Lukewarm reception to Cyberjaya green building scheme

DESPITE offering a 5% assessment rebate for buildings certified with the Green Building Index (GBI) in Cyberjaya, only one building owner out of the 11 GBI-certified buildings had applied for the scheme. Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) president Puasa Md Taib said that the council had started the scheme in 2013 but the response was lukewarm.

“We will send out an official letter to invite them to participate in the scheme,” he said after chairing the council’s full board meeting yesterday. He added that the scheme was to encourage developers to practise energy efficiency and green technology in their buildings, as part of the council’s mission to be a low-carbon city.

“The building owners have to submit an application and we will appoint experts to inspect the building for it to be qualified for the rebate,” he said.

Meanwhile, the council is also braced for floods during the monsoon season.

“We have identified 10 flash flood hotspots in the Sepang district and our flood team under the Enforcement Department is always on standby,” said Puasa. Some of the usual flooding areas are Pinggiran Cyber, Selangor Science Park 2, Taman Mas, Pekan Salak and Desa Merpati.

“Some of the areas are prone to flooding because they are located in low areas and also situated near the river or sea,” he said.

Puasa said the council would work closely with its councillors to report on flooding.