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

Singapore Standard Developed to Improve Energy Efficiency at Data Centres and Support Environmental Sustainability [Press Releases]

Data Centres (DCs) in Singapore can now look forward to a set of standards to help them put in place the necessary policies, systems and processes to improve their energy efficiency and minimise environmental impact. Developed by the IT Standards Committee (ITSC) together with Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and SPRING Singapore, the Singapore Standard for Green Data Centres – Energy and Environmental Management Systems (SS564:2010) – is a certifiable management system that provides DCs with a framework and methodology to achieve energy efficiency. This is modeled after established international management system standards, and is based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) continual improvement framework. Read more

Green Data Centre Forum 2011 [Events]

Date: March 31, 2011 (Thursday)

Time: 8:15 am – 5:30 pm

Venue: Singapore Management University, Conference Hall 1, Level 5, Administration Building, 81 Victoria Street, Singapore 188065

Data centres can no longer pay scant attention to the rising costs of energy prices as power typically takes up half the operating costs of a data centre. An energy efficient data centre, along with concerns for its environmental impact, should now be in the radar of CXOs.

Jointly organised by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and SPRING Singapore, the Green Data Centre Forum is a full day free event that brings together a host of distinguished speakers to share on various topics ranging from standards, best practices, energy assessment and innovations that will help the forum delegates embark on a journey to green or greener data centres.

The Keynote Speaker is Ray Pfeifer, Co-chair, Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Data Centre Efficiency Initiative. IDA and SPRING Singapore will also jointly unveil the Singapore Standard for Green Data Centres, which is developed to help organisations establish the necessary policies, systems and processes to improve the energy efficiency and minimise the environmental impact of their data centres (DCs) in Singapore.

Visit the event website for more info and registration.

Source: Green Data Centre Forum

HP Awarded National Environment Agency Contract to Benchmark Energy Consumption in Singapore Data Centers [Press Releases]

HP has been appointed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to benchmark the energy consumption of Singapore’s data centers, as part of the Singapore Green Data Center Standard project. The benchmarking study will give insights to the energy performance of data centers in Singapore and establish a baseline to assess the energy and environmental performance of data centers here.

Besides traditional intensive energy consumers like buildings and transportation, data centers are also recognised as heavy users of energy, according to NEA. With growing demand for information and communications technology, data centers are becoming a significant source of energy consumption for corporations in Singapore, presenting a golden opportunity for energy cost reductions.

The benchmarking study is commissioned by the NEA and supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO), and will ascertain the energy usage patterns and operating conditions of local data centers, evaluate current industry metrics, and identify areas for standardization and other data center issues. Read more