Reduce the Impact of Your Organisation’s Waste, Water and Transport Management

Besides considering the direct energy usage by your business, you should also look at waste, water and transport management as these activities also contribute to carbon emissions. Find out how your business manages waste, water and transport in your daily operations, and take steps to reduce the impact of these activities.

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Waste Management

Waste minimisation helps to conserve resources and reduce energy usage in the production, transportation, usage and disposal process. Visit the Zero Waste Singapore website to learn more about how you can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Here are some tips:

• Design and Make Sustainable Products
• Eliminate the Excessive Use of Paper
• Conduct a Waste Audit
• Start Recycling at Work

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has published a Guidebook on Waste Minimisation for Industries to help companies reduce their waste and practise recycling. The guidebook contains information on how to conduct a waste audit, and also how to introduce a waste minimisation programme through tips and case studies.

Your organisation can also make use of the new 3R Fund by NEA to implement waste minimisation and recycling projects.

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Water Management

Energy is required for potable water and wastewater treatment and transport, so reducing the amount of water consumed and discharged will help to lower the energy needed.

Visit the following websites for tips to help your organisation conserve water and save money:

• Water Efficient Buildings programme by PUB
• The 10% Challenge by PUB
• Water Efficiency, Green Building Design Guide by BCA

Your organisation can also make use of the Water Efficiency Fund by PUB to explore efficient ways to manage your water consumption.

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Transport Management

The organisation’s transport vehicles and the mode of commuting by employees contribute to carbon emissions. Here are some tips to help your organisation reduce transport emissions:

• Encourage or incentivise your employees to take public transport or carpool to work
• Arrange for company transport to ferry employees
• Use more videoconferencing to replace the need for business trips overseas
• Educate company drivers on good driving habits and maintenance of their vehicles
• Plan your transport needs to consolidate delivery orders and reduce delivery frequency
• Plan your driving journey to reduce driving time and distance
• Use more fuel efficient vehicles and green vehicles such as CNG vehicles, or use cleaner fuel such as biodiesel

Use Government Fundings for Energy Audits and Energy Efficient Technologies

There are several funding and incentive schemes provided by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to help companies reduce their costs in engaging ESCOs or investing in energy saving equipment and technologies.

If companies lack the expertise to manage their energy consumption, they can engage an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to conduct an energy audit for their building or facility, identify energy saving measures and implement projects to reduce energy consumption.

The ESCOs provide a full analysis of the energy flows in and out of a facility, suggest improvements to facility design and operation, and provide financing and implementation of energy saving projects. In Singapore, the ESCOs are accredited under the Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) Accreditation Scheme by the Energy Sustainability Unit (ESU). A list of accredited ESCOs can be found at the ESU website.

Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe)

The NEA has a co-funding scheme called the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe), to help companies in the manufacturing and building sectors engage accredited ESCOs to conduct energy audits and recommend energy saving measures.

Funding is provided up to 50% of the qualifying costs of engaging an ESCO and capped at $200,000 for a single facility or building over a five-year period. Visit the Energy Efficient Singapore website for details on the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme.

Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET)

The Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET) provides funding for the Singapore-registered owner or operator of existing or proposed industrial facilities to invest in energy efficient equipment or technologies.

Funding is provided up to 50% of the qualifying costs and capped at $2 million per project. Only projects with a payback of more than 3 years and up to 7 years are eligible for funding. Visit the Energy Efficient Singapore website for details on the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET).

Accelerated Depreciation Tax Allowance

This tax allowance scheme encourages companies to replace old inefficient equipment and invest in energy saving equipment. The capital expenditure on the qualifying energy efficient equipment can be written off in one year instead of three. More info about the tax allowance is available here.

Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE)

The Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE) aims to encourage new facilities that are large consumers of energy to integrate energy and resource efficiency improvements into their development plans early in the design stage.

Funding is provided up to 80% of the qualifying costs or $600,000, whichever is lower.

With these funding schemes, your organisation would be able to reduce your costs in conducting energy audits and investing in energy saving equipment and technologies. Save money and energy at the same time!

Also check out The Green Business Times Guide to 30 Singapore Government Funding and Incentives for the Environment.

Image credit: lusi; svilen001.

The Green Business Times Guide to 30 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)
• 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 30 government funding and incentives for the environment:

1. Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe)
2. Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET)
3. Accelerated Depreciation Tax Allowance
4. Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE)
5. SCEM Training Grant
6. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)
7. Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP)
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 Gross Floor Area Incentive Scheme (GM-GFA)
13. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment
14. Pilot Incentive Scheme for Green Roofs
15. Gross Floor Area Incentives for Outdoor Refreshment Area on Rooftops
16. Water Efficiency Fund (WEF)
17. Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
18. Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme
19. Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS)
20. Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP)
21. Innovation Voucher Scheme
22. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
23. Land Transport Innovation Fund (LTIF)
24. Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR)
25. 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Fund
26. Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)
27. Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme (LETAS)
28. 3P Partnership Fund
29. Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant
30. Infocomm Leadership and Development Programme (iLEAD)

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

Speech by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources at Committee of Supply Debate 2009

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, gave his speech at the annual Committee of Supply Debate yesterday in Parliament. He covered the following topics:

• Sustainable Development & Resource Efficiency
• Climate Change, Energy Efficiency & Solar Energy
• Managing Water Demand
• Recycling
• Enhancing Capabilities and Building Long-Term Competitiveness
• Air Quality
• Noise
• Dengue & Chikungunya
• Public Cleanliness and Littering
• Hawker Centres
• Cleanliness of Food Outlets, Toilets and Waste Collection
• ABC Waters Programme & Marina Barrage

Summary of Key Issues

Given the global downturn, the ability to grow the economy in a sustainable way has become more, not less, relevant. Continuing to achieve good growth while maintaining a good environment will require first, the prudent use of natural resources, second, building capability in the environmental sector, and third, protecting our environment to ensure environmental standards do not slip, and even improve.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD) will release its report in March, including the $1 billion budget for sustainable development.

The preliminary results of the 2-year study by NEA to understand the long-term effects of climate change, indicate that Singapore’s existing infrastructure is sufficient to address the risks in the short to medium term.

Companies are already implementing energy efficiency measures with funding such as the Design for Efficiency scheme to co-fund workshops to design energy efficient facilities, and the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies to co-fund up to 50% of the cost of energy efficient equipment or technology.

The government is taking the lead on energy efficiency and is on track to meet its goal of conducting energy audits for all government buildings with more than 15,000 square metres of air-conditioned floor area by March 2010.

NEA will implement Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for household air-conditioners and refrigerators by 2011 to remove the least efficient models (1-tick and 2-tick range) from the market.

Solar energy is still more costly than conventional grid electricity generated from fossil fuels, but prices are expected to come down as the technology matures. To build up our capabilities for future adoption when it is cost-effective to do so, we will continue to research and test-bed such new technologies.

The Four National Taps strategy provides Singapore with NEWater and desalinated water options during dry weather, thus improving the drought resilience of the water supply system. But it is still important for Singaporeans to conserve water and use it efficiently.

Taps, urinals and dual-flush low capacity flushing cisterns (LCFCs) installed in new developments and existing premises undergoing renovation from July 2009 must have at least a one-tick water efficiency rating. In addition, all new domestic premises and existing ones undergoing renovation have to use dual-flush LCFCs from July 2009.

For water efficiency projects under the Water Efficiency Fund, PUB has increased the co-funding for SMEs from 50% to 80% of the cost of qualifying projects. PUB will also help SMEs to defray part of the retrofitting costs involved in switching to NEWater, and help them reduce their water bills by providing free constant flow regulators and spray nozzles.

The participation rate in the National Recycling Programme (NRP) has increased from 15% in 2001 to 63% in 2008.

Since 2007, there are 1,600 centralized recycling bins at HDB estates and one for every five blocks of HDB flats. The average amount of recyclables collected from each set of bins increased from 65 kg per month in 2007 to 103 kg per month for 2008.

NEA targets to achieve full implementation for the mandatory provision of recycling receptacles in condominium and private apartments by the end of 2009.

Singapore’s recycling rate has improved from 40% in 2000 to 56% in 2008 and we are on track to meet the Singapore Green Plan 2012 target of 60%.

NEA will be launching a $8 million 3R Fund to co-fund new waste minimisation and recycling projects. The fund will co-fund up to 80% of qualifying costs and subject to a cap of $1 million per project.

We are aware that some developed countries have used legislation to mandate recycling. In view of the current economic downturn, we are not looking at introducing legislation in the near future as it would likely increase costs for businesses and households. However, in the longer term, we will study the use of legislation to further improve our recycling rate.

The Ministry is developing a plan to turn Semakau landfill into an Eco Park, where companies can conduct field testing of renewable and clean technologies.

The Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) Scheme will be extended by another 2 years till 31 December 2011. Through the GVR scheme, the number of green vehicles such as CNG and hybrid vehicles has increased to more than 5,400 as at end 2008. This is about 1% of the total car population.

There are now 3 CNG refuelling stations and this is expected to increase to 5 by the end of this year with the opening of stations at Serangoon North and Toh Tuck.

Under the ABC Waters Programme, 27 projects will be carried out across Singapore by 2012 to transform our drains, canals and reservoirs into beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes integrated into our neighbourhoods.

We have a shared responsibility to ensure sustainable development. Companies can develop and deploy technologies and products that are more environmentally- friendly than today, and incorporate environmental considerations into their operations and procedures. Citizens must embrace a lifestyle that considers the environment and limits resource consumption in their daily lives. Government will promote sustainability by setting an example, demonstrating our commitment, and involving people.

Sustainable development is a long-term process with long-term objectives. It means focusing on the horizon, rather than quick fixes; targeting prevention now, rather than putting right later; caring for the environment as part of our choices today, rather than dealing with the consequences of neglect down the line.

Source: Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

Recycling Day 2008

November 15, 2008
9:00 am	to	7:00 pm

Recycling Day is an annual event where the public can learn more about recycling and the 3Rs through exhibition booths, exchange of recyclables for gifts, and taking part in various games and contests.

This year’s Recycling Day will be held at the main site, Blk 252, Yu Hua Village, and three other satellite sites at Hougang Central, Blk 123 Bukit Merah View, and Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. Visit the Clean and Green Singapore 2009 website for more details.

Singapore National Environment Agency to Co-host Global Conference on Prospects and Challenges of Waste Management in Asia

This article is a News Release from the National Environment Agency.

Singapore, 13 October 2008 – The Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) will co-host an international conference next month to discuss prospects and challenges of solid waste management in Asia, and the emerging technologies and good practices to address these challenges.

The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) Congress 2008 is an annual meeting that gathers leading chief executives from the waste sector, government officials, experts and representatives of community organisations from around the world to share knowledge and experiences of sustainable waste management.

The meeting in Singapore will be staged at Suntec City from 3-6 November 2008 and is co-organised by NEA, ISWA and Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS). Over 800 delegates from more than 60 countries and territories are expected to attend the event. Read more

National Environment Agency Launches Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Documentation Grant

The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the $500,000 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Documentation Grant yesterday. This is a co-funding scheme to encourage companies to develop CDM projects in Singapore and support them in engaging carbon consultancy services for the documentation needed.

The funding is capped at $100,000 for each CDM project and would be provided for up to 30% or 50% of the qualifying cost of engaging a carbon consultant to develop a Project Design Document (PDD), which depends on the need to develop a new methodology or just to use an existing approved methodology. The cost of implementing the CDM project would not be supported under the grant. Read more