Construction Waste Management

Green Building Index (GBI) is recognized as Malaysia’s green rating tool for building to promote sustainability in built environment and raise awareness among the construction industry players.

The GBI is very comprehensive and covers almost every aspect of construction process. However, I will focus on discussing on waste management during construction. This requirement comes under fourth category of the GBI, which is Material and Resources with sub-category of material reuse and selection, storage & collection of recyclables and construforction waste management

MR1: Materials reuse and selection

Under this category, the project is required to reused products or materials with value of at least 2% from total material cost. Examples are rubble and leftover masonry materials can be crushed on site and reused in driveways.

MR5: Storage & Collection of recyclables

In this category, the project is required to segregate their construction waste. So the project need to provide different waste bins for concrete, timber, metal etcetera. The intention is it will be easier for the waste to be send for recycling.

MR6: Construction Waste Management

This category requires the project to recycle the construction waste at least 50% from the total volume.

With proper implementation of these category, the project will be entitle for 5 GBI points. These points we call as Free points which do not require any cost to be implmented. 

Lets build more green buildings with green construction practices!

Rohani

 GREEN OR RISK HOME LIVING

Having our own house is perfect. Many of us dream to have their own stylish and modern homes. So remember everyone, whenever you’re getting a house, ensure it is safe and comfortable. Each and every room and space is important in staging our lives and inspire our future.

Wonder what is the hazardous thing in your home?

•    Paint, Sealant and Plaster: Used widely on wall internal and external, floor, ceiling, stairs, kitchen  and everywhere.
•  Timber/Wood Product: Doors, stairs, flooring and framing are made from timber. Loose furniture and kitchen table top are made from layer of plywood.
•  Cloth: Draperies and table cloth
•  Light fittings: compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)
•  Household detergent:  use widely to clean window, floor, clothes and etc.

Above items release dangerous chemical, toxic and vapor into the air. They are killing us softly. Paint and plaster contain Volatile Organic Compound (VOC).Timber products and cloth contain urea Formaldehyde. There’s mercury powder in CFL. Detergent such as furniture polish made from harmful ingredient.

What we are waiting for? Let’s change.

Use low VOC content paint and sealant - or, use water-based products. Use exterior-grade plywood which is designed to be more resistant to moisture and emit less Formaldehyde. Request from manufacturer that adhesive used is to be made from organic product.

For draperies and table cloth, there is no ‘greener’ version of the products – based on my limited knowledge; the ‘greener’ way is just to avoid it. We can replace draperies with blind, and table cloth with glass-based tabletop. Although LED or light emitting diode does not contain mercury, they may contain lead-based materials.

Lastly, for household detergent, we can replace those harmful detergents with organic product such as salt, vinegar and flour to polish, paper and water to clean window.

Where do you want to be? Green or risk home living?

 Bye...

Save Water, Seriously

I want to talk about water crisis. It’s a popular topic nowadays especially if you live in places that are affected by it. This is a rather delicate topic though because if you search about this matter online, 99% (yes, I am exaggerating) of the ‘intellectual’ results are politically-based.

Nevertheless. 

http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=news&permalink=20120809130915-businesses-hit-by-water-dispute-

I read this quite some time ago about businesses were affected because their applications to obtain water from the local authority were rejected due to water shortage.

Essentially, this is one of the key reasons why we all should practice water efficiency together – as a community – not based on your stingy Return on Investment (ROI).

For example, Rainwater Harvesting System is not cheap. You can get one roughly about RM5,000 for a basic house depending on the complexity of the system. If you do your calculation marginally correct, it’ll probably save you about 20-50% of your water use.

However, our water is cheap (I’m not sure how it compares to other places though – go search online yourself). This system comes with a very long ROI – up to 25 years. This is quite similar to solar and electricity generation (cheap resources vs expensive efficiency technology). But thanks to Feed-in Tariff (FiT), the ROI for investment in solar energy can be reduced down to less than 10 years. Sadly, no such similar scheme available for water – yet.

To frame the big issue, if we recklessly waste water, we’re placing burden on our local water provider.

Take in conventional cases, our local water providers will build new water treatment plants to cater for any new demand coming through the system.  We build new houses, offices, factories and these stuffs come with new demand for resources, i.e. water and energy. It will reach to a point, if we’re not careful, demand exceeds the capacity available. 

Then our local water providers have no choice but to withhold supplies for new developments, i.e. manufacturing facilities.  Thus, investors frustrated. They’ll move on to other places and bring their millions worth of investment elsewhere – along with the potential jobs and subsequently hurt the local future economy.

And I haven’t even touched on how by collecting your rainwater (plus the fact that your house is causing adverse effect to the local water run-offs), you can significantly reduce risk of flood in your neighbourhood – plus other neighbouring neighbourhood too. Therefore save the potential and needless expenses to solve flood problems.

But let’s that be another topic for another day.

In the meantime, save water, or else.
 

NJB

A Guide To Go Green For Home Owners

 Hi Readers...

A lot of people have asked me this question, "How Can I Go Green?". Well if you are a home owner, this guide will help you in achieving just that, especially to those who aims to go green in 2013.

The guideline was developed by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and it can be used for home owners living either in landed or strata properties.

The guideline is divided into 6 categories namely Energy, Water, Waste, Transport, Biology/Ecology and Others.

For those who lives in the area govern under MBPJ, financial incentive is offered for those who uses this guideline and apply it to their homes. A few points to note though:

1. Financial incentive is one off in the form of rebate to your yearly assessment.
2. A maximum rebate of RM500.00 is given
3. Financial incentive is given based on percentage of green implementation in the household

The Guideline is as follows:

A. Energy (Maximum 40%)

1. Solar Water Heater Installation (Landed) - 20%
2. Energy Generation from Renewable Energy Source eg. Solar PV (Landed) - 20%
3. Minimum 70% LED Lights Installation (Landed & Strata) - 20%
4. Use of 5 Star Electrical Appliances (Landed & Strata) - 20%
5. Installation of Roof Insulation (Landed) - 20%
6. Electrical Energy Usage of less than 112kWh/month/occupant (Landed & Strata) - 25%

B. Water (Maximum 40%)

1. Rain Water Harvesting Saving at least 30% Potable Water (Landed) - 20%
2. Grey Water Recycling (Landed) - 25%
3. Water Usage of less than 202 L/day/occupant (Landed & Strata) - 25%
4. Water Saving Fittings (Reduce Vol/Min) (Landed & Strata) - 20%
5. Dual Toilet Flushing (Reduce 6L Flushing) (Landed & Strata) - 20%

C. Waste (Maximum 30%)

1. Food Composting to Reduce General Waste by a Minimum 40% (Landed & Strata) - 30%
2. Waste Recycling (Landed & Strata) - 30%
3. Practice of Item for Reuse (Landed & Strata) - 30%

D. Transport (Maximum 30%)

1. Use of Hybrid/Electric/NGV Vehicle (Landed & Strata) - 20%
2. Use of Public Transportation/Walking/Bicycle for Work and Recreation (Landed & Strata) - 30% 

E. Biology/Ecology (Maximum 30%)

1. More than 50% of house area with Greenery (Landed) - 20%
2. Greenery at Frontal of House or Minimum 2 Meter Perimeter Planting (Landed) - 20%
3. Significant Planting (Landed & Strata) - 20%

F. Others (Maximum 40%)

1. Other initiatives not listed in A to E. Subject to Approval (Landed & Strata) - Each 20%

The downside to this guideline is that it does not provide information regarding documentation that is needed for submission. Nevertheless, it is still a good guideline to use for those who plans to go green for 2013.

For me personally I have implemented green features in my home and I have checked it against the MBPJ Green Guideline. In my next entry, I will show you how I use the guideline to assess my home.

Best Regards,

Muiz Murad

Low Carbon City - Green City

Most of us have been introduced to green city development especially in Malaysia. One of the key corridors in Malaysia which is Iskandar Malaysia is heading towards green city development. In that vision, a Green City Seminar was held in Danga Bay Convention Centre, Johor Bahru on 18-19 January 2013 to demonstrate the way to develop a green city.

This seminar was begun with Doa and remarks by Chief Executive of IRDA Dato’ Ismail Ibrahim. Dato’ Ismail have addressed Iskandar Malaysia to be a Smart City and the commitment to have 50% reduction of CO2 emission by 2025. IRDA have determined the policy, good accreditation and structured the awareness programme such as effective and continuous promotion, education and information dissemination through comprehensive roll out programme to increase public awareness.

The point to be emphasized is about township. Township is developed to provide all facilities available in a city. Usually township will have residential, commercial centre, education, hotel, shopping mall and public transportation.  In a big capacity of land important aspect to taking care of inclusively for economy, environment and community which is:

• Heat island effect - To reduce heat island effect we need to build green lungs area. By having more than 22% vegetation area it will reduce around 4 degree of temperature.
• Energy security –by using energy diversity, having a community energy centre e.g.; sewage heat recovery and also design air conditioning temperature to 24 degree will reduce co2 and at the same time provide comfort.  
• Water scarcity – Malaysian use of an average of 226 litres of water per person and a study showed that 70% Malaysians used more than they should. This will lead to loss of natural habit. By adopting rainwater harvesting system and efficient water fittings will help to reduce water consumption and also sustain the water resources.
• Green Transport Masterplan – by providing public amenities and transportation will promote walkability and connectivity among people.

For a sustainable future, a green city or township is a good start for all of us. All of us needs to work together to make this happen. We are looking forward to work together for a green future.

http://resourceyork.com/2011/04/23/go-green-in-the-city/