New Highrise Development Defies Malaysia’s Unsustainable Norms

A new addition to Kuala Lumpur’s host of luxury residential developments is being planned.  Like others, it comes complete with amenities like a 50-yard lap pool, 100 retail shops, a garden lounge, penthouse and other recreational facilities.  Unlike the rest, the project has been designed from the very beginning with a focus on sustainability and encouraging green living in Malaysia.

The project couldn’t come at a better time – Malaysia needs a new take on development.  Twenty-four percent of Malaysia’s carbon emissions come from the construction sector, a figure that contributes heavily to Malaysia’s struggles with global warming and air pollution.  The country’s lack of energy efficiency laws enables constructed buildings to operate wastefully and pump out more GHG emissions.  Water reservoirs are at a historic low thanks to unscrupulous local use, poor waste management has created a pileup of toxic trash plaguing the country’s economy and natural environment, and a culture unenthused with environmentalism is driving dangerously unsustainable growth ever onward.

EcoSky, as the new development is called, will defy Malaysia’s unsustainable norm at every turn.  Sleek marketing and a rather materialistic tone to the project’s website make it seem like sustainability is just being used as another selling point, but EcoSky involves green building practices that are much more than skin deep.  The building has promised to adhere to a low concrete usage index during construction, and once operational, will cut energy use by employing daylight and natural ventilation to service all of its lobbies, halls, restrooms, staircases and elevators.   A rainwater collection system will be used to irrigate the landscape , and water-efficient fixtures will be installed throughout the facility.

Another thing that sets EcoSky apart from the rest is its dedication to encouraging green living at the individual level.  Composted waste from residential and commercial tenants will be used to fertilize gardens, leading the public away from landfill disposal.  Covered pathways will take tenants from their homes directly to public transportation services, incentivizing the use of sustainable transportation.

These features and functions of EcoSky are a direct reaction to Malaysia’s problems.  They – and the lifestyle they promote – will go towards mitigating these issues, protecting Malaysia’s environment and pursuing a stable and sustainable future.