Tag Archives: Zero Energy Building

It costs $11m to retrofit and is the first building of its kind in SE Asia

The republic’s first zero energy building (ZEB) was launched by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday at the start of Singapore Green Building Week.

Touch of greenery: The ZEB is estimated to be about 40-50% more efficient than a normal office building of a similar layout, and all things being equal, is expected to save $84,000 in electricity costs

The ZEB, within the Building and Construction Authority’s BCA Academy, costs $11 million to retrofit and is the first building of its kind in South-east Asia.

It does not need any external energy supply. The roof is fitted with about 1,540 square metres of solar panels that generate about 207,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year – enough to power 45 four-room HDB apartments.

The ZEB is estimated to be about 40-50 per cent more efficient than a normal office building of a similar layout, and all things being equal, is expected to save $84,000 in electricity costs.

BCA chief executive John Keung estimates that retrofitting a building to qualify for the Platinum Green Mark award would cost a 5 per cent premium on average.

BCA is using the ZEB as a testing ground for various kinds of efficient devices such as single coil twin-fan ventilation systems and mirror ducts.

The refinement of these technologies is geared towards meeting the target set out in the Singapore Sustainable Blueprint, which aims to have 80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore achieve at least the basic Green Mark Certification by 2030. Continue reading →

Producing as much energy as it uses, it will be a test-bed for ‘green’ technologies here

A massive array of solar panels is placed on the roof to generate energy to run the lights, office equipment and air-conditioning. — PHOTO: BCA

The ‘green’ building in Braddell Road boasts solar panels (above) to provide energy for office equipment and air conditioning, as well as light collectors to help to illuminate classrooms. — ST PHOTO: BRYAN VAN DER BEEK

The ‘green’ building (seen here,left) in Braddell Road boasts solar panels to provide energy for office equipment and air conditioning, as well as light collectors to help to illuminate classrooms. — ST PHOTO: BRYAN VAN DER BEEK

The ‘green’ building in Braddell Road boasts solar panels to provide energy for office equipment and air conditioning, as well as light collectors (above) to help to illuminate classrooms. — ST PHOTO: BRYAN VAN DER BEEK

SINGAPORE’S first building that can produce as much power as it uses – zero energy, in industry jargon – opened with much fanfare yesterday.

The landmark building in Braddell Road employs ground-breaking design features while also harnessing the sun’s energy to replenish the energy it uses for air-conditioning and other uses.

Its opening is a huge step forward for the local building industry. It will serve as a test-bed for green technology that can later be incorporated in standard construction projects, while students and designers can study first-hand the nuts and bolts of energy efficiency and ‘green’ building.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the opening of the building ‘marks a key milestone in Singapore’s building and construction history’. Continue reading →