Housing developers nationwide have been encouraged to build more 'green concept' buildings and residential areas to ensure better environmental quality.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said local authorities had been told to ensure 'green concept' characteristics in each building plan submitted by developers to the former.

He said, while there was no proposal on such a concept, thus far, the ministry "strongly encouraged" the developers to set up such concept, without involving high costs.

Chor was speaking to the media after officiating a seminar, 'Green Solutions for Property Development - Green Lifestyle 2012', in Wisma Rehda here Thursday.

The day-long seminar was organised by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia (Redha) and Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlement (Earoph) Malaysia, with the goal of creating buildings which used less energy, water and generated minimal wastes.