Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is about to get its very first Zero Energy Office Building (ZEB), and it is happening right at the headquarters of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) in Cyberjaya, thanks to a new collaboration with Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the joint initiative will retrofit SEDA's existing building into a highly energy-efficient facility, setting a benchmark for sustainable office retrofits not just in Malaysia, but across the wider ASEAN region. SEDA Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Hamzah Hussin highlighted the significance of this partnership with NEDO and Japanese technology companies as a major advancement in the country's efforts for cleaner energy and reduced carbon emissions.
"This project will serve as a practical model for building owners and industry stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable building practices. As the national authority for sustainable energy, SEDA Malaysia remains committed to driving innovation, strengthening international partnerships, and supporting Malaysia's transition towards a greener and more resilient future," he stated in a recent announcement.
Hamzah emphasized the project's demonstration of how existing buildings can lead the way in Malaysia's decarbonisation efforts. Spanning about 5,000 square metres, the building will undergo a comprehensive transformation using cutting-edge Japanese energy-saving technologies and smart, integrated building management solutions.
The project is led by NEDO and brings together the expertise of four prominent Japanese firms: Pacific Consultants Co Ltd, AGC Inc, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and Azbil Corporation. Key upgrades will include high-efficiency building systems, advanced Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) for real-time energy tracking, and renewable energy technologies such as Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
Additionally, the initiative will test the effectiveness of the ISO/TS 23764 methodology, a practical framework for decarbonising existing buildings, with the goal of collecting valuable data for broader adoption in the future.