HAPPENINGS Photos courtesy of Singapore Green Building Council Strengthening access to
sustainability: SGBC inked MoU with Singapore Polytechnic
In the witness of Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) cemented a new partnership with Singapore Polytechnic (SP) on 11 December 2020, to enable the exchange of technical resources and expertise to efficiently and proactively promote Green building products and practices to the industry.
As a new collaboration in the new normal, SGBC and SP will leverage the respective strengths of each organisation to help drive meaningful and impactful change for the built environment sector, as well as help Singapore to transit to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.
Under the auspices of the MOU, both organisations will work together to enable an exchange of technical resources and expertise to efficiently and proactively promote Green products and practices to the industry and community through five key initiatives:
1. Advancement of Greener and more sustainable built environment materials
2. Understanding the embodied carbon of materials 3. Co-organising of Green building related courses/seminars/conferences 4. Outreach to institutes of higher learning 5. Exploration of joint research opportunities in Green technology
“As we strive to emerge stronger from COVID-19, a key priority will be our efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable built environment. It is heartening to see industry organisations taking the lead to manage sectoral challenges,” said Minister Lee.
“The expertise brought to the table by both organisations—the research and development know-how of SP together with the industry connections of SGBC—will create a powerful ecosystem to enable stronger efforts in promoting sustainable practices to the rest of the built environment.”
1. Materials and products
A key initiative of this collaboration is the advancement of Greener and more sustainable built environment materials and products. SP’s expertise in the testing of materials will help to enhance SGBC’s industry-recognised Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) certification scheme for Green building products, which complements the national Green Mark certification scheme for Green buildings.
SGBC is also looking into expanding the coverage of its certification programme to address a wider range of construction materials and products in support of Singapore’s move towards zero waste. Thus, SGBC will work closely with SP to effectively and meaningfully determine the Green quotient for such construction products through certification and testing. This will allow the industry a greater access to a wider pool of Green building materials that are certified for their environmental performance.
“The urgency to build a sustainable environment for future generations has become more significant and clearer in recent years, as we see more enterprises and consumers adopt new business practices and consumption habits respectively in confronting the impact of climate change,” said Soh Wai Wah, principal and chief executive officer of Singapore Polytechnic.
“Our collaboration with the Singapore Green Building Council will enable the built environment sector to harness the polytechnic’s long- standing research and technological expertise in creating advanced materials, as well as to co-develop practical sustainable solutions
SP’s expertise in the testing of materials will help to enhance the SGBP certification scheme for Green building products
and products for consumers. This strategic partnership will bring Singapore Polytechnic and local enterprises closer together to support our national vision of creating a low-carbon, sustainable future Singapore.”
2. Embodied carbon
The second main objective of the MOU is to support the industry in seeking a better understanding of the embodied carbon of construction materials. The built environment is responsible for 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, with embodied carbon emissions being especially critical.
If embodied carbon emissions are not addressed before the building project moves past the design stage, there is no way for building owners to reclaim lost carbon savings once the building is constructed and subsequently used. Enhancing understanding of embodied carbon would allow both industry practitioners and end-users to make sense of a product’s carbon footprint. From there, they will be able to make more informed choices regarding building materials, especially when undergoing building and renovation projects.
“Our buildings and infrastructure assets play a very pivotal role in our sustainable development ambitions and climate aspirations as we move into a very different business-as-usual. Greening the built environment must be one of our top priorities as we go forward,” emphasised Dr Ho Nyok Yong, President of the SGBC.
The other initiatives under the MOU revolve around outreach to the industry and students of Singapore’s institutes of higher learning, along with exploration of potential joint research projects in deep- expertise areas of Green building such as renewable energy, tri-gen technology, urban regenerative technologies, as well as low-carbon/ net-zero carbon solutions.
FUTURARC 85
Minister Desmond Lee (centre) witnessed the MoU
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