Green building rating system to encourage green industry development

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Works Ministry is drawing up a green building rating system that can be applied by the public and private sectors in promoting the green industry development in the country. Its minister, Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor said in ensuring the success of the effort, the ministry had decided that building construction use the Industrialised Building System (IBS) technology. "For example, materials used in the IBS for building schools, especially in the rural areas should be able to reduce temperatures up to two degrees Celsius.

"This can indirectly reduce electricity usage and give comfort to the users," he said at a dinner and prize-presentation of the Greentech House Competition 2011 (GTH 2011) at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) international campus here, tonight.
Also present UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang.
In regard to this effort, he said, his ministry was discussing with the Finance Ministry to obtain an allocation to replace the normal street lights to the light-emitting diode (L.E.D) which could reduce electricity consumption by 50 to 55 per cent.
Besides that, he said, his ministry was also building tunnels in certain areas to reduce cutting of hills.

Shaziman said the National Green Technology policy launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in 2009 also spurred demand for green industry as the first choice in providing products and services. "The main aspect emphasised in this policy is to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and to promote energy efficiency. "The government's effort in incorporating green technology covers two aspects, namely innovation involving the creation and development of green technology and usage or application of green technology in the work processes," he said.

On the competition, Shaziman said it focused on innovative research based on green technology and was the best platform to educate society towards creating a healthier nation based on green technology.

The GTH Competition 2011, organised by UTM and BE-Basic, showcased creative concepts of residential buildings that promote sustainability, energy conservation, use of building materials from natural sources and alternative energy sources.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) with its 'Superhomes' project and the Zenith Team from UTM with the 'Infinity where the limitation powers the innovation' project were adjudged joint winners, each collecting RM5,000 and a certificate.

Source:
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/70976
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=649865