More green buildings needed

What is green building ?

A Green building focuses on

increasing

use. reducing building impact on human health and the environment during the buildings lifecycle

the efficiency of resource

Definition of green building

Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resourceefficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building

Main objective of Green Buildings

Green building are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by :
Efficiently

using energy, water and other resources. Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation.

Unlike the traditional building, green building practice

Offer an opportunity to create environment-sound and resources-efficient building by using an integrated approach to design. Promote resource conservation Consider environmental impacts and waste minimization Create a healthy and comfortable environment. Reduce operation and maintenance costs.

The entire life-cycle of the building and its components is considered as well the economic and environmental impact and performance.

What is the advantages of practicing green building?

The advantages of green building can be observe through a few aspect:

Environmental Social

Economic

Advantages on Environmental
Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems -Promoting land management system -Key to establishing a network of protected area Improve air quality - Increase ventilation - Make exhaust fans or opening window Reduce waste streams -Reuse and recycle Conserve and restore natural resources -Conserve energy and water

Advantages on Economic
Reduce

operating costs -Resources efficiency -Such as solar power Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services -Sales improvement Improve occupant productivity -Positively productivity

Advantages on Social
Enhance

occupant comfort and health -Increase natural lighting -Control of ventilation and temperature Improve overall quality of life -Healthier, comfortable, gentle lifestyle

What is the disadvantages of green building?

Unavailability of Materials and High Initial Costs

Eco-friendly

materials for Green Buildings are not available in many parts of Malaysia. Getting these materials locally or importing them adds to the initial costs. Materials are scarce and hard to find. Sourcing for these materials may take extra time and also adds to the initial cost.

Location
Malaysia

is humid. Eco-building materials generally utilizes straw or husk bale construction. These materials may be subjected to fungal attacks in hot and humid climate.

Problems in Funding
Since

this construction concept is nonconventional and a rarity, getting loans from banks might not be so forthcoming. Since funding is a major issue for buyers, they may consider opting for a regular building instead.

Construction Issues
Since

green buildings are not common, finding a qualified construction company who would do a fool-proof job might pose a problem.

Obstacle Faced by MALAYSIA in practicing Green Building

Lack of enforcement in Malaysia

Although

there are several Act which focus on environment, due to lack of monitoring and enforcement, people just dont really care about it

Urgency factor
People

are not directly aware of this issue They think that Malaysia has abundant of natural resources such as water , oil and energy Thus, there is general lack of urgency on this issue

Education vs. experience

Developer have poor knowledge about sustainability and sustainable construction. As environment issue was not pertinent and was not given priority in a decade ago. Younger generation which have been exposed about sustainable construction in their educational level, but due to lack of experience they have problem dissemination their theoritical understanding of sustainability into practise

Why this issue is choose ?

The Star 11 Dec 2008 Sweden cleanest, S. Arabia dirtiest, Malaysia bottom 10: climate index POZNAN (AFP) Sweden does the most of any country for tackling emissions of greenhouse gases, while Saudi Arabia does the least, according to a barometer published on Wednesday by watchdogs at the UN climate talks here. The groups categorised dangerous climate change as an increase in temperature beyond two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.

Sweden's fourth place was followed by Germany, France, India, Brazil, Britain and Denmark. The bottom 10 were listed in descending order as Greece, Malaysia, Cyprus, Russia, Australia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

It is time for us, Malaysian to think Do we need more green building in our country?

Our view point on this issue

Support MALAYSIA having GREEN BUILDLING Reduces the reliance of fossil fuel as main energy which supply electricity in Malaysia. Reduces the amount of raw material usage in building industry. Thus reduce the amount of tree getting cut every year. Bring rise in economics, social and environment of Malaysia. Reduces the reliance of alternate energy in daily life. Thus, reduce the amount of money usage to paid bill for alternate energy in a normal family.

The end Thank you