Wanted: green buildings for MNCs [News]

Demand for green buildings and green architecture is growing as businesses – especially multinational corporations (MNCs) – now have corporate requirements that restrict them to taking up new space only in sustainable projects.

But while developers recognise the benefits in going green, many are still concerned with the capital outlays that come with constructing environmentally-friendly and sustainable buildings.

The answer, market players say, is to come up with integrated solutions and make sure that all relevant parties are involved in the initial planning and design stages of a project.

‘Many of our customers have expressed a need to be located in environmentally-friendly spaces, in particular, multinational and larger corporations which have established such corporate requirements as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement,’ said Tan Yew Chin, executive vice- president for real estate services at business space provider Ascendas. Read more

Autodesk to Expand Research and Development in Singapore [Press Releases]

Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, continued its commitment to environmentally responsible operations, opening the company’s first green location in Asia Pacific. The new facility in Singapore’s Solaris building will house development teams supporting Autodesk’s broad product portfolio.

“Since establishing our regional headquarters in Singapore in 2001, Autodesk has become one of the country’s largest software developers,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Platform Solutions and Emerging Businesses, Autodesk. “We’re honored to have raised the bar for both design software and more responsible, energy efficient offices. We currently employ hundreds of people in Singapore, comprising 20 nationalities. Through our ongoing collaboration with the Singapore Economic Development Board, Autodesk plans to continue to increase its local workforce in the coming years.” 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

The Economics of Green Buildings

This article is contributed by Mr Ishan Palit, President and CEO, TÜV SÜD Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. He dispels the myth that green buildings are cost prohibitive and reveals how to turn them into lucrative investments.

Over the years, green buildings have rightly become a cornerstone in the global drive to enhance environmental sustainability. The construction and operation of buildings, after all, consumes roughly 30-40% [1] of the world’s energy usage – quite an astonishing figure – and building-related CO2 emissions are predicted to increase from 8.6 billion tonnes in 2004 to 11.4 billion tonnes in 2030 [2], under a low-growth scenario. Under a high-growth scenario that number is estimated to increase even more dramatically to 15.6 billion tonnes.

Progression towards a sustainable built environment, however, is slow. Why? The most common answer from building owners in Singapore is that ‘going green’ is not economically viable. In today’s world, however, this is little more than a myth. Personally, I would argue that green buildings are one of the most astute investments you can make in the current global economic environment. Here’s why… Read more

Standard Chartered @ Changi Awarded Environmental Platinum Green Mark Certification

This is a press release from Standard Chartered Bank.

Standard Chartered @ Changi awarded Environmental Platinum Green Mark Certification

Features first-of-its-kind endangered species educational garden in commercial buildings

27 May 2009, Singapore – Standard Chartered announced today that its new office building, Standard Chartered @ Changi at Changi Business Park, has been awarded the Platinum Green Mark Certification by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (“BCA”).

The built-to-suit office building integrates energy and water efficient features and is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 36 percent compared to conventional buildings in Singapore. The building will also incorporate an endangered species educational garden as part of its comprehensive range of eco-friendly features.

First-of-its-kind in office buildings, the garden is designed to be a recreational space as well as to raise awareness of environmental conservation among employees and the community. Located on the ground level, the garden will feature a range of plants which are extinct or at risk of extinction in the wild due to over-collecting or de-forestation. Read more

r.e.Design Guide to Green Real Estate

Colliers International recently launched r.e.Design in Singapore – a guide to green real estate for developers, landlords and tenants. r.e.Design has four categories including Managing Green, Developing Green, Occupying Green and Living Green. The guide shares with real estate players on being sustainable, implementing green real estate practices, and the opportunities and challenges involved. The Regional Head of Sustainability, Asia Pacific at Colliers International, Mr Simon Carter, explains:

Colliers recognises and supports the acceleration of green real estate practices in Asia. The region is now at an exciting and critical juncture as it aims to maintain a balance between sustaining ecological systems and economic profitability. It is imperative for companies to gain better understanding of sustainable real estate practices in which they will benefit from a win-win situation. As such, r.e.Design is produced with the aim of providing industry players with real estate-centric knowledge on sustainability, as opposed to just building-centric.

The r.e.Design guide also complements the Green Mark Scheme by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and would help developers in implementing green features and achieving the Green Mark status.

Source credit: Colliers International.

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