UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS REVIEW TO PROMOTE GREEN TECHNOLOGY

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- The Housing and Local Government Ministry
is reviewing the Uniform Building By-Laws in promoting the use of green
technologies in buildings to create a more sustainable living environment for
homeowners.

Minister Kong Cho Ha said many developers had yet to embark on,
or to seriously consider the potential of, sustainable development in using the
green technologies in buildings.

"In tandem with the government's commitment to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2)
emission by as much as 40 per cent compared with the 2005 levels, the Green
Building Index (GBI) was launched by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM)
and the Association for Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) last year to
encourage green building development," he said.

He told reporters this after opening "The Green Solutions for Porperty
Development 2010" conference organised by the Eastern Regional Organisation for
Planning and Human Settlement (EAROPH Malaysia) and the Real Estate and Housing
Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) here Monday.

Apart from GBI, the government also introduced monetary and non-monetary
provisions toward green technologies, as well as tax incentives last year to
stimulate the industry, said Kong.


Kong said the Malaysian Standard or MS 1525 Code of Practice on Energy
Efficiency had yet to be fully adopted and incorporated into buildings at their
design stage.

The GBI rating tool could also be construed as a substantial undertaking as
it required a good energy-efficient design, indoor environmental quality, site
planning and management, materials, resources, water efficiency and innovation,
he added.

He hoped EAROPH and Redha will collaborate with the local universities to
develop green technologies for the benefit of the industry, "because by
leveraging on the advanced facilities and expertise provided by these
universities it will produce locally-made green products."

Kong said the government would continue to drive the green initiative and
create solutions that would enable its broader implementation.

-- BERNAMA