This might prove to be a worthy bit of trivia in years to come: When asked what is the first residential project in the country to be conferred a "green" rating, you’ll know the answer – Sunrise Bhd’s 11 Mont’ Kiara, a five-tower luxury highrise situated between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, where many expatriates and wealthy locals have chosen to call home.

Recently, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore gave its provisional Green Mark Award to it following an assessment that considered aspects such as its low impact on the environment, good air quality, use of innovative technology and effort to reduce water and energy expenditures.

Sunrise said 11 Mont’ Kiara has been designed to save up to seven million kilowatt hours of electricity a year through the inclusion of efficient mechanical and electrical equipment as well as use of design elements that provide for solar insulation.

The other green features of the project include landscaping with 150,000 plants resulting in its high green plot ratio; naturally ventilated car parks; internal designs that promote natural lighting and ventilation; and a shuttle service to reduce the need by residents to use their own transport to head to the area’s commercial centres.

Taking shape on 5.305 acres of land along Jalan Kiara 1, the project has been planned to accommodate 348 units with sizes ranging from 2,707sq ft to 4,695sq ft.

Construction is currently underway and completion is slated for 2011.

A part of the Sunrise Mont’ Kiara Integrated Global Village, 11 Mont’ Kiara will be accessible via the North Klang Valley Expressway, Sprint Highway and the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway.

It is the second project in the country to received BCA’s Green Mark Award, the first being the GTower commercial building at the corner of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Ampang, also in KL.