MKH Annual Report 2018

36 MKH Berhad Annual Report 2018 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Towards the Environment Our Property Development and Construction Division incorporates a sustainable approach in building design and utilisation of building materials in our property developments to reduce waste generation. At the construction sites, existing top soil is preserved where possible for future landscape use, while buildings are constructed in the north-south orientation, where possible, to create cooler living environment for residents. In addition, wastes generated from the construction sites are either recycled for reuse, or timely transported to designated disposal sites. As we believe that green spaces provide substantial environmental benefits for our communities, we allocate a minimum of 10% land area for landscape in residential development. Our community recreational areas are designed with landscapes that adapt to individual terrain and locale, with emphasis on planting evergreens that require minimal maintenance e orts. In recognising the importance for sustainable living environment, we implemented various energy-saving practises across our business operations. Solar photovoltaic panels installed at our shopping malls in Kajang have successfully reduced utility bills by up to 22%. Besides increasing our adoption of environment-friendly initiatives in our property developments, certified green building materials and fittings are also part of our Building Materials Trading Division's product o erings to contractors. In addition, our employees are also encouraged to practise energy saving faithfully at the workplace by switching lights and appliances o when not in use. We are committed to preserve a healthy ecosystem at our plantation estates via good estate management practices such as zero-burning policy in the planting of oil palm trees, and putting up various signboards on environment preservation and wildlife protection as a constant reminder to in-field workers as they carry out their daily duties. To ensure that our estates are responsibly managed at above average standards, we work closely with the Indonesian Department of Environment. Drainage and irrigation systems are built to ensure optimum water levels to promote growth of oil palm trees, and we also reduce application of agrochemicals through the use of natural alternatives such as planting of beneficial plants to combat pests. E uents from our CPOmill are treated using anaerobic, aerobic and facultative ponding system, and subsequently used as natural soil fertiliser in approximately 600 hectares of the Group's plantation estate. 2.5-storey villas at Saville @ The Park, Bangsar are designed and built with solar heaters to reduce electricity consumption Various signboards on environment preservation and wildlife protection are installed at our oil palm plantation as a visual reminder to in-field workers Mill e uents are treated in a designated area at the mill and recycled as natural soil fertiliser