Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia 28 Oct 09;
SINGAPORE : Singapore has set up a new council to help accelerate the "greening" of buildings in Singapore.
Buildings in the city-state are the second largest guzzlers of electricity - after the industrial sector. But this is also the area where energy use can be easily reduced.
A UN study has concluded that energy consumption in new and old buildings can be lowered by 30 to 50 per cent without significantly increasing investment costs.
Trane, an exhibiting company that cools about half of the buildings fronting Orchard Road said an average investment of S$2 million to reduce energy use in buildings is usually recouped within eight months to three years.
Speaking at the inaugural International Green Building Conference on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said: "This is not rocket science but it does require steady and consistent policies and effort.
"We plan to 'green' 80 per cent of our buildings by 2030 to reduce energy intensity by more than 30 per cent. Government and public buildings will also have to achieve higher green building standards."
For now, the new Singapore Green Building Council will lead and coordinate the efforts of the industry, hand-in-hand with the government, to speed up the development of green buildings in Singapore.
For a start, it plans to set up a system for certification within the next six to 12 months.
Lee Chuan Seng, president, Singapore Green Building Council, said: "One of the things that hold back the development of green buildings in Singapore is that we don't (have certification) - we have some green labelling system for products but it is not comprehensive now, so what we are trying to do now is start up some product directory. That product listing will then move into certification."
The industry has already raised 10 times the S$100,000 seed funding it received from the government to get on with its work. Still, the council feels it has its work cut out.
Mr Lee said: "(This involves) getting the owners and end users of existing buildings to take it up early enough. Everyone says it is a tough job, and it is because in buildings, you upgrade the building and change the equipment only once in 15-20 years."
In the long term, the council also hopes to work with authorities to develop Singapore as a hub for green buildings in the tropics, as most of the designs today have been developed for temperate climates.
Mr Teo said: "In the longer term, we plan to establish a Centre of Excellence in sustainable buildings and construction in Singapore - a regional hub to share experiences in green buildings in the tropics." - CNA/ms
Making Singapore a green building hub
New council to boost green construction; deal with UN unit to promote best practices
Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 29 Oct 09;
SINGAPORE took two major steps yesterday in its drive to position itself at the forefront of the increasingly vital field of 'green' construction practices and technologies.
A Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) has been set up to promote sustainable construction. This includes driving efforts to green at least 80 per cent of buildings here by 2030.
And the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme to collaborate on promoting best building practices across Asia.
The move fits in with the Government's aim to set up a Centre of Excellence in sustainable building and construction in the future to cement Singapore's ambition to be the green building hub of the tropics. Details will be released later, said the BCA.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean announced the new council at the opening ceremony of the inaugural three-day International Green Building Conference held at Suntec convention centre yesterday.
Mr Teo noted that even as the world tackles the global economic downturn, 'we are faced with a policy imperative... that of ensuring sustainable development for our current generation, so that our future generations will have a future'.
Economic growth can go hand in hand with environmental sustainability, but the right structures have to be put in place to encourage sustainable growth, he added.
The minister cited the example of retrofitting existing buildings. This can be a growth area where investments in new technology will bring benefits such as green jobs, reducing energy use and increasing savings for building owners and occupiers.
Greening existing buildings in Singapore is the most immediate challenge for the local industry.
The target of 80 per cent of buildings achieving a minimum Green Mark standard - a building rating system - by 2030 was outlined earlier in April.
A $600 million incentive fund has been set aside by the Government to spur owners into making the changes.
The new council, which is made up of industry members, will also play a key role. Its first task is to set up a directory of green products for the building industry and a certification system in the next 12 months, said its president, Mr Lee Chuan Seng.
Funds have been raised from founding members and the Government to carry out its work, but its greatest challenge will be getting building owners to adopt green practices early, said Mr Lee.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who was also at yesterday's event, is the council's patron.
The World Green Building Council awarded the SGBC 'emerging status', with full status likely in a few months.
Mr Tony Arnel, chair of the world body, commended the local industry for its speed in embracing green construction: 'There's a lot of momentum in the Asia-Pacific region for green buildings at the moment, and there are a lot of low-hanging fruits for energy efficiency in existing buildings across the region.'
The conference attracted 1,000 delegates from 23 countries.
New council set up to promote green buildings
Private-public sector initiative will help spearhead building industry's efforts
Uma Shankari, Business Times 29 Oct 09;
(SINGAPORE) Singapore has set up a new council to speed up the development of 'green' buildings in Singapore.
The new unit, the Singapore Green Building Council, is expected to increase collaboration between the private and public sectors in Singapore and push the building and construction industries towards environmental sustainability.
The council was set up with seed funding from Building and Construction Authority (BCA), but has also raised more than 10 times that amount from its private sector sponsors and members. The council has 141 founding members, including 'diamond' sponsors City Developments, CapitaLand and Keppel Land.
It aims to promote green building design as well as green practices and technologies, said its president Lee Chuan Seng.
Targets set out in the Singapore Sustainable Blueprint, which was released earlier this year, call for 80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore to achieve at least the basic Green Mark Certification by 2030. This is expected to reduce energy intensity by more than 30 per cent.
Buildings in Singapore are the second largest users of electricity after the industrial sector
'The 'greening' of buildings will require concerted effort,' said Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean yesterday. Mr Teo announced the formation of the Singapore Green Building Council at the launch of a green building conference and exhibition.
He added that the government will work in partnership with building owners to raise awareness on the energy efficiency of their buildings, and achieve savings in their electricity bills.
On its part, the Singapore Green Building Council will help lead and co-ordinate the industry's efforts, in collaboration with the government, to accelerate the development of green buildings and improve energy efficiency in Singapore's built environment.
It will also tap into an international community of green building experts through the World Green Building Council. The World Council has granted 'emerging member' status to the new Singapore Council.
The Green Building Council also aims to become a leader in exploring how tropical countries can embrace sustainable development. Mr Lee told reporters that most of the designs today have been developed for temperate climates.
But for a start, the Council plans to set up a system for certification within the next six to 12 months.
'One of the things that hold back the development of green buildings in Singapore is that we don't have certification; we have some green labelling system for products but it is not comprehensive,' said Mr Lee. 'So what we are trying to do now is start up some product directory. That will then move into certification.'
