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Benefiting from sustainable office buildings
Green habits: Employees of a company in Jakarta go about their work
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Green habits: Employees of a company in Jakarta go about their work. Even though green-office issues have become a talking point, many have yet to implement sustainability-supporting habits, such as switching off computers when not in use, using less paper, avoiding using plastic bottles, etc. (Courtesy of tribunnews.com) (Courtesy of tribunnews.com)
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span class="inline inline-none">Green habits: Employees of a company in Jakarta go about their work. Even though green-office issues have become a talking point, many have yet to implement sustainability-supporting habits, such as switching off computers when not in use, using less paper, avoiding using plastic bottles, etc. (Courtesy of tribunnews.com)
Making a building green may require a bigger investment, but the costs will most likely be offset by savings on electricity, energy and materials.
This year's Earth Day celebrations may have just passed, but some changes introduced this time around are here to stay.
At the headquarters of Holcim Indonesia, a new system has been set in place in the form of improved environmental management. In other words, better efforts to conserve energy and manage waste, maintain indoor air quality and sustain environmentally friendly office activities, such as double-sided printing for office documents and toner cartridge recycling. 'At the final stage, an external audit team will evaluate the office's performance for certification, if the savings can be validated,' said Devina Raditya, sustainability team leader at the Indonesian arm of the Swiss-based building materials manufacturer.
With that, Holcim Indonesia is expecting to be certified as an eco-office by the Singapore Environmental Council, an independent NGO established in 1995 to encourage sustainable practices. There are several areas in which an office must perform well in order to obtain certification, such as energy conservation, water conservation, purchasing, indoor air quality and waste management.
'Through the eco-office project, we hope that there will be a change in mind-set leading to the creation of good habits that the staff can share with their families at home,' said Raditya.
The fact that Holcim's head office is located in what is labeled a green building further adds to the value. Although some may dismiss the concept as a marketing gimmick, the increasing number of certificates issued by Green Building Council Indonesia, an independent institution that advocates sustainable construction, reflects a tangible trend in the property industry.
'The demand is certainly there for green buildings from both investors and occupiers for a number of reasons. One, a well-designed green building can be significantly cheaper to operate over the long term as energy consumption is expensive and a reduction of energy consumption is therefore a saving,' said Todd Lauchland, country head of property consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle Indonesia. 'Also, more and more companies have a CSR focus to ensure they look after the community and environment that they operate in and therefore would like to choose a building that has a lower impact on the environment.'
Different from typical commercial buildings, those labeled green are designed to minimize negative impacts of the buildings on human health and the environment. By building green, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, both economic and environmental performances can be maximized. The earlier a building engages in an integrated approach in its planning, the better.
'It's the economic law of demand and supply. The population of the Earth keeps growing, but not its resources, which is becoming increasingly disproportionate. By going green, we strive to not reduce the amount of supply,' said Cosmas Gozali, a Jakarta-based architect and author. One of his award-winning designs is the residence of the Swiss ambassador to Indonesia.
An ideal building, according to Gozali, is both resource-efficient and cozy. 'A green building concept means that the building must be environmentally friendly and energy efficient, during its construction and in its use, as well as providing positive impacts to its environment. It should make use of non-destructive technology or materials, including recycled materials, and manage the use of electricity and water. The use of secondary skin, to protect from and extract heat, can help cool the air,' says Gozali.
Although it may require a bigger investment, advocates of green buildings believe the costs will most likely be offset by savings on electricity, energy and materials. It is no surprise that such buildings are increasingly grabbing attention.
'The buildings are easier to sell or lease. However, of course there must also be a commercial benefit. From an occupier's perspective, people look for lower energy costs, good access to public transport and higher quality working environment. From owners or investors' perspectives, they look for lower long-term operating costs, higher occupancy, increased tenant retention and satisfaction, and higher property value over the life of the asset,' said Lauchland.
For corporations, switching from conventional commercial space to an environmentally friendly building may mean a smart investment in the long run, be it as a business strategy or for other reasons.
'Ideally, corporations should only launch their environment CSR programs after succeeding with green office practices. Then we're talking about programs that connect office workers with their social calls, such as planting trees, providing informational sessions at schools, seminars at universities, donating bicycles or cleaning up beaches,' said Verena Puspawardani, climate and energy campaign coordinator at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia.
The commitment to go green should not stop there, warns the environmental conservation organization. To support existing policy changes toward energy conservation, WWF Indonesia is also urging offices to conduct audits on energy use to further affirm companies' commitment to a sustainable environment.
