CapitaLand lowers electricity and water consumption, saves some S$1.5m

By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
14 January 2009

SINGAPORE : Real estate giant CapitaLand saved some S$1.5 million last year by reducing its electricity and water consumption.

The green efforts were carried out across 23 properties such as its retail malls and office buildings.

The amount of electricity saved can power about 13,000 five-room HDB flats for one month, while the amount of water saved can fill 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Last year, CapitaLand achieved its target of lowering its utilities consumption by two per cent compared to 2007.

This year, the company wants to reduce the use of water and electricity in about 150 local and overseas properties by three per cent.

That will help save up to S$4 million in utility costs. - CNA/ms

S'pore role in UAE eco-city?

Jan 19, 2009
By Jessica Cheam, in Abu Dhabi (Straits Times)
ABU DHABI: Singapore's expertise in water technology and energy could give local companies a head start for contracts to help build an ambitious eco-city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Talks are already under way for Singapore firms to participate in the futuristic project - known as the Masdar Initiative - which is estimated to cost an astonishing US$22billion (S$33billion).

Some of the expertise that local firms, including those in the Keppel Group, have accumulated from their involvement in a similar project - the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city - should also stand them in good stead for the UAE development.

Mr Khaled Awad, director of property development for Masdar, an Abu Dhabi energy company, told The Straits Times yesterday that the firm held talks with national water agency PUB and Singapore Power recently.

Mr Awad also indicated that the Masdar City team will meet executives involved in the Tianjin project next month to explore further areas of cooperation.

Tianjin, a project across 30sqkm, broke ground last year and is said to involve at least $5.8billion worth of investment.

For the full story, read Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

National Library Wins Award

Jason Lee
jasonlee@mediacorp.com.sg
Aug 24 2007 (TODAY)

Its efforts in conserving energy have won Singapore's National Library
Building a regional accolade awarded by the Asean Centre for Energy. The
National Library Building - ranked top in the "Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Best Practices Competition for Energy Efficient Buildings:
New and Existing" category - was on a list of more than 20 recipients at
the Asean Energy Awards last night. The event was held with the official
dinner of the 25th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting.

Through various initiatives - including escalators and water taps with
motion-sensors, use of natural lighting, and gardens - the National
Library Board (NLB) has been taking environmental-friendliness seriously.
And such measures also paid off financially for the NLB, which saves about
10-per-cent on its monthly energy bill, chief executive Dr N Varaprasad
told Today.

Two other organisations here were also recognised for their efforts. The
Environment Building and Plaza Singapura were ranked first and second,
respectively, in the "Retrofitted" category.

The awards, held annually since 2000, seek to recognise the
environment-friendly practices of organisations.

Luxurious, But Eco-friendly

Energy Smart hotels save energy without stinting on quality

Lin Yanqin
yanqin@mediacorp.com.sg
Aug 4 2007 (TODAY)

KEEPING guests pampered and comfortable comes at a high price - hotels are
among the biggest energy guzzlers in Singapore, accounting for nearly 2
per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions.

And with 2,000 rooms to be added over the next couple of years and another
4,300 by 2010 - courtesy of the integrated resorts - they are now in the
green movement's spotlight.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has added hotels to the Energy Smart
Building labelling scheme, a two-year-old programme that recognises
establishments for being energy efficient.

"I would say the next eight months is a critical time," said Dr Lee Siew
Eang from the National University of Singapore (NUS), who headed the team
that developed the benchmarks for the scheme.

"When all the design work (for the hotels) is going on, we can use this
opportunity to put energy efficiency at the forefront of (the developers')
minds."

To qualify to be Energy Smart, hotels need to engage an accredited energy
service company to conduct an audit on their energy efficiency.

As an incentive, the NEA will fund 50 per cent of the cost of the audit,
up to a maximum of $200,000.

If the audit shows that the hotel ranks among the top 25 per cent in terms
of energy efficiency, it will be awarded the label.

The trouble, Dr Lee said, is that many hotels in Singapore are ignorant of
how energy inefficient they are.

"And some of the posh hotels told us that energy saving was not their
priority because they were luxury hotels," he said.

"They think that saving energy means compromising on quality."

But four hotels that were awarded the inaugural Energy Smart Hotel label
on Friday prove this is not necessarily the case.

The Regent Singapore, for instance, shaves about $20,000 from its monthly
utilities bill thanks to clever tweaking of current operations.

The hotel now uses a heat recovery system - using the heat emitted when
water is cooled - for the hotel's heating needs.

The system cost the hotel $500,000 to install, but it is confident that it
will recoup the amount within 18 months.

"That's what this whole scheme is about - improving energy efficiency
without compromising the guests' stay," said Ms Ann Verbeek, public
relations director of The Regent.

"We are doing all this without sacrificing luxury."

The other three hotels - InterContinental Singapore, Shangri-La Hotel, and
Changi Village Hotel - have similar heat recovery systems, as well as
energy efficient lighting systems to reduce electricity usage on lighting.

Energy Smart Office labels were also awarded to five other commercial
buildings on Friday, along with a special award for the National Library
Building.

This brings the total number of buildings under the labelling scheme to 13
office buildings, four hotels, and one library.

"There are real savings which contribute to the bottom line and the
systems are a business asset," said Dr Lee, who also heads NUS Energy
Sustainability Unit.

"The challenge is to convince developers that energy efficiency is not
just a running cost, but can become a capital gain."

Plans are in the pipeline to extend the scheme to other types of buildings
including shopping centres, hospitals and schools.

New Green label for energy smart hotels

03 August 2007 (CNA)

SINGAPORE - A scheme to promote energy efficiency in hotels has been launched by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to give recognition to energy efficient hotels and promote energy efficiency by the better use of resources.

At the launch of the Energy Smart Hotel Label scheme, four hotels - The Regent, Shangri-la, Intercontinental and Changi Village - made it to the inaugural list.

Noting that recognition given to the four hotels, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources who was at the launch said, "I’m sure we will be able to get more on board, because they will be able to see there are really direct, tangible benefits that can be reaped with not very significant investments really, and the payback period because of the improvement in technology is getting shorter."

Studies conducted in Singapore and other parts of the world have identified hotels as one of the more energy-intensive buildings in a city.

And having acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in April 2006, the NEA’s Chief Executive Officer Lee Yuen Hee pointed out that Singapore’s commitment to combat climate change will require support from all sectors, especially the energy and carbon-intensive ones such as the hotel industry.

Speaking at the launch of the Energy Smart Hotel Label scheme, Mr Lee stressed that energy efficiency is important to maintain Singapore’s competitiveness.

"The productive use of energy, which is what energy efficiency is about, is one additional tool that Singapore businesses can make use of to stay ahead of global competition," added Mr Lee.

Hotels currently account for almost two percent of Singapore’s total greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to electricity consumption. In the next few years, the emissions are likely to rise with higher hotel occupancy rates and the addition of more hotel rooms.

The industry expects occupancy to increase by 1,000 rooms per year over the next two years and 4,300 new rooms by early 2010 when the two integrated resorts are completed.

By recognizing the best-performing hotels in terms of energy efficiency, it is hoped that the scheme will motivate others to make improvements to their buildings. At the same time, the building owners get to enjoy a quick payback on energy efficiency investments as they can be amortized through immediate savings from the lower energy-related operating costs.

The Regent, which is among the first to receive the Energy Smart Hotel Label, was able to realize an energy reduction of about 26% in kilowatt-hour (kWh) terms after doing an energy audit. The initiative led to measures such as the replacement of diesel boilers with a new heat recovery system which saw economic returns in about 18 months.

To participate in the scheme, hotels can engage an accredited Energy Service Company (ESCO) to conduct an audit of their energy efficiency against a set of benchmarks developed jointly by the NEA and Energy Sustainability Unit of the National University of Singapore.

The benchmarks were developed after a thorough survey involving a representative sample of 30 hotels. Building physical features, operational characteristics, and data on energy use were amongst the key factors taken into consideration in designing the benchmarks of the system.

If a hotel meets all the criteria, it qualifies for the Energy Smart Hotel Label. If not, it can conduct a more detailed study, aimed at identifying areas of inefficiency and drawing up a set of realistic targets for improvement.

NEA will fund 50% of a hotel’s audit, up to a maximum of $200,000, from its Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme introduced in April 2005 to help companies defray the cost of conducting energy audits. - CNA/ym

Multidisciplinary Teams Tackle Climate Change with Innovative Plans for Healthy, Sustainable Communities

June 22, 2007 — By Royal Institute of British Architects - USA

LOS ANGELES, CA - At a symposium at the A + D Museum (Architecture Plus Design Museum) in Los Angeles on June 8 through 10, four winning teams were selected from among twelve finalists who presented proposals as part of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) - USA California chapter's competition, Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance. The competition, sponsored by Autodesk, Inc. attracted 65 registrations from 18 different countries, encompassing over 200 participants, either as individuals or in multi-disciplinary teams. It challenged participants to develop concepts for healthy, vibrant communities designed to address climate change and reverse, rather than add to, environmental damage.

Each entry tackled environmental and social challenges of enormous scope and offered engaging, inspiring solutions.

First Prize for $10,000.00 was awarded to the team from Fiji - Toby Kyle, Chris Cole and Kamineli Vuadreu for their project Sustainable Urban Housing in Fiji - "Vakabauta Village". This proposal addresses the displaced and low income Fijians with ways to uplift their local economy with affordable sustainable housing, and engaging ideas for the local people to create higher incomes for themselves whilst respecting and maintaining their cultural values and traditions.

Second Prize for $5,000.00 was awarded to the Australian Team from Gall and Medek - team DES of Brisbane, presented by Jim Gall and Tony Frye called "Boonah Two Development". This proposal addresses primary elements of off the grid communities including water catchment, food production, transportation, and relationship to each other and nature.

Third Prize for $2,500.00 was won by the United States design team of Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC from Philadelphia, presented by Stephen Gibson called "Urban Kidney Project" (The Forgotten Bottom). The WRT team includes George B. Bryant, Stephen M. Gibson, Kyle Gradinger, John Keene, Adam Krom, Lauren W. Leatherbarrow, Jamie R. Ober, Anthony C. Okoye, Yogesh Saoji, KaMan E. Skinner, Devinder S. Soin, and Michael J. Tweed. This proposal addresses "The Forgotten Bottom" in Philadelphia and the sustainable restoration and re-use of this brown field site.

Bonus Prize for $5,000.00 was awarded to the entry that demonstrated the most imaginative use of Autodesk Software. This prize was awarded to Liu Di of China for his entry called "Seasonal Flood Threatened Community". This proposal addresses solutions to protect and support communities from serious flood.

An Honorable Mention was also given to the U.K. team - Angela Rivera, the Sustainable Construction Team with DGP International and Scott Wilson Ltd for their highly creative thinking outside of the box called "Tankers Converted to Village". This proposal addresses our soon to be flooded coastlines and offers a solution by converting abandoned oil tankers into sustainable communities.

RK Stewart, President of the American Institute of Architects opened the reception on Friday evening encouraging all disciplines in the building industry to work together in order to rise and meet our global challenges.

Architects have a golden opportunity to make a tremendous difference to our future by showing leadership and demonstrating how readily available sustainable systems of building and design are, exemplified by the works here.

An awards ceremony will be held the weekend of September 21 and 22nd 2007 in Los Angeles.

Contact Info:

Tim Clark
E-mail : tc@anet.net

Caroline Davies
E-mail : photoartist@earthlink.net

Website : Royal Institute of British Architects - USA

NTU researchers use canvas strips to fortify buildings against quakes

By Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia
14 June 2007

SINGAPORE : Just two extra seconds could make a difference between life and death, especially during an earthquake.

Researchers at the Nanyang Technological University have come up with an invention that can buy that time - by strengthening the way walls are erected in buildings.

When the earth shakes, buildings collapse, especially if they are poorly constructed.

And that is where these engineers believe they can make a difference.

The best part about their invention is that it doesn't require any high-tech equipment.

All that's needed are a few strips of canvas and glue.

Associate Professor Ting Seng Kiong, who is also director of LIEN Institute for the Environment at Nanyang Technological University, explained: "We put the canvas on the edges, and in a cross.

"During an earthquake, the building will shake and sway. When it sways in one direction, one of the crosses will act in tension, and pull it towards the other direction. It's a simple design. What we did is use canvas and glue, and stick it onto the brick wall."

Researchers find that the wall reinforced with canvas and glue can withstand twice as much shaking compared to other walls.

That translates to more time to escape as well as less danger of injuries from falling bricks in the event of an earthquake.

And the added cost? It's just an additional 10 percent to current building costs.

This fits in with LIEN Institute's philosophy of creating sustainable research without extravagant prices.

"What's important is that it has to be a case appropriate to the community where we are going to apply it to, in terms of materials available and cost," said Pan Tso-Chien, Dean of College of Engineering at Nanyang Technological University.

The institute is already working with two aid groups in Indonesia to reinforce homes and schools using canvas and glue.

They also plan to collaborate with local groups to send their students overseas to help erect more buildings using this method. - CNA /ls

Students design products to help environment and disabled people

By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
11 June 2007

SINGAPORE: More students are being drawn to find commercially-viable solutions to help the community.

A mechanical innovation in five weeks, complete with a business plan to make sure it sells - that was the challenge to 600 Mechanical Engineering students at the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Engineering Innovation and Design Competition.

The competition, now into its eighth year, is seeing students turn into technopreneurs.

For one group, water-conservation is a Turnon - the name of their proposed company which invented 'Flowminator'.

It automatically stops water from over-flowing in a bath tub.

Ernest Pang, second year mechanical engineering student, NTU, said: "We're looking to manufacture the product in China in a city called NingBoGe. We've contacted a firm in China, and the cost of production has worked out to be $7. We're looking to sell it [at a] retail price of around $35 in Japan.

"Japan has a rich tradition of having bathtubs in the household. In Japan, the tourism and resort industry is also booming, so we're expecting more hotels and resorts to be springing up.

"We're looking into the possibility of collaborating with hotels and resorts to actually use our product."

Asst Professor David Lee Butler, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Singapore Institute of Manufacting Tech, said: "This goes back to 1999 when we decided to give our students a chance to become technopreneurs.

"So we set up the scheme with a business plan... [to] come up with an idea, and [commercialise] it. So really, to give them a hand, to give it a try."

Another environment-friendly solution - a mechanical system which circulates cool air in cars parked under the sun.

Safety is also an area of interest.

A Follow-Me-Not device will force you to put a brake on the accelerator, once it senses that you are tailgating.

It is one-up on a current Japanese innovation which only beeps but does not slow you down when you are too close to the car in front.

Students hope the Land Transport Authority can make the device a mandatory installation in every vehicle.

Among the winning designs in the category of Safety is the Rotational Window, which can clean outer window panes safely.

Assistive Technologies is seeing simple mechanical innovations meet design to improve the lives of the elderly and disabled.

One example is a wheelchair to make it easier for them to use the toilet.

Or a simple fixture to help elevate them to reach for things stored on higher shelves.

"Now it's in the eighth year and we've had 5,000 students on the scheme. This year the quality is quite good, I'm quite happy. Some amazing ideas such as the fish scaling device and the shuttlecock launcher," said Mr Butler.

There is no limit to innovation and creativity.

An automated shuttlecock launcher, which can adjust the launching angle of shuttlecocks, came in tops in terms of design.

Currently there are no mechanical shuttlecock launchers in the market.

But this launcher can not only be produced at a low cost, but also help beginners execute different strokes.

Another practical design is a retractable bamboo system that improves safety when drying laundry. It also comes with a plastic cover to keep out the rain.

The above are just a few examples of the 52 innovations that may just find their way into our homes and lives, once these young technopreneurs find the right investors. - CNA/yy

More certified sustainable wood in Bolivia

The Rainforest Alliance Joins with ForestWorld to Maximize Availability of FSC-Certified Wood to Use in Production of Furniture, Flooring and Decking in Bolivia

June 08, 2007 — By the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance has signed a SmartSource agreement with SumaPacha Industrial S.A., a Bolivia-based wood product manufacturer, to help maximize the availability of wood that comes from responsibly managed forestlands certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for the company's use in the production of furniture, flooring and decking. SumaPacha is a subsidiary of ForestWorld LLC, a Greensboro, North Carolina-based manufacturer of FSC-certified wood products made from Latin American tropical hardwoods.

SumaPacha is the first company in South America to sign a SmartSource agreement, which is an initiative of the Rainforest Alliance's forestry program that aims to help businesses improve their forest product purchasing policies and practices and increase their access to FSC-certified wood by strengthening relationships throughout their supply chains. The agreement will help the company meet its growth targets and fulfill the increasing market demand for home products that come from responsibly managed forestlands.

"The Rainforest Alliance promotes collaboration among private industry, producers and consumers as a tool for truly integrating responsible practices throughout a supply chain," said Daphne Hewitt, senior project manager with the Rainforest Alliance. "ForestWorld and SumaPacha have demonstrated their commitment to responsible production by continually seeking to increase the volume of FSC-certified wood that is purchased for their manufacturing facility in Bolivia and have become leaders in their industry. The Rainforest Alliance is pleased to work with SumaPacha to ensure continued success with FSC certification."

Goals of this agreement include getting more than 400,000 new hectares (988,400 acres) of forestland in Bolivia and Peru to meet the FSC's environmental and social standards and providing market incentives for community and indigenous suppliers to participate in a sustainable forest product market chain with SumaPacha.

"ForestWorld is excited to work with the Rainforest Alliance on increasing the area of FSC-certified forestlands in Bolivia and Peru," said Chris Anderson, CEO of ForestWorld. "This joint effort will help in our mission of protecting tropical forest areas through responsible forest management. By including a goal to certify indigenous community areas, this endeavor will also help us ensure that local residents benefit from the natural resources from which our products are made."

SumaPacha manufactures high-end outdoor furniture, flooring and decking, using traditional and non-traditional tropical hardwood species from Bolivia and Peru and specializes in offering socially and environmentally responsible products. The company owns a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in La Paz, Bolivia and supplies leading retailers in the United States and Europe.

With growing market demand for certified products, SumaPacha called on the Rainforest Alliance to help reach out to concession holders and indigenous communities to certify their areas and thus increase the volume of available FSC-certified wood that meets the company's specifications.

The Rainforest Alliance will design training for SumaPacha's priority suppliers to enable them to meet the company's specifications, including enhanced business and processing skills, and explore the potential for additional new suppliers to become FSC-certified in the near future.
This agreement builds on Bolivia's leadership role in FSC-certified tropical forestland. With nearly 2 million hectares (nearly 5 million acres) of tropical forest certified in Bolivia, the country is second only to Brazil with the largest area of FSC-certified tropical forest in the world.
The Rainforest Alliance's SmartSource initiative helps manufacturers, retailers and consumers develop responsible purchasing plans and supply chains for forest products such as lumber, paper and packaging. As part of SmartSource, Rainforest Alliance experts review and outline steps to improve supply chains, offer workshops and training related to forest product supply chains and responsible forest management, and provide guidance in developing a purchasing policy, among other things.

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org

Ice-cool idea wins SEC-Senoko Power Green Innovation Award

BY Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
29 March 2007 2028 hrs

SINGAPORE: Generating heat from an ice machine is the idea that bagged local company Omega Thermal its SEC-Senoko Power Green Innovation Award at this year's Singapore Green Summit.

Coffeeshop owner Seah How Chai has been serving hot drinks for the past 30 years.

And for the past two years, the water used for brewing tea is heated by his ice machine.

This is due to a heat recovery system that allows the waste heat generated by the machine to be piped into a water tank.

Less energy is then needed to boil the water as it is already heated.

With the system, waste heat is also removed efficiently from the ice machine so the ice stays colder for a longer period of time.

As a result, Mr Seah saves S$300 to S$400 on bills each month. But the benefits are not just monetary.

Instead of hot stuffy air, the condenser now releases cool air, making it possible for customers to sit comfortably in the coffeeshop.

Omega Thermal, which developed the system, said it was originally developed for use on air-conditioners.

Philip Lee, Manager, Omega Thermal, said: "It was revolutionary when Mr Seah suggested attaching it to an ice-maker. The idea just took off at the back of our heads - 'Why not? Let's give it a try!'."

And it was this idea that helped the SME win the SEC-Senoko Power Green Innovation Award.

But things were not easy at the beginning.

Mr Lee said: "The chief obstacle was not so much the physical aspect. It was more of a mental acceptance, psychological acceptance from people who find this a radical departure from their normal way of using electricity to heat up water.

"You can make the best product in the world but if there's no market demand for it, you'll still be back to square one".

Each system costs about S$2,000 and takes two hours to install.

So far, serviced apartments and condominiums form the bulk of Omega Thermal's clientele, but it is confident the technology will also take off among smaller businesses like Mr Seah's.

Singapore to use less concrete for building construction in future: Mah

By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia
28 March 2007 1816 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore will reduce its dependency on concrete as building materials in future.

It will instead shift to alternative sources and building technologies.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan gave the assurance that there are enough supplies of sand and granite in the government stockpile for the industry to produce the concrete it needs to proceed with its commitments.

Alternative supplies are also coming in from other sources.

Mr Mah was speaking at an eco-buildings conference where he unveiled what is to be the first eco-friendly precinct in Punggol.

The new development, called TreeTops@Punggol, will have dry partition walls in its interior instead of concrete walls.

Dry partition walls are made of ferro-cement material with two panels bolted together to form a wall with a hollow core.

That and other materials, such as recycled concrete and structural steel used in the construction of flats, can help cut down the dependency on sand and concrete.

Singapore's supply of sand and granite from Indonesia has been affected recently when Jakarta announced a ban on sand exports and later detained some barges, carrying granite materials to Singapore.

But Singapore maintains this has not slowed down its building projects.

The National Development Minister said: "We have already said we are proceeding, we are moving ahead. The sand shortage and the granite shortage is something we've anticipated. We always prepare for exigencies. That's why we have the stockpile.

"We have no short-term disruption but I think in the longer term, we have to change our construction methods."

Mr Mah said the government has worked out various cost-sharing formulas with contractors working on government projects.

This includes co-sharing up to 75 percent of the increase in the cost of sand.

First eco-friendly precinct at Punggol may be built by 2011

28 March 2007 (CNA)

SINGAPORE: Everything about Treetops@Punggol, which is under Housing and Development Board's Build-to-Order system, spells eco-friendly.

The new eco-precinct has been designed to harness the elements of nature such as light, rainfall and wind to promote sustainable green living.

There will be more greenery with an eco-deck above the car park, skyrise greening on its roofs and a community garden.

These features are expected to lower the surrounding temperature by as much as 4 degrees Celsius.

For energy efficiency, solar panels will be installed on the roof to power the common corridors of the estates as well as the eco-deck.

This will save 80 percent of energy used.

Motion sensors will also be introduced at the podium car park to provide on-demand lighting.

For these extra features, the flats will cost slightly more than other apartments in the same area.

The prices range from S$139,000 to S$254,000 for 3- and 4-room units, and S$370,000 to S$383,000 for five-roomers.

There will be a total of 700 units offered.

Attention is also paid to water and waste management.

A rainwater collection system will be implemented where the water collected will be used to wash the common corridors.

There will be an integrated wash basin and toilet pedestal system in the flats to promote water conservation as well as a dedicated refuse chute for recycling.

Whether these features will be incorporated into future public housing projects will depend on public feedback.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "If there is good response, then yes, we will do more of this. But this is the culmination of the many things that HDB has been doing in the last few years. It's very timely, considering that first of all, the technology is becoming more cost-efficient."

However, the HDB said that it would proceed with the project only if there is a demand for it. There will be a selection process and the results will be known later this year.

If all goes well, the precinct will be ready by 2011.

Treetops@Punggol will be located at the junction of Punggol Road, Punggol Drive and Punggol Place – a few minutes' walk from the Punggol MRT station and the Damai LRT station.

Interested flat buyers can view models of the precinct at an exhibition at the HDB Hub and they can make applications via the HDB website by 17 April.

Treetops@Punggol has been awarded the Green Mark under a scheme to promote eco-friendly building technologies and designs.

The government has announced that it will adopt the Green Mark scheme for all new public housing projects from January.

All developments at the Marina Bay will also be Green Building certified.

Not An Easy Route To Green Buildings

26 March 2007
TODAY

Wong Siew Ying
siewying@mediacorp.com.sg

A PROPOSED law on green buildings would see minimum standards being set
for future developments - yet even with the savings these eco-friendly
buildings could bring, not everyone is ready to go green.

Industry watchers point out that the construction sector would need to use
less labour-intensive materials. Architects would have to look beyond
aesthetics and functionality. Material suppliers and developers would have
to be more innovative.

Said Mr Tai Lee Siang, president of the Singapore Institute of Architects:
"We have to start looking at alternative (or) recyclable materials and
materials that help us to cut energy usage. Developers can start by
looking at how to re-package their buildings and make green features
marketable."

While it is estimated that adopting green features could raise
construction costs by 5 to 10 per cent, energy savings could amount to 15
per cent over 20 years.

And being green would be good for Singapore in other ways as well. Said Mr
Nicholas Mak, Knight Frank's property analyst: "The introduction of more
green features in our buildings may actually increase our competitiveness
vis-a-vis our neighbours."

Pollution in Hong Kong saw the city drop drastically in last year's
rankings of the most attractive locations for expatriates, with some
relocating to cleaner Singapore.

Industry players also felt there was a need for more incentives to
encourage owners to add green features to their buildings - for example,
better insulation and a more energy efficient air-conditioning system.

Greening efforts should also extend to residential projects as Singapore
has one of the highest heat emissions due to air conditioning, said Mr
Tai. Improving ventilation and building facades would reduce the need for
air conditioning. - Channel NewsAsia

Stepping Up To The Mark

21 March 2007
TODAY

Govt may revise Building Act to drive environmental sustainability in
Singapore

IS GOING green worth the cost? The Government certainly thinks so. Despite
the slightly higher construction costs of environmentally-friendly
buildings, it is embarking on a greater push for such buildings, with
tighter legislation on the cards.

For a start, the Government is considering making changes to the Building
Control Act to impose minimum requirements on environmental
sustainability. These requirements would apply to new buildings and
existing ones undergoing retrofitting.

"There will be some cost impact, but we believe that on an overall basis,
(builders) will be able to recoup the higher upfront costs through lower
operating costs over the life of the building. In fact, within a short
period, they'll be able to recoup that," said Minister of State for
National Development Grace Fu, at a Green Mark Seminar yesterday.

The Building Control Act could also be extended to prevent the
proliferation of inefficient air-conditioning systems. This would affect
buildings such as residential, institutional and industrial buildings,
which were largely naturally ventilated in the past.

But even as the Government is reviewing its current regulatory framework,
it is embarking on a comprehensive outreach programme to educate the
public on the benefits of going green.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has launched an info-portal
at www.greenmark.sg to promote the Green Mark, an award given to
environmentally-friendly buildings by the BCA, as the standard for local
buildings.

Said Ms Fu: "Ultimately, it is consumer demand that will motivate
developers to go beyond the basic requirements to develop a highly
sustainable built environment."

She urged Singapore construction firms to adopt waste-recycling measures
and switch to alternative construction materials, adding that "the recent
Indonesian ban on the export of concreting sand and the disruption in
granite supply serve as timely wake-up calls".

Waste recycling is mandatory in the construction process in countries such
as Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.

"We must quickly switch to sustainable construction. Instead of relying on
concrete as the main construction material, we have to make use of
alternative materials, including steel, other metals, glass and
composites," Ms Fu said.

While steel structures are commonly used in the United States, only 5 per
cent of buildings in Singapore are constructed using steel. - 938Live,
Channel NewsAsia

Building industry may not be ready for proposed new law for green buildings: experts

By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
25 March 2007

Buildings in Singapore still have some way to go where environmentally-friendly features are concerned.

Observers say that currently, the industry may not be ready for the proposed new legislation for green buildings.

The government is proposing to set minimum standards for buildings in future developments so that Singapore can have more eco-friendly buildings.

Such buildings and the technology within them are helping to save a fair bit of money every day.

The Republic Polytechnic in Woodlands, which clinched a Green Mark Award last year, is an example of an eco-friendly building in Singapore.

Said Laurence Tan, Republic Polytechnic's Senior Manager for Facilities Management & Security, "We actually have thermal energy storage system, where you can actually save $380,000 per year on utility bills. We have pneumatic waste system where.....we did away with the bin centre. We have irrigation system where it collects rainwater and Newater to irrigate the plants."

More of such green buildings can be expected if the legislation comes through.

But industry watchers say not everyone is fully prepared to be green.

They say the construction sector, for instance, will need to use less labour- intensive materials.

Architects will have to look beyond aesthetics and functionality.

Material suppliers and developers have to be more innovative in the way they work.

Said Tai Lee Siang, President of Singapore Institute of Architects, "We got to start looking at alternative materials, recyclable materials and materials that help us to cut energy usage. And this is the area where I feel that research and development is very necessary. Developers can start by looking at how to re-package their buildings and make green features marketable features."

Adopting green features is estimated to raise construction costs by some 5 to 10 percent.

But the sweetener is the potential long-term energy savings of 10 to 15 percent over 20 years.

Experts say being green will be good for Singapore.

Said Nicholas Mak, Knight Frank's property analyst, "Take Hong Kong, they are actually affected by pollution, while Singapore is going in a more green and environmental way. So, in a way, the introduction of more green features into our buildings may actually increase our competitiveness vis-a-vis our neighbours."

Still, developing green buildings is but a start.

Industry players say it is also important to educate the masses to embrace environmentally-friendly practices.

There is also a need to offer more incentives to encourage existing property owners to add green features to their buildings, for example better insulation and more energy efficient air conditioning system.

Mr Tai said that greening efforts should also extend to residential projects as Singapore has one of the highest heat emissions due to air conditioning.

So efforts must be made in terms of improving ventilation and building facades to reduce the need for air conditioning. - CNA/ir

Government may legislate Green Mark requirements on buildings

By Tung Shing Yi, Channel NewsAsia
20 March 2007

SINGAPORE: Plans are in the pipeline to make all new buildings in Singapore environmentally friendly.

While this may mean higher development costs, Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said long-term cost savings would be greater than the upfront costs.

The government is considering making changes to the Building Control Act to mandate new buildings to be environmentally friendly.

Such 'green buildings' would be energy-efficient and provide lower water consumption and better indoor environmental quality.

The move has resulted in a growing demand for environmental building consultancy services.

Vincent Low, Director of Business Development at C-Energy Global, said: "Because of this incentive, I found developers looking for energy consultants to help them look into the plant, and to work together to make sure the design is effective and efficient."

The green-building consultancy firm said it expects a two- or threefold increase in business in the next three years.

The government said it is committed to achieving high standards in construction sustainability.

While a 'green building' would involve higher construction costs, experts said the operational savings would more than offset the higher initial costs.

Meanwhile, Singapore construction firms have also been urged to adopt waste recycling measures and switch to alternative construction materials.

The latest call came from Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu at an industry event on Tuesday.

She said: "We have a big building programme in the pipeline, and it must be (done) in a sustainable way. The recent Indonesian ban on export of concreting sand, and the disruption in granite supply serve as timely wake-up calls.

"We must quickly switch to sustainable construction. Instead of relying on concrete as the main construction material, we have to make use of alternative materials, including steel, other metals, glass and composites."

Currently, only 5 percent of buildings in Singapore are constructed using steel, compared to the US where steel structures are commonly used.

Waste recycling is mandatory in the construction process in countries like Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.


- CNA/so