A new initiative by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will make it faster and cheaper for chain stores to get Green Marks. Such marks, first awarded in 2006, are accolades given to buildings or tenants who meet certain environmental standards.

The new programme, named the BCA Green Mark Portfolio Programme, is open to companies who commit to certify at least 20 projects within a three-year time span. Multiple tenants within a single building may also participate.

This means that the cost for certifying each project can be reduced by more than 70 per cent and several outlets can be certified at one go which will lead to time savings.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan, who launched the new programme on Friday said that its purpose is to "help streamline the tenants' efforts to green mark similar spaces across a portfolio of projects". Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice was the first company to commit to the new programme. Its chief executive (Singapore) Mr Seah Kian Peng said that three of their outlets - in Jem mall, Bukit Merah and Hougang Street 21 - have been earmarked for the programme.