New building guidelines take effect

A MINIMUM plot size requirement of 1,000 square metres and a guide on the maximum number of dwelling units (DUs) for non-landed residential estates were put into effect by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday.

According to the new guidelines, the minimum plot size requirement for flat developments island- wide is now 1,000 sq m (about 10,763.9 sq ft), with the view to provide more space for landscaping and communal facilities.

In addition, for all breakaway proposals from existing landed housing for either flat or landed housing developments within non-safeguarded landed housing areas, the aggregate land area for the left-behind plots must also satisfy the minimum plot size.

The impact of this guideline will be felt particularly in the area of en bloc sales for landed housing.

Separately, a guide on the maximum number of DUs for flat and condominium developments within GPR (gross plot ratio) 1.4 residential estates was introduced.
The DU guide is also applicable to residential components of mixed-use developments, within GPR 1.4 residential estates, and other low-rise, low-density residential areas.

A more stringent formula was developed for areas such as Telok Kurau Estate, which has seen a rapid injection of a large number of units, resulting in significantly higher traffic volumes along the existing narrow local access roads, noted URA.

'If the number of units are being restricted, on average unit sizes will be larger. For developers looking to achieve the same per square foot pricing, you are looking at a higher total quantum that may or may not be supported by the market,' pointed out Ms Tang.

The guidelines will only take effect with respect to new applications, added Ms Tang, noting that any formal applications (excluding outline applications) submitted prior to Nov 24 which had been granted provisional permission or will result in provisional permission being granted will be evaluated under the old guidelines.
Kovan and Joo Chiat/Jalan Eunos estates were also identified as potentially problematic clusters.

URA and the Land Transport Authority are conducting a joint study to determine if more stringent DU guides are required based on the infrastructural capacity of the area.

The study is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2012.

Source: Business Times – 25 November 2011

BCA mulls law to get owners to “green” existing buildings

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 27 Jul 2010

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is mulling a possible law to get property owners make their existing buildings more environmentally-friendly.

The rule will cover all existing buildings, with the main focus on commercial and office buildings and hotels. This could come in two to three years to help Singapore meet its goal of “greening” 80 percent of its buildings by 2030.

So far, only 8 percent of some 210 million square metres of existing floor area have been “greened”.

To promote sustainable development, the BCA launched the Green Mark Scheme in 2005. Over 450 buildings in Singapore are now part of the scheme, and all new buildings have to meet minimum Green Mark standards.

To get existing buildings to follow suit, a S$100 million “Green Mark Incentive Scheme For Existing Buildings” was launched in April last year to encourage building owners to undertake the necessary retrofits to upgrade their buildings.

Separately, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will also grant additional floor area to encourage the private sector to develop buildings that attain higher tier Green Mark ratings.

Dr John Keung, CEO of BCA, said: “We haven’t gone very far yet but we are looking at whether there are interested developers, good consultants, designers to re-design the buildings to retrofit the buildings.”

BCA said the costs of constructing green buildings have come down.

The premium for a Green Mark Platinum building was around 2-5 percent of total investment previously. Now it’s about 1 to 2 percent. This has also cut the payback period of the investment.

BCA is also expected to update its Green Building Masterplan next month.

BCA said it is in talks with industry players and so far, some developers and landlords of hotels are keen on the idea of greening existing buildings, because of the savings that can be reaped from being energy efficient.

Separately, the Singapore Contractors Association wants to raise environmental awareness among its members through a new two-day workshop.

The association hopes to take the programme overseas in five years.

Andrew Khng, president of Singapore Contractors Association, said: “What the Association has done is it has come up with an initiative to promote a certification scheme – called SEC SCAL Eco certification scheme – for members and this is to look at reducing carbon footprint for members.”

The outlook is bright for the construction sector.

The first half of the year saw about S$11 billion of projects awarded.

BCA said another S$10b to S$16b in contracts are due out in the second half.

Construction demand for 2011 and 2012 has been projected to be between S$18b and S$25b each year.

Update law to deal with recalcitrant condo residents

Source : Straits Times – 6 Aug 2009

I REFER to last Saturday’s report, ‘It’s my condo and I do what I want’. I am perturbed to hear about a council member refusing to pay the monthly $65 fee levied on those who park their second car in the estate.

I am the chairman of another condominium’s management council, and we have faced a similar problem in the past two years. Our estate has about 50 owners who own more than one car. In 2006, it was decided at an annual general meeting that the management council would determine the terms and conditions and fees on issuance of carpark permits in the estate. In 2007, the management council imposed a monthly fee of $15 for parking a second car in the estate.

Although we sent numerous letters and got council members to persuade one resident to pay up, the issue is still not resolved. I believe other condos face similar problems with errant residents – such as littering, wearing improper swimming attire and hanging laundry in an unsightly manner.

Veteran condo residents know the managing agent is just a contractor employed by the residents and is powerless to fine or penalise them. Furthermore, taking legal action against a neighbour will not only cost thousands of dollars, but also most likely incur the wrath of the court.

I urge the Building and Construction Authority to review such problems with managing agents as well as management councils, and update the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act so the standard of condo living can be maintained.

Henry Ng

Govt buildings leading green drive

Source : Straits Times – 24 Jul 2009

MR GRANT W. Pereira’s Forum Online letter, ‘Let’s walk the talk on green buildings’ (July 14), urged the Government to walk the talk by suggesting that ‘all new government buildings should be at least 10 per cent powered by solar energy’.

It is important to design buildings which will inherently consume less energy. This can be achieved through better building orientation, designs that minimise heat absorption through the building envelope and facilitate natural ventilation, and use of energy-efficient equipment and fittings.

The Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark scheme, which rates green buildings, emphasises such energy-efficient designs.

The incorporation of clean energy sources like solar panels is another solution to complement energy efficiency in buildings. BCA is currently test-bedding solar energy infrastructure at its new Zero Energy Building to ascertain its effectiveness and potential.

More HDB precincts will also have solar panels on their rooftops, as part of a $31 million largescale solar test-bedding scheme. The Government hopes this will encourage wider adoption of solar panels which will help lower the cost.

This two-pronged strategy of exploring clean energy supply and lowering energy demand is a balanced approach to overall energy conservation. Already, new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major retrofitting must achieve the minimum Green Mark certified standard.

The Government is taking the lead in the green building movement by committing its buildings to attain even higher Green Mark standards. Current buildings must attain at least Green Mark GoldPlus by 2020, and new air-conditioned government buildings must obtain the highest Green Mark Platinum rating, which will achieve at least 30 per cent in energy savings.

To date, the BCA Green Mark scheme has received strong support from developers and the industry.

From only 17 green buildings when the scheme started in 2005, we now have close to 300 buildings that have been certified to various Green Mark ratings.

There are also incentives available to encourage the private sector to achieve higher Green Mark ratings and energy savings in both new and existing buildings.

We will continue to review our policies and initiatives to ensure that Singapore’s future built environment remains green and sustainable.

We thank Mr Pereira for his suggestion.

Tan Tian Chong
Director, Technology Development Division
Building and Construction Authority

Cost shouldn’t be sole factor in tenders

Source : Straits Times – 20 Jul 2009

I REFER to last Wednesday’s report, ‘Civil servants rapped for sloppiness’, and the remarks by Mr Khong Kiong Seng in his letter last Thursday, ‘Quality first’.

The Construction Industry Joint Committee shares the view of Mr Khong on the need to also consider quality when deciding on awarding tenders. While we do not have complete details of the reported case of rejecting the lowest bid, we would like to highlight to readers, in particular procurers, the ill effects of abnormally low tenders (ALTs) which can occur if procurers award projects with an overt emphasis on the lowest bid.

In Europe, the construction industry set up a working group under the auspices of the European Commission to study the harmful effects of ALTs more than 10 years ago. It found that ALTs had serious adverse effects, not only on the company that submits the ALT but also on owners and users of the works.

Companies which submit ALTs will suffer financial losses, leading to excessive pressures to save costs and reduce expenditure on quality, health and safety. These effects are passed on via the supply chain to sub-contractors, suppliers and employees. Owners and users are also affected as the works will most likely be substandard, leading to poor value for money.

We trust that government agencies’ procurers are aware that awarding a project to the lowest bid does not necessarily result in the best outcome.

Since end 2004, the Building and Construction Authority has advocated quality and price as the basis for selecting consultants and builders in public sector projects. A quality-and-price method of evaluating bids emphasises quality and capabilities of firms in addition to cost. This is a good practice which should be emulated by both private and public sectors.

Cost should not be the sole determinant of the winning tender in both public and private sector projects. The track record and the capabilities of the bidding firms should also be assessed to ensure optimal quality while keeping to the allocated budget of the project. This will ensure that owners and users get the best value for money in their projects.

Lee Bee Wah (Ms)
Chairman
Construction Industry Joint Committee

Tough measures taken on window safety

Source : Straits Times – 11 Jun 2009

I WOULD like to thank Mr Andrew Seow for his views on window safety last Saturday (’Pedestrians at risk’). We agree with him that the onus is on property owners and tenants to carry out preventive maintenance to ensure that exterior features such as wall tiles and glass panels are secure.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) takes a serious stance on the safety of exterior features and windows, and I would like to assure Mr Seow and the public that we adopt tough measures against building owners or tenants who fail to maintain their windows regularly to ensure safety.

Owners or tenants may face a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a prison term of up to 12 months should their windows or other facade elements fall due to a lack of maintenance.

In addition, newly installed windows must comply with minimum design and performance standards, and these installations must be undertaken by approved window contractors and trained window installers. This helps to address possible issues at the design and installation stages to prevent potential problems later.

The BCA views public safety as its utmost priority and will not hesitate to prosecute building owners or tenants for failing to ensure the safety of their exterior features, including windows. We will continue to carry out audit inspections of buildings to ensure that the windows have been retrofitted with stainless steel rivets.

The BCA also reaches out to property owners, tenants and home owners with public awareness programmes to educate and remind them of the need to check and maintain their windows regularly for public safety reasons.

Our recent window safety campaign, ‘6/6, 12/12′, designates June 6 and Dec 12 each year as Window Safety Day, to remind property owners and tenants to check their windows at least once every six months. Posters of simple do-it-yourself tips on how to check windows are also distributed to town councils for HDB blocks and to management corporations for private estates. In addition, the BCA will send advisories on window safety to all property owners and tenants.

Lastly, we would like to remind all property owners and tenants of their duty to maintain their windows regularly. For more information on window safety and maintenance tips, home owners can refer to our website, www.bca.gov.sg/windows_safety or call our hotline on 6325-8677.

Chin Chi Leong
Director
Building Plan Management Division
Building and Construction Authority of Singapore

Property owners, tenants encouraged to check windows every 6 months

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 5 Jun 2009

Property owners and tenants are encouraged to check and maintain windows in high-rise buildings at least twice a year.

In a joint statement, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said the safety of exterior features such windows are critical in Singapore’s densely built environment as these could cause serious injuries.

BCA said since it introduced legislation to retrofit casement windows in October 2004, the number of fallen window incidents has gone down significantly.

In 2005, the number was 125 but this has dropped to an average of 52 cases per year from 2006 to 2008.

BCA and HDB said all property owners are responsible for ensuring that their windows are well maintained so that they do not fall off and cause danger to the public.

The statement came a day after a huge glass window went crashing down 18 floors from a high-rise building in downtown Singapore on Thursday morning.

A man in his early 40s suffered cuts on his head as a result of the accident.

He was believed to be working on the glass panel on the 18th floor of the AIA Building.

Fortunately there were no vehicles or pedestrians when the glass panel came crashing down.

More builders going green

BCA’s 2009 awards tally jumps to 151 and its Green Mark scheme draws more interest

INTEREST in green building is growing in Singapore. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) gave out a whopping 151 awards this year – up from 97 last year – reflecting the industry’s growing commitment towards building a safe, high-quality, sustainable and friendly built environment.

In particular, BCA’s Green Mark certification scheme, which was launched in 2005, attracted more interest. Some 103 buildings were certified ‘green’ this year, up from 69 last year.

And following keen interest from both public and private sectors in ‘greening’ their properties, BCA this year expanded the Green Mark scheme to offer certifications in three more categories: infrastructure, office interior, and landed houses. Previously, the Green Mark scheme was only offered to buildings.

The Marina Barrage won a Green Mark Platinum award under the infrastructure category. The development, which spans the mouth of the Marina Channel to create Singapore’s 15th reservoir and the first in the city, was praised as a showcase of environmental and water sustainability.

Four office tenants were awarded the Green Mark for Office Interior while two landed homes were given the BCA Green Mark for Landed Houses award.

Analysts said there has been a spike in the number of projects with Green Mark certification, as demand from corporations is motivating developers and construction companies to build green buildings.

‘Most multinational corporations have some level of commitment to the environment, whether as a result of mandatory reporting in their home country or through voluntary involvement in corporate social responsibility indices,’ said Paul Baxter, Colliers International’s director for corporate services in Asia-Pacific.

For these organisations, choosing a Green Mark-certified building helps them achieve their corporate sustainability objectives, he said.

Tenants are also showing an increased willingness to pay more for green space. A survey done by CoreNet Global and Jones Lang LaSalle late last year showed that 60 per cent of Asia-Pacific companies are willing to pay a premium rent to occupy sustainable space – despite the tighter economic environment.

The main obstacle to building green buildings – the higher cost for developers – still remains. However, the cost premium to build a green building has shrunk from as much as 10 per cent to around 4 per cent as construction companies and developers become more comfortable with sustainable design, products and technology, said Colliers’ Mr Baxter. Also, maintaining the property once it is built is cheaper, and tenants can reap cost savings of as much as 15-30 per cent as compared to buildings with conventional designs.

Other than the Green Mark scheme, companies last night also received awards under five other categories – including two categories introduced this year.

Under the pre-existing categories, eight projects won the Construction Excellence Award – including the St Regis Hotel and residential developments Icon, Citylights and The Tresor. Another eight projects picked up the Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Award. Developments lauded in this category include The Sail @ Marina Bay and Parc Emily.

Ten projects, including Anchorvale Community Club and Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre, and VivoCity, won the Universal Design Award.

Two new award categories were introduced this year as the building industry becomes more green.

The inaugural Green and Gracious Builder Award was developed to recognise progressive builders who take the effort to address environmental and public concerns arising from construction works.

Some 14 construction companies – including familiar industry names such as Poh Lian Construction, Tiong Seng Contractors, Woh Hup, Tiong Aik Construction, Lum Chang Building Contractors and Lian Beng Construction – won the award this year.

The other new award, the Built Environment Leadership Award, was launched to recognise outstanding industry firms such as developers, builders, and architectural, structural, and mechanical and electrical consultants that have demonstrated excellence and leadership.

The Platinum award in this category was given to City Developments, and seven Gold Class awards were given out to other outstanding firms such as CapitaLand, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, Surbana International Consultants, Woh Hup and Tiong Seng Contractors.

Looking ahead, interest in green building is likely to remain strong, analysts said.

CB Richard Ellis, for example, has embarked on a comprehensive study to evaluate the wide range of benefits that sustainability has for commercial real estate holdings. More such studies can be expected as developers and contractors look to ‘green’ more upcoming projects.

Source : Business Times – 28 May 2009

Eight winners for BCA awards

Source : Business Times – 19 May 2009

Six awards and two certificates of merit will be given out in the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Construction Excellence Awards this year, out of 15 nominations.

There was notable improvement in the quality of the projects and performance of the winners, BCA said.

Of the eight winners, five were private residential developments.

Woh Hup won two Construction Excellence Awards for their projects Blossoms @ Woodleigh and Icon this year, both private residential developments achieving high Conquas (Construction Quality Assessment) points of 92.6 and 90.4 respectively.

The company built nine out of 16 private residential projects which have a Conquas score of 90 and above, and seven of these have also received the BCA Quality Mark certification.

The other winning projects are St Regis Hotel, Residences @ Evelyn, Citylights Condominium, The Tresor, Ferry Terminal at Marina Coastal Drive and 36 Kaki Bukit Place.

The assessment of nominations is based on the builder’s overall management of the project, the builder’s technical capability and innovations, and the quality of the completed project.

Launched in 1986, the annual competition principally recognises builders’ workmanship, focusing on downstream post-design work such as project management, technical capability and quality of the completed project.

BCA added that about 44 per cent of units launched last year were committed to their BCA Quality Mark Scheme, which seeks to ensure the consistent delivery of quality homes from a prescribed standard.

About 26,000 residential units have been committed or assessed to date.

Projects that received the mark have reportedly scored much higher in Conquas and received little or less feedback on defects, BCA said.

Potential major defects and leakages in about five per cent of total units assessed were also detected and rectified before being handed over to home owners.

The awards ceremony will be held next Wednesday.

Green building events may add buzz to industry

Source : Business Times – 6 May 2009

Downturn may have some impact on the conference and exhibition: BCA

THE Building & Construction Authority (BCA) expects 800 to 1,000 local and foreign participants to turn up for its inaugural International Green Building Conference in October.
The conference, which will focus on green building technologies and designs, will take place alongside South-east Asia’s green building exhibition BEX Asia, which could draw another 5,000 visitors.

The economic downturn may have some impact on the events, said BCA director of technology development Tan Tian Chong.

But with new incentives to get at least 80 per cent of buildings in Singapore Green Mark-certified by 2030, they may ‘add more buzz to the industry and create an interest to improve the value and energy efficiency of existing buildings’.

Last week, the government introduced several schemes to promote sustainable development in Singapore.

For instance, BCA launched a $100 million Green Mark incentive scheme for existing buildings to entice owners of some private non-residential developments to carry out energy efficiency retrofitting.

According to Mr Tan, BCA’s co-funding can help shorten the investment’s payback period by as much as a third.

The agency found in a study that a building with the Green Mark platinum rating can carry a cost premium of 2 to 8 per cent, with a payback period of two to eight years.

President of the Singapore Institute of Architects Ashvinkumar Kantilal, who is also projects director at Architects 61, said his firm has got ‘quite a handful of enquiries’ in the past two days from clients who wish to know if they can benefit from the green incentives. He believes other architectural firms are seeing a similar trend.

BCA said that 245 buildings have received Green Mark certification.
They have a gross floor area (GFA) of around 10.47 million sq m, out of a total building stock of about 210 million sq m.

Of the 245 buildings, however, only 60 are complete and in use, representing a GFA of around 1.7 million sq m.

Buildings go green to cut costs amid economic downturn

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 5 May 2009

One way to cut costs amid the current downturn is to make buildings more eco-friendly and efficient. Experts said this can save as much as a 20 per cent in energy bills.
And for those worried about higher investments, there are initiatives that can cover up to 35 per cent of such costs.

Demand for ‘green’ buildings has grown amid the current downturn. Environmentally-conscious consumers are increasingly demanding more eco-friendly homes.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has seen applications for its green mark certification jump from 17 in 2005 to over 100 in 2008. So far in 2009, there are some 120 buildings waiting for certification.

The BCA Green Mark Scheme was launched in January 2005 to push Singapore’s construction industry to build more environmentally friendly buildings. Experts said even old buildings can be retrofitted to be green.

“I suppose the economic crisis will affect the demand for green buildings, but… the focus will be on retrofitting, so we are thinking there will be a resurgence in retrofitting,” said Tan Tian Chong, director of Technology Development at BCA.

The BCA is pumping funds into retrofitting development, and as a result is expecting retrofitting projects to generate over S$1 billion by 2020.

Such retrofitting – which includes modifications such as air-conditioning and lighting systems – will need 3 to 4 years before showing returns on the investment. The BCA said with the new incentives, the time frame could be further reduced by one third.

Currently, only one per cent of completed buildings in Singapore are certified green. But by 2030, the BCA is targeting to bring this to 80 per cent.

To encourage developers to go green for new projects, the BCA will be offering additional gross floor area for projects that qualify.

New green buildings will take 6 to 8 years to show returns on investment, and could present up to 30 per cent in energy savings.

BCA strives to make buildings more accessible

Source : Straits Times – 1 May 2009

I REFER to the concerns raised by Madam Lucy Ng in her letter last Saturday, ‘No, it’s a bumpy ride’. We recognise the current challenges faced by users with diverse mobility needs, especially in older buildings built before the 1990 Code on Barrier-free Accessibility in Buildings came into effect.

To prepare for an ageing population and promote an inclusive society, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) mapped out a five-year Barrier-free Accessibility Masterplan in 2006 to improve accessibility in the city.

In particular, we have extended a $40 million Accessibility Fund for building owners to upgrade buildings with accessible features. So far, 26 pre-1990 buildings have tapped the fund, and we encourage more building owners to use this fund to improve accessibility in and around their buildings.

For new buildings, BCA regularly reviews the accessibility code with user groups, the private sector and other government agencies to ensure they are able to meet the needs of not just wheelchair users, but also the elderly and ambulant disabled.

It was unfortunate that both lifts at the Tiong Bahru market were under service when Madam Ng and her mother visited. Nonetheless, we would like to highlight that building owners are required to keep the accessible features in their premises well-maintained and functional to facilitate movement of people with diverse mobility needs.

Like Madam Ng, we are concerned about the extent of barrier-free accessibility in the built environment and we have progressively been assessing buildings and rating their levels of accessibility. We would like to highlight that a database of buildings with user-friendly and accessible features is available on our Friendly Built Environment Portal (www.friendlybuildings.sg). Users can access information on the location of accessible entrances and facilities in shopping complexes, food centres, offices and parks. There are 700 buildings in our database and we are continually adding to the list.

We would like to assure Madam Ng that BCA works with both public agencies, user communities and private sector organisations to shape a friendly built environment for all. We seek everyone’s support to be considerate of the needs of individuals with diverse mobility needs, by extending help where possible and leveraging on BCA’s initiatives to provide seamless mobility for all.

Chin Chi LeongDirectorBuilding Plan Management DivisionBuilding and Construction Authority

Greening buildings in bad times a hard sell

Source : Straits Times - 30 Apr 2009

EVEN as it topped a global list published this week of cities with the best infrastructure, and ranks reasonably in quality of life, Singapore has barely begun to make its buildings energy-efficient. It is one contradiction that can be fixed with policy measures and private sector cooperation. The second Building and Construction Authority (BCA) green building master plan, unveiled on Monday, could achieve that - if incentives and injunctions work. The first plan, begun in 2006, made only 1 per cent of buildings energy-efficient, despite what the BCA described as a ’sharp increase’ in buildings meeting its Green Mark last year.

Aiming to render 80 per cent of buildings green by 2030, the new plan shifts the emphasis from new to existing buildings. It is a tactical refocusing that could have wider potential impact, since these buildings account for a third of national electricity consumption. The BCA will offer $100 million in government co-funding to retrofit such buildings as shopping malls, hotels, offices and hospitals so they can cut their energy costs by at least 20 per cent. It estimates energy savings at $120 million a year, which is not a bad rate of return on investment. The critical question is, are there enough building owners who are in a position to take advantage of the incentive? Many are expecting to collect less rent as business slows further.

Developers of new buildings face a similar constraint. Energy efficiency will likely not be their first priority even if they are bold enough to begin construction in a recession. Like owners of existing buildings, they will want the BCA to indicate long if not short term gains. The plan will award 1 or 2 per cent bonus gross floor area, capped at 2,500 sq m or 5,000 sq m, if buildings reduce energy consumption by 25 or 30 per cent. Developers will have to go to the drawing board, literally, to build green technology into the designs. Again, how many can BCA convince with the green carrot? Perhaps because of the economic climate, only in several ’strategic growth areas’ are higher energy standards set (as land sales conditions).

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan has pointed out that sustainable development efforts and tackling economic challenges ‘are not mutually exclusive’. With deeper pockets, the Government can and will take the lead, by greening existing and new public buildings. As soon as the economy recovers, the private sector will be more willing and able to follow that lead. It will do well to help Singapore maintain the best infrastructure and achieve among the highest and most sustainable liveability standards.

More ’sky gardens’ set to blossom

Source : Straits Times - 30 Apr 2009

EXPECT to see more ‘gardens in the sky’ in Singapore, especially in areas like Orchard Road, Raffles Place and along the Singapore River.

A new plan launched yesterday by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) makes it a must for new developments coming up in several areas from December to have landscaping.

This can take the form of rooftop gardens, planter boxes and sky terraces on the upper levels. Developers will also be encouraged to landscape their grounds.

The areas affected by this new ruling are the Downtown Core - which encompasses Raffles Place, Shenton Way, and Marina Centre - along the Kallang River, and Jurong Gateway, the upcoming commercial hub in the west.

Existing buildings will not be left out.

Those in Orchard Road and the business district will be allowed to open outdoor refreshment areas on their rooftops. To do this, they will be given additional gross floor area of half the roof area or up to 200 sq m.

This complements a programme launched on Monday by the Building Construction Authority (BCA) and URA. Under it, private buildings which are eco-friendly enough to achieve high standards under BCA’s Green Mark scheme get additional gross floor area.

The new URA initiative, launched yesterday, is called Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (Lush), and is part of a national sustainability blueprint launched by an inter-ministerial committee on Monday.

The blueprint sets national targets for pollution standards, energy usage and green areas over the next 20 years, and aims to create a more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient nation.

In addition to the Lush programme, the National Parks Board also announced yesterday an $8 million fund that developers can tap to create rooftop gardens on existing buildings.

To be launched in September, the fund will offset up to $75 per sq metre for landscaping costs - about half the $150 to $180 per sq m usually charged by gardening companies.

Landlords in the Orchard Road and downtown areas can apply to the fund.

In announcing the plans yesterday, the URA said that encouraging private developers to include greenery in their buildings is becoming increasingly important as Singapore becomes more built up.

Developers that The Straits Times spoke to yesterday welcomed the moves, but had suggestions to make the scheme more attractive as URA had said that the the usual development charges (DC) would apply.

The DC rate is pegged at 70 per cent of a building’s enhanced land value.

Managing director of City Developments Kwek Leng Joo felt that while developers can make use of the additional area, they would have to grapple with the additional costs.

‘We would suggest that the DC rate be pegged at the previous rate of 50 per cent instead of the current 70 per cent, which most developers find too high.

‘This could make the incentive more attractive and effective to help the policy take off quickly,’ he said.

80% of buildings to be eco-friendly by 2030

Source : Straits Times - 27 Apr 2009

GREEN buildings make up a paltry 1 per cent of buildings in Singapore today, but come 2030, that number will grow to cover 80 per cent of all buildings.

This is one of the most ambitious of the many targets outlined by the Inter- Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development in its inaugural report released yesterday.

To help achieve this, property developers will be offered a carrot - free extra floor area if their new buildings are built in a way that meets high Green Mark standards. The Government has also set aside a $600 million fund to green existing public and private buildings.

Launched in 2005, the BCA Green Mark Scheme is a system that rates a building’s environmental performance.

When fully implemented, all these initiatives under the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA’s) second green building masterplan will help Singapore achieve annual savings of $1.6 billion in terms of energy cost reductions.

BCA’s second masterplan expands on the first one, which focused on greening new buildings. A total of 245 buildings met the Green Mark standard.

But public feedback had urged BCA to do more with existing buildings, which make up majority of Singapore’s physical landscape, said BCA’s chief executive John Keung.

Under the new masterplan, the public sector will drive the transformation by requiring all new, large air-conditioned public buildings to achieve the highest Platinum standard from now on.

In addition, the Government will pump $500 million into greening all its public buildings to the GoldPlus standard - just one level below Platinum.

For the private sector, BCA will hand out $100 million in cash incentives to building owners to help them retrofit buildings to be more energy efficient.

Land sales to builders in strategic growth areas such as Marina Bay, Jurong Lake District, Kallang Riverside and Paya Lebar Central will also now come with a condition: Buildings constructed on the sites must achieve either a Green Mark Platinum or GoldPlus rating.

To provide incentives to the private sector, BCA is handing out free gross floor area (GFA) for new private buildings - a suggestion made by industry players during the report’s feedback sessions.

Developers who build Green Mark GoldPlus buildings will get an extra 1 per cent of GFA, capped at 2,500 sq m; while Platinum buildings will get an extra 2 per cent, capped at 5,000 sq m.

Industry players such as City Developments’ managing director Kwek Leng Joo have welcomed the move. Mr Kwek adding that this will ‘help developers defray some investment in green technology and features’.

Even smaller developers, such as executive director Lim Yew Soon of Evan Lim & Co, said they would ‘happily build green buildings despite the cost’ if there were some incentives available.

Dr Keung said the masterplan will ‘not only result in more of our buildings being able to achieve substantial savings in energy costs, but it also provides a boost to the ‘green collar’ job market’.

About 18,000 green specialists are expected to be trained over the next 10 years in the development, design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings.

In the longer term, BCA is considering mandating energy labelling for existing buildings so as to encourage building owners to green their physical assets to a high level of efficiency.

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Making the Mark

What makes a green building?

Through the use of cutting-edge green technology, occupants enjoy a cut in water and energy bills, as well as an improvement in indoor environmental quality for healthy living. This also reduces the building’s impact on the environment.

One key target:

80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore to be certified Green Mark by 2030. The Green Mark scheme rates buildings on their environmental impact.

Initiatives:

~ $100 million incentive for private building owners to upgrade existing buildings to meet green standards.
~ Developers will be granted the right to extra floor area for new private buildings meeting green criteria.
~ New buildings in strategic growth areas to achieve high Green Mark standards.
~ All new public buildings will have to attain Platinum standard.
~ All existing public buildings will be upgraded to meet the Goldplus standard at a cost of $500 million by 2020.

Clean, green blueprint to redefine S’pore

Source : Business Times - 28 Apr 2009

The government yesterday unveiled a blueprint for sustainable development for the next 10 to 20 years, adopting a ‘light-touch’ approach for now to spare businesses and households from higher costs at a time of economic hardship.

Even so, there will be huge implications for developers, the transport sector, oil refineries and even makers of airconditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers.

A key target is a 35 per cent reduction in energy consumption per dollar GDP by 2030 (from 2005 levels), which is projected to potentially generate about $3.6 billion annual savings (net of the cost of investment).

New buildings in Singapore will be more energy efficient while existing ones will be retrofitted to conserve energy.

Electric vehicles and diesel-hybrid buses will be tested out. Minimum energy performance standards for household air-conditioners and refrigerators will be introduced by 2011. In short, the moves will touch all aspects of life in Singapore.

The government will provide ‘incentives, information and educate the public, as opposed to other policy options of say legislation or even disincentives such as taxes’ as National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, co-chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development (IMCSD), said at a media briefing yesterday.

For a start, the government has set aside $1 billion for the next five years - this was announced in the January Budget statement - to help implement plans in the blueprint.

Part of this sum will go towards helping businesses reduce the upfront costs of investing in resource-efficient buildings, systems and processes. The $1 billion sum includes $100 million set aside for the new Green Mark Incentive scheme to retrofit existing private-sector buildings to boost energy efficiency.

‘The temptation is to slow down our efforts in the area of sustainable development while we tackle the immediate economic challenges. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. Even as we tackle the short-term challenges, we must build capability for our long-term development,’ Mr Mah said.

The blueprint keeps open the option of mandating changes in the longer term. For instance, the government will study the experiences of countries that have legislated minimum energy-efficiency standards for major energy-consuming equipment and systems and see if it needs to use the law for this.

The 128-page document, available at www.sustainablesingapore.gov.sg, also elaborates on plans to build new R&D capabilities.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim, co-chair of IMCSD, highlighted that the ‘concrete targets’ set in the blueprint for 2020 and 2030 ‘reflect how serious we are about sustainable development’.

The targets will be reviewed every five years. ‘These targets will be reviewed regularly, as technology improves and the cost-effectiveness of measures changes,’ he added.

Energy-related benchmarks will be set for key industrial sectors.

Other specific targets include reducing daily domestic water consumption per capita from 156 litres currently to 140 litres by 2030. To improve air quality, ambient sulphur dioxide levels will be capped despite economic growth. Air emission standards for industry and transport will be regularly reviewed and Singapore will be benchmarked against top Asian cities - without imposing prohibitive costs on the players.

There will also be 50 additional hectares of skyrise greenery, and 900 hectares of water bodies and 100 km of waterways open for recreational activity by 2030.

Another important target set is for at least 80 per cent of Singapore’s stock of buildings to achieve Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Certified Rating by 2030.

The government will promote more efficient pollution-control equipment for industries and the use of more efficient sulphur recovery systems for oil refineries.

Singapore will be positioned as an international knowledge hub in sustainable development solutions. Solar technology will be piloted at 30 public housing precincts across the island. Singapore will invest early in solar technology to prepare for using it on a larger scale when its cost falls closer to that of conventional energy.

BCA will develop prototype energy-efficient building designs that can more than halve energy consumption.

Clean energy and water technologies are projected to provide about $3.4 billion economic value-add per year by 2015 and to create a total of 18,000 jobs by 2015.

Green projects pay off for KepLand

Source : Business Times - 27 Mar 2009

KEPPEL Land expects to save up to $4 million in annual energy bill from completing six Green Mark certified projects.

The property arm of conglomerate Keppel Corporation also aims to achieve at least Green Mark Gold rating from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for all its developments.

‘In its commitment towards going green, the company has gone beyond the statutory requirement and pledged to achieve a minimum Green Mark Gold certification for all new projects,’ Keppel Land says in its first sustainability report.

The Green Mark Gold is ranked third out of four certifications available.

Under BCA criteria, new buildings are assessed on energy and water efficiency, as well as environmental quality and protection. The buildings are then ranked according to points tallied.

Keppel Land also said its overseas projects will be developed to meet similar international benchmarks.

With the completion of the six Green Mark projects, Keppel Land expects to see savings of $3-$4 million (depending on the cost of electricity), or a total annual energy reduction of almost 18 million kilowatt/ hours - enough to power 3,000 Singapore homes for a year.

Keppel Land’s Green Mark certified projects here include Ocean Financial Centre, phase one of the Marina Bay Financial Centre commercial development and Reflections at Keppel Bay.

The certifications were given last year.

Keppel Land’s Ho Chi Minh City condominium project the Estella was also certified as Green Mark in 2008.

The company has put in place energy-efficiency measures at its office buildings, including Bugis Junction Tower, Equity Plaza, Keppel Bay Towers and Prudential Towers. And based on energy audits, total annual savings could exceed $1 million.

The moves follow BCA’s decision to focus on greening existing buildings, which are significant energy guzzlers.

Sand and granite importers will need to get licences

Source : Straits Times - 24 Mar 2009

PARLIAMENT yesterday passed the Building and Construction Authority (Amendment) Bill requiring all importers to obtain a licence before they can supply sand and granite to Singapore’s construction industry.

The move comes two years after Singapore’s ’sand crisis’ of early 2007 when Indonesia abruptly banned all land sand exports to the city state - causing building activity to almost grind to a halt and sand prices to treble at one point.

During the second reading of the Bill yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the scheme would ensure imported materials met high standards and help safeguard supplies.

‘The sudden disruption of concreting sand and granite supplies in 2007 demonstrated the significant impact that such a disruption could have on our construction industry,’ he said.

As Singapore imports most of its construction materials, it was important to ensure that the supply was ‘resilient, thus minimising the possibility of any disruption to construction work’, he said.

The Bill empowers BCA to license importers and allows it to revoke licences under certain circumstances.

Initially, the scheme will apply to the imports of concreting sand and granite for building, street or railway work in Singapore. Existing importers will be given six months to apply for a licence, which will be valid for up to 24 months and be renewable.

The Bill will also allow BCA to enforce existing test requirements so materials meet required standards.

Importers have to submit a ‘business continuity plan’ that puts in place measures to mitigate any supply disruption.

Mindful of the current economic conditions, importers will have a lead-time of at least 18 months to comply with this requirement. Licence and import permit fees will be waived for the first year of implementation.

Without a permit, licensees are prohibited from importing construction materials and those that do will be liable to a fine of up to $500,000, a two-year jail sentence, or both.

The severe penalties are there to act as a strong deterrent, said Mr Mah, given that unlicensed businesses importing poor quality materials could endanger public safety.

Mr Simon Lee, executive director of the Singapore Contractors Association, told The Straits Times that the new Bill was a ‘good thing for the bigger picture’.

‘This is an effort to diversify our supply sources, as we were heavily reliant on one source before,’ he added.

Although the National Development Minister insisted there would be no additional cost burden for industry - since the requirements were ‘already imposed administratively’ - Mr Lee felt increased regulation was going to make doing business slightly more expensive.

BCA launches green award

Source : Straits Times - 18 Feb 2009

A NEW green award designed to spur builders to adopt green practices has been launched by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
The Green and Gracious Builders’ Award - the first of its kind in Singapore - seeks to encourage builders to use more recycled materials in construction. It also wants them to put public access high on their agendas.
The award uses three assessment criteria - green practices, what it terms ‘gracious’ practices and innovation - and is supported by most builders, according to the BCA.
‘Our efforts at developing a sustainable built environment have so far been accepted by developers and consultants,’ said BCA chief executive John Keung. ‘Given the high visibility and impact of construction works, it is important for builders to go green and adopt friendlier construction site management and practices.’
Key features of the award include a two-tier rating system to quantify performance and enable the differentiation of performance standards between builders.
Mr Pek Lian Guan, director of Tiong Seng Contractors, welcomed the launch, which he said provided ‘an excellent platform to recognise the efforts of builders in adopting environmentally friendlier and considerate best practices on the site’.
The inaugural Green and Gracious Builders Award is open for nomination till March 14 and will be presented at the annual BCA Awards ceremony in May.
Apart from this latest launch, BCA also distributes awards under the Construction Excellence, Green Mark and Universal Design for the Built Environment banners. It launched the Design and Engineering Safety Excellence award last year.
‘Together with the BCA Green Mark Scheme, the Green and Gracious Builders Award will form part of the holistic framework to shape a sustainable built environment,’ added Dr Keung.

BCA to license material suppliers

Source : Straits Times - 20 Jan 2009

THE Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Act is being amended to require that only licensed importers are allowed to supply construction raw materials such as sand and granite to Singapore.

The BCA will issue import permits to these licensees.

Without such a permit, licensees will not be able to import construction materials here. Those who do so may be fined up to $500,000, be jailed for up to two years or both.

Additionally, the raw materials will be quarantined and evaluated by an authorised analyst for quality before they can be used in construction.

Changes to Acra registration rule

ALL professional businesses such as law firms, doctors and architects must now register with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra).

Sole proprietorships or partnerships run by these professionals were exempted previously, while corporations and limited liability partnerships were required to register.

The Business Registration Act - which governs sole proprietorships and partnerships - was amended yesterday to ensure consistent treatment for professional practices across various legislations.

Higher payout for fatal crashes

INDIVIDUALS charged with causing a fatal accident may have to shell out more money now to dependants of the dead man or woman.

Defendants in fatal accident claims may be ordered to pay out $15,000 instead of $10,000, the amount set 20 years ago by the Civil Law Act.

The amount will be reviewed periodically to keep up with inflation and living costs, just as in countries such as Britain.

In other changes to the Civil Law Act, the definition of ‘dependent’ will be extended to cover a ‘former wife’, allowing ex-wives who were being supported by the deceased to file dependency claims.

Claims against govt agencies

THE Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) handled 241 public liability claims against government agencies in the past three years.

Of these, 206 cases were settled out of court. Payments were made in 125 cases, while 81 cases were resolved without payments.

Among the remaining 35 cases that went to court, 28 cases received payments, while seven cases did not.

The Law Ministry provided these figures in a reply to Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong, who asked for the number of such claims and how they were resolved.

The AGC, as legal adviser to the Government, handles the more serious claims received by agencies which refer cases to it.

Claims not exceeding $750 are handled by the ministries themselves.