Standardised Certification Is Key To Drive Green Technology In Region

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- Businesses in Southeast Asia are largely signed up to the idea of ‘going green’, but would be more likely to adopt the technology if standardised certification and regulations governing its use across the region were put in place. Oxford Business Group (OBG) Regional Editor Paulius Kuncinas said the introduction of regional certification, with added incentives, greater technological guidance and improved information, would push growth in the industry and instil investor confidence. "Green technology, if properly executed, can save some 40 to 60 per cent in energy costs," Kuncinas said in a statement on Friday. He said without clear and consistent certification, it would be hard for companies to reach an investment decision on what are the cost and benefits of going green. "They fear that what is considered to be green today may no longer be considered so in a couple of years’ time," he added. Kuncinas also highlighted the concerns on the lack of local expertise in green technology and that few local companies specialised in the field. "Foreign companies, on the other hand, were viewed as unfamiliar with the region or sometimes simply too expensive," he added. Another challenge, he said, is the outsourcing barrier as companies do not yet have in-house expertise to manage the green building construction and design process, while many are reluctant to outsource to third parties for fear of inflated budget and getting a product that does not fit one's needs. OBG is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. --BERNAMA