But many others still not tapping incentives, notes Amy Khor
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 20 Jun 09;
MORE companies are taking advantage of green incentives such as subsidised energy audits, which allow them to save energy and cut costs.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) is giving out $4 million to 143 companies under such a scheme.
These companies can expect to save $35 million by investing in measures such as more efficient chillers and lighting systems, said the NEA.
Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Water Resources), highlighted the example of Causeway Point shopping centre, which had achieved savings of $82,000 a year simply by making its air-handling and cooling units more energy-efficient.
She was speaking at a symposium this week organised by the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. It attracted 250 researchers, government officials and industry representatives who came together to discuss collaboration between Germany and Singapore in developing energy-efficient technology.
The industry and building sectors are Singapore's top two energy-guzzling sectors, accounting for three-quarters of national energy consumption here, noted Dr Khor.
'The prudent use of energy is particularly pertinent during this period of economic uncertainty,' she said, adding that many companies were still not capitalising on opportunities due to a lack of incentives, capabilities and awareness.
Germany is well placed to work with Singapore in the field.
Its renewable energy sector was the fastest growing sector in its economy last year, generating around €30 billion (S$61 billion) in revenue and creating 280,000 jobs. This figure is expected to swell to 500,000 by 2020.
In Singapore, the Government hopes a green economy will pay off by creating 18,000 more jobs and adding $3.4 billion to the nation's gross domestic product by 2015.
Germany is also Singapore's largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade topping $21.2 billion last year.
Said Professor Rolf Buschmann, director of EnEd Asia, a company offering clean tech solutions for buildings here: 'Singapore is ideally positioned to serve as a platform for the provision of expertise and technologies to feed the growing demand for energy-saving facilities in the region.'
Other companies here are already enjoying the benefits of going green.
Last week, Ascendas, Asia's leading provider of business-space solutions, announced that it had invested $3.5 million in installing power-saving chiller systems at its headquarters in the Singapore Science Park in Buona Vista.
The project is expected to save about 5,300 megawatt-hours of electricity and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 2,500 tonnes a year.
This is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by 200,000 trees in a year. Ascendas expects the new chiller systems to save the company up to $1 million a year.
