Green Materials – What are the Standards and Specifications for Green Material Certification?

Prof. Ir. Dr. Zuhairi bin Abd. HamidExecutive Director,

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM)

Presentation Outline

• Introduction: Sustainable and Green Building

• Role and Functions on Green Initiative by CREAM

• Process Green Certification on Construction Materials and Products

• Way Forward

What is sustainability and why is it important?

The United Nations Brundtland Commission Report (1987) defined sustainable development and urged the world to take note: “Sustainable development is that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” A growing global population is straining the finite resources available on the planet. Sustainability seeks to balance the economic, social, and environmental impacts, recognizing that population growth will continue. Sustainable development brings this evaluation to the design and construction industries, which have significant potential to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment.

Impact of the built environment

• 40% of the world’s energy• 25% of the timber harvested• 16% of the fresh water used• 50% ozone depleting CFC’s• 30% of raw materials used• 35% of CO2 emissions• 40% of landfill waste

Source: USGBC

Defining a visionA Smart Sustainable Eco Building (new / refurbished) will:

1. apply the general principles of sustainability;

2. Result from the involvement of all interested parties and be designed to meet itsoccupants’ needs individually and collectively;

3. be completely integrated into the relevant local building, town planning orenvironmental-planning schemes and infrastructures;

4. be designed from a Life Cycle perspective;

5. have its environmental impact optimized over the estimated service life;

6. deliver economic value over time;

7. provide social and cultural value over time and for all;

8. be healthy, comfortable, safe and accessible for its occupants;

9. be designed or refurbished to be user-friendly, simple and cost effective inoperation, with measurable technical and environmental performances over time;

10. be designed or refurbished to be adaptable throughout its service life, with anend-of-life strategy. Source: G Masera, G Iannaccone– Smart-ECO buildings

10 Principles of the Green Way

Principle 1:Focus on the Big Picture

Green mindset from onset

Holistic Approach

Principle 2: Choose a

Sustainable Site

Regeneration

Damage to natural

resources

Accommodate with existing

facilities

Principle 3: Do the Math

Apply Cost Benefit Analysis

(CBA)

Return on Investment

(ROI)

Principle 4:Site Plan Work

for You

Site planning strategy

Building Orientation

Principle 5:Landscape for

Savings

Cost effective tools

Principle 6: Design for

Greater Green

Design management

Shapes, colours,

orientation, materials used

Principle 7:Take

Advantage of Technology

Creating innovation in

building

Principle 8:Save and

Manage Water

Rainwater Harvesting

Conserving irrigation systems

Effective Storm Water

Management Systems

Principle 9:Use Alternative

Materials

3R; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Non-toxic alternative

building materials

Principle 10:Construct

Green

Construction process

Recycle construction

waste materials

Source: Green Business Strategy, Harvard Business Review

Green Building“ An integrated framework of design, construction, operations, and demolition

practices that encompass the environmental, economic, and social

impacts of buildings.”

“ Building practices recognizing the interdependence of the natural and built

environment and seek to minimize the use of energy, water, and other natural

resources while providing a healthy and productive indoor environment.”

Source: Hillsborough Building and Planning, US

What is Green Technology Opportunities

Green Technology & Opportunities

Energy & Technology

Solar powerWind powerEnergy Storage & Transportation

BuildingDesignConstructionBuilding Materials

Public Sector & Utilities

Planning EnergyWater

Green Building

• Sustainable• Durable/Adaptable• Building beyond the codes• Build for the occupant• Whole systems approach

Barriers to Green

• Codes/Standards• Education• Cost• Products not available• Breaking tradition

Reasons to Build Green

• Mandated• Market demands• Occupant comfort and health• Save $• Environmental responsibility

Reasons to Build Green (Continued)

“ Building to code means that if a building were designed any worse it would be against the law.”

Source: Randy Croxton, Architect

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM’s) Initiative towards Green Building

ECO-LABELLING TASK FORCE

ORGANISATION:• Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM)

• SIRIM• Association Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM)• Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM)• Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM)• Malaysia Green Building Confederation (MGBC) • Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)• Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM)• Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)

ECO-LABELLING STANDARD DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Renewal

Award of Eco-Labelling Certification

Identify Product for Eco-labelling

Feasibility study on Product againstEstablished Product Standard

Submit Application to Eco-Labelling Institute

Processing of Application by institute or appointed CB

Factory and Product Assessment

Preparation of Report

Approval on Eco-Labelling Product

Send Product for Testing at Accredited Lab

Product Criteria Document Setting

Which institute? i.e. CREAM

The Green Building Guide to Specification and Environmental Profiles methodology research programme project steering group

The Green Guide to Specification and Environmental Profiles methodology critical peer review panel

Environmental Profiles methodology third-party peer review panel

TASK FORCE STEERING GROUP AND PEER REVIEW PANELS ON DOCUMENTING GREEN GUIDE SPECIFICATION

Source: Green Guide to Specification brepress

The Green Guide for typical and common building elemental categories:

•Ground floors•Upper floors•Separating floors•Roofs•External walls•Windows and curtain walling•Internal walls•Separating walls•Insulation•Landscaping

Source: Green Guide to Specification brepress

Examples of available points in new construction

Source: Hillsborough Building and Planning, US

Examples of available points in a basic remodel

Source: Hillsborough Building and Planning, US

Examples of available points in a bathroom remodel

Source: Hillsborough Building and Planning, US

Examples of available points in a kitchen remodel

Source: Hillsborough Building and Planning, US

Green Examples

Bamboo Flooring

FACE Certified Wood

Glass Tile

Source: Hillsborough Building and Planning, US

The Preparation towards GREEN……..

Source; 2nd Green Building Master plan, BCA Singapore

Sustainability and Green Construction through Industrialised Building System

(IBS) in the Malaysian Construction Industry : A Research Initiative

Zuhairi Abd. Hamid, Kamarul Anuar Mohamad Kamar, Charles Egbu, Mohamad Arif, Mohd Khairolden Ghani

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM) & University of Salford,UK

Is precast concrete a green building material?

Precast concrete contributes to green building practices in significantways. The low water-cement ratios possible with precast concrete -0.36to 0.38- mean it can be extremely durable. The thermal mass ofconcrete allows shifting of heating and cooling loads in a structure tohelp reduce mechanical-system requirements. Because precastconcrete is factory-made, there is little waste created in the plant (mostplants employ exact-batching technologies) and it reduces constructionwaste and debris on site, reducing construction IAQ concerns. The load-carrying capacities, optimized cross sections, and long spans possiblewith precast concrete members help eliminate redundant members, andc o n c r e t e r e a d i l y a c c o m m o d a t e s r e c y c l e d c o n t e n t .

Source: Midway-Atlantic Precast Association

How does precast concrete contribute to the underlying sustainability concept of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”?

By reducing the amount of materials and the toxicity of waste materials.Precast concrete can be designed to optimize (lessen) the amount of concrete used in a structure or element

As one example, the use of carbon-fiber reinforcement or insulation can reduce:

• Amount of concrete needed in a precast concrete panel• Weight of a precast concrete panel• Transportation cost of precast concrete panel• Amount of energy used to erect a precast concrete panel

Precast concrete generates low amounts of waste with low toxicity

• 2% of the concrete at a precast plant is waste• 95% of the waste is used to manufacture new panels• By reusing products and containers and repairing what can be reused• Precast concrete panels can be reused when buildings are expanded or dismantled• Concrete pieces from demolished structures can be reused to protect shorelines• Wood or fiberglass formwork used to make precast concrete products is generally reused 40 or more

times• Concrete and steel have practically unlimited service lives• By recycling as much as possible, including buying products with recycled content• Industrial wastes (fly ash, slag, and silica fume) can be used as partial replacements for cement• Wood and steel forms are recycled when they become worn or obsolete• Virtually all reinforcing steel is made from recycled steel• Insulation contains partially recycled material• Concrete in most urban areas is recycled as fill or road base Source:Midway-Atlantic Precast Association

Potential Roles of IBS in Green Construction and Sustainability

Potential Role of IBS in

Green Construction

& Sustainability

Sustainabilityfrom

Controlled Production

Environment

IBS & Waste Reduction

IBS &Building Materials

IBS & Logistics

IBS & Economic

Sustainability

Green Building Index (GBI)

• Developed by Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) and Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) to promote sustainability in Built Environment

• Six (6) key criteria including energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, sustainable site planning, material and resources, water efficiency and innovation

• Stamp duty exemption for buyers of buildings with Green Building Index Certificates

• Tax exemption equivalent to the additional capital expenditure to obtain Green Building index certificate from October 24 this year to 31st December 2014

GBI Incentives

• Establish Standards on Green Building Materials

• Malaysian Construction move towards Sustainable and Green Procurement Initiatives

Conclusion

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA

MAKMAL KERJA RAYA MALAYSIA

PUSAT IBS, BLOK E, TINGKAT 1

JALAN CHAN SOW LIN

55200 KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIA

60-3-9281 0800

60-3-9282 4800

http://www.cream.com.my

THANK YOU

“Make CREAM your partner in R&D”