New list of technologies that reduce carbon footprint of buildings to be ready by Q1 2026

SINGAPORE – A new list of technologies and best practices that will guide building owners and developers on reducing the carbon footprint of their buildings is set to be ready by early 2026.

Called the Built Environment Decarbonisation Technology Roadmap, the initiative was announced by National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat on July 11, and serves as an update to the 2018 Super Low Energy Building Technology Roadmap that compiled a list of emerging technologies for low-energy buildings.

Speaking at the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) gala dinner at Orchard Hotel Singapore, Mr Chee said that the updated road map includes more than 50 technologies and strategies to reduce operational and embodied carbon of buildings.

Embodied carbon refers to the carbon emissions associated with the materials and construction of a building, and typically makes up about 30 per cent of a building’s emissions, while the remaining 70 per cent is referred to as operational carbon – emissions from the day-to-day running of the building.

The draft of the new road map currently comprises 54 technologies and strategies, and Mr Chee cited examples such as maximising natural ventilation, adopting alternative cooling technologies, and rolling out artificial intelligence-controlled building energy optimisation systems.

It is being put together by SGBC, a non-profit organisation set up in 2009 that focuses on making Singapore’s built environment sustainable, as well as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and A*Star.

BCA deputy chief executive for industry development Tan Chee Kiat said that the new road map addresses embodied carbon – an aspect not covered in the 2018 guide.

This means the new road map takes a more holistic approach, he said, by looking at the whole life cycle of the building, including the emissions incurred by building materials.

Mr Chee said a series of public consultations on the updated road map will be carried out.

The draft road map can be viewed on SGBC’s website, and the public has until Aug 11 to submit feedback on it. The council and BCA aim to finalise the road map by the first quarter of 2026.

The road map is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at lowering the carbon footprint of Singapore’s buildings, which account for more than 20 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions.

In 2005, the BCA launched its Green Mark certification scheme – a rating system used to evaluate a building’s environmental impact and performance – while, in 2021, the Singapore Green Building Masterplan was launched under the

Singapore Green Plan 2030

– a wide-ranging set of strategies to make the country more environmentally sustainable by that year.

BCA said in a press statement that, as at March, 2,590 buildings have been Green Mark-certified.

Mr Chee noted that, each year, these buildings collectively save $1.3 billion in energy costs, and 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours of energy – enough to power one million four-room Housing Board flats for an entire year.

He also lauded nine public- and private-sector developers that have supported the Green Mark scheme, as well as 11 buildings that have consistently scored well under the scheme over the past 20 years.

Among the developers recognised was City Developments Limited (CDL), which has received 129 Green Mark certifications across its suite of properties thus far.

CDL group chief executive Sherman Kwek said that beyond upgrading its buildings, the company has also engaged its tenants on adopting sustainable practices within their office spaces.

For instance, in July 2024, it piloted a programme for Republic Plaza tenants, giving those who achieved a reduction of at least 10 per cent in their annual power usage rebates on utility fees.

“We will continue to invest in innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency, transform our value chain, and support our nation’s decarbonisation efforts,” said Mr Kwek.

Also receiving plaudits was the National University of Singapore (NUS), which has 64 Green Mark-certified buildings, including SDE 4 – Singapore’s

first purpose-built net-zero energy building.

The building was named after the School of Design and Environment, which has since merged with the Faculty of Engineering to form the College of Design and Engineering.

Mr Koh Yan Leng, NUS vice-president for campus infrastructure, said greening the university’s buildings – such as by providing ample greenery, natural daylight and more natural ventilation – has created a conducive environment for learning and working.

He added that setting ambitious energy efficiency targets for its buildings – such as SDE 4 – has allowed students to use the buildings as case studies, and for experiential learning.

Mr Chee on July 11 also said that the SGBC contributed to a new insights report that draws clear links between national schemes that rate green buildings, such as BCA’s Green Mark, and the Asean Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, which guides member states on how to obtain financing that supports reduced coal consumption.

The report was led by the World Green Building Council, and supported by green building councils from the Asia-Pacific, as well as OCBC Bank.

“By establishing clear links between national schemes and regional guidelines, we can help unlock global capital flows and scale up investments in decarbonisation and green building projects,” said Mr Chee.

The insights report will be followed by two guides on decarbonisation for policymakers and market actors that will be published in September.

Correction note: This story has been updated to reflect that NUS’ School of Design and Environment is now part of the College of Design and Engineering.