Green is in. New buildings that use green design and technology are being built to reduce environmental impact, cut costs and provide a better place to work and live in.

Green Building, also known as green construction or sustainable building, is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.^[1]

Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation^[2]

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.^[3] Other related topics include sustainable design, green architecture, and energy efficient buildings.

Building blocks for green future
BELIEVE it or not, buildings and communities are responsible for over
40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. This is what’s driving development of green buildings worldwide.

Competitive advantage
According to the Green Building Market Report 2008 by BCI Asia, more than 50 per cent of the developers and architects surveyed have indicated interest to commit to green building design. But only 30 per cent are involved in a project that included green elements or products.
Over 85 per cent of the respondents say rising energy costs and environmental conditions are key drivers in the growth of green buildings in Malaysia.

Right kind of lighting
A key criteria for any building to be labelled “green” is energy efficiency. And one way to achieve that is by using the right kind of lighting.

Save Money, be a Good Citizen

LED lighting solutions pay for themselves in energy cost savings.  Not only will save money, but you will have the peace of mind that you are doing your part in making our planet a greener place.