Report of Sustainability Committee
PAQS 2019 KuChing Malaysia

1. The meeting of the committee was held on 23/8/2019 with the 14
representatives from 7 countries viz. Canada, Philippine, Malaysia,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka.
2. Last year, there were 5 member countries viz. Canada, New Zealand,
Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong submitted their summary ofgreen buildings, which were uploaded onto the PAQS web-site. As afollow-up action, 2 member countries have updated their summary ofgreen buildings on the following areas:a) Existing environmental assessment method for buildings;b) Statutory requirements on environmental buildings;c) Government incentives in encouraging environmental buildings;d) QS involvement in environmental buildings;e) Useful links; andf) Recent updates.
The updated summaries will be uploaded onto the PAQS website formembers’ information.
3.

It was reported that the research project funded by PAQS titled“Motivational factors & tangible benefits of green developmentbuildings” was completed and a final report was submitted to PAQS
for review and endorsement.

4.

The objectives of the research project were:- to identify the motivational and hindrance factors affecting green
building developments; and- to investigate performance and tangible benefits of green building
developments.

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5.

After conducting the literature review, the researchers had identified
the potential key factors affecting green building developments, and aquestionnaire survey was carried out to evaluate the extent of theirimplications. Based on the findings of the survey, the research has
made the following recommendations:a. Provide financial rewards to the construction team for their extra
efforts and skills put in adding values to green construction so as toenhance performances in cost, environmental sustainability &social sustainability;b. Provide financial rewards to the design team for their extra efforts
and skills putting in adding values to green building designs andfeatures so as to enhance time performance;c. Set the goal for green design and construction clearly at theproject inception stage so as to enhance environmental
sustainability, social sustainability, and marketing benefits;d. Include a clear goal for environmental sustainability in proactive
value management so as to enhance environmental sustainabilityperformance);e. Be early adopter /pioneer in the industry, i.e., go forsustainability even when green technologies are still deficient andwhen there is still insufficient fiscal incentives from thegovernment so as to enhance company’s marketing benefits; andf. Prevent overly rigorous policy packages to guide actions onsustainability so as to enhance project performance in terms of cost
and time.

6.

The meeting discussed the findings and recommendations of the final
report and had no comments. The report of the research is attached tothe bundle of this Board meeting for information and endorsement.
After obtaining the Board’s endorsement, the final report will be
posted onto the PAQS web-site for members’ information.
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7.

The committee proposed in the last PAQS in Sydney that to enhance
the knowledge sharing on sustainability and as a pilot arrangement,
the host country of the next PAQS conference (i.e.2019), Malaysia,
was invited to consider allocating a time slot of about 90 minutes in
the conference on a topic relating to the challenges of sustainability inits country. The exact topic was to be decided by Malaysia. The
committee would like to give wholehearted thanks for Malaysia as thehost country for arranging a whole session on the second day of theconference this year on the topic of sustainability excellence. The
committee considered that the PAQS conference is a good opportunity
for members to share information and experience on green buildings,
and therefore proposed the hosting country, Singapore, to consider
organizing a sharing session on the topic of sustainability in the PAQS
conference in 2020 as well.

8.

The committee agreed that a summary of green buildings prepared byeach member country would enrich the members’ information on thedevelopment of green buildings in other countries. As such, other than
the five member countries mentioned in item 2 above, the committee
would like to invite the remaining member countries to submit asummary of green buildings in their countries for posting onto thePAQS web-site for information. The summary would be updated
annually before the PAQS conference.

9.

To enhance the communication between members of the committee, awhatsapp group and email group had already been set up. Throughthese communication channels, members can share their views andknowledge on sustainability more frequently throughout the year
before the next committee meeting.

Reported by Sr Daniel Ho of HKIS

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