PETALING JAYA (July 23): Green building certification body GreenRE on Tuesday launched a new line of certification criteria for existing non-residential buildings across the country, such as hotels, offices, malls, schools and healthcare facilities.

The certification criteria include the thermal performance of the building envelope, natural and mechanical ventilation, application of renewable energy, and other energy-efficient practices and features. 

There will be four rating tiers — silver, gold, platinum, and the super low energy tier.

“Buildings that successfully obtain the certificate will be eligible for the Energy Commission’s building energy label and investment tax allowance scheme administered by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation,” said GreenRE chairman Datuk Seri Fateh Iskandar Mohamed Mansor, who is known as FD Iskandar, at the International Green Build Conference (IGBC) 2024 held at One World Hotel on Tuesday.

He added that GreenRE will be working closely with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation to ensure compliance with the upcoming Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA).

“As of 2023, Malaysia had 15 billion sq ft [of real estate]. We have only [certified] 500 million sq ft. It is only a drop in the ocean. A lot still needs to be done, to upgrade existing buildings and to get them certified,” noted FD Iskandar.

Additionally, he suggested several initiatives to further promote the sustainability agenda in the real estate industry.

"Firstly, a key step the government can take is to improve transparent access to data, set up common baselines for reporting, and facilitate the development of a nationwide greenhouse gas database.

"Next, incentives [from the government] have to be better tailored and streamlined across all levels of the supply chain. Property developers are pressured to provide affordable homes, and we are not running from this obligation. However, new requirements such as the need to incorporate the industrialised building system (IBS) into projects will compound the difficulties faced," stressed FD Iskandar.

He also hoped that the government would consult GreenRE and the Real Estate And Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) during the development of the Asean green home building standard proposal.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who was present to officiate the conference, said that there is no need for additional incentives to hasten the green certification of existing buildings in the country.

"When we adjusted the subsidies for electricity, there's an increase in tariffs for a lot of buildings. The same applies to water tariff adjustment for the states in the peninsula. This will encourage and push building owners to adopt energy and water efficiency practices, without the need for [additional] incentives. When the tariffs are lower, they will overlook such measures," said Nik Nazmi.

He pointed out that the EECA and other incentives such as the Green Investment Tax Allowance and Green Income Tax Exemption will encourage better energy-efficient practices.

Additionally, the minister mentioned that there are plans to complete the National Adaptation Plan, with further details to be announced in about two to three years. The plan has received grants from international parties such as the Global Environment Fund.

Jointly organised by GreenRE and Rehda Institute, the IGBC 2024 was attended by over 500 participants from the property development and government sectors.