Greenbuildingindex.org - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ TOPICS
General FAQs 1
General FAQs 2
NRNC FAQs

GENERAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Part 1)

1.	Q	How is GBI different from other rating systems such as LEED or GREENSTAR?
	A	GBI is designed specifically for the tropical climate (hot and humid) and Malaysia’s current social, infrastructure and economic development. Singapore’s GREENMARK is the other green rating tool developed for the tropics but it addresses specifically the priorities and needs of Singapore.

2.	Q	When should I start to consider Green certification for my new building?
	A	You should consider Green certification from the moment you start. This will enable you to choose and benefit from the many available options to make your building more sustainable and green.

3.	Q	How do I get my building assessed and certified?
	A	Submit a completed GBI Application form that can be downloaded from the website. Then pay the applicable fees. You may wish to appoint a Facilitator to provide professional services for the project. The Facilitator’s role is to work with your consultant team to ensure that your building achieves the desired level of GBI rating. The Facilitator will then prepare the necessary submissions to GBI for their assessment.

4.	Q	Is it compulsory for all new buildings to be GBI certified?
	A	GBI is voluntary and not a statutory requirement and so it is not compulsory. However, in the light that buildings do contribute significantly to green house gas emissions over its long life span, all new buildings should seek to be green certified. The benefits are many including operational cost savings and a better working environment for all.

5.	Q	I have an existing property that I want to get GBI certified. Can I apply?
	A	GBI currently certifies new buildings as it carries out assessment at design stage and also upon completion of the building. GBI is currently developing the rating tool for existing buildings seeking renovation or refurbishment. This will be ready in the later part of 2009. You may apply when this is available.

6.	Q	Is it possible to apply for more than one Green rating i.e – GREENMARK and also GBI?
	A	You may apply for as many Green ratings as you wish. GBI is developed specifically for Malaysia and the tropical climate.

7.	Q	Who operates GBI and who issues the certification?
	A	GBI is a profession driven initiative. It is developed by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM). It has the support of all the professional institutes, relevant government agencies and the building/property industry. Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd (a wholly owned subsidiary of PAM and ACEM) operates GBI. An independent panel comprising senior professionals make-up the GBI Accreditation Panel (GBIAP). The GBIAP is responsible for issuing the GBI certifications.

8.	Q	How will I know if a building is GBI certified or not?
	A	A register of GBI certified buildings will be maintained by Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd and will be readily available from its website for the public to check and verify all claims of GBI certification.

9.	Q	How much more will it cost to make my building green enough to be certified?
	A	Because GBI is new, we can only draw some estimates from research data of other Green ratings around us. These estimates range from an increase of 3% to 15% depending on the level of certification you wish to achieve. In Malaysia the energy efficiency benchmark is lower than in say Singapore, and so the additional cost to achieve green rating is anticipated to be higher.

10.	Q	What is the role of the GBI Facilitator and is it compulsory to appoint one for my project?
	A	Accredited GBI Facilitators provide professional services to help design your project to achieve your desired green rating. They work with your consultant team during the design stage and will prepare the requisite submissions to GBI for certification. They will also be able to propose various design options for your consultants to consider that may be able to help save initial capital and also long term operational costs. The GBI Facilitator should be appointed as early in the project as possible so as to be able to gain the best benefit from the input. It is not compulsory to appoint a GBI Facilitator if your consultant team or others have the requisite skill to make the necessary submissions.

11.	Q	What is the role of the GBI Certifier? Who appoints him?
	A	The GBI Certifier is appointed by GBI when you submit your application form. He is appointed by GBI to carry out the assessments for your project. Upon completion of the assessments, he forwards it to the GBI Accreditation Panel to register and issue the GBI Certification. For larger and more complex projects, up to two GBI certifiers may be appointed to assess your project. The cost of the GBI Certifier(s) is already covered within your GBI Application Fee.

12.	Q	My neighbour’s building claims to be GBI Gold rated? How can I check if that is true?
	A	A register of GBI certified buildings will be maintained by Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd and will be readily available from its website for the public to check and verify all claims of GBI certification.

13.

What are the benefits of GBI certification?

GBI certification gives you a measurable assessment of how “green” or sustainable your building is. The benefits of a green building include:

1. Green buildings are designed to save energy and resources, recycle materials and minimise the emission of toxic substances throughout its life cycle

2. Green buildings harmonise with the local climate, traditions, culture and the surrounding environment

3. Green buildings are able to sustain and improve the quality of human life whilst maintaining the capacity of the ecosystem at local and global levels

4. Green buildings make efficient use of resources, have significant operational savings and increases workplace productivity

5. Building green sends the right message about a company or organisation – that it is well run, responsible, and committed to the future

14.	Q	How do I go about applying to be a GBI Facilitator?
	A	There are set criteria to be accredited as a GBI Facilitator. These are available on the website, from the "Resources" section. If you have the basic qualifications, you will then have to attend the training course and also the written exercises and examination. GBI maintains a list of all accredited GBI Facilitators. If you have been working in the building industry and especially on energy efficient buildings, you should apply for the course.

15.	Q	How do I get to become a GBI Certifier?
	A	There are set criteria to be accredited as a GBI Certifier. These are available on the website, from the "Resources" section. GBI Certifiers are generally professionals with experience in the design, construction and commissioning of green, sustainable or energy- efficient buildings.

16.	Q	Why are there two different GBI tools for Residential and Non-Residential projects?
	A	GBI is unique in that we managed to develop separate tools concurrently for both Residential and Non-Residential projects. Most other green rating tools initially started with just the Non-Residential and subsequently developed the Residential. Residential buildings function differently from Commercial, Industrial or Institutional buildings and also have peak-use periods that differ markedly. For example - Non-Residential buildings usually operate at maximum capacity during the day whilst homes peak during the evening and night.

17.	Q	I want to start marketing my green building. How can GBI help?
	A	GBI certification involves two stages of certification. When you submit your design for assessment, we will carry out a Design Assessment. Your rating will be determined and you will be issued a provisional GBI rating certificate at the design stage. You may then use this provisional GBI certificate for marketing and promotion. Your provisional certificate will also be recorded in the Register of GBI accredited buildings for the public to verify. Upon completion of the building, a Completion & Verification Assessment will be carried out. This process will extend up to 12 months of the building completion or upon the building reaching not less than 50% occupancy (whichever is the earlier), to confirm the final certification rating of your building.

18.	Q	What happens if my building does not achieve the rating I want?
	A	You will have to review your design and make necessary changes to achieve the rating. Your GBI Facilitator may be able to suggest options for this. You may also make an appeal on any specific criteria by paying the necessary appeal fee.

19.	Q	How does the GBI work so as to make my building more “green”?
	A	GBI provides an assessable differentiation to promote environment-friendly buildings. Achieving points in the targeted areas will mean that the building will likely be more environment-friendly than those that do not address these critical issues. Under the GBI assessment framework, points will also be awarded for achieving and incorporating environment-friendly features which are above current industry practice. In addition GBI is a benchmarking rating system that incorporates the latest internationally recognised best practices in environmental design and performance.

20.	Q	How do I go about this? How does it work?
	A	Building owners, developers and consultants can make application for GBI assessment via submission of an Application Form and payment of the requisite fee to Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd (GSB). Applicants may then choose to appoint an accredited GBI Facilitator to provide professional services or identify their own Project Coordinator for this role. GSB will then assign an accredited GBI Certifier to assess the project. Upon completion of the assessment process, the Certifier’s report will be forwarded to the GBI Accreditation Panel (GBIAP) to register and award the certification. The assessment process involves an assessment at Design Stage leading to the award of a provisional GBI rating certificate. This is followed by a Completion & Verification Assessment (CVA) upon completion of the project. The final award is only given after the completion of the CVA which will extend up to12 months of the building completion or upon the building reaching not less than 50% occupancy (whichever is the earlier). Buildings will also have to be re-assessed every three years in order to maintain their GBI rating to ensure that buildings are well-sustained. Buildings are awarded GBI Malaysia - Platinum, Gold, Silver or Certified ratings depending on the scores achieved.

21.	Q	Is my GBI rating valid forever?
	A	The GBI rating awarded is only valid for 3 years. Buildings will have to be re-assessed every three years in order to maintain their GBI rating to ensure that buildings are well-sustained.