Jakarta, April 6, 2022 – Indonesia's national mosque has undergone an environmentally-friendly retrofit that has seen it significantly lower its carbon footprint while also becoming the first place of worship in the world to be awarded final certification under the EDGE system.
The Istiqlal Mosque Management Agency (BPMI), Green Building Council of Indonesia (GBC Indonesia) and Indonesia's Ministry of Public Work and Housing have partnered with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to redevelop the mosque to add environmentally friendly features that will boost water and energy efficiency of the iconic building. The work undertaken at the Istiqlal Mosque is not only seen as helping in the fight against climate change but as setting an example that will encourage uptake of green design practices in Indonesia and elsewhere.
"Muslims feel a strong imperative to for mosques to go green to enhance the quality of their worship and honour the leadership of the Rasulullah SAW who insisted on the need to protect the environment. Thus, redeveloping the mosque to make it a centre of enlightenment for environmental protection has been one of our priorities," said Prof. Nasaruddin Umar, High Priest of the Istiqlal Mosque. "We are very honoured that it has become the world's first mosque to be awarded final certification from EDGE. This remarkable achievement is clear evidence of our commitment to promoting conservation efforts both at the Istiqlal Mosque and across the country."
By using reflective paint for the roof and external walls, energy-saving lighting in internal and external spaces, smart energy meters and solar photovoltaics that cover more than 13 percent of its electricity consumption, it's expected the Istiqlal Mosque will see an energy saving of 23 percent. With the use of low-flow faucets, grey water treatment and recycling and other efficiency measures, overall water consumption will be reduced by as much as 36 percent.
"This project is a great example of what can be achieved if we work together in seeking to counter the climate crisis, which remains one of the greatest challenges of our time," said Azam Khan, Country Manager for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. "Climate change is threatening lives and livelihoods and is slowing progress on poverty reduction while climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent, including in Indonesia. There are also opportunities to take direct action and the redevelopment of the Istiqlal Mosque shows that investing in climate resilient infrastructure, including green buildings, can make a measurable difference."
Indonesia is home to some of fastest-growing cities in Asia, with Jakarta on track to have a population that surpasses that of Tokyo's by 2030, making it the world's biggest city. At the same time, rapid urbanization and growth likes this presents major environmental challenges, further underscoring the need for ambitious climate action.
"We are pleased to be part of this pioneering initiative. The steps taken by Masjid Istiqlal, representing religious and heritage buildings, will not only improve energy efficiency but will also serve as viable proof that green building is possible for any type of building, including new buildings and existing buildings," said Diana Kusumastuti, MT. Director General for Human Settlements with the Ministry of Public Work and Housing. "Encouraging the development of environmentally friendly infrastructure, settlements, housing, and buildings is critical to helping realize the government's commitment to reducing emissions".
In addition to the final EDGE certification, the Istiqlal Mosque is also undergoing a GREENSHIP assessment from GBC Indonesia and has also received the Ecomasjid predicate, initiated by the Council of Indonesian Ulama.
"GBC Indonesia applauds Istiqlal Mosque's remarkable achievement to be the first religious building to be awarded EDGE final certification," said Iwan Prijanto, Chairperson of GBC Indonesia. "The Istiqlal Mosque was built as a symbol of greatness of Islamic society in Indonesia, and is representative of their magnificent respect for Allah SWT, society, and nature. We look forward to seeing this initiative replicated as part of collective efforts protect the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future."
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a green building certification system developed by IFC. It provides technical solutions for adapting construction projects to green building standards while generating positive environmental and financial outcomes. To date, EDGE has certified more than 1.6 million square meters of building space in Indonesia, cutting carbon emissions by as much as of 48,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to planting around 800,000 trees.
About IFC
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In the fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About EDGE
An innovation of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, EDGE is a green building standard and a certification system that empowers building professionals to quickly and easily determine the most cost-effective ways to build green based on building type and the local climate. Available worldwide, EDGE was created in response to the need for a measurable solution to prove the financial case for building green.
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About Istiqlal
Istiqlal Mosque is located in the capital city of Jakarta. It is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. It was built during the era of President Soekarno on August 24, 1961, and was inaugurated by President Soeharto on February 22, 1978. The Istiqlal Mosque was built as a manifestation of gratitude for the blessings of Indonesian independence, thus named "Istiqlal", an Arabic word for "Independence". Istiqlal Mosque is majestically and firmly standing, not only being the pride of Muslims in Indonesia but also symbolizes the greatness of the Indonesian nation, where various ethnic groups, languages, and religions live in harmony. The mosque was designed by a Christian architect, Friedriech Silaban. It can accommodate approximately 200,000 worshipers. This mosque stands on the land of the former Wilhelmina Park and the Dutch Colonial fort, located between the National Monument and Banteng Square, and is next to Cathedral Church.
About PUPR
The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is responsible for carrying out government affairs in the fields of public works infrastructure and public housing in order to assist the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the administration of the state government. In carrying out its duties, The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing formulates, stipulates, and implements infrastructure policies in the fields of water resource management, road administration, drinking water supply system implementation, domestic wastewater management, environmental drainage management, waste management, building structuring, residential area development, strategic infrastructure facility development, housing administration, implementation of public works and housing infrastructure financing, as well as construction services development. The renovation of Istiqlal Mosque is part of national strategic project carried out by the Directorate General of Human Settlements, Ministry of PUPR, through building structuring activities.
About GBC Indonesia
GBC Indonesia is an independent and not for profit organization founded in 2009 by leading professionals and companies in the building industry in Indonesia. Our main mission is to transform market and industry players to be more responsible and sustainable. We have four main programs namely Rating Development, Training and Education, Green Building Certification and Stakeholder Engagement.
