Good news for environmentalists and greenies...

Green Building Index to be introduced in Malaysia in April

by Asia Pulse

Green Building Index (GBI), a voluntarily professional-driven initiative, will be introduced in Malaysia in April this year to promote higher environmental-friendly compliance in buildings in the country.

Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and the Association for Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) had been working hand-in-glove since August last year for the setting of the index, which had been implemented in other countries such as Singapore and Australia.

PAM Chairman Tan Loke Mun said the PAM would liaise with the governement next week to see what incentive could be given to support the GBI initiative in enhancing sustainability in the environment and reducing the nation´s urban carbon footprint.

Tan said Malaysia put little emphasis on transport emission in which energy use was high.

"For instance, 70 per cent of Malaysians use cars and thus, we need to encourage the use of public transport to reduce energy consumption," Tan said at a talk on "Green Global Cities and an Introduction to Green Building Index Malaysia" at the PAM headquarters here Tuesday.

He said that the climate had definitely changed and action needed to be taken now for a sustainable city that was able to feed and power itself with minimal reliance.

He said the age of automobile had ended while the age of technology was declining.

The next generation would be the age of green, he added.

Source: Asia Property Report - February 27 - News