Green Developer

I met with Sam Tan, a young developer whom is passionate about green building and sustainable environment recently. The way he conveyed to me about greenies things that he aspired, and in fact has done give me more hope on our next generation of urban development. While our country targeted to reduce 40% carbon emission by 2020, not all sectors have gone into exploring the strategies and actions to realise the target. Many have on their own initiative trying to put green here and there without an overview of how to do it strategically. Sam demonstrated to me how an existing building has been transformed into a green building with accreditation. At the same time, how a township development was accreditated. Sam shared with me his idea of renovating a building currently used as an orphanage home in PJ. What amazing the most is he managed to influence and bring on board other young developers. Presumbly, I am impressed with what presented to me and change my little perception towards developers.

The bigger challenge of course is still go back to the bottom line of dollars and cents. No point of talking about going green if you cannot make a profit. Worst still making a loss. So, the question is how to be motivated for going green? Either getting the feel good sense or the economic incentive. Some said, at the initial stage we might wish to offer incentive for people going green simply because nobody has started it and the purchasers have not made a request for it. Sam, however has a different idea of getting it done first and offered an option for the purchasers. The sale of development project and value appreciation on his properties shown that he has made a right choice and create a nieche market and branding for himself. Being environmental friendly is still profitable is being tested now. The success story of company that Sam represented justified this call.