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New council to boost green construction; deal with UN unit to promote best practices

Solar panels line the roof of the first ‘zero energy’ building in Braddell Road, which can produce as much energy as it uses. Singapore aims to be the green building hub of the tropics. — ST PHOTO: BRYAN VAN DER BEEK

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. Continue reading →

New council set up to speed up devt of green buildings in S’pore

Posted on 28 Oct 2009 | Comments Off

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. Continue reading →