Green Development Set to Grow
Choong said that the demand for
the company’s FSC-certified timber
products for the first 10 months
of the year had risen by 100%,
compared to the corresponding
period last year.
“This year so far, we have sold six
containers worth, compared to
three 40-ft containers of Accoya
timber products with a net value of
RM600,000, imported from Holland,
in the same period last year.
“We expect to sell a total of eight
containers with a net value of
RM1.5 million this year, an increase
of 200% over last year’s sales of
RM600,000,” Choong added.
Bay 21 Too facade, a green development in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
The spending for green building
materials in the country is expected
to be between RM900 million and
RM1.5 billion over the next couple
of years with 300 projects applying
for the Green Building Index (GBI)
certification as of August 2013.
electricity. For example, the building
can be designed to face away from
the morning and afternoon sun.
“The buildings can also be designed
to have ventilation systems to
reduce electricity consumption,” he
said.
Penang Green Council director
Lawrence Lim said that these 300
projects, with a total built-up area
of 63 million square feet, are being
built now and comprise nonresidential, residential, and industrial
projects.
The green building materials include
artificial timber made from biomass materials, Forest Steward
Council (FSC) certified timber, low
volatile organic compound paint,
having energy-efficient lighting and
appliances, water-saving plumbing
fixtures, and alternative power
sources such as solar power.
Lim is also president of the northern
chapter of the Malaysian Institute of
Architects.
“The construction cost per square
foot for a condominium is around
RM120, of which 40% or RM48
can be spent on green building
materials.
“If you multiply 63million square feet
by RM48, the potential spending on
green building materials is about
RM3billion,” he said.
According to Lim, although
developers could spend up to
RM3billion on green building
materials to obtain the GBI
certification, the actual spending
could be around a third or half the
amount, which was RM900 million to
RM1.5billion, as some may choose
to qualify for the GBI certification via
green architectural designs.
“The design of the buildings can
be aimed at reducing the usage of
As of August this year, there
were some 624 projects in the
country that have applied for GBI
certification.
According to Lim, these projects
are expected to generate potential
spending of more than RM7 billion
for green building materials over the
next couple of years.
“We can expect a third or half of
the RM7 billion or RM2.1 billion
to RM3.5 billion to be for green
building materials,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, G-Solar, a local player in
the solar panel installation business,
has secured some 50 projects
from residential and commercial
premises in the northern region so
far this year, more or less the same
as a year ago.
Business and project manager
Regine Choo said the orders for
solar panels coming from the north
had increased by about 20% from
January to October this year, due to
rising awareness of the feed-in-tariff
(FIT) scheme.
“Presently, the total wattage from
solar power, which is 46MW,
that households and commercial
premises in the country are allowed
to install is not sufficient, as the
quota is taken up very quickly,” Choo
said.
The present quota of total solar
power wattage for residential
buildings is 18MW and 28MW for
commercial premises.
“An average size terrace house
needs at least 6KW of solar power.
“An 18MW quota means that only
3,000 households in the country can
install solar panels,” she said.
Choo said if the Federal Government
removed the quota or set a higher
quota, there would be more
demand and sales of solar panels
would improve.
Accoya timber products are in high
demand in the construction industry
worldwide currently because of
it’s performance benefits such as
its dimensional stability, durability,
machinability, and ultra violet
resistance.
“The demand for FSC timber flooring
products comes from individual
home owners and high-end
condominium projects who prefer
the use of green building materials.
“The growing awareness on the
advantages of green flooring
products is one of the reasons for
the increase in demand.
“Some of the advantages include
sustainable foresting, which will not
harm our eco system.
“The timber is also treated in a
non-toxic manner, protecting the
environment from the harmful
effects of poisons leaching out of
typical wood treatments,” he said.
FSC-certified timber is sourced from
forest owners that adhere strictly to
sustainable practices.
The present FIT rate for residential
properties is RM1.30 per KW hour,
while for commercial premises the
rate is RM1.10 per KW hour.
This means if you sell 1 KW hour of
solar electricity to Tenaga Nasional
Bhd, you get back RM1.30 / RM1.10
in payment.
Signature Products Sdn Bhd
managing director Datuk Finn
www.PropertyHunter.com.my
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