$50m fund to help SMEs turn their buildings eco-friendly

By Janice Heng, The Straits Times, 2 Sep 2014

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will get help to make their buildings and premises more energy-efficient under a new $50 million scheme.

Up to half the retrofitting cost of energy-efficiency measures will be funded, with SME building owners getting up to $3 million, and tenants a maximum of $20,000.

The initiative comes under the Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings and Premises, one of several new plans in the 3rd Green Building Masterplan.

This road map for eco-friendly buildings was launched yesterday at the Singapore Green Building Week opening ceremony.

"This 3rd masterplan aims to change behaviour and practices," said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

Previous masterplans in 2006 and 2009 focused on physical aspects of new and existing buildings. But about half of a building's energy consumption hinges on its tenants' activities, said the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

The 3rd masterplan therefore focuses on encouraging energy-efficient behaviour in building tenants and occupants.

The Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings and Premises, for instance, is open to tenants and building owners that are SMEs, or owners of buildings where at least 30 per cent of tenants are SMEs.

The new masterplan also includes a new award to recognise developers and building owners who have encouraged tenants to reduce energy consumption.

The Green Mark Pearl Award is for projects where the building has a high rating under the BCA's Green Mark scheme for eco- friendly buildings and where a minimum number of tenants are also Green Mark-certified.

The masterplan also aims to maintain Singapore's position as a leader in green buildings in the tropics and sub-tropics.

To this end, a $52 million research and development centre, known as the Green Buildings Innovation Cluster, will be set up.

Singapore's public sector will take a stronger lead as well.

For instance, existing public sector buildings with a gross floor area of over 5,000 sq m will have to be Green Mark-certified.

Office space will have to be leased from buildings with high Green Mark ratings upon the next lease renewal, and government events will be held in Green Mark-certified venues.

Yesterday, the BCA signed agreements with partners in Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Indonesia to collaborate in areas such as capability building. An inaugural report on commercial buildings' energy efficiency was also released.

The BCA Building Energy Benchmarking Report showed that from 2008 to last year, energy consumption rose by 14 per cent - less than the 20 per cent growth in gross floor area.

Energy efficiency improved by 5 per cent over the period, and Green Mark buildings were more energy-efficient than those without the certification.

Post by Ministry of National Development.

Key players join hands on green research
By Janice Heng, The Straits Times, 2 Sep 2014

DEVELOPERS, architects, engineers and academics are being brought together to develop and test green building technologies, under a new Economic Development Board (EDB) scheme.

In teams led by major industry players, they will tackle questions such as how to let in more natural light while not heating up the building.

The research will take place before any specific building projects have been decided on, and the solutions will be customised for Singapore's tropical climate.

This Pre-Project Innovation Consortium was launched yesterday at the Building and Construction Authority's annual International Green Building Conference.

Two groups have already been formed, and are expected to spend $10 million in research over the next three years, with the EDB providing an undisclosed amount.

One group, led by Australian developer Lend Lease, is looking at how to adapt cross-laminated timber for a hot and humid climate. This strong wood-based building material is lighter than concrete and allows for faster construction.

The other, led by Singaporean firm DP Architects and New Zealand engineering consultancy Beca, will look at lighting and cooling.

"The partners are experts in technology, but we can tell them how to apply the technology to meet the industry's needs," said Mr Lee Boon Woei, director of consortium leader DP Architects' unit DP Sustainable Design.