by over 50%, the statement noted that the building uses three-tick WELS-rated fittings, harvesting rainwater and treating grey water for reuse. Part of the steps to reduce its carbon footprint include recycling 75% of construction waste, and using materials with 30% recycled content and regionally sourced materials.