Janice Tai, Straits Times, 3 Oct 13;
SINGAPORE'S Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has received a leading global award for its efforts to help the environment.
It is the first government agency outside America and Europe to be honoured with the International Star (I-Star) for Energy Efficiency prize.
The authority's chief executive, Dr John Keung, received it from US Senator Mark Warner at an award ceremony dinner held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington on Wednesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
The award was one of seven given out by a non-profit US-based energy-efficiency coalition called the Alliance to Save Energy.
"BCA is our first award recipient hailing from Asia and we are proud to recognise the important transformation of Singapore's built environment which serves as a strong, energy-efficiency model not only for cities in their region but around the world," said the group's president Kateri Callahan.
BCA plans to increase energy efficiency, water conservation, and environmental quality and protection for at least 80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore by 2030. There are about 1,700 green buildings here today, up from 17 in 2005.
Close to 40 per cent of the electricity consumption in the highly urbanised city-state comes from buildings, said Dr Keung.
"(Thus), by simply being able to make our buildings - both old and new - more energy efficient, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, and we are well on our way to achieving our 2030 target."
BCA Wins Prestigious International (I-STAR) Award for its Outstanding Achievements and Commitment to Green Buildings
Singapore is the first country outside of America and Europe to receive this Award, conferred by the US-based energy efficiency coalition, Alliance to Save Energy
BCA media release 3 Oct 13
Singapore, 3 October 2013 - The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore has received the International Star (I-Star) for Energy Efficiency award for its commitment to achieve a national target of greening at least 80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore by 2030 and for its achievements thus far. BCA is the first government agency outside of America and Europe to be honoured with this prestigious award, given out by the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), a non-profit US-based energy efficiency coalition that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education and advocacy.
Since 1993, the annual Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards has been a preeminent showcase for energy efficiency's most industrious advocates and innovators, recognising individuals, organisations, companies, learning institutions and government programmes that have demonstrated a significant and tangible commitment to the cause of energy efficiency both in United States and abroad.
The Award was presented to BCA on 2 October 2013 (Eastern Standard Time) at the Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. BCA Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Keung, received the Award from U.S. Senator Mark Warner (Virginia), who is ASE's Honorary Chair.
"We are very honoured to receive this distinguished I-Star Award from the Alliance to Save Energy and to be part of this Awards ceremony with the international energy efficiency community here," said Dr. John Keung. "This award is a testament to the commitment and effort that we have put in to develop and drive sustainable construction and green buildings to ensure that Singapore and its residents can enjoy a healthier, more liveable and sustainable built living environment now and in the future. As a highly urbanised city-state, Singapore's buildings account for close to 40% of the nation's total electricity consumption. As such, by simply being able to make our buildings - both old and new - more energy efficient, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, and we are well on our way to achieving our 2030 target."
One of the seven Awards conferred by the ASE, the I-Star Award recognises outstanding contributions to Energy Efficiency achieved through special projects or activities overseas that are led by nominees based outside of U.S. territories. The nominees are judged based on their outstanding contribution to energy efficiency beyond the expected norm, innovation and creativity to overcome challenges and establish leadership within the sector, and the ability to act as a best practice example and catalyst that spurs others in the industry towards further efficiency gains.
"I am excited and proud to present our prestigious I-Star Award, which recognises excellence in energy efficiency by a foreign government body, to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore," Alliance President Kateri Callahan said. "BCA is our first award recipient hailing from Asia and we are proud to recognise the important transformation of Singapore's built environment which serves as a strong, energy efficiency model not only for cities in their region but around the world."
The Award recognises BCA for its efforts in driving the green building movement in Singapore through its Green Building Masterplan and its commitment to increase energy efficiency, water conservation, and environmental quality and protection for at least 80 percent of all buildings in the country by 2030. The Green Building Masterplan has been instrumental in helping to grow the number of green buildings in Singapore by almost a hundred-fold, from just 17 in 2005 to about 1,700 today. This translates to 49.5 million m2 of Gross Floor Area (GFA), or 21 percent of Singapore's total GFA.
The built environment sector plays a critical role in helping Singapore achieve a more sustainable future. To fulfil the national target, BCA is currently working on the details of the 3rd Green Building Masterplan, which will guide Singapore's green building journey over the next five years. The 3rd Green Building Masterplan will place more emphasis on stakeholder engagement and collaboration to create a deeper community involvement in the sustainable development. In addition, the Masterplan will continue its focus in developing industry standards which include applications for zero and net-positive energy buildings and low-energy high-rise buildings, the monitoring and verification of building energy performance, energy certification for buildings, green leasing, and green procurement practices.
