The Green Building Index as is Malaysian first overall rating system Essay

The Green Building Index is means of an environmental rating system for buildings developed by PAM (Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia / Malaysian Institute of Architects) and ACEM (the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia). The Green Building Index is Malaysias first overall rating system for evaluating the environmental design and property of Malaysian buildings based on the six main criterias of Energy Efficiency, Indoor Environment Quality, Sustainable Site Planning & Management, Materials & Resources, Water Efficiency, and Innovation.

The Green Building Index is developed specially for Malaysian tropical weather, environmental and developmental context, social and cultural needs. The GBI initiative aims to support the building industry to reach the sustainable development.

The GBI environmental rating system is used to represent the green buildings by constituting a typical language and standard of measurement. Besides, it is also used to promote integrated, wholebuilding design recognise and reward environmental leadership reconstruct the built environment to reduce its environmental impact and ensure new buildings remain significant in the future and existing buildings are renovate and upgraded properly to remain significant.

Green buildings are created to save energy and resources, recycle materials and minimise the discharge of toxic substances throughout its life cycle. Green buildings also cooperate with the regional humidity, traditions, culture and the enclosing environment. Besides, green buildings are able to assist and enhance the quality of human life during maintaining the quantity of the ecosystem at regional and international levels and it make productive use of resources, have symbolic viable savings and increases workplace production. Building which is green sends the appropriate message about a company or organisation that is liable and devoted to the future. (Eraz, 2011)

There are 6 GBI Building Rating Criteria. Energy Efficiency (EE), Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ), Sustainable Site Planning and Management (SM), Materials and Resources (MR), Water Efficiency (WE), Innovation (IN). Firstly, it has to be minimum EE performance in the design point of view at Energy Efficiency (EE). Lighting bounding and sustainable energy is also under deliberation. Another important point for energy productivity is debugging. Enhance debugging and post ownership debugging. Lastly, EE authentication and sustainable preservation is put in consideration while rating the energy efficiency. There are two factors in Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ), Air Quality and Thermal Comfort. In air quality, GBI target on minimum IAQ capability, environmental tobacco control, carbon dioxide monitoring and control, and indoor air pollutants. While in thermal comfort, thermal comfort control and air change capability is highlighted. There is four main priority of Sustainable Site and Management (SM), firstly is site planning, followed by construction management and transportation. There are few examples of site planning such as site selection and environmental management. In construction management, earthworks, pollution control and workers site conveniences are important. Next, for Material and Resources (MR), green building should be using materials that can be reuse and recycle. Material reuse and selection and recycle content materials. Conduct sustainable assets such as local materials, viable timber, construct storage and selection of recyclables and construction waste m