Efforts towards green building movement

We thank Ms Lim Siat Foong for her feedback ("Focus on building design to cut air-con use"; Oct 26).

As a baseline, all facade designs of buildings must meet minimum thermal performance standards, minimum requirements of openings for ventilation and daylighting provisions as outlined in Singapore's building code to achieve basic environmental, health and safety requirements.

In addition, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), through its Green Mark scheme, has been actively engaging developers and collaborating with key stakeholders to go beyond the baseline to make our buildings more environmentally friendly.

The BCA Green Mark scheme recognises and rewards building projects that incorporate passive design which responds to the local climate and minimises energy use.

Residential buildings which have achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum award have to demonstrate effective natural ventilation performance by having openings and layouts that allow good air flow within the units.

This would minimise the need for air-conditioning to achieve thermal comfort.

The facades also have to meet higher thermal performance criteria that reduce the heat gains into the residential unit.

Building regulations and the BCA Green Mark scheme are regularly reviewed and enhanced to achieve even greater energy efficiency and better environmental quality for our buildings.

Today, close to 30 per cent of Singapore's buildings are Green Mark certified, and we are on track to meeting our target of greening 80 per cent of all buildings by 2030.

Beyond building designs and structures, end-users also play a big part.

Home owners, buyers and renters can support the initiative by considering residential units in BCA Green Mark-certified buildings.

We welcome the active involvement of more individuals in the green building movement.

Together, we can improve the sustainability of our buildings and reap the rewards of a greener and more liveable home environment.

Leong-Kok Su Ming (Ms)
Director
Green Mark (New Buildings) Department Building and Construction Authority

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 05, 2015, with the headline Efforts towards green building movement. Subscribe