Bandar Seri Begawan - With the rapid growth in the development and its corresponding effect towards the environment, the Green Building Initiative (GBI) is focused on a more environmentally friendly and efficient concept and design in all stages of development such as the design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition.

Although there are many technologies specifically invented to support the general green initiatives, the Ministry of Development's main goal, through the GBI, was to implement strategic constructions that will significantly reduce negative impacts on environment and human health.

With that, following the launching of GBI, which was officiated yesterday by the Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi bin Hj Osman, the concept of 'green buildings' will be implemented on the ministry's building along with several other departmental buildings under the Ministry of Development such as the Public Works Department building.

In a speech, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi explained that at present, government premises are utilising approximately 22 per cent of the nation's energy consumption while other buildings and private residents consumed 35 per cent. Commercial and industrial sectors accounted to 27 and 16 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile for a particular building, 60 to 70 per cent of its total energy usage is consumed by the air-conditioning system.

Through this initiative, the government servants particularly, will be more aware of the ill-effects of the greenhouse gases, thus will try to execute their own initiative to combat the issue though recycling, conservation of water and electrical energy for instance, he said.

The ministry itself is also implementing the GBI through several easy phases such as increasing the temperature of their air-conditioning system and fixing at temperatures up to 25 Degrees Celsius.

The Public Works Department is also not left behind in the initiative and has been organising a 'No Lift Day' every Saturday for the purpose of conserving electrical energy as well as encouraging and regularly reminding its staff to turn off electrical appliances before leaving the office.

Following the launching of GBI, the ministry is organising a GBI exhibition until March 6. Members of the public are welcomed to view the exhibition at the Ministry of Development building from 7.45am to 4.30pm.

Among the elements included in the exhibit are the costs of GBI, the 'Green Road Map', as well as their plans towards the 'Green Building' in 2012.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin