Located at the crossroads of two major thoroughfares in downtown Kuala Lumpur, the 30-story twin G Tower features large green walls and rooftop gardens. Colin Ng, executive director, G Tower, said that the tower incorporated green elements right from the design stage such as proper orientation to the sun, water features, overlay green walls, koi pond and green walls system to help cool the building.
G tower uses 25% less energy compared to other buildings of similar size and location due to its efficient aircon and lighting systems. The extensive landscaping with sky gardens and green walls, help improve air quality. The building uses double glazed glass panel with a layer of vacuum between them that reduces heat transmission. A rainwater harvesting system is also featured, which helps irrigate plants and vertical greens found throughout the building. Hot water is generated through waste heat from the aircon system.
The building also features a new working concept, combining offices, a club and hotel all under one roof. It houses a 180-room business hotel with the biggest club floor in Southeast Asia spanning over 12,000 square feet. The carpets and the external timber decking use green-certified materials that are recyclable.
The interior decor features some old furniture that has been refurbished and reused. Some parts of the building have incorporated old recycled timber strips for its walls and flooring which lend a rustic feel to the building. The building also boasts a swimming pool that uses salt instead of chemicals to keep the water clean.
The green concept is generating a lot of interest in Malaysia with the government setting up a green building index. More buildings in Malaysia are seeking to be internationally certified.
The BCA Green Mark Scheme was launched by the BCA in January 2005 as a green building rating system to evaluate building for its environmental impact and performance. It aims to promote a sustainable built environment by incorporating best practices in environmental design and construction, and the adoption of green building technologies.
