Green projects pay off for KepLand

Jamie Lee, Business Times 27 Mar 09;

KEPPEL Land expects to save up to $4 million in annual energy bill from completing six Green Mark certified projects.

The property arm of conglomerate Keppel Corporation also aims to achieve at least Green Mark Gold rating from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for all its developments.

'In its commitment towards going green, the company has gone beyond the statutory requirement and pledged to achieve a minimum Green Mark Gold certification for all new projects,' Keppel Land says in its first sustainability report.

The Green Mark Gold is ranked third out of four certifications available.

Under BCA criteria, new buildings are assessed on energy and water efficiency, as well as environmental quality and protection. The buildings are then ranked according to points tallied.

Keppel Land also said its overseas projects will be developed to meet similar international benchmarks.

With the completion of the six Green Mark projects, Keppel Land expects to see savings of $3-$4 million (depending on the cost of electricity), or a total annual energy reduction of almost 18 million kilowatt/ hours - enough to power 3,000 Singapore homes for a year.

Keppel Land's Green Mark certified projects here include Ocean Financial Centre, phase one of the Marina Bay Financial Centre commercial development and Reflections at Keppel Bay.

The certifications were given last year.

Keppel Land's Ho Chi Minh City condominium project the Estella was also certified as Green Mark in 2008.

The company has put in place energy-efficiency measures at its office buildings, including Bugis Junction Tower, Equity Plaza, Keppel Bay Towers and Prudential Towers. And based on energy audits, total annual savings could exceed $1 million.

The moves follow BCA's decision to focus on greening existing buildings, which are significant energy guzzlers.