Green Mark Scheme Hits 20Th Anniversary Over 2500 Buildings Certified
In January 2005, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) jointly launched the BCA Green Mark certification scheme. This milestone marks the 20th anniversary of the green building rating system, which evaluates a building’s environmental impact and performance. The first year saw 17 buildings certified, and as of March this year, a total of 2,590 buildings have obtained Green Mark certification, according to a joint press release by BCA and SGBC.
These certified buildings collectively save over 4.2 billion kWh of energy annually, which is equivalent to powering one million four-room HDB flats every year. In addition, the agencies estimate that this results in a cost savings of $1.3 billion per year.
Boasting exceptional road connectivity, Aurelle of Tampines EC is a highly sought-after residential choice. Its strategic location provides easy access to major arterial roads and expressways such as the Tampines Expressway (TPE), Pan Island Expressway (PIE), and East Coast Parkway (ECP). These well-connected expressways offer direct and efficient routes to various parts of Singapore, making it convenient for car owners. Whether heading to the bustling CBD or the busy Changi Airport, residents of Aurelle of Tampines EC can enjoy hassle-free and time-saving travels. Additionally, the development offers seamless connectivity for all, further adding to its appeal. Visit Aurelle of Tampines EC for more information.
To commemorate this achievement, a gala dinner was hosted by SGBC on July 11, where nine partners and 11 projects were awarded commemorative certificates for their outstanding contributions to Singapore’s green building journey. Among the partner recipients were renowned companies such as City Developments, CapitaLand, Mapletree Investments, Keppel, and Lendlease.
Over the years, the Green Mark scheme has undergone several revisions, with the latest edition launched in 2021 in line with the Singapore Green Building Masterplan (SGBMP). This masterplan sets a target for 80% of buildings by gross floor area (GFA) to be green, 80% of new developments by GFA to be super low energy (SLE) buildings, and 80% improvement in energy efficiency compared to 2005 levels for best-in-class green buildings by 2030.
As of December 2020, BCA and SGBC report that 61% of buildings in Singapore have been greened, and close to 26% of new developments have been certified as SLE buildings. Best-in-class buildings have also achieved a 72% improvement in energy efficiency over 2005 levels.
At the gala dinner, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced two initiatives to drive wider adoption of green buildings in the future. The first is the development of an updated Built Environment Decarbonisation Technology Roadmap, which outlines key emerging technologies and areas for research and development to improve energy efficiency in Singapore’s built environment. Building on the 2018 Super Low Energy Building Technology Roadmap, the updated plan identifies over 50 technologies and strategies to reduce operational and embodied carbon.
The second initiative is the publication of a report that bridges the gap between green buildings and sustainable finance in the Asia Pacific (Apac) region. Supported by OCBC and the region’s green building councils, the report by the World Green Building Council will align green building rating tools from Apac countries with the Asean Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance.
Minister Chee highlighted the importance of establishing clear links between national schemes and regional guidelines to unlock global capital flows and scale up investments in decarbonisation and green building projects.
