Singapore Green Landscape 2012

Do you want to know more about the environmental scene in Singapore? Find out now from our 3rd edition of the Singapore Green Landscape.

This year, the Singapore Green Landscape 2012 provides a review of 90 key environmental news in Singapore last year, and gives an overview of 156 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), green groups, business associations and groups, green websites, government agencies, and institutes and centres in Singapore, which are related to the environment.

We hope that this publication is useful for everyone who wishes to know more about the state of the environment in Singapore, find and connect with the environmental organisations in Singapore, or explore personal and business opportunities. This publication is free for download. Feel free to share this.

Download the publication from Green Future Solutions

12 Ideas for the National Climate Change Strategy 2012

The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) is currently preparing the National Climate Change Strategy 2012 (NCCS-2012) publication, and is seeking public feedback and ideas.

The NCCS-2012 will provide a framework and overall strategy for Singapore to tackle climate change, and will outline policies and measures to reduce emissions, cope with the impact of climate change and build our capabilities.

The public consultation by NCCS involves conducting an online consultation exercise, focus group sessions and community forums. You can give your feedback and ideas via the NCCS website from now till 14 Oct.

Here are 12 ideas for the National Climate Change Strategy 2012, which was submitted by Green Future Solutions to NCCS: Read more

The Green Business Times Guide to Singapore Government Funding and Incentives for the Environment

Singapore is well-known as a clean and green city with the government striving for environmental sustainability while growing the economy. The government has also identified Environmental and Water Technologies (EWT) including Clean Energy as strategic areas where Singapore has a competitive edge and which could generate future economic growth.

To accelerate the growth of the environmental industry and to maintain Singapore’s image as a clean and green city, the government has initiated several funding and incentive schemes related to energy efficiency, clean energy, green buildings, water and environmental technologies, green transport, waste minimisation, environmental management system, environmental initiatives, clean development mechanism, and green IT.

The funding and incentive schemes are provided by government agencies such as:

• Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
• Economic Development Board (EDB)
• Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA)
• Land Transport Authority (LTA)
• Energy Market Authority (EMA)
• National Environment Agency (NEA)
• National Parks Board (NParks)
• PUB, the national water agency (PUB)
• SPRING Singapore (SPRING)
• Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

To help businesses understand what’s available, we have compiled a list of 33 government funding and incentives for the environment:

1. Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe)
2. Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET)
3. One-Year Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Energy Efficient Equipment and Technology (One-Year ADAS)
4. Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE)
5. SCEM Training Grant
6. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)
7. Energy Research Development Fund (ERDF)
8. Solar Capability Scheme (SCS)
9. Market Development Fund
10. Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings (GMIS-EB)
11. Green Mark Incentive Scheme for New Buildings (GMIS-NB)
12. Green Mark Incentive Scheme – Design Prototype (GMIS-DP)
13. Green Mark Gross Floor Area Incentive Scheme (GM-GFA)
14. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment
15. A*STAR-MND Joint Grant Call
16. Pilot Incentive Scheme for Green Roofs
17. Gross Floor Area Incentives for Outdoor Refreshment Area on Rooftops
18. Water Efficiency Fund (WEF)
19. Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
20. Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme
21. Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS)
22. Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP)
23. Innovation Voucher Scheme
24. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
25. Land Transport Innovation Fund (LTIF)
26. Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR)
27. Transport Technology Innovation and Development Scheme (TIDES+)
28. 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Fund
29. Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)
30. Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme (LETAS)
31. 3P Partnership Fund
32. Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant
33. Infocomm Leadership and Development Programme (iLEAD)

If we missed out any funding or incentive scheme, do let us know. Thanks! Read more

A Guide to the Eco Labels in Singapore

Eco labels and certifications for products, services and facilities provide a certified green trustmark for consumers and businesses who wish to choose more environmentally-friendly alternatives and make the right choice.

There are hundreds of eco labels in the global market. In Singapore, we have about 10 different eco or green labels:

1. Eco-Office Label
2. Eco-Foodcourt Certification
3. Eco-Hotel Certification
4. Energy Label
5. Fuel Economy Label
6. Green Label
7. Green Mark
8. Singapore Green Building Product Certification
9. Sustainable Manufacturing Label
10. Water Efficiency Label

Here’s a guide to the eco labels in Singapore: Read more

Singapore Green Landscape 2011

The Singapore Green Landscape 2010 published last year by Green Future Solutions was well-received and was downloaded 970 times over the past year.

This year, the Singapore Green Landscape 2011 provides a review of 80 key environmental news in Singapore last year, and gives an overview of 160 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), green groups, business associations and groups, green websites, government agencies, and institutes and centres in Singapore, which are related to the environment (50 more than last year).

Green Future Solutions hopes that this publication is useful for everyone who wishes to know more about the state of the environment in Singapore, find and connect with the environmental organisations in Singapore, or explore personal and business opportunities.

This publication is free for download. Feel free to share this. To download the publication, just fill in your contacts in this link.

Singapore Green Landscape 2010

Singapore Green Landscape 2010 gives an overview of the various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), green groups, business associations and groups, green websites, government agencies, and institutes and centres in Singapore, which are related to the environment.

We hope that the publication is useful for everyone who wishes to find and connect with the environmental organisations in Singapore, and explore personal and business opportunities.

The publication is free for download here. Feel free to share this.

20 Suggestions for Sustainable Singapore

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD) recently announced Singapore’s vision and initiatives for sustainable development, and is seeking public feedback and suggestions. The IMCSD is studying ways to be more sustainable in the way we Work, Commute, Live and Play.

Visit the Sustainable Singapore website to find out more and give your feedback or suggestions.

In response to the call for green ideas, Green Future Solutions came up with 20 suggestions that would help Singapore to be more sustainable. The 20 suggestions include:

Reduce Energy and Carbon Emissions

1. Promote SEE Energy Management for the Industry and Building Sector

2. Encourage Building Owners to Reduce Lightings at Night

3. Work Towards a Four National Switches Energy Strategy

4. Set Mandatory Energy Efficiency and Renewable Portfolio Standards

Read more

Green Events Guide

All events, big or small, use resources and have negative impacts on the environment. The planning, preparation and conducting of events tend to consume water, energy and materials, and produce waste and gas emissions. We understand that event organisers and venue managers would like to reduce their impacts on the environment and go green, but they are not sure how to start.

We have teamed up with ECO Singapore to produce the Green Events Guide. This Green Events Guide aims to provide a framework of principles and practical tips on how event and venue managers can start creating greener events by identifying and reducing the various environmental impacts in its process. Read more

Ask Questions on Business and the Environment

Send us your questions related to business and the environment, or related to topics covered on Green Business Times. The questions would help us to understand what you are concerned about or interested in.

We will choose the best questions and do our best to answer them. We hope that our answers would be useful to you and other readers. Please send your questions through our Contact page. Thanks.

A Guide to Clean Energy Initiatives and Funding by the Singapore Government

Singapore has identified the clean energy industry as a key growth area since Mar 2007. The clean energy industry is expected to “contribute S$1.7 billion to the GDP and create 7,000 jobs by 2015“. To support our vision of a Clean Energy Hub, there are several clean energy initiatives and funding by the government as shown in the list below:

1. Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO)
2. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)
3. Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP)
4. Solar Capability Scheme (SCS)
5. Market Development Fund
6. Singapore Initiative in New Energy Technologies (SINERGY) Centre
7. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund (related funding)
8. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment (related funding)

Read more