Current Situation and Development of Green Building Rating System in Myanmar

School of Civil Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand

^* Corresponding author: kriengsak@siit.tu.ac.th

Abstract

Since 2016 Myanmar has undergone political and economic reforms. A movement to develop the country with economic growth is a significant matter for the country. In Myanmar, the construction sector is a main driving force for the country’s economy in terms of investments and job opportunities of citizens. Electricity used for the construction industry leads to the insufficient energy output of the country. Moreover, waste and pollution are inevitable as a result of Myanmar’s economic growth. Green building development in Myanmar is in its initial stage but currently lacks governmental, or voluntary support to devise appropriate rules and regulations for green construction. In particular, the lack of awareness among developers, stakeholders, architects, engineers, contractors, employees and the public about green building has worsened the development progress. This paper reveals why green building development is needed in Myanmar and provides an overview of the current level of green growth in Myanmar. In addition, this paper compares widely used seven existing environmental assessment tools around the world – LEED, BREEAM, Green Mark, Green Star, Three Star – Chinese Green Building Label-3, CASBEE, and HQE as references for the development of green building rating tool with the view to identify aspects that are compatible with the local conditions of Myanmar.