Make it compulsory to build green buildings

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 11): The authorities have been urged to give mandates to developers to build sustainable buildings as the country aims to transform its town centres into smart cities, said panelists at the “Smart Cities: Tackling Urbanisation and Climate Change” forum yesterday.

Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) director of Solid Waste and Public Cleanliness Lee Lih Shyan said the council has already made it mandatory for new commercial and industrial buildings in Petaling Jaya to fulfil several green criteria, including being Green Building Index (GBI) compliant.

“Other than buildings, we also touch on transportation. For every development built in Petaling Jaya, we make it compulsory for developers to provide shuttle services from the respective offices or buildings to the nearest terminal,” said Lee.

Some of the initiatives undertaken by MBPJ are free PJ community bus, PJ city food bank for underprivileged communities and household waste composting.

These initiatives are part of Local Agenda 21, which was introduced by the Environment Protection Society Malaysia in 1996. MBPJ aims to turn PJ into a sustainable city by 2030.

Meanwhile, Carbon Trust Implementation Services Ltd (UK) managing director Myles McCarthy said authorities and developers alike should recognise the benefits and importance of investing in green and sustainable buildings.

“If you don’t educate them on sustainable buildings, then consumers and businesses won’t see the benefits. We need to promote sustainable buildings and encourage businesses to recognise that investing in efficient and sustainable buildings is important. “Another thing is, not only do you have to build sustainable buildings but also use them in a sustainable way. We have trained both occupiers and corporations to understand how to utilise sustainable buildings, and they are happier to learn such ways,” McCarthy said.

This article first appeared in property+, a section of the digitaledge DAILY, on Sept 11, 2015. Download property+ for free here.