Proudly known as “the garden city” of Asia, Singapore leads most Asian countries on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), according to experts from Yale University and the United Nations. The word "green" can take on a variety of connotations, but Singapore seems to encompass them all — verdant landscapes, renewable energy and future sustainability. It was Singapore’s first Prime Minister late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who envisioned a green Singapore as early as 1967 and seeded the dream of sustainable living, even before environmental issues became a global phenomenon.
Eco-friendly homes in Singapore
Over the past decade itself, half of Singapore’s residential buildings and a third of its commercial buildings have gone green. From rooftop organic gardens to using eco-friendly building materials such as recycled steel or bamboo, Singapore has found the means to save on water and energy, whilst improving the overall quality of life for its people.
The Government’s pledge to increase an estimated green cover of 45% to 60% and to achieve the Green Mark Certification for 80% of its buildings by 2030, is an aim that resonates with today’s millennials as well. In a recent PropertyGuru Consumer Sentiment Study of the first half of 2020, we discovered that 58% of Singaporeans are even willing to pay a premium for an environmentally sustainable home.
The change in mindset is the result of ongoing green initiatives by the Government in this direction. PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency along with Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) began an initiative in 2006 to make Singapore a global HydroHub in order to ensure water sustainability. Similarly, the world’s most significant floating solar photovoltaic test-bed operating in the north of the island will improve Singapore’s energy intensity (the amount of energy consumed for its GDP) by 35% by the year 2030.
However, among all of the above, the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Scheme is the Government’s most coveted initiative since its launch in January 2005. The BCA Green Mark provides a meaningful differentiation of buildings in the real estate market, which incorporates internationally recognised best practices in constructing environmentally-friendly building designs.
Supporting this scheme, the Government launched the BCA Green Mark Champion Awards to recognise and appreciate developers who demonstrate a strong commitment towards the Green Mark scheme.
So, what are the BCA Green Mark Awards?
The Government’s vision to shape a smart and sustainable city-state of the future has given birth to the BCA Green Mark Champion awards.
The BCA’s Green Mark Champion awards launched in 2008, acknowledge developers who exhibit a resolute commitment towards corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability to achieve a considerable number of Green Mark buildings at a Gold level or higher. Since April 2008, the Building Control Act made the Green Mark Certification mandatory for all new buildings and existing buildings undergoing necessary retrofits.
These awards endorse BCA Green Mark certification for buildings that
- Feature a reduction in energy, water and material resource usage like the Super Low Energy (SLE) Buildings.
- Reduce potential environmental impact.
- Improve indoor environmental quality through healthier workspaces, and
- encourage continuous improvement in constructing sustainable buildings in Singapore.
In addition to the above, developers MUST meet the following criteria to qualify for the awards:
Green Mark Gold and above
At least 10
At least 50
–
Green Mark GoldPLUS and above
At least 6
At least 30
–
Green Mark Platinum
At least 3
At least 15
At least 50
The BCA Green Mark Champion Award categories include:
- BCA Green Mark Champion Award
- BCA Green Mark Platinum Champion award
- BCA Green Mark Pearl Award
- BCA Green Mark Platinum STAR Champion
The BCA Green Mark Pearl Award is a prestigious award category introduced in 2014. This award recognises a dedicated group of building owners/ landlords and tenant organisations of the same project/building to work in tandem to achieve greater environmental sustainability.
Annually, the award is given to landlords who have helped their tenants secure the Green Mark certification for their tenanted premises. To be eligible for this award, at least 50% of the tenanted space within the building must be Green Mark Certified, within a base building which is Green Mark Gold PLUS or higher.
The Award has two sub-tiers:
- Green Mark Pearl Award
- Green Mark Pearl Prestige Award
These awards are limited to three types of buildings –
- Commercial offices
- Retail malls
- Business Park developments
The BCA Green Mark Platinum STAR Champion was introduced in 2016 to recognise the efforts of those who have achieved 50 or more building projects with Green Mark Platinum rating.
Thus, adhering to Singapore’s vision of becoming the “greenest” city of the world…
Here is a list of 10 eco-friendly condos that received the BCA Green Mark Gold Plus rating in 2019
1. Amber Park
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Condo name
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Amber Park
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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City Developments Limited and Hong Realty Pte Ltd
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- To improve the Residential Envelope Transmittance Value (RETV), the building’s orientation is optimal to minimise heat gain.
- Built with Singapore Green Label (SGL) products, the condo provides five tick air-conditioners and Water-Efficient Labeling Scheme (WELS)-certified fittings with a minimum of two ticks.
- Besides this, the use of energy-efficient lightings such as LED & T5, and Occupancy Sensors for staircases & toilets have resulted in 58.41% energy savings from the baseline.
2. Boulevard 88
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Condo name
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Boulevard 88
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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City Developments Limited/ Hong Leong Holdings Limited / Lea Investments Pte Ltd
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Lush green landscaped areas and provision of effective sun-shading for windows.
- Use of LED and the provision of motion sensors.
- Energy-efficient air conditioning system and use of Singapore Green Label (SGL) products.
3. Sengkang Grand Residences (mixed-use, integrated development)
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Condo name
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Sengkang Grand Residences
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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A Joint-Venture between CapitaLand Limited and City Developments Limited
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Eco-friendly development features include –
- Provision of energy-efficient five ticks air-conditioning systems.
- Optimised building orientation to reduce the solar heat gain and efficient building façade for a low RETV of 19.69 W/m2.
- Use of Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) technology.
- Double chute waste disposal system or PWCS (Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System) for recyclables and non-recyclables.
4. Martin Modern
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Condo name
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Martin Modern
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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GuocoLand Singapore
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Use of energy-efficient features such as motion sensors, energy-efficient lift and ventilation systems.
- WELS water fittings.
- A Green Plot Ratio (GNPR) of 6.0
5. Parc Riviera
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Condo name
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Parc Riviera
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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EL Development (West Coast) Pte Ltd
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Blocks take advantage of prevailing winds and minimise solar heat gain.
- Use of energy-efficient features such as motion sensors, ventilation systems.
- Use of WELS water fittings and water-efficient washing machines.
- Use of regenerative lifts to reduce power consumption.
- Use of drywall panels, ceiling panels and eco-friendly paint to minimise environmental impact.
6. One Pearl Bank
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Condo name
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One Pearl Bank
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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Capitaland
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- A Green Plot Ratio (GNPR) of 13.
- The condo endorses NParks Landscape Excellence Framework (LEAF) and has received PUB Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Water Programme Certification.
- LED lighting and efficient lighting design provide 40% energy savings in common area lighting.
- Use of regenerative lifts.
- The building‘s designs incorporate passive design strategies such as large blocks, void decks at the ground and mid-floor sky terraces to promote airflow.
7. Garden Residences
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Condo name
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The Garden Residences
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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Keppel Land (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Use of energy-efficient air conditioning units with five ticks.
- Use of rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation systems to conserve water.
- WELS water fittings result in 23% savings.
- Use of cool paint for the entire east and west facades.
- Green Plot Ratio (GNPR) of 5.90. Facilities and nature are integrated into the design of the condo to significantly improve the occupants’ wellbeing.
- 100% use of LED light fittings.
- Motion sensors control lightings at the staircase and common toilets areas.
8. Poiz Residences
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Condo name
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Poiz Residences
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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MCC Land (Singapore) Pte Ltd
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Use of energy-efficient features such as motion sensors, energy-efficient lift and ventilation systems.
- Extensive use of water-efficient fittings.
- Lush greenery.
- Use of environmentally friendly construction material.
9. Twin Vew
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Condo name
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Twin Vew
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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CSC Land Group (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Provision of energy-efficient air conditioners, energy-efficient lifts and light fittings at communal facilities.
- Motion sensors at staircases.
- Extensive greenery.
- Provision of facilities for storage and composting of horticultural waste at the common area.
- Use of Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint.
10. Whistler Grand
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Condo name
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Whistler Grand
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Green Mark Award for Buildings
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Gold Plus
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Developer
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City Development Limited
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Eco-friendly condo features include –
- Use of more than 80% air conditioners with five ticks.
- Use of 100% LED Lighting
- Use of variable-voltage/variable-frequency (VVVF) drive and sleep mode lifts
- Lush landscapes
- Smart home solutions
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Manasi Hukku wrote this article. Manasi likes to cover the intersection between research and relevance to help readers find a place they’ll love. She is a UX Conversation Designer, Medium Columnist and mother of two.
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