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As developers scramble for ways to lure potential buyers out of their shells due to the prevailing gloomy global economy, one solution many of them agree on is that there is a need to be "innovative".
This can take many forms, from creating appealing concepts to finding ways to keep building costs down in the face of rising inflation.
Yet another is the result of the global movement for eco- friendly houses that can save energy, lower monthly household expenditures, minimize damage caused to the Earth after decades of neglect and prevent the disregard from ever happening again. Despite the low energy and fuel cost Malaysia enjoys which has given rise to much waste and squandering of natural resources, the march in the "green" direction is steadily gaining momentum, with many owners and developers getting on track.
Among the features they are incorporating: Rainwater recycling units, house orientations that allow more natural lighting and ventilation indoors, photovoltaic (PV) panels that generate electricity from the sun and eco-building materials that are produced without leaving huge carbon footprints.
By joining the green brigade, many developers see that they will be able to gain both in terms of attracting demand from the growing eco-conscious population and by earning premiums from their efforts.
Companies coming to the forefront include Putrajaya Perdana Bhd (PPB) with its D'Heron at the lakes in Precinct 16 of Putrajaya; SP Setia Bhd with its Eco Villas in Setia Eco Park in Shah Alam, Selangor; and Amarin Wickham Sdn Bhd (AWSB) with its Amarin Wickham in Jalan Wickham, Kuala Lumpur.
PPB senior general manager Bu Teng Cheng said D'Heron at the lakes bungalows comes with inverter-type air- conditioners that consume up to 40 percent less electricity; windows with low-emissive glazing and autoclaved solar heat transmission thereby resulting in lower heat load on; insulated roofing that reduces heat load on the 1st floor of the house; rainwater harvesting units; and solar heaters which help to reduce electricity bills. For SP Seta’s Eco Villas, the company's chief executive officer Koe Peng Kang said the green features includes full height windows that provide good cross ventilation and a sky garden with mini foliage on part of the roof, which acts as a cooling agent.
Koe too sees the future in solar power but feels it will be a niche-offering at best because “the prohibitive cost of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technology won't make it available to the masses anytime soon ”. “But we acknowledge it is the way to go ... in the long run solar-powered house will be able to cut down energy costs and reduce carbon emission”, he said.
“What's more, BIPV can turn into a mini power-plant as any surplus power it produces can be put back into the national grid, which would help to offset monthly electricity bills.”
AWSB director Andrew Hah said environmentally-friendly houses aren't only those with the latest energy-saving devices but which consider how to conserve and preserve from the onset.”
“From the construction stage, developers should use local building materials as much as possible as this would reduce carbon emissions created from the transportation of imported goods”, he said.
“Furthermore, houses should be designed in such a way that their windows and doors face north or south to reduce heat gain... roof should be properly treated either by insulating them to minimize heat exchange or by installing roof gardens.”
Hah said systems that recycle grey water waste and rainwater for outdoor use such as watering plants should be introduced.
“We have put our know-how for sustainable living in our Amarin Wickham condominium and by doing do, have opened a market of alternatives”, he said.
D'Heron at the lakes, Eco villas and Amarin Wickham share a common bond in energy conversion in that they all also feature BIPV panels that will aid in lowering energy costs.
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