@ green | March-April , 2021

Photo Credits : Lin Ho

Started its sustainability journey in 2012 with the establishment of the Sustainability Programme ( SP ) Master Plan

Signage at the entrance of Hospital Sultanah Maliha , Langkawi describes the green building features of the hospital .

Prime Minister announced the first LEED Gold certified Healthcare Facility in Malaysia- Hospital Sultanah Maliha , Langkawi .

The Sustainability Program Master Plan 2025 Green Building target .

By SHEENA MOSES

This commitment has led to numerous policies and strategic plans that highlight the urgency for action under different industries and economic sectors . One such strategic plan is the Green Technology Master Plan .

The Green Technology Master Plan ( GTMP 2017 – 2030 ) is an outcome of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan ( 2016-2020 ), which outlines the sustainability goals and initiatives of six key sectors – Energy , Manufacturing , Transportation , Building , Waste and Water .

One of the key performance indicators is to increase the number of certified green buildings via either local or international green building certification tools under the building sector .

The GTMP has provided the opportunity for numerous government ministries to set annual KPIs towards achieving green building certification for both new and existing building stocks . The Ministry of Health ( MoH ) has been one of the leaders in ensuring these KPIs are met for the Malaysian healthcare facilities .

MoH started its sustainability journey back in 2012 with the establishment of the Sustainability Programme ( SP ) Master Plan , which calls for the greening of all existing hospitals . In selecting the correct green building rating tool , the local green building rating system MyCrest by CIDB and the Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design ( LEED ) by the US Green Building Council ( USGBC ) was shortlisted .

Priority was given to LEED due to its global recognition . It also set a higher benchmark for the categories under which the hospitals would be assessed .

In 2020 , the Prime Minister announced the first LEED Gold certified Healthcare Facility in Malaysia- Hospital Sultanah Maliha , Langkawi . The hospital went through almost four years of retrofits and performance period monitoring before being awarded a LEED Gold Certification under the Existing Buildings ( EBOM ) Version 4 tool .

Hospital Sultanah Maliha ' s ( HSM ) certification was the first but certainly not the last for MoH . Throughout 2018 , the ministry supported its five hospital facility concessionaires in conducting a rigorous nationwide Green Building Gap Analysis exercise and training workshops to set the foundation for not one but all hospitals to undertake .

Sustainability Programme Master Plan

The Sustainability Programme Master Plan targets to achieve LEED or MyCrest certification for 148 hospitals and selected clinics by 2025 .

This might make one wonder , is it really possible for our old hospital buildings to be certified at such a high level under a prestigious rating system without a complete overhaul ? The answer is a resounding yes .

The LEED for Existing Buildings rating tool assesses buildings under six key indicators - Location & Transportation , Sustainable Sites , Energy Efficiency , Water Efficiency , Material Use , and Indoor Environmental Quality . Under each category , the tool places a high emphasis on operational best management practices .

Figure above shows us how LEED points are spread out through each category and how much of those points are design-specific . Examples include roofing materials designed for the building and its ability to reflect solar radiation or strictly operational such as energy audits or indoor air quality testing as performance indicators .

To illustrate the significance of these credits , consider that it takes :

• 40-49 credits to be Certified

• 50-59 credits to achieve a Silver rating

• 60-79 credits to earn a Gold rating – for which HSM has acquired .

• 80 + credits to reach a Platinum rating

The Malaysian hospital buildings are advantageous when it comes to Energy Efficiency ( identified as Energy & Atmosphere by LEED ). Hospital Sultanah Maliha was able to achieve 28 out of 38 available points under this category .

The benchmark for assessing buildings energy performance under the LEED EBOM tool is done via a third-party data

Large open areas and naturally ventilated corridors at Hospital Sultanah Maliha , Langkawi .

sharing site – Energy Star Portfolio Manager . Building information , occupancy rates and energy and water data are uploaded . It is then given an Energy Star score of between 1-100 , which compares the building to similar buildings in the United States .

A score of 50 represents median energy performance , while a 75-100 would mean the building is a top energy performer . Most Malaysian government hospitals achieve 100 , which equals the maximum 20 points on the LEED scoreboard .

This is mainly because Malaysian hospitals such as HSM have been built with an open to nature concept , which allows a high per cent of floor area to be naturally ventilated – in the case of HSM , only 27 per cent of the gross floor area is air-conditioned .

While not ideal for challenging improvements in energy efficiency , the energy star score is a good indicator of the significant impact natural ventilation can have on a building ’ s energy performance in comparison to countries where the majority of spaces are air-conditioned and heated .

However , MoH has realised that this is not an ideal approach to assessing and improving its existing hospitals ’ energy performance , and over the past year , have worked with UiTM and IEN Consultants in developing a localised benchmark to ensure continued improvements for its hospitals .

Speaking of continued improvements in energy efficiency , the MoH Sustainability Master Plan also includes all hospitals ’ participation in the Energy Management Gold Standard certification by the ASEAN Energy Management Scheme ( AEMAS ).

Energy Management Matrix

Participation with AEMAS means that each hospital under MoH has developed , at a very minimum , an Energy Policy and a working Energy Management Committee . As part of the committee , a Certified Energy Manager ( CEM ) who plays the secretary ’ s role , is based on-site , conducts monthly reporting of energy consumption and budgeting for energy-related activities and guides the ASHRAE Level I and II Energy Audits for the hospitals .

AEMAS uses an Energy Management Matrix tool in assessing the building ’ s position in respect to energy management across seven key elements , which are – Policy & Systems , Organisation , Motivation , Information Systems , Training & Awareness , Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility .

Monthly energy reports by the CEM includes a summary of the hospitals ’ status / level on each element .

Energy efficiency is a strong point in the