Green Building Index (GBI) is Malaysia's leading green buildingcertification system and certification tool developed to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise awareness of environmental issues.[1] Established in 2009, GBI provides an objective and independent framework to assess the environmental performance of buildings across various typologies and life cycles.
The Green Building Index (GBI) is a sustainability rating tool specifically developed for Malaysia's built environment, aligning closely with national regulations and standards. It is fully harmonised with key local frameworks such as Malaysian Standard MS 1525:2019 – Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy for Non-Residential Buildings[2] and the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984 (Amendment 2021), ensuring relevance, compliance, and applicability within the Malaysian context.[3]
Green Building Index is support by the Malaysia Green Building Council (malaysiaGBC) under the auspices of the World Green Building Council (WGBC)
History
The GBI was officially launched on 21 May 2009, as Malaysia's national green rating tool. It was created in response to increasing global and regional demand for environmentally responsible construction and urban development. Since its inception, GBI has certified hundreds of buildings in Malaysia and has played a pivotal role in shaping the country's sustainable design and construction standards.
The system is managed and administered by Green Building Index Sdn Bhd, a non-profit entity jointly formed by PAM and ACEM.
GBI Criteria
The GBI criteria are established to reflect the core sustainability concerns of Malaysia's construction industry. Developed through a comprehensive consensus-driven process, the GBI tool embodies the collective input of key industry stakeholders—including building owners, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, and allied professionals.
It serves as a practical and context-sensitive framework tailored to Malaysia's environmental, regulatory, and industry-specific needs.
Outlined below is a summary of the key assessment criteria:
1. Energy Efficiency (EE)
Objective: To reduce energy consumption and promote energy-efficient systems and designs.
Key Aspects:
Optimised building orientation and façade design
Efficient air-conditioning, lighting, and mechanical systems
Integration of renewable energy sources
Use of smart meters and energy management systems
2. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Objective: To ensure a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for occupants.
Key Aspects:
Daylighting and glare control
Indoor air quality and ventilation performance
Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) materials
Acoustic comfort and thermal comfort
3. Sustainable Site Planning & Management (SSPM)
Objective: To encourage responsible land use, reduce urban heat island effects, and manage site impacts sustainably.
Key Aspects:
Preservation of natural site features and biodiversity
Stormwater management and erosion control
Public transport access and connectivity
Heat island mitigation and green landscaping
4. Materials & Resources (MR)
Objective: To encourage the use of environmentally friendly materials and responsible construction practices.
Key Aspects:
Use of recycled, locally sourced, and sustainable materials
Responsible sourcing and environmental declarations
Efficient waste management during construction and operation
Reuse and adaptive reuse of building components
5. Water Efficiency (WE)
Objective: To reduce potable water consumption and encourage rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
Key Aspects:
Water-efficient fixtures and fittings
Rainwater harvesting systems
Greywater and blackwater treatment and reuse
Monitoring and sub-metering of water use
6. Innovation (IN)
Objective: To recognise and encourage innovative green features and strategies that go beyond existing best practices.
Key Aspects:
Novel approaches to sustainability
Advanced monitoring and automation systems
Community engagement and education initiatives
Contributions to broader environmental and social sustainability
Rating Tools
GBI has developed 18 specialised tools that cater to different building typologies and project stages. These tools evaluate performance in areas such as energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning, materials and resources, water efficiency, and innovation.
GBI Rating Tools
The Green Building Index (GBI) offers 18 specialised tools, each meticulously developed to address the unique characteristics and performance requirements of distinct building typologies. This ensures that sustainability strategies are appropriately tailored, recognising that each building type functions differently in terms of design, usage, and environmental impact.
GBI Non-Residential New Construction (NRNC) Tool V1.0
GBI Residential New Construction (RNC) Tool V3.0
GBI Non-Residential Existing Building (NREB) Tool V1.0
GBI Industrial New Construction (INC) Tool V1.0
GBI Industrial Existing Building (IEB) Tool V1.0
GBI NRNC: Data Centre Tool V2.0
GBI NREB: Data Centre Tool V2.0
GBI NRNC: Retail Tool V1.0
GBI NREB: Retail Tool V1.0
GBI NRNC: Hotel Tool V1.0
GBI NREB: Hotel Tool V1.0
GBI NRNC: Resort Tool V1.0
GBI NREB: Resort Tool V1.0
GBI NRNC: Hospital Tool V1.0
GBI NREB: Hospital Tool V1.0
GBI Interiors Tool V1.0
GBI Township Tool V2.0
GBI NREB: Historic Building Tool V1.0
Certification Process
The certification process includes registration, preliminary submission, design assessment, construction assessment, and final certification. Projects are evaluated by a team of accredited GBI Facilitators and independently reviewed by GBI Certifiers.
GBI awards certification levels based on performance, namely:
Rating level
Points required
Concept of Rating
Platinum
86+ points
Platinum rating signifies that a building exemplifies world-class sustainability performance, positioning it on par with the highest standards recognised by leading international green building rating systems.
Gold
76 - 85 points
Gold rating reflects excellence in sustainable building performance at the national level, demonstrating leadership in best practices, design innovation, and environmental stewardship within the Malaysian context.
Silver
66 - 75 points
Silver rating represents a building that has successfully implemented recognised best practices in sustainability, reflecting a strong commitment to environmentally responsible design and operational performance.
Certified
50 - 65 points
Certified rating indicates that the building has achieved above-average performance in sustainability, meeting essential benchmarks in environmental design and operational efficiency.
Governance
The GBI organisation is overseen by a board of directors and technical committees comprising professionals from the architecture, engineering, and sustainability sectors. The Board of Directors of the Green Building Index (GBI) serves as the governing body representing the key stakeholders and proprietors of GBI. It is entrusted with setting the strategic direction and overseeing the long-term vision and governance of the organisation. The current composition of the GBI Board, chaired by [insert name if available], is as follows:
Ar. Adrianta Aziz (PAM President 2025–2026) Chairman of the Board
The current Chief Executive Officer is Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum, a prominent figure in Malaysia's architectural and green building advocacy landscape. He also represents GBI on regional platforms such as the Arcasia Committee on Green and Sustainable Architecture (ACGSA).
GBI certification is administered independently through a structured and impartial process overseen by the Accreditation Panel(AP)- a distinguished body comprising senior practitioners with extensive expertise in green building practices. Acting as the final authority, the Accreditation Panel conducts a thorough review following the assessment by a designated GBI Certifier. Submissions for certification may be initiated either by a GBI Facilitator or the building owner, after which the project is formally assigned to a certified assessor to ensure transparency, consistency, and technical rigour in the evaluation process.
The current Accreditation Panel is led by Ar Chan Seong Aun.
See also
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE)
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