BCA raises Green Mark standard

Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has announced that all new buildings will need to follow a higher Green Mark standard starting in December, as the city continues its bid for a leaner and greener economy.

The higher standard will help buildings save another 10 percent of energy over the existing standard.

Under the revisions, the minimum energy efficiency standard will be 28 percent higher compared to the first building code issued in 2005 upon the launch of the Green Mark, a green building rating system evaluating buildings’ environmental performance.

The standards for Gold, GoldPlus and Platinum levels will also be raised appropriately.

Other revisions will require buildings to set up more energy-efficient air conditioning systems, as well as monitoring devices to monitor its performance, said John Keung, chief executive of BCA,  in an interview with The Straits Times.

The rating system will also consider the use of passive design and recycled materials like recycled concrete aggregate.

The higher standards will help the country attain its goal to cut 7 to 11 percent of its carbon emissions by 2020, said Mr. Keung.

The efforts of BCA in Singapore’s green building drive has earned it international recognition.

It received the Energy and Environment Award from the Aspen institute, a Colorado-based international not-for-profit organisation Aspen Institute in the government category. It was the first time the accolade was awarded to an organisation outside North America.