In the modern era, environmental consciousness is on the rise. One concrete step to take is constructing eco-friendly buildings, commonly known as green buildings. This article will discuss about green building definition, its concepts, and benefits, and provide specific examples in Indonesia.
What is Green Building?
Green building is an approach to designing, constructing, and managing buildings with a focus on resource efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and occupant well-being. According to experts, green buildings take a holistic approach, considering aspects like energy and water usage, eco-friendly materials, and indoor air quality.
Green Building Concepts
Green building concepts encompass key principles such as energy efficiency, wise use of natural resources, utilization of renewable energy, and designs that enhance occupant health and comfort. These buildings also prioritize the entire lifecycle, from design to demolition. Key green building requirements include using eco-friendly materials, optimizing energy and water usage, and proper waste management.
Benefits of Green Building
- Improved Quality of Life
Green buildings aim to enhance the quality of life by creating comfortable and healthy environments, including increased access to natural light and proper air circulation.
- Efficient Water Usage
Green buildings are water-efficient, for instance, using vacuum toilet systems that conserve water, contributing to resource savings.
- Reduced Operational Costs
Green building concepts, including solar panels, help cut operational costs, particularly in terms of electricity usage.
- Carbon Footprint Reduction
Green buildings help diminish carbon footprints and harmful emissions, contributing to environmental protection and climate change prevention.
- Building Resilience
Applying green building concepts boosts building resilience and longevity through quality construction materials and adaptable designs.

Green Building Certification
The Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI) administers the Green Building certification program in Indonesia. GBCI adopts international standards and issues certifications evaluating building performance in energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, and eco-friendly materials.
Greenship Certification is the official recognition by GBCI, assessing and certifying the environmental performance of various infrastructure projects in Indonesia. The focus includes energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality. Projects achieving specific scores in these categories attain different certification levels, such as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. In administering and verifying green building certifications in Indonesia, GBCI has appointed PT Sertifikasi Bangunan Hijau (SBH).

Examples of Green Building in Indonesia
Awareness of green building importance is growing in Indonesia. Large projects are adopting green building principles, such as office buildings with efficient cooling systems, natural light utilization, and green roofs. According to an article by Kompas.com, as of March 2023, the 22 buildings with platinum ratings include:
- BCA Tower
- Pacific Place
- Ministry of PUPR Main Building
- Sampoerna Strategic Square
- Alamanda Tower
- The Body Shop Indonesia Office
- Wisma Mulia 2
- Wisma BCA Foresta
- Bank Danamon Tower
- Pacific Century Place
- United Tractors Head Office
- Dusaspun Gunung Putri
- Green Office Park
- PMBS University of Prasetya Mulia Building
- Green Office ESPI
- Toto Building
- Unilever Building
- Sopo Del Office Tower A
- HK Tower
- JB Tower
- RDTX Place
- Plaza BNI

Conclusion
This blog has explained what green building definition is, its concepts, and benefits, and provided concrete examples in Indonesia. As previously mentioned, green buildings are crucial for environmental sustainability. By implementing these concepts, Indonesia can move towards a greener, more sustainable future for the next generations. Support from various parties, including the government, developers, and society, is essential to realize this vision!
See you in the next blog, Nextlivin Community!