Page 160 - GreenRE_Sustainable Real Estate Book

ADVANCING GREEN BUILDINGS
The Government’s Role

Green building policies in Malaysia effectively commenced LCCF was developed to get cities, which are responsible for up Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), in
in 2009 with the launching of the National Green Technology to 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, to address the problem cooperation with JASE-W Japan has developed the Zero Energy
Policy (NGTP) and in 2016, the government launched MyCREST and take concrete action on it. Building Development Guide to promote the adoption of super
(Malaysian Carbon Reduction and Environmental Sustainability low carbon green buildings by using alternative methods
Tool), a sustainability rating tool introduced by the Ministry focusing purely on sustainable energy practices, such as
of Works through the Public Works Department and the “ advance energy efficiency measures and offsetting the balance
Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). MyCREST’s of minimum energy needed by using on-site renewable energy.
key intention is to quantify and lower the carbon footprint of Malaysia’s commitment to
construction projects, by guiding the design, construction and reducing carbon emissions National carbon movement
operation of buildings in a low-carbon and sustainable manner. In its quest to join the world to achieve net zero carbon
started in 2006. Since then,
To lead the way, in 2016 the government mandated all emissions by 2050, Malaysia must first address two key
government building projects worth RM50 million and above a number of policies and segments responsible for 75% of the nation’s GHG emission –
to adopt the MyCREST compliance, in a bid to reduce carbon energy and transport sector.
emissions in the construction industry. These approaches strategic plans have slowly In 2015, the nation joined 175 countries ratifying the Paris
show government efforts to lead by example in its commitment Agreement to limit global mean temperature rise to below
towards reducing GHG emissions as a whole. redirected the country toward
2°C, and, ideally, below 1.5°C and Malaysia committed to
a less carbon-intensive future. reduce its CO emissions per unit of GDP by 45% from the
Via the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech 2
Malaysia), the government is also expending a lot of effort levels in 2005 by 2030. It also committed to achieve 31% of
in promoting the Low Carbon Cities Framework (LCCF), GreenTech Malaysia looks at five key elements in the renewable energy (RE) in the country’s power mix by 2025
launched in 2011. The LCCF is a national framework assessment framework. The first four are to reduce CO emissions through and 40% by 2030. In 2011, the nation managed to achieve a
2
system to guide and assess the development of cities and the energy use and water consumption of buildings and carbon emissions intensity reduction of 33%.
to support holistic sustainable development in Malaysia. The common areas, petrol and diesel of two and four-wheel private Malaysia’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions started
framework is primarily used by the local authorities to guide vehicles, and municipal solid waste ending up in landfills. The in 2006. Since then, a number of policies and strategic plans
the transformation of the cities under their jurisdiction into low fifth element is to increase carbon sequestration from protecting have slowly redirected the country towards a less carbon-
carbon cities. and adding green spaces. intensive future. These have included the National Biofuel

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