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21 Jul 2025
8 Min Read
Dr Sujatavani Gunasagaran (Academic Contributor)
You’re standing beneath a shimmering high-rise, its glass façade catching the midday sun. Near the entrance, a shiny gold plaque reads: ‘GBI Platinum Certified.’ You’ve heard of it before — maybe in school, a documentary, or social media. It feels impressive, like a stamp of approval that says: This building is good for the planet.
But what if that seal doesn’t tell the whole story?
At their core, green certifications are rating systems. They assess how well a building conserves resources, manages energy and water use, protects occupant’s health, and reduces environmental harm. Buildings and developments are awarded certification levels from Certified for passing the minimum, then Silver to Platinum for being the best in green.
In Asia, these are some of the key certification systems you’ll often come across:
These systems are more than technical checklists. They influence construction costs, shape public policy, and affect who gets access to ‘sustainable’ infrastructure.
Green buildings shouldn’t be seen as premium add-ons or luxury projects for high-end developments. They need to become the baseline—standard practice across the entire construction industry. Right now, green design is often positioned as an upgrade, something you opt into if you have the budget or want a marketing edge. That mindset is part of the problem.
If sustainability is treated as optional, we end up reinforcing environmental inequality. Wealthier communities get access to better air quality, thermal comfort, and lower energy bills. Meanwhile, lower-income populations are left with buildings that are hotter, less efficient, and more expensive to maintain over time. That’s not sustainable—it’s just unequal.
The shift we need is systemic. Green practices—like passive design, efficient materials, low-carbon construction, and smart water use — should be embedded in every project from the start, whether it’s a luxury condo, a public school, or affordable housing. Building codes, procurement policies, and education in architecture and engineering schools need to reflect that urgency.
Put simply, green shouldn’t be a bonus. It should be the minimum.
Asia is urbanising at a breakneck pace. By 2050, over 60% of Asians will live in cities. More cities mean more concrete, steel, and energy consumption — and a massive environmental footprint unless things change. Green certifications act as both guideposts and gatekeepers. They tell developers how to build better and signal to governments and investors which projects are worth supporting.
Back in 2020, the Green Building Index (GBI) had 516 certified projects. By December 2023, this number had increased to 671 projects, covering 300 million square feet of green buildings—signalling a steady rise in green-certified developments. As of June 2025, Malaysia’s GBI has recorded a total of 753 fully certified projects.
Although there is a steady increase in total certified projects since the 2020 till now, there is a vast difference than Singapore’s Green Mark certification scheme which was launched 20 years ago with 17 certified buildings in 2005. As of March 2025, Singapore now boasts 2,590 Green Mark-certified buildings. These green buildings collectively save over 4.2 billion kWh energy annually, equivalent to 1.3 billion SGD (1 billion USD) in cost savings per year.
Some of the famous certified landmarks include:
Menara Kerja Raya (Malaysia)
GBI Platinum
Located in Kuala Lumpur, this government office tower incorporates rooftop solar panels, motion-sensor LED lighting, and a rainwater harvesting system. It also uses smart energy management to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours. The building serves as a model for how public sector infrastructure can lead in sustainable design. Image Source: Green Building Index.
Marina One (Singapore)
Green Mark Platinum
Marina One is built around a multi-level central garden dubbed the ‘Green Heart’, with 37,000 m² of landscaped area, hosting over 700 trees and 350 plant species, reassuring biodiversity in an urban environment. Its design features naturally ventilated corridors, solar shading that reduces 33% solar heat gain and more, promoting measurable efficiency, ecological functionality, and the human experience in a tropical urban setting. Image Source: ArchDaily.
TRX Tower (Malaysia)
LEED Gold and GBI Gold
The Tun Razak Exchange, an iconic tower embodies Malaysia’s ambition to meet global sustainability benchmarks while aligning with green building standards. TRX pledges climate resilience by adopting designs to protect against flood modelling, reducing its potable water demand by 50%, maximising onsite rainwater retention and the use of water recycling systems to recover over 80% of wastewater.
Shanghai Tower (China)
LEED Platinum and Three-Star Certification
As China’s tallest building, the Shanghai Tower isn’t just an engineering marvel, it’s also a landmark in sustainable design. Its aerodynamic twisting shape reduces wind loads, and it features 270 wind turbines, a double-skin façade for thermal insulation, and advanced greywater recycling. The tower cuts energy use by more than 20%, setting the standard for high-rise sustainability in East Asia.
The perception of green certifications like LEED is that it carries more than just environmental value — they hold symbolic weight on the global stage. For governments and developers, earning such recognition signals international credibility, marking a project as part of a progressive, climate-conscious future.
While, LEED holds a massive global presence, but in Asia, its adoption is often tied to international branding and prestige rather than responsiveness to local climate or contextual needs.
There’s a layer of soft diplomacy as well. Countries often showcase green-certified megaprojects to boost their image, attract international investment, and demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship. These certifications, over time, become intertwined with national identity — a green badge of honour that reflects ambition and modernity.
In Southeast Asia (SEA), countries are working together through initiatives like the ASEAN Smart Cities Network to make cities more sustainable. One way they’re doing this is by using green certification standards when planning new buildings, public housing, and city developments.
The goal is to have a common approach to sustainability across the region. But it’s not just about looking good — certified buildings can actually save money over time, create healthier spaces to live and work in, and reduce environmental impact by using energy and resources more efficiently.
Green certifications are often seen as a top standard for sustainable buildings, but they’re not perfect. One common criticism is that these systems can sometimes focus too much on ticking boxes instead of creating real environmental change. For example, a developer might install a vertical garden to earn points, but over time, may discard it for the high maintenance costs.
Another issue is the cost. Getting a green certification can be very expensive. It often requires expert consultants, lots of paperwork, and detailed inspections. For big companies, this might not be a problem. But for smaller developers or community projects, the cost can be a major barrier, making it harder for everyone to take part in building sustainably.
The result? A landscape where wealthy nations like Singapore and Japan lead in green-certified buildings, while countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar are left behind — even though these regions often face the most urgent climate and infrastructure challenges.
If we want green buildings to work for everyone, not just for large companies or wealthy developers, we need to rethink how green certifications are designed, especially in Asia. One important step is embracing and being proud of our local traditions.
We also need to make green certification more affordable and fairer. Right now, it can be costly for smaller companies or community projects to apply for and maintain these certifications. To fix this, governments could offer financial support such as subsidies, simpler certification processes, or even green loans to help older buildings become more eco-friendly.
Malaysia has already started doing this by encouraging the use of the GBI in affordable housing projects. This is a step in the right direction — helping everyday people benefit from green design, not just big developers.
Should green buildings be the norm? Making green building the standard - not a premium - can drive real change to climate change. With passive design, smart technology, and energy efficient systems - sustainability should become part of every build, removing cost barriers and redefining the basics.
True sustainability is more than certifications and checklists — it’s about designing buildings that are practical, climate-smart, and built for the long term. It means valuing local solutions, rethinking what ‘cost’ really means, and making sustainability the standard, not the exception.
The future of construction needs fresh thinkers who aren’t afraid to challenge outdated systems and lead change. If you're someone who believes we can build better, greener cities for everyone — this is your moment to be part of that transformation.
If you’re curious about what truly makes a building sustainable — not just certified — start your journey with the Foundation in Natural and Built Environments. From there, step into the future with a degree in Sustainable Digital Construction Management and learn how to design, build, and lead projects that don’t just look green — but are green.
