Despite the economic downturn, Singapore is soldiering on with a new blueprint for sustainable development for the next 10-20 years. Under the plan, at least 80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore will be energy-efficient by 2030. This is part of a grand plan, which aims to make Singapore a "lively and livable" city without straining natural resources. Some $1 billion will be spent for the first five...
Green Buildings
As of December last year, the government spent $3.2 million subsidising energy audits in 121 buildings in Singapore. This resulted in energy savings of close to $30 million a year. At Singapore Post (SingPost), changes to the air conditioning system alone saved the organisation $1.2 million in electricity bills a year. To reduce friction and therefore lower energy consumption, renovations were made so...
S$1 billion has been earmarked for greening Singapore's infrastructure over the next five years. Experts said the real challenge lies not in new developments, but in retrofitting existing buildings. Lee Siew Eang, head, Energy Sustainability Unit, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, said: "That forms approximately about 80 per cent of our existing building stocks and these...
Singapore is developing a new "Cleantech Park" in Jalan Bahar for clean technology research, prototyping and light manufacturing. It will be sited next to the Nanyang Technological University, in northwest Singapore. Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, S Jayakumar, gave these details at the opening of the 2nd Singapore Energy Conference on Tuesday morning. The first...
CLIMATE change is not the only reason why Singapore is taking a serious interest in sustainable development. The current economic crisis presents a number of challenges - or provides the impetus, some would say - for Singapore's building industry to not only cut cost but also come up with innovative and green-friendly construction practices. To get builders to reduce the impact of building works on the...
THE $10.47-million contract for Singapore’s first zero-energy building has been awarded to local firm ACP Construction. Work to retrofit an existing building at the BCA Academy along Braddell Road starts this month and should be completed by next year. As announced earlier, everything in the building, from the lights and air-conditioning, to the water in the toilets, will be sourced from renewable...
Govt could do more by taking the lead in procurement of green and energy efficient components IN JAPAN, banks offer preferential loan rates to building owners who aim for higher green ratings. In Germany, the government offers subsidies to residential owners to go green. Offering such incentives is just one of the suggestions from the International Panel of Experts (IPE) for Sustainability of the Built...
AUSTRALIA has become one of the world’s most ardent adopters of green real estate practices, thanks to the demand of best building practices from staging the 2000 Sydney Olympics and job seekers demanding eco-friendly work environments. Here in Singapore, multinational corporations have been leading the eco-charge. To help pave the way, property consultants Colliers International has launched...
S’pore-designed: energy-efficient device cools air to 25 degrees Celcius When the Sentosa integrated resort opens in a few years’ time, visitors may enjoy aircon temperatures even as they queue outdoors. This is thanks to a new Singapore-designed device that chills air to about 25 degrees Celsius and consumes 20 per cent of the energy required by traditional air-conditioners using fans and solar...
The government has been taking the lead in turning its buildings green and is now asking Singapore CEOs to follow suit. Some experts say that planning to go green right from the design stage can mean substantial savings in energy costs later. The public sector is paving the way, with the Environment Building being a prime example of an energy-efficient government building. And private sector firms are...