Singapore’s very first green building masterplan was introduced in 2006 with the goal of encouraging builders to incorporate sustainability into their plans from the beginning. 

Over the years, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has been updating the masterplan in order to broaden its reach. They aim to target the greening of a larger stock of existing buildings, as well as to engage building occupants in changing their energy consumption behavior.

Last year, the fourth edition of the Singapore Green Building Masterplan was unveiled – it was aptly titled ‘Build Our Green Future Together’. The project was announced on the 4th of March, 2021, during the Ministry of National Development’s Committee of Supply debate. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) are the spearheads of this project.

The latest edition of the URA Master Plan aims to foster a leading, green environment sector that can lower its carbon footprint. The goal is to provide a healthy, liveable and sustainable built environment for all Singaporeans.

They introduced the 80-80-30 goal for 2030, which is a breakdown of these targets:

  • Ensuring that 80% of new developments are Super Low Energy (SLE) buildings from 2030.
  • Encouraging 80% of our existing buildings to go green by 2030.
  • Achieving at least 80% improvement in energy efficiency for green buildings by 2030.

Let’s provide a quick overview of these targets.

Target #1

  • Ensuring that 80% of new developments are Super Low Energy (SLE) buildings from 2030.

Since 2006, the public sector has taken the lead in environmental sustainability by requiring new public sector buildings to achieve Green Mark certification, including Green Mark Platinum for new buildings with an air-conditioned area greater than 5,000 square meters.

The Government will take the lead in introducing Super Low Energy buildings into the mainstream as part of the GreenGov.SG initiative. BCA will also look into additional ways to encourage the use of Super Low Energy buildings in the private sector.

Target #2

  • Encouraging 80% of our existing buildings to go green by 2030.

As of end 2020, 43% of Singapore’s buildings have been successfully greened!

The Green Mark scheme has been updated by BCA to increase energy performance standards and place more emphasis on other crucial sustainability outcomes like designing for maintainability, lowering embodied carbon across a building’s life cycle, and fostering healthier environments for building occupants. The Green Mark 2021 program is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

In order to future-proof building stock, BCA will also raise the mandatory environmental sustainability standards for new buildings and existing buildings that undergo major retrofit. This includes increasing the minimum energy performance requirements and requiring sustainable construction practices. This includes raising minimum energy performance requirements and introducing mandatory sustainable construction practices.

Target #3

  • Achieving at least 80% improvement in energy efficiency for green buildings by 2030.

Best-in-class buildings can now increase their energy efficiency by more than 65%. With the aid of the Green Buildings Innovation Cluster (GBIC) programme, BCA intends to raise this ratio to 80% by the year 2030.

BCA will increase financing for the GBIC programme by SGD$45 million in order to advance the limits of energy efficiency in buildings. Through industry partnerships, the improved initiative, known as GBIC 2.0, will focus on important demand drivers including building owners and developers and their value chains in order to co-create and accelerate solutions and commercialization.

The next generation of building ventilation, data-driven smart building solutions, and alternative cooling technology development are among the research fields covered by GBIC 2.0. Beginning in the second quarter of 2022, the business and research communities will have access to GBIC 2.0.

Join Our Green Future With BlueTecMNE Consultancy!

Singapore will eventually transition to a built environment that is more sustainable and low-carbon thanks to these measures. Continue helping each other “Build Our Green Future”, by ensuring that your project has the right approvals and BCA submission!

Our team of experts are able to help with your BCA building plan submission, making it a hassle-free process that you will appreciate. Contact us today for more information, or check out our previous projects and success stories.