Sustainable Construction: The Next Level The Edge, August 12, 2024 The road to sustainable construction - looking beyond the challenges On July 31, The Edge Malaysia and YTL Cement’s Sustainable Construction The: Next Level Symposium was held at the JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The event provided an opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and best practices on sustainable construction. Featuring the theme ''Sustainable Construction Tomorrow: Milestones & Opportunities'', the by-invitation-only event was attended by over 300 industry stakeholders consisting of C-suites and directors of property development and construction companies and related associations. It was co-organised by The Edge Malaysia and YTL Cement and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia served as the knowledge partner. In his opening address, The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Datuk Ho Kay Tat said the construction sector, which is central to economic development, has significantly contributed to climate change and resource depletion. ''It is now time to recognise that business as usual is no longer an option. We must embrace a new era of sustainable construction. The road ahead is undoubtedly challenging. The initial costs of sustainable materials and technologies can be daunting. Regulatory frameworks may be complex and restrictive.'' He pointed out that the obstacles, however, are not insurmountable. ''Indeed, they present opportunities for innovation, collaboration and leadership from all of you. It is time for the industry to explore the solutions that are within our grasp. By building sustainably, we not only protect our planet but also create thriving communities and a prosperous future for generations to come. The time for action is now.'' In her welcome note, YTL Cement executive director Rachel Yeoh noted that the country can cut carbon emissions by up to 60% if there is a switch to using only low-carbon cement and concrete in all construction projects. ''This is a significant number to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. While this represents a significant process, there remains vast untapped potential in alternative fuels.'' She added that for every tonne of biomass used domestically, there can be a CO2 reduction of 1.2 million tonnes. Speakers for the first half of the symposium were SAMOO Architects & Engineers associate principal/urban designer Dr Yang Sung-Min from South Korea, Real Estate Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Malaysia president Datuk Ho Hon Sang and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia chief executive Datuk Mohd Zaid Zakaria. The second half of the event featured a panel discussion on ''Sustainability: Now and Beyond'' moderated by The Edge Malaysia editor emeritus Au Foong Yee. The panel speakers were YTL Cement head of sustainability Clarisse Loh, PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd CEO Tengku Datuk Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud and, from Singapore, DP Architects' CEO Seah Chee Huang. In his presentation entitled ''Oceanix Busan: An Answer to Rising Sea Level'', SAMOO’s Yang shared about the Oceanix Busan floating city project located in South Korea that was commissioned in 2022 to address the issue of rising sea levels as a result of climate change, which can affect major cities around the world. ''By 2035,90% of large cities with over 10 million people will have access to coastlines, and we believe that floating cities can be a solution. It is not just a floating structure; this represents a sustainable future.'' Yang, who is also the master planner for the basic planning stage for Oceanix Busan, noted that the project is still at its prototype stage and is being built with key stakeholders close to the coast of Busan. Rehda Malaysia's Hon Sang talked about the present state of Malaysia in its transition towards sustainable construction as well as the misconceptions about it in his presentation ''Reality vs Fallacies''. A common feedback, he highlighted, is that technologies such as the Industrialised Building System (IBS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are costly and difficult to implement. ''I have seen an example of a developer utilising a precast plant on-site. There were minimal complaints from the residents about the quality of the buildings and there were no higher costs. In fact, it is equivalent to that of a conventional construction method.'' Hon Sang also proposed several incentives that will help spur the adoption of sustainable construction such as reductions in interest rates; corporate tax deductions; better end-financing for solar photovoltaic panels; and government CIDB's Zaid, in his presentation ''Journey Towards Sustainable Construction'' said sustainable construction is no longer a choice but a necessity. ''It has evolved from a niche concept to a fundamental one. Sustainable construction minimises environmental harm and maximises societal and economic benefits.'' However, he added that challenges remain, with cost implications, market acceptance and skill gaps being the major ones. ''Hence, we should focus on driving innovation, education and policy advocacy. Collaboration between stakeholders will be crucial.'' He also unveiled a new initiative by CIDB, the Sustainable Building Products Certification, a voluntary product certification programme that encourages the use of environmentally friendly materials through the CREAM Eco Product (CEP) certification. ''Scheduled for launch in October 2024, this initiative seeks to set the future standard for sustainable construction, mobilise a sector-wide transition towards sustainability, and drive continuous improvement within the industry,'' said Zaid. During the panel speakers' sessions, YTL Cement's Loh in her presentation entitled ''Building Together'' shared that incorporating new and eco-friendly cement products and technology is among the decarbonisation efforts by YTL Cement. ''Each year, we have a pipeline of projects to improve operational efficiencies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.'' Highlighting the country's tallest building Merdeka 118 Tower as an example, Loh said the skyscraper showcased Malaysia’s first use of ultra-high-strength cast-in-situ ECOConcrete (G105MPa), which managed to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 15,000 tonnes as well as achieve a high early strength at 12 hours for the concrete. In his presentation entitled ''Building Merdeka 118: A Paradigm Shift'', PNB's Ab Aziz walked the audience through the construction journey of Merdeka 118 Precinct and its sustainable construction efforts. He shared that the master plan of the development will include a retail mall (Merdeka Boulevard at 118 Mall), premium residences and a hotel (Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Hotel), among others. He said Merdeka 118 Tower incorporates sustainable site planning and management to reduce water and energy consumption. ''We have managed to achieve an energy reduction of 30%. We are targeting to achieve a triple-platinum green certification for the tower, a first in Malaysia,'' said Ab Aziz, noting that it has already achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, In his presentation titled ''Sustainable Designs: What's Next?'', DP Architects' Seah highlighted how extreme weather conditions are disrupting the way we live. ''In 2023, we have already seen record-high temperatures. We have to be better than sustainable. We need to transform the way we design, build and maintain our built environment so that it makes a positive contribution to the world and all its communities. “We should pursue strategies and leverage people and innovation so our developments can restore and heal [the environment]. This requires leadership and humility.” He also shared details about several sustainable projects by his company in Singapore, including an adaptive reuse project of the Golden Mile Complex building and an integrated green hub, Bukit Canberra, which shows a concept of a city where nature and people can flourish together. During the panel discussion with the theme ''Sustainability: Now and Beyond'', Loh, Ab Aziz and Seah were each asked what they would do to better champion sustainability if they were given the metaphorical silver bullet. Loh said she would opt for a change in mindset and not be constrained by the present way of doing things, while Ab Aziz hoped to complete development projects on time and within budget. For Seah, he said education is still key to changing mindsets when it comes to sustainability. After the symposium, about 50 guests took part in a study tour of Merdeka 118 Tower, during which Ab Aziz shared further insights on the development including the history, sustainability efforts and the overall master plan. He also provided a tour of the skyscraper’s upper floors. |