Singapore Schools Jump on the Green Wave

Singapore Schools Jump on the Green Wave

4 Overwhelming participation in the Green for Hope @ Primary Schools 2010

raised close to SGD900,000 Issue: Feb 11

Singapore Primary Schools join efforts in Green for Hope @ Primary Schools 2010

Three years into the launch of CapitaLand’s “Green for Hope” @ Primary Schools, almost all of the primary schools in Singapore have banded together for this green mission. With an additional 16 schools joining in this worthy cause, Green for Hope (GfH) 2010 saw the participation of a total of 170 out of 178 primary schools in Singapore.

The GfH project combines two key corporate social responsibilities of CapitaLand in being green and to help underprivileged children. For every one kilogramme of recyclable waste collected by participating Singapore primary schools, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, donates S$2 to the welfare funds of these schools.

Marymount Convent started its own Go Green effort in 2010 and saw GfH as a perfect opportunity to jump on board. “In the past, pupils and students were just encouraged to do their part in recycling. However, we wanted more teacher and student involvement and thus decided to participate in GfH,” shared Adeline Pang, the teacher-in-charge.

Besides achieving greater awareness through assembly talks and events, every class at Marymount Convent also appointed two Environment Ambassadors. These ambassadors helped to promote and carry out green acts every day. They also maintained a notice board entitled ‘Save our Rainforest’ that served to educate classmates on environment protection. “The students are now more conscious about the importance of recycling and are more proactive in their efforts,” said Pang.

Environment Ambassadors from Marymount Convent pose with pride in front of their work of art

Peiying Primary is another new kid on the block for the 2010 programme. The beauty of recycling was emphasised through its structured Art Programme which saw art teachers conducting art lessons using recyclable materials. “Pupils are not only taught art creatively, they learn to do crafts using materials that can be recycled,” said Kan Shook Ching, the lead teacher.

“With the participation in GfH, the school puts in greater effort to encourage the pupils to bring their newspaper and recyclables from home regularly. Letters were also sent to parents to inform them about our involvement in GfH,” shared Kan.

Students’ creations were selected for display at Peiying Primary’s recycle corner (left) and Project Runway saw students strut on stage in their recycled garb (right)

The school's green efforts culminated with a fashion show! Primary Six pupils used recyclable materials to design their outfits and did a ‘catwalk’ in their creation – talk about eco-friendly haute couture!

Getting Greener with ExperienceWhen it comes to recycling, CHIJ Our Lady of Navity (OLN) is certainly no greenhorn. Having participated in GfH since 2008, the school exemplified the meaning of leading by example. “Our staff room and general office have two recycling bins for papers and plastics to inculcate daily recycling among our staff,” shared Eleanor Foo, Environmental Education Advisor and Eco Care Co-ordinator.

The school even took a step further to involve parents. “We had the Parent Support Group to assist the school and thus far, they have been helping out in our environment care projects such as our weekly collection of recyclable wastes,” said Foo.

More importantly, students were taught recycling to be a daily affair through The ‘Recycle-An-Item-A-Day’ competition. "Through the competition, pupils have become more aware about the issues of global

warming and that in turn, will encourage them to take care of their Earth more,” shared Foo.

Weekly results of ‘Recycle-An-Item-A-Day’ competition were put up to encourage participation (left) and Ms Agnes Chew, principal of CHIJ (OLN) presented tokens of appreciation to the winning classes (right)

Clementi Primary, a repeat participant of GfH, came up with a strategy to leapfrog its recycling figures. A newspaper collection competition was organised to encourage maximum participation. “The mass of newspapers collected by individual classes was collated weekly and broadcasted over the school’s TV messaging system,” said Balamurugan Velayutham, the teacher-in-charge of the school’s participation in GfH 2010.

Students of Clementi Primary were all game to collect as much newspapers as possible

The competition certainly hyped up the mood for recycling at Clementi Primary. “I had eager pupils who came to ask me whether they can still recycle papers, even after the competition period!” Velayutham exclaimed.

He added, “It is very important to protect our Mother Earth before it is lost. Pupils definitely need to be taught the importance of recycling when they are young so that they will practice these habits when they grow up.”

Going Green for a Worthy CauseWhile saving the Earth is already a worthy cause, underprivileged children also benefited from the close to S$900,000 funds raised for the schools’ welfare fund, which will be used to meet the education needs of these children.

Primary Six student Jane* from Marymount Convent was thankful and joyful for the bursary she received from the funds raised through GfH. “The books that I buy for my studies are subsidised and that really

lightens the load of my parents. I play netball in school and having to pay a lower CCA fee has allowed me to explore my talent and work hard on it,” she said. “The money given to me has helped me by providing me with ample opportunities for growth and development.”

For her peers, the joy of giving was deeply felt by Primary Six student Lydia Lim from CHIJ (OLN). “I feel good that I was able to help my fellow classmate in her home situation,” she said.

Green, Green, Hurray!On the whole, GfH 2010 churned out impressive figures that will certainly spur schools on in their effort to save the Earth. 480,000 kilogrammes of recyclable waste were collected and recycling rates have increased by more than 25% as compared to GfH 2009.

“CapitaLand is very encouraged by the support shown by the primary schools in just three years. We hope to benefit more underprivileged children through GfH. We aim to get all the primary schools in Singapore on board this worthy cause next year whilst keeping our focus on the environment and rallying everyone to take a step towards a greener future,” shared Tan Bee Leng, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, CapitaLand Limited.

Let us cheer to sustainable days ahead as our next generation becomes more environmental conscious and caring for the less fortunate in our society through GfH!

*The name of the bursary recipient has been changed in this article in adherence to local guidelines to not reveal the beneficiary’s real name

Double Win for Recycling Project 2

Helping their less fortunate classmates while saving the planet

Issue: Feb 10

The joy of recycling and helping their needy peers are evident in the faces at Dazhong Primary School

Twelve-year-old Lim Zhi Qi, is happy to receive a bursary this year. “In the next year, if I need any stationery, assessment or reference books, the vouchers will come in handy,” he said. “When I pass my examinations with flying colours and on special occasions (my birthday), I will be able to reward myself with storybooks that I want with the vouchers.”

Zhi Qi, who is from Bedok Green Primary School, is one of the 3,206 students who will be receiving a bursary this February from CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, thanks to the Group’s “Green for Hope” project. Through this initiative, 154 primary schools helped to collect recycleable waste to raise funds for underprivileged students. For every 100 kilogram of recyclable waste they collected, CapitaLand Hope Foundation would donate a bursary worth S$280 to help meet the basic needs of their needy pupils.

Between July and December 2009, the schools collected a total of 380,000 kilogrammes of recyclable waste. That is equivalent to raising S$900,000 or 3,206 bursaries in the form of stationery vouchers.

Furthermore, CapitaLand Hope Foundation will donate an additional S$5,000, S$3,000 and S$2,000 respectively, to the three highest scoring schools – even though each school’s donations are capped at S$10,000 for the entire campaign.

“The funds come in very handy especially during this financial downturn. We do have a significant number of needy pupils in our school and it will really help a lot,” said Mrs Tan Jee Looi, environment education advisor at Bedok Green Primary School.

Bedok Green Primary School gave out bursaries to needy students with the funds raised from their participation in the “Green for Hope” project in 2008

When the “Green for Hope” project first started in 2008, the money raised from recyclable waste collected went to the school’s welfare fund. The schools would then use the funds to purchase vouchers or other schooling necessities for needy students. One of the schools Dazhong Primary for example, used the money to buy uniforms, textbooks as well as provide breakfast coupons and pocket money for needy students, while Bedok Green Primary gave out bursaries and scholarship awards in the form of stationery vouchers to needy students.

The strong support from the primary schools led to the running of the project for a second year. This time, CapitaLand gave out Green for Hope bursaries for needy students of each school based on the amount of recyclable waste the school collected.

“The campaign has raised awareness among the pupils on caring for their less fortunate peers. Having this awareness will inculcate a caring and sharing culture in the school which is what the school wants to cultivate in our pupils,” said Miss Emmeline Yu, the teacher in charge of environmental programmes at Dazhong Primary School.

Getting down to it

Students sorting out the recyclables in an effort to raise as much bursary money for their needy friends

Environment corner at Dazhong Primary to raise awareness about recycling

In order to engage the students in this project effectively, schools employed a variety of methods. Bedok Green Primary School appointed “Green monitors” in each class in order that the students would take up ownership of the project. Every class had a box for collecting recycled paper and when the box was full, the “Green monitors” would take charge of tabulating the amount of paper collected and emptying the boxes into the huge recycling bins at the Recycling Corner. Competitions were also organized among the classes to motivate the students to outdo each other in being green.

Da Zhong Primary inculcated the green message in the students by setting up an easily accessible environment corner made of recyclable material to post educational materials about recycling and Green for Hope posters.

Through this project, teachers found that their pupils are now more aware of their role in helping to fight climate change and save the environment.

“I could see the pupils making an effort in reducing the amount of waste that they throw away and putting them especially papers and plastic bottles into recycling boxes. This project offered a platform for the Junior Environment Ambassadors in our school to be more active in educating their classmates and younger schoolmates the importance of recycling,” said Yu.

“The students now make conscious efforts to separate their rubbish before throwing them away in the bins ... and they also remind one another to put used paper in recycling bins,” said Tan.

Families play their partBesides being enabled to help the less privileged, the “Green for Hope” project also provided a positive boost to primary students wanting to do their part not only in school but also at home to save the planet.

“Through my efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle, I have made the world a better place as I have contributed to the global movement to reduce damages to Mother Earth,” he said. “By reducing the amount of rubbish, less land would be needed to contain the rubbish, thus allowing more land to be available for further land development when required.”

Zhi Qi also discovered that the project impacted his life at home as well.

“The biggest challenge I faced in this project was getting my family members to believe in recycling,” he explained, “They told me not to waste my time on this project as it was ridiculous.

“I tried to persuade them to recycle the newspapers by telling them the situation of the Earth, global warming and green house effects on our home… Finally, I managed to convince my family and they promised that they would start to use the 3Rs,” he added.

Today, Zhi Qi’s family buys refill packs instead of plastic bottles for detergent and shower foam. Not only have they reduced their use of tissue paper, they now use recycled water whenever they can – for instance, using water from their washing machine to wash the toilet.

11-year-old Kelly Chan of Dazhong Primary School also found that this project has helped her to stay green at home.

“I try my best to use less electricity by using the computer less often. I also bring the recyclables from my home to recycle in school,” she said.

“It is a very meaningful project - being socially responsible. We look forward to more of such meaningful projects,” said Tan.

Through this project, many primary students across Singapore gained the satisfaction of knowing they are pivotal in keeping the planet green and in offering hope to their less fortunate school mates – a win-win indeed.

Go Green: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

3

CapitaLand’s ‘Green for Hope’ project is roping in students to do their part for the environment. And the response is heartening!

Issue: Mar 09

Students of Chong Zheng Primary School with CapitaLand's CapitaFrog mascot and other staff volunteers

Going green is no longer just a trendy buzzword to throw around. As evidenced by the erratic weather the world has been experiencing due to global warming, more people realise it’s not enough to just sit up and take notice, but to join hands and do their part in preserving the earth.

Corporations are doing their part as well by rolling out social responsibility project that involve the public and their staff. CapitaLand, for example, is educating children in Singapore with its ‘Green for Hope’ project launched in July last year.

Starting Them Young

CapitaFrog performing in the skit

Doing their bit for the environment are responsibilities that young children can readily embrace if they’re involved from an early age. The ‘Green for Hope’ project subscribes to this belief by inviting all primary schools to do their part for the earth and help out their less privileged friends at the same time.

Under this project, $2 will be donated by CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, for every kilogram of recyclable waste collected. This money will go to the school’s welfare fund to meet the basic needs of the underprivileged students.The Foundation has pledged S$1.75 million to this project, which is sufficient to buy over 88,000 sets of school uniforms, one year’s supply of textbooks for 20,000 students, or breakfast for 6,000 kids for a year.

The ‘Green for Hope’ project aims to collect 875,000kg of recyclable waste, which will save approximately 5,000 trees (from paper), enough energy to light up 380 light bulbs for a year (from plastic) and energy to run 65 TV sets for a year (from aluminium cans). As an incentive to the schools to encourage the children, an additional S$5,000, S$3,000 and S$2,000 will be donated to the top three schools with the largest collection of recyclable waste.

Students of Chong Zheng Primary School participating in the skit by CapitaLand’s staff volunteers

Since the launch of the project, the 154 participating schools have seen a surge in interest in environmental matters, with kids becoming more conscious of their habits and their impact on the earth. In the case of Queenstown Primary School, one of the top performers in the project to date, the school even kept parents informed of this campaign so that as families they can do their part together not only in school but also at home in saving the earth. Teachers in the school also took the initiative to be role models and even incorporated the green message of the campaign into their lessons, Says Principal Mrs V Ratnakumar, “Recycled materials are very much a part of our Science lessons, and teachers use them in Science experiments where possible.”

To further encourage the kids to keep up the habit of reducing, reusing and recycling and get more of them involved in the project, CapitaLand hosted an educational ‘Green for Hope’ roadshow in February, where staff volunteers visited participating schools, performing in a skit with the affable CapitaFrog, a mascot created by CapitaLand to propagate the green message.

Skit Performance at Dazhong Primary School

Doing Your PartAs the kids cultivate the 3Rs as part of their daily lifestyle, it’s not too late for you as an adult to do your part for the environment and set a good example. Here are some simple changes you can make to your day-to-day habits and save the earth for future generations:

Hang-dry clothes. Using a clothes rack or clothes line to dry clothes instead of a clothes dryer will save a lot in energy costs. To generate electricity, fossil fuels are burnt, producing radioactive waste, greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Set the air conditioner temperature to 24-25 degrees Celsius. Every degree above 22 degrees Celsius saves cooling costs by 3% and decreases CO2 emissions by an average of 55kg.

Pack food in reusable containers instead of disposable ones.

Turn off the tap when soaping hands and promptly after use.

Only print when really necessary. One million tons of paper is used worldwide every day. In addition to the major issue of deforestation to feed our paper appetite, paper production creates significant CO2 emissions.

Use plastic grocery bags to bag garbage instead of buying special garbage bags, and use less plastic bags in general. Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photodegrade. When they break down, they release greenhouse gases and toxic particles, which contribute to global warming and poison our soil and water.

Pass on clothes you have outgrown to those who can fit them, and likewise don't be shy about taking other's clothes they have outgrown.

Use old torn clothes as cleaning rags.

Instead of throwing printouts that you no longer need, flip it to its unused side to be used as a memo pad, or slip it back into the printer to be used a second time.

Donate things you no longer need but are still in good condition to various charity organizations such as the Salvation Army or nursing homes.

Segregate your trash into recyclable items such as glass, plastic, paper and aluminium for collection by waste collectors.

Choose to buy recycled products, as it takes less energy to make a product from recycled materials than it does to make it from new materials.

At Servcorp we acknowledge the seriousness of climate change and the need for businesses to become sustainable to ensure the protection of the environment from further damage. We have a strong commitment to supporting the environmental and the communities in which we operate.

History Green Offices Project was started by Servcorp as an initiative to create a positive environmental impact.

For every Virtual Office which is setup through our online channel, Servcorp plants an extra tree. The Servcorp Forest already covers an area greater than the area covered by our combined international office spaces.

Inherently environmentally friendly, Virtual Offices continue to be a driving force behind the Green Offices Project. However, all Servcorp's various services now subscribe to the philosophy of the Green Offices Project.

Servcorp aims to, through the Green Offices Project, initiate more environmental sustainability within Servcorp and our client base. We aim to reduce our carbon emissions, offset our existing footprint and educate our teams and clients about improving their day-to-day impact on the environment. We have three distinct areas of focus! Reduce, Offset and Educate.

We offset some of our emissions by planting trees.

We aim to reduce, reuse and recycle within our workplaces; from reducing the amount of electricity that is consumed to recycling paper.

We work to educate our clients, team, and business partners about the ways in which they can reduce and offset their day-to-day impact on the environment.

If you'd like to read more information about the Servcorp Green Offices Project, you can visit the website Servcorp's Green Offices Project

Asean needs to step up its green efforts

Updated on:Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009

Straits Times 2 Dec 2009

Compared to China, Asean is behind the curve. The region needs to map out the

dangers it faces from climate change, fully evaluate the costs it might suffer and

consider what it can do to adapt and also contribute to a global solution. Asean must

be prepared to address climate change collectively if it is to be taken seriously as a

community.

[photo right] Taken in October, this photograph shows the remains of a devastated peatlands

forest in Indonesia's Pangkalan Bunut, in the Riau province. Locking in carbon by conserving

forests is a key area in which Asean could pool its resources to combat climate change - a move

that could alleviate the long-standing problem of the country's haze-causing forest fires. --

PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

IT IS only days before the Copenhagen meeting on climate change begins and developments have been as changeable as, well, the weather.

Expectations of the meeting's outcome have swung from early optimism to pessimism - and may be swinging back again to guarded optimism after a recent flurry of events.

How did we get here? Where do we go next? Despite the uncertainties and variables involved, Singapore and others in region must grapple with them. New constants have emerged.

For more than a year now, European governments and many scientists have been calling for urgent action but rich and poor countries alike have continued to argue about how the responsibilities for, and costs of taking action to reverse climate change, should be assigned. The conviction grew that Copenhagen would not produce any binding commitments.

In part, this was because of the United States. While personally committed, President Barack Obama remained hamstrung by the failure of the US Congress to act. Other concerns like health care and Afghanistan occupied Washington's attention.

However, just as Copenhagen is about to begin, the US has sent a strong signal. Not only will Mr Obama attend the conference with a high-powered US delegation, he has outlined the commitments he will back.

The US is expected to set a 17 per cent reduction in carbon emissions below the 2005 level as its first target. Further ahead, Mr Obama will urge a 30 per cent reduction below the 2005 level by 2025 and work towards a 83 per cent reduction by 2050.

This may prove to be a crucial step in achieving a global deal - if not immediately, then soon. The precise US commitment is not fixed and Congress has still to approve the necessary

legislation. But compared to the eight years of denial under the previous Bush administration, what is clear now is that US will act. That is the first new constant.

The Obama administration will try to show that economic recovery and environmental protection are compatible. Over US$80 billion (S$111 billion) has been pledged to double the generation of clean renewable energy like wind and solar in the US. Energy efficiency is also being pushed on many fronts. New standards have been set for motor vehicles and household appliances, such as dishwashers and light bulbs.

The link between combating global warming and encouraging the growth of 'green' businesses is the second constant. Expect technology to receive a big boost from governments. Asians should try to latch on to these business opportunities and share technology with the US and other leading countries.

As the US moves, it will insist on others taking similar steps. The Group of 20 has discussed climate change, in addition to its focus on the economic crisis. Another step was taken at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Singapore, when President Obama raised the issue with his Asian counterparts.

What will the US do if these Asian countries do not come along? Beyond persuasion and promoting technology, the proposed US legislation will have penalties. Uncooperative countries will face additional taxes on the goods they export to America. The Europeans have threatened similar border taxes.

The excuse is that such additional taxes will make up for the 'unfair' competitive advantages that countries that fail to commit themselves to lower emissions enjoy. But this can easily become a pretext for Europe and the US to protect their own domestic producers.

It is a proposal that threatens free trade. And yet these threats are the third new constant.

How should Asians shape their policies in response to these three new constants in climate change policy - US participation, the new green business opportunities, the threat to tax the exports of carbon polluters?

In many ways, China has shown the best way to respond. Its leaders understand China's vulnerabilities - not just the rise in sea levels but the impact of climate change on water, food and energy security.

One day after Washington announced its proposed cuts, Beijing announced its own pledge. It proposes to cut by 40-45 per cent the amount of carbon it emits per unit of national income by 2020, compared to 2005 levels. This goal aims to intensify energy use and be more efficient; it doesn't constitute an absolute limit. But it is a step forward, nevertheless, especially since China still has many poor people and needs to develop further.

Moreover, China has ramped up green technology and businesses. Given its proven ability to manufacture products that are of good quality at low prices, China is betting that it can become the world's leading green manufacturer. Sustainability is becoming central to the emerging Chinese economy.

Compared to China, Asean is behind the curve. The region needs to map out the dangers it faces from climate change, fully evaluate the costs it might suffer and consider what it can do to adapt and also contribute to a global solution.

Asean must be prepared to address climate change collectively if it is to be taken seriously as a community. At Copenhagen, Asean representatives should confer and push a common agenda. Assistance from developed economies for technology transfers and for adaptation will be needed.

One key area would be for Asean to seek assistance to develop a regional energy infrastructure. Recent studies indicate that energy demand in Asean will increase by almost 80 per cent by 2030 - and this will likely increase carbon emissions. But regional grids could be more efficient and also tap into renewables like hydro power to share across the region.

Another priority is to lock in carbon by conserving forests. Indonesia has been pushing this but sticky issues remain. Mechanisms need to be found to ensure that if funds are made available to conserve forests, the forests will indeed be conserved. If this could be done, the forest fires that have caused the haze for so many years might be alleviated.

Resources will still be needed but those that are certified to be green or climate friendly will have the edge. This provides opportunities not just for Indonesia but for all countries in Asean.

Singapore can benefit. Yes, costs may go up but Singapore has already moved beyond competing on cheap prices. It is well-placed to be a hub for green businesses and technology. Not taking action on climate change will affect its credibility as a sustainable city. Moreover, if climate change is severe, the cost of inaction will be great.

The road to Copenhagen has been difficult and uncertain. There may be more bumps ahead. The rules are changing and new constants are emerging to which Singapore and others in Asia must adapt and respond actively.

Author: 

Simon Tay

About the author: 

The writer is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International

Affairs. Think-Tank is a weekly column rotated among eight leading

figures in Singapore's tertiary and research institutions.

Singapore News

 Eight S'pore organisations lauded for green effortsBy Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 20 September 2011 2247 hrs

in Share 0

SINGAPORE: Eight Singapore organisations were recognised for their efforts in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions at this year's ASEAN Energy Awards.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said this is the largest number bagged by Singapore since the awards started in 2000.

One of the winners is City Square Mall, which is the first shopping centre to be awarded the Building & Construction Authority's Green Mark Platinum Award.

The mall is designed with state-of-the-art green building features, and to date has achieved electricity savings of more than 30 per cent compared to similar buildings.

Another award recipient is The Galen, managed by Ascendas Land.

Its new chiller plant, equipped with an Energy Management System has enabled the building to enjoy annual cost savings of S$1.1 million.

The companies received their awards at the 29th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony held in Brunei on Tuesday.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran, said the increasing number of Singapore companies receiving the awards is a testament to the country's role as a living laboratory for clean energy and energy-efficient solutions.

Innovative energy efficiency and clean energy technologies will be showcased at the upcoming Singapore International Energy Week, to be held from October 31 to November 4, 2011.

- CNA/cc "Greening" ahead of the packBy Leo Boon Yeow

Eco-friendly? Very good! How much?

She doesn't seem like an eco-warrior. But the founder and managing director of Greenpac, Susan Chong has managed to green the world, one business solution at a time.

Chong joined her husband's family-owned packaging and factory relocation business in 1996, after she spent the previous few years in the hotel and pharmaceutical industry.

Susan Chong, founder and managing director of Greenpac, and some of her 'toys'.

While she was there, Chong was tasked with handling major relocation projects, and she slowly began to nurse the idea of offering environmentally-friendly innovations to the people whom she believed needed them the most.

The constant jet-setting around the different continents attending packaging exhibitions while performing her marketing duties, led her to notice that the Europeans had brilliant packaging ideas that not only reduced space and raw materials, but also ultimately translated into savings for their customers.

By the time she decided to set up her own outfit after six years in her husband's company, the eco-trend she spotted - which was already red-hot in Europe - had grown into a locally marketable concept that offered a platform for one of the most exciting companies that Singapore has to offer.

"Nobody talked about green in Singapore. Not at that time, eight years ago," recalled Chong. "I could see that there was an opportunity, so I actually worked with a few environmentally-friendly packaging suppliers (of materials)."

Instead of simply distributing the products - all 32 types of them - that her suppliers manufactured Chong decided that she needed to find a way to add value to the products.

The answer laid in innovative packaging solutions that utilises environmentally friendly raw materials, Chong pointed out: “There are plenty of green materials worldwide. Do we need to re-invent the wheel?

“So I decided to adopt a different way,” she said.

The unique eco-friendly materials that Greenpac uses today include sustainable pine Oriented Strand Board (OSB), which is processed and shipped from Europe in compliance with the international ISPM 15 programme, instead of relying on conventional heat treatment.

"We have got wood materials, paper materials. And all these are actually coming in from a special source, and are green label certified materials.”

While Chong is the official distributor for most of the imported materials she works with, she also has local suppliers who provide materials like plywood, and those who give Greenpac’s innovations physical form. 

Because of the steady stream of suppliers, Greenpac is free to concentrate on utilising the materials to sculpt unique solutions that cater specifically to customers’ needs.

Business by the bulk

While it may seem logical for most companies to work on solutions that save themselves money, Chong often works to find savings for others which in turns profits her business. That meant projects that were as varied as they were challenging, while being environmentally-friendly.

One of her first jobs involved an American computer components manufacturer that had been using conventional mixed hardwood pallets which had to go through heat treatment to remove contaminants like insects and fungi.

Rather than just meet the order, Chong took the extra step to convert the client from using hardwood, “we actually helped them to re-engineer (the process) to use plywood palette, which is alot lighter in weight.

"Every palette they (clients) save about 10kg, and the palettes are already in compliance with the ISPM 15 (programme).

Another company from the medical industry benefited from Chong’s ingenuity when she replaced their regular shipping method - of placing individual parts of a whole device into separate boxes - by combining all the parts into a carefully designed box, thus saving space and materials, resulting in dramatically reduced freight costs.

By reducing the overall weight and allowing for higher density with more products to be shipped, Chong gave her customer more freight savings apart from the solution they first approached her for.

Focusing on the industrial market has always been core for Chong because that is where the largest consumption of packaging can be found.

"For every equipment produced, you would get parts that need packaging, and I could see there was a lot of over-packaging, using much more materials than needed, or under-packaging which means they didn't actually do a proper job," Chong explained.

At the same time, she was realistic and practical.

"I didn't focus on one particular product and develop that product because Singapore is very small, and we don't have the economy of scale," she said.

Chong also worked to grow her client list such that almost all are now Fortune 500 companies that require stringent processes to safeguard their valuable cargo.

"At the end of the day, because we are dealing with industrial products. You have to bring value, and that means you provide people with a solution that they would not pay more money for, while ensuring that at end of the day, they could achieve a green solution," Chong said. 

For her, coming up with green solutions, does not just mean using green materials. “Green has got a very wide definition. It depends on how you want to approach it. You have returnable, reusable, recyclable and things like that.

“So we actually look at solutions that reduce weight, or how to increase density. 

That means like a container, with the same footprint, you put 100, now you put 150. That means immediately you have a 50 per cent in savings,” Chong said.

So while this MD doesn’t start out with the goal of securing high returns when negotiating a deal, she still gets to close each contract with a tidy sum for her firm.

In addition, some of the green solutions that Greenpac have engineered from the ground up have won recognition, from the Asiastar Award by international non-profit organisation, the Worldstar Packaging Organisation (WPO), enabling Chong herself to win Singapore’s ASME Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EYA) in 2008.

Planting SEEDS from SPRING

"The solutions come in different forms. There are no hard and fast rules and that is why we have to innovate all the time" said Chong of her start-up which includes a five person team - that consists of designers and mechanical, chemical and structural engineers.

Before that multiple discipline team came along, it was just Chong and her assistant back in 2002 with a S$30,000 micro-loan from SPRING Singapore.

Applying for the micro-loan was a challenge for Chong who had never handled a business before, nor did she have the slightest clue on how to write a business proposal. Still, she was undeterred.

"When you go to SPRING, they would want to see your business proposal. So we actually knocked on SPRING's door and talked to their officer, and told him that we didn't know how to do it," Chong said.

Later, she was introduced to a consultant who offered to help secure the funds she needed easily, but he wanted one per cent of the sum that SPRING approved. "No thank you very much!" Chong said, recollecting the incident.

Eventually, by trial and error, with proposal after proposal being sent in, rejected and returned Chong and her assistant managed to come up with a business proposal.

When customers ask you to do something, and you tell them you have no time, eventually someone else will have time for them.

"Of course it is not easy when we first started trying to do it," Chong said of the experience. "We have to convince them on our business model, and that this is the way to go."

With each written proposal getting more robust with each try, Chong eventually won acceptance from SPRING.

"I must say they have been very patient. They actually walked us through until finally we are there," Chong said.

Selling the ideal before the deal

"In business if you really have a good business idea, and you can't convince anybody then you probably may have to rethink your business proposal," said Chong.

After spending much time getting her plans off the drawing board and into the realm of business, the managing director found that her initial investment wasn’t just to roll off the business, pay for expenses, and fund R&D into innovative packaging solutions that utilises environmentally friendly raw materials.

"Because if you look at our business model it is not something which you can cut and paste. It is not like trading where I use the money to buy materials and just sell.”

In fact, the first four years was spent mainly educating and sharing, than selling Chong explained. "You have to build the credentials, credibility, and you also have to spend on R&D, making sure you come up with something that convinces (clients)."

Most of those she approached at Greenpac’s initial stages refused to even meet up with her, because their extremely expensive and fragile products required expert handling.

It was also an issue of trust and a track record, with most used to dealing with those they had grown accustomed to.

While swimming against the tide, Chong decided to also invest her time working with the local representatives of multi-national corporations on packaging solutions while slowly penetrating the headquarters where the final corporate decisions are made.

Strategising meant that Chong was able to use the S$30,000 micro-loan to not only jump-start Greenpac, but grow at tremendous speeds through her clever use of financial factoring.

In 12 months, that helped the company, earning S$1.2million.

"It is one of the best ways to go," Chong said with a contented smile, as the company returned 100 per cent growth each year and in 2007, grew an astonishing 300 per cent.

"It means you have an invoice which you can use, and you go to the bank, the bank will probably fund you 80 per cent (of the amount stated in the invoice) that you can use it as your working capital."

Keeping an eye on the big picture and careful management of cashflow does have one drawback.

A display of Greenpac's award winning innovations.

Receivables Financing

Cash flow is essential to the success of your business. One of the many funding solutions to help you achieve working capital requirements is receivables finance, says Ms Tan Siew Meng, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC Singapore.

"Work with a bank that is able to customise solutions for your business, as well as a strong international network to connect you and your partners globally.

"This will enable you to achieve operational flexibility and receive working capital through the value of your assets, thereby freeing up valuable time and resources to concentrate on growing your business."

"I didn't draw salary for a long time," Chong said with a chuckle.

Getting new businesses to fuel the growing company was also hard for Chong, because of a  common misconception that being "green" means it will cost more.

"I wouldn't say that I am a 'green' person and all that," Chong said of her boardroom dealings.

“It all started with just a business opportunity," the quick-witted business woman said of how she usually pitched the "bottom-line savings" angle to capture the attention of anyone willing to listen, before following up with the "green" aspect of her solutions that opened up the door for the marketing team to spring into action.

"Also thinking in the long-term, why not? It gives alot of benefits to the environment, and it is also an emerging business," Chong said of her final trump card dealt in negotiations.

Business is brutal and Chong admits there are also some who take advantage of her free offers to get a carefully designed solution, only to commission their current suppliers to implement the same idea for them.

"But they soon realise that they can only do it one time. And after that they can't do it when they have new products coming in.

"It is good in the way that they can see the kind of value-adding and continuous improvement that we can bring to them. So they eventually end up coming back and becoming stuck to us," Chong said with her infectious laugh.

To provide the best solutions to her customers Chong also realised that she had to form strategic alliances with multiple suppliers to produce the best results.

"Trust and mutual understanding is very important… a win-win situation is the most important in any alliance. You can win all the way but in the end, nobody will want to play with you," Chong sagely concluded.

Reflection of self and doppelganger

While Chong worked to make other firms more efficient, she also had to look within her own organisation to make sure it was streamlined and had the necessary virtues needed to complement her partners. 

One of the cost saving methods which Chong everages heavily on, is information technology (IT).

"We have cut down alot of unnecessary manual work, by using IT to do all the data and transactions your monitoring is minimised."

To complement the IT employed, Chong who announced with pride that she has "a very lean team, and their output is 300-400 per cent”, invests readily in training and incentives.

"Incentives come in many forms, and money is just one of them. But promotions and career paths, and exposure, all these are also incentives because we grow together. All of them come from different backgrounds, but have one direction," Chong said.

Now that her efforts and investment into the company have paid off, a new and more disturbing challenge has emerged - imitators.

" I think, there must be something we are doing right. It's just like a (branded watch), if you see many imitations, there is a market demand. I think the industry could see there is a big potential in this business.

"We have the first mover's advantage, but they also have the potential to be second best. So now it depends on who is more efficient, but as of today, we are still the market leader and we innovated the whole industry," Chong said.

Fortunately for Chong, the innovation that Greenpac brought to the packaging industry was so profound that several of her competitors decided that the best way to get some much-needed market share was to work together with her instead of going head-to-head.

And because Greenpac is not involved in manufacturing, they won’t be limited to using a certain type of material, like some of their competitors.

"That's what you call leveraging on alliances and on your partner's strengths," Chong said with a benevolent smile that masks her formidable inner strength.

The result of the leveraging is evident in how the company managed to remain fairly resilient, despite the financial crisis of the not too distant past that affected her major clients who are mainly in the manufacturing sector.

"We are still making a profit because of our business model, we are a knowledge based company, and also asset light, and that actually pulled us through," Chong said.

"The business itself is a sustainable business, because all my assets are walking around. All my intellectual assets," Chong said with reference to her staff who weathered the economic storm together with her and contributed to the phenomenal growth of Greenpac.

In for the long run

Just like many other businesses who survived the economic crisis, Chong utilised the downturn to equip her firm with the necessary tools for expansion into overseas markets.

"There is a lot of demand out there. Most of the countries like Japan, UK, US, Korea and Taiwan, are moving into the 'green' space.

"It is really a growing industry because it used to be voluntary. Now it has become very much a policy issue, and now not only do they save money, but if they don't do it, they can't get their product across," Chong said in reference to non-compliance with international regulations like the ISPM 15 - which was initially started to deal with insect and fungal infestation in untreated materials.

Growing industry or not, Chong  is quick to caution young entrepreneurs who seek to replicate her success.

"Now business is quite tough, everyone wants to be their own boss, there are alot of young entrepreneurs and they don't have a business direction, and they just do whatever people are doing.

"I guess people have to be realistic. Because in business, there is alot of hard work.

"People always think that by doing their own business, they would have a lot of flexibility, which is not true. Success doesn't come overnight. You also have to make sure you are niche. You must find your niche, and not be a me-too company."

In order to ascertain if a business model is viable, Chong recommends budding entrepreneurs to ask themselves two questions: "Why must people buy from you? Why are you so special?

"If you can answer and convince yourself, then you can convince the customer. If you can't even convince yourself, then how can you convince other people?" Chong challenged.

And if and when success arrives, it could open the way to complacency, a pitfall that  Chong believes young entrepreneurs should look out "because other people might be able to do what you are doing, better than you,” she stressed.

Susan Chong with one of the bigger items that Greenpac provides solutions for.

"The only way to grow is to continue to innovate, understand your surroundings and be sensitive to your customer's requirements," the 2008 EYA Innovation winner went on to say, adding that once a business is complacent with success, arrogance will start to affect customer relations.

"When customers ask you to do something, and you tell them you have no time, eventually someone else will have time for them."

Suffice to say, Greenpac always has the time with Chong at the helm, so a projected 30 per cent growth in 2010 is a near done deal, neatly sorted in an eco-friendly package.

Singapore scores in green efforts

Canadian-based World Green Building Council gives nod to environment-friendly plans hereJessica Cheam Straits Times 26 Sep 10;

The little red dot has been determinedly going green these past few years and its efforts are noteworthy, a first-of-its-kind report has said.

The report by the Canadian-based World Green Building Council (WGBC) on the global green building movement compiles examples of how such buildings can help provide affordable housing, job creation and even disaster recovery.

'It's the first time we have reported on the wider social-economic benefits a better built environment can play,' said WGBC chief executive Jane Henley.

Singapore stood out for its concerted efforts to green its buildings, particularly in its green labelling programme for products, and its leadership in water efficiency standards, she added.

The report, released last week, is titled Tackling Global Climate Change, Meeting Local Priorities.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Ms Henley said the report is 'living evidence of examples across the globe' where buildings are addressing local needs while reducing carbon emissions as well.

Green buildings are doable. Built to reduce their negative impact on the environment, they not only improve occupants' comfort, but they typically cost only 3 per cent to 5 per cent more than standard buildings to construct, said Ms Henley.

Costs are coming down, and there is much potential for buildings to further reduce their carbon emissions - by more than 35 per cent, she said. Green buildings have also been shown to cut waste output by 70 per cent, water usage by 40 per cent, and energy usage by 30 to 50 per cent, and in some cases, producing surplus energy that can add to the national grid, she added.

In some cases, green buildings can even help in disaster recovery. In Australia, for example, through the Build It Back Green programme following wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed over 100 people in Victoria in February last year, greener and more resilient homes were built for the community.

In the US, after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the Green Building Council brought in experts in urban planning, waste and water management, and architecture to work with local communities in the post-disaster, green reconstruction.

In Singapore, the green building momentum has been kept up in the five years since the launch of its first green building rating system, the Green Mark, said Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) president Lee Chuan Seng.

When it was launched in 2005, the Green Mark attracted only 17 buildings that could be certified as environmentally friendly. Today, the number has grown 30 times to tip past 500 such buildings.

The scheme has also 'gone overseas'. More than 80 overseas projects have applied for the Green Mark stamp and over 32 of these projects have achieved it, said the Building and Construction Authority, which oversees the Green Mark scheme.

The SGBC recently hosted an international congress on green buildings to celebrate World Green Building Week, which began on Sept 20, and to gather experts to share their knowledge and best practices.

'The event helped to boost Singapore's image as the leading hub for green buildings in the tropical climate zone,' said Mr Lee. Also, the incentives provided by the Government have seen the building sector rising to the challenge.

'Many industry designers and professionals are now equipped with the skills and capabilities to develop and run buildings on a sustainable level not achieved before. This is something that Singapore can now export,' Mr Lee added.

Mr Russell Cole, principal and building group leader at the Singapore office of British architecture firm Arup, said green building design 'is becoming the new orthodoxy rather than a passing fashion'.

'The industry is quickly developing skills and taking a harder look at all aspects of the building, and seeing how it can be made more comfortable, using less energy and resources,' he said.

Energy consumption is also being reduced by good insulation, shading and other passive design features, he added.

Another push factor in the growing adoption of green buildings: regulation. On the whole, building regulation standards worldwide are getting increasingly higher and greener, said Mr Cole.

Singapore, meanwhile, is not resting on its laurels, said SGBC's Mr Lee.

Some industry critics have questioned if the Green Mark is a standard too easily obtained, to which Mr Lee pointed out: 'The standards go up every year'.

'Instead of setting the goals too high, which make people give up and say 'it's too expensive', we decided to start with something that had a decent standard but was not too difficult to achieve,' he said.

BCA's Green Mark for new buildings is now into Version 4 - where the minimum energy efficiency standard is 28 per cent higher than that set out in the first building code released in 2005.

Recycling food waste set to become more popular with growing awarenessBy May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 January 2009 2050 hrs

in Share 0 4

SINGAPORE : Singapore aims to recycle 30 per cent of its food waste by 2012. But for now, the

rate stands at only about nine per cent.

So one home-grown food and beverage company is planning to do its part by recycling food

waste this year. It is the first to do so on its own, on its own new premises.

Eating is a popular activity among Singaporeans, but not so when it comes to recycling leftovers.

In 2007, Singapore produced 558,900 tonnes of food waste, which can fill over 890 Olympic-

sized swimming pools. This is about 10 per cent of the total waste output of Singapore.

But only 51,200 tonnes of food waste was recycled for uses like animal feed or to generate

electricity. The rest were incinerated.

So Apex-Pal, which operates restaurants like Sakae Sushi, wants to do its part. About a quarter

of the some 80 tonnes of fish used at its outlets monthly ends up in waste.

Douglas Foo, chairman and CEO, Apex-Pal International, said: "Right now, we are actually using

about 40 tonnes of salmon, just one particular fish alone; plus all other types, it could easily

reach up to about maybe 80 tonnes.

"Using that as a ball park, we are going to have about 10-20 tonnes, which will eventually go up

to even higher tonnage in terms of waste... (So if) we are able to use the machine to actually

channel that waste into useful energy, it is not just helping the environment, but it is also

helping the organisation in terms of its cost."

Apex-Pal expects to save at least S$300,000 annually, once it starts recycling its food waste.

A pilot project in December last year saw five hawker centres sending their food waste for

recycling.

They are the Chinatown Complex Market, Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre, Taman Jurong

Market and Food Centre, Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre, and the Tekka temporary

market.

Some organisations are already making it their corporate social responsibility to put food waste

to good use.

Parkway Parade is just one of a handful of shopping malls to separate their food waste properly

and send it for recycling.

They send it to the only food waste recycling plant in the western part of Singapore which

handles about 100 tonnes everyday.

The food waste will then be turned into electricity which can power more than 3,000 four-room

HDB flats."

Edwin Khiew, CEO and managing director, IUT Global, said: "As long as people see and

understand why they have to segregate... to help recycling as a whole; if you segregate what

contaminates the valuable recyclables, I think that would be a major step forward to ensure we

have proper recycling."

Some are even urging the government to use legislation, to speed up the rate of food waste

recycling. - CNA/ms

Public Sector taking the Lead in Environmental Sustainability

IntroductionThe public sector is taking the lead by using energy and resources more efficiently. As part of this programme, public sector buildings will have to meet energy efficiency targets to reduce energy expenditure. Beyond improving building energy efficiency, all agencies are also encouraged to adopt environmentally sustainable practices that are cost beneficial, such as participating in the Water Efficient Building and Eco-Office rating frameworks developed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Singapore Environment Council respectively, and implementing recycling programmes.Through this initiative, the public sector aims to demonstrate the associated environmental and economic benefits and set an example for the private sector.Public agencies are also encouraged to finance and implement their energy efficiency improvements through performance contracting.All large air-conditioned public sector office buildings, as well as polytechnics and ITEs, with central air-conditioning systems and air-conditioned area greater than 10,000m2 will be energy-audited by FY2011. Infrastructure facilities will also be energy-audited by FY2012.Energy EfficiencyAll large air-conditioned public sector office buildings, as well as polytechnics and ITEs, with central air-conditioning systems and air-conditioned area greater than 10,000m2 will be energy-audited by FY2011. Infrastructure facilities will also be energy-audited by FY2012.Large central air-conditioning systems in buildings will be fitted with instrumentation to monitor the coefficient of performance (COP) of the air-conditioning systems. The air-conditioning systems must be upgraded to achieve a COP of at least 4.7 at the next available opportunity.An increase of 1oC in the air-conditioned indoor air temperature could reduce air-conditioning electricity consumption by about 3%. All public agencies will ensure that the ambient indoor air temperature of all public sector premises remain within the range of 22.5oC to 25.5oC.All new office information and communication technology equipment will meet the latest ENERGY STAR standards, where available, from FY2009 onwards.

Water EfficiencyPUB is working with all public agencies and schools to achieve the Water Efficient Building (WEB) label for buildings they own by FY2010.RecyclingRecycling programmes implemented by public sector agencies include initiatives to recycle paper products, plastics, metals (e.g. aluminium cans) and print cartridges. Proceeds from the sales of these recyclables for each agency can amount to a few thousand dollars annually.General Environmental SustainabilityPublic sector offices will achieve the Eco-Office Green Office label by FY2011. The label rates offices on practices that include energy efficiency, recycling, water conservation, reducing and reusing resources, and monitoring of resource consumption.All new public sector buildings with more than 5,000m2 air-conditioned floor area, including buildings with development cost fully or partly funded by the public sector (e.g. new universities and hospitals), will attain the Green Mark Platinum level. Existing buildings with more than 10,000m2 air-conditioned floor area will also attain the Green Mark GoldPlus standard by 2020.

Energy Efficiency Building

Benchmarking Programme

The Energy Efficiency Building Benchmarking Programme, developed by the Energy Sustainability Unit (ESU) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) in 2005, aims to promote energy efficiency and conservation in the buildings sector.Benefits of ProgrammeApart from helping to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions within the buildings sector, energy efficient buildings stand to:

Reap energy savings due to active energy management Enjoy higher satisfaction levels by occupants Enhance the company’s corporate image

Benchmarking in Energy Efficiency

The Energy Smart Tool is an online benchmarking system that can be used to evaluate the energy performances of office and hotel buildings. It enables building owners to review the energy consumption patterns within their buildings and compare them against the industry norms. The benchmarking system was developed based on a rigorous study and analysis of two representative databases on office and hotel buildings in Singapore.

ABOUT BCA GREEN MARK SCHEME

INTRODUCTION

The BCA Green Mark Scheme was launched in January 2005 as an initiative to drive Singapore's construction

industry towards more environment-friendly buildings. It is intended to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers,

designers and builders when they start project conceptualisation and design, as well as during construction.

BENEFITS OF GREEN MARK

BCA Green Mark provides a meaningful differentiation of buildings in the real estate market. It is a benchmarking scheme which incorporates internationally recognized best

practices in environmental design and performance. This can have positive effect on corporate image, leasing and resale value of buildings. Benefits of BCA Green Mark

include:

Facilitate reduction in water and energy bills, Reduce potential environmental impact,

Improve indoor environmental quality for a healthy and productive workplace,

Provide clear direction for continual improvement.

APPLICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Developers, building owners and government agencies would have to submit an application form to BCA to register their interest in participating in the BCA Green Mark

Scheme.

BCA assessment team will have a preliminary meeting with the project team or building management team to brief on the criteria and request for relevant reports and

documentary proofs to substantiate the subsequent submissions.

Actual assessment will be conducted on a later date once the team are ready. The assessment will include design and documentary reviews as well as site verification.

Documentary evidences are to be submitted at the end of the assessment. Upon completion of the assessment, a letter of award showing the certification level of the

projects will be sent to the team.

About Mandatory Fuel Economy Labelling

Mandatory Energy Labelling

Since 1 January 08, registrable goods must carry energy labels under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA).

Under Section 40C of the EPMA, no person shall, in the course of any trade or business, supply any registrable goods in Singapore on or after the effective date unless the registrable goods are registered and labelled in the prescribed manner.

Under Section 40D of the EPMA, any importer and manufacturer who intends, in the course of any trade or business, to supply any registrable goods in Singapore on or after the effective date shall apply to the National Environment Agency (NEA) to be registered as a registered supplier and to register any registrable goods, which the importer or manufacturer intends to supply in Singapore.

From 1 April 09, some categories of motor vehicles are included as registrable goods.

The regulations governing these requirements are -

a) Environmental Protection and Management (Registrable Goods) Order

b) Environmental Protection and Management (Energy Conservation) Regulations

c) Environmental Protection and Management   (Composition of Offences) Regulations

d) Environmental Protection and Management (Exemption from Labelling) Order 2009

Project Carbon Zero 2009

The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) organised the Project Carbon Zero, an energy-saving competition for primary school students in 2008. Project Carbon Zero aims to motivate students to reduce energy wastage at home. About 1300 students participated and 30 WINNERS emerged who managed to reduce their household electricity consumption by at least 10% during the competition period. The winner of first prize was Mr. Zhang Zhe Xin from Northland Primary School who managed to reduce his electricity consumption by 33% and saved about $46 during the 4 months of competition period. Under the schools category, we have top 3 schools with the highest number of participants who have reduced 10% electricity consumption or more. They were Chongzheng Primary School, Sembawang Primary School and also Greenridge Primary School.

Winners received prizes from Mayor of South East District, Mr. Matthias Yao Chih, during Clean and Green Singapore 2008

Project Carbon Zero helped students realize that most households can reduce their electricity consumption by at least 10% by just adopting simple habits such as not leaving appliances on standby mode or by setting their air-conditioners at 25°C to reduce wastage. More energy saving tips can be found here. NEA and SEC are organising the Project Carbon Zero competition again in 2009 and extending it to students from Secondary schools and Junior Colleges. There will be new award categories in the competition this year and participants will also stand to win more attractive prizes such as a digital camera, movie tickets and also a free participation in the Climate Change Trail (worth $98) Details of the 2009 Project Carbon Zero competition have been circulated to schools. If you are interested to participate in this competition, you can find the details of competition here: or go to www.climatechange.sg for registration. About Mandatory Energy Labelling

Mandatory Energy LabellingSince 1 January 08, registrable goods must carry energy labels under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA).

Under Section 40C of the EPMA, no person shall, in the course of any trade or business, supply any registrable goods in Singapore on or after the effective date unless the registrable goods are registered and labelled in the prescribed manner.

Under Section 40D of the EPMA, any importer and manufacturer who intends, in the course of any trade or business, to supply any registrable goods in Singapore on or after the effective date shall apply to the National Environment Agency (NEA) to be registered as a registered supplier and to register any registrable goods, which the importer or manufacturer intends to supply in Singapore.

From 1 April 09, clothes dryers are included as registrable goods.

The regulations governing these requirements are -

a) Environmental Protection and Management (Registrable Goods) Order

b) Environmental Protection and Management (Energy Conservation) Regulations

c) Environmental Protection and Management   (Composition of Offences) Regulations

Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) Accreditation Scheme

Introduction

Accredited ESCOs List

KQPs List

Committee Members

Introduction

The overall objectives of accreditation are to enhance the professionalism and quality of services offered by ESCOs. This, in turn, will enhance confidence in the energy services sector and help promote the growth of the industry. It is an important market development measure for Singapore. The accreditation scheme can lead to the following benefits:

Development of professional and qualified ESCOs and energy engineers; Enhance the standing of ESCOs, and in particular energy auditing services;

Support services procurement and selection procedures;

Support public sector incentive schemes in the promotion of energy efficiency; and

Reduce wastage and false claims amongst industry players.

The accreditation is open to any company established in Singapore who wishes to be accredited in the provision of energy auditing services for Building and Industrial facilities.

Scope and Coverage of Accreditation

This scheme provides accreditation of energy auditing services at the following levels:

a. ESCOs accredited for Level II Energy Audit Services b. ESCOs accredited for Level III Energy Audit Services

Within each level, accreditation is also differentiated according to facility types at general and system level.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for accreditation, the ESCO or company must satisfy the following requirements:

a) Existing ESCO (In operation for 3 or more years)

Have under its full-time employment a minimum of one (1) Key Qualified Person (KQP) to carryout and/or oversee energy audit work;

Have undertaken a minimum of NINE (9) energy audits works at Levels II and / or III within the immediate past THREE (3) years; and

Have in place a number of relevant calibrated equipment/ instruments to carry out energy audit works.

b) Newly Formed ESCO (In operation for less than 3 years)

Newly formed ESCO may be given provisional accreditation on a 12 monthly basis, up to a maximum period of Three (3) years, whereupon full accreditation shall be sought. Requirements:

The ESCO has under its full-time employment a minimum of one (1) Key Qualified Person (KQP) to carryout and/or oversee energy audit work;

Have available a number of relevant calibrated equipment/ instruments to carry out energy audit works.

Detailed requirements for accreditation can be found from the Application Guidelines for the Assessment and Accreditation of Energy Services Companies (Auditing Services).[Download Guideline here]

Accreditation Period

The accreditation is valid for a period of Three (3) years from the date of approval.

Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant

ObjectiveThe Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Documentation Grant is a co-funding scheme administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to encourage companies to develop CDM projects in Singapore.Form of AssistanceGrant QuantumFunding would be provided for up to:

a. 50% of the qualifying cost of engaging a carbon consultant to develop a new methodology and Project Design Document (PDD)

b. 30% of the qualifying cost of engaging a carbon consultant to develop a PDD that uses an existing approved methodology.

The maximum amount of funding to any CDM project is capped at $100,000.Qualifying Costs

The qualifying costs include:a. Salaries paid to consultants (Provide a breakdown for each member in the

consultancy team, such as man-hours and hourly rate)b. Air Travelc. Cost of Living Allowance

The cost of implementing the CDM project would not be supported under the CDM Documentation Grant.Eligibility CriteriaProjectThe proposed CDM project must meet the following:

a. The contract between the CDM project developer and the carbon consultancy for the development of the CDM project design document and/or methodology has not been signed;

b. The CDM stakeholder meeting has not been carried out; andc. Construction and implementation of the CDM project have not begun.

Companya. The CDM project developer must be registered in Singapore; andb. The proposed CDM project must be located in Singapore.

Carbon ConsultantsThe carbon consultant the carbon consultant(s) engaged by the project developer must possess demonstrable experience and expertise in developing PDDs and CDM methodologies (e.g. the carbon consultants have served as a consultant to at least one other registered CDM project). *We recommend that you thoroughly assess the capabilities of the carbon consultant that you are selecting to ensure that it matches your needs and requirements well.Effective DateThe CDM Documentation Grant is effective from 14 August 2008Disbursement of GrantsAll disbursements of grants will be made on a reimbursement basis.

Installment Grant Quantum Timeline

1st installment

Disbursement of 40% of the approved grant upon formalisation of contractual agreement between the project developer and the carbon consultant.

This contract is to be signed within 3 months from the issue of the grant's Letter of Offer by NEA.

2nd installment

Disbursement of the next 50% of the approved grant upon successful validation of the proposed project by one of the CDM Executive Board’s (EB) operational entities (DOE).

The initial submission of the PDD to DOE must be within 18 months from the issue of the Letter of Offer.

3rd installment

Disbursement of the last 10% of the approved grant upon successful registration of the project by the CDM

Registration by the EB should take place within 3 years from the issue of the Letter of Offer

Energy Efficiency National PartnershipSustainable Singapore BlueprintThe Sustainable Singapore Blueprint was released in Apr 2009. It documents the findings and recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development that was set up in Jan 2008 to formulate a national strategy for Singapore's sustainable development. In this blueprint, the Government has set a target to achieve a 35% improvement in energy efficiency from the 2005 level by 2030.The industry sector in Singapore accounts for almost 60% of total energy consumption. A large part of this is from the energy intensive industries such as the petroleum refining, petrochemical, electronics, wafer fabrication, and pharmaceutical industries. The industry sector has substantial scope for adopting cost-effective energy efficiency solutions that would contribute to its economic competitiveness.From 2013, the Government will be introducing mandatory energy management requirements for large energy users which consume more than 15 GWh in the industry sector under an Energy Conservation Act. These include the appointment of energy managers, reporting of energy use and submission of energy efficiency improvement plans.

Target CompaniesThe EENP is targeted at companies that are large energy consumers especially those that consume more than 15GWh per year, as well as companies that are interested in improving their energy efficiency and implementing energy management practices. Core elementsEnergy Management SystemCompanies will be encouraged to adopt an Energy Management System so that the measurement and management of energy consumption, as well as the identification of energy efficiency improvements is undertaken systematically.EENP Learning NetworkThe EENP Learning Network aims to provide industry with opportunities to learn and share energy efficient technologies and best practices on various platforms such as high level fora that are targeted at top management, conferences and technical workshops targeted at senior and middle management teams and technical staff, and learning journeys in the forms of site-visits and roundtable discussions. Energy efficiency technical workshops on industrial systems will also be organized to provide intensive training to engineers and practitioners in energy efficiency so as to develop their capabilities. The EENP Learning Network will be augmented by energy efficiency benchmarking studies that would be conducted in collaboration with industry, to help companies to determine their energy efficiency improvement potential and identify cost-effective measures that they can implement to improve energy productivity. EENP National Recognition Scheme

EENP Partners who have implemented excellent energy management practices and demonstrated tangible results in improving energy efficiency will be recognized through a national recognition scheme. Benefits for EENP PartnersEENP partners can expect the following benefits, such as:

Leveraging on government incentive schemes such as the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe), the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET) and the Design for Efficiency (DfE) to support their energy efficiency initiatives,

Networking with other companies and participating in benchmarking studies conducted by government agencies such as the NEA, EMA, EDB and IDA,

Gaining access to energy efficiency best practices, toolkits and case studies, including participating in study/field trips, and

Receiving national recognition for achievements in energy efficiency and energy management.Key Commitment as an EENP PartnerEENP Partners will work towards adopting in-house energy management systems. This will involve appointing energy managers, developing energy policies, establishing energy targets and implementing energy efficiency improvement plans.

Incentives

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME (EASe) [Power Generation/Industry/Building] EASe provides up to 50% funding for companies to carry out detailed energy appraisals (energy assessments). It is administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

DESIGN FOR EFFICIENCY SCHEME (DfE) [Industry] DfE provides up to 80% funding or S$600,000, whichever is lower, for large consumers of energy to conduct design workshops to design more energy efficient facilities. It is administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

GRANT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES (GREET) [Industry] GREET provides up to 50% funding, capped at S$2,000,000 per project, to encourage owners and operators of industrial facilities to invest in energy efficient equipment or technologies. It is administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

SCEM TRAINING GRANT [Industry/Building] The Training Grant substantially funds the SCEM training cost at the Professional Level. Qualifying candidates need only pay a small one-time fee upfront for the full 144-hour professional level SCEM Programme, which consists of 4 core and 2 elective modules.

ACCELERATED DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE SCHEME [Industry/Building] The Accelerated Depreciation Allowance Scheme allows capital expenditure on qualifying energy efficiency or energy saving equipment to be written off in 1 year instead of 3. It is administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM DOCUMENTATION GRANT [All sectors] The Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant co-funds up to 50% the cost of engaging carbon consultants to develop documentation needed for CDM projects under the Kyoto Protocol. Funding is capped at $100,000 per project. It is administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

INNOVATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (IES) FUND [All sectors] IES Fund provides seed funding for companies to undertake innovative environmental projects, including energy efficiency projects, that could help to meet the government's goal of environmental sustainability. It is administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

MND RESEARCH FUND FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT [Building] MND has set up a $50 million fund to encourage and support applied R&D that will raise the quality of life and make Singapore a distinctive global city. Some of the projects awarded funding are in the area of buildings energy efficiency. It is administered by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

GREEN MARK INCENTIVE SCHEME (GMIS) [Building] GMIS provides cash incentives for new or retrofitted projects which meet at least a BCA’s Green Mark Gold rating or higher. It is administered by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

GREEN VEHICLE REBATE (GVR) [Transport] GVR provides a tax rebate of up to 40% of the Open Market Value (OMV) to purchasers of green vehicles.

Public Sector Success StoriesPublic Sector Taking the Lead in Environmental Sustainability The following are some of the success stories of public agencies that have conducted energy appraisals and implemented energy conservation measures identified by the ESCO, resulting in significant energy and cost savings.

Agency Building Name Annual savings

achieved

Implementation costs Payback period/ ROI

Measures implemented

Ministry of the

Environment and Water

Resources

Environment

Building

$55,000 Measures are implemented under a Shared Energy

Savings Performance Contract, whereby the ESCO

financed the project cost.

Contract

term = 5yrs

Pumps and Cooling Towers Optimisation

Installed variable speed drives for

condenser water pumps and cooling tower fans.

Ventilation System

Installed CO sensors for the basement

carpark to control supply and exhaust fans based on

CO level via the BAS.

EASe Success Stories

The following are some of the success stories of companies funded by EASe. Through the implementation of the energy conservation and efficiency measures identified by the ESCO, companies have reaped significant energy and cost savings.

Sector Company Annual Savings achieved

Implementation Costs

Payback Period Measures implemented

Industry Systems on Silicon

Manufacturing Co. Pte Ltd

(SSMC)

S$319,000

2456MWh

S$74,000 0.23 year Optimisation of chillers

The optimal level of refrigerant charging was

determined for best chiller efficiency and controller was

implemented to maintain optimal performance under

all operating/loading conditions.

Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide

Pte Ltd (SOXAL)

S$324,000

2,160MWh

S$266,000 0.82 year Shutting down of chiller plant at night

Before the implementation of this measure,

the chiller plant was operated 24 hours daily although

the facility only operates from 8am to 7pm on a 5.5-day

week. The main reason for this was to prevent

condensation from taking place. The shutdown

sequence was modified such that the AHUs are switched

off only after a period of time where the supply, exhaust

and scrubber fans have stopped operation. This

minimised condensation problems.

Retrofit of chiller plant

The existing chillers and associated pumps

were replaced with more efficient ones. System

efficiency improved by 38%.

Optimisation of chilled water pumps

Variable speed drives were installed on the

new chilled water pumps, allowing them to run relative

to the cooling load demand

Optimisation of chilled water primary pumps

The pumps were optimised by converting

direct-on-line to variable speed drive that supplies

power to the pumps at reduced speed depending on

pressure.

Building Singapore Post Center S$1.2 million S$2.0 million 1.7 year The chiller plant system efficiency is improved from 1.1

kW/RT to 0.6kW/RT via the following measures

Chiller replacement

3 of the existing chillers were replaced with

more efficient ones

Optimisation of pumps and cooling towers

Variable speed drives were installed to the

pumps and cooling towers.

Singapore Airline House S$212,000

1,196,000 kWh

S$200,000 0.9 year Optimization of pumps and cooling towers

A 20% improvement in chiller plant system

efficiency was achieved by installing new condenser

pumps and installing variable speed drives to chilled

water pumps and cooling towers.

Schemes & ProgrammesMandatory Energy Labelling Scheme

From 1 January 2008, registered suppliers of air-conditioners and refrigerators must affix the Energy Label to the units that they supply to Singapore.

Find out more   

Accreditation Scheme for the Cleaning Industry

The accreditation scheme was jointly developed by NEA, MOM, WDA and NTUC’s e2i, after consultations with industry partners. The scheme has been launched during last year’s Cleaner Day on 21st July 2010. The scheme is aimed at both raising cleaning standards and helping to upgrade the professionalism and productivity of the industry, in line with national efforts to boost productivity.

Find out more   

Singapore Packaging Agreement

So far, five industry associations representing more than 500 companies, 19 individual companies, two non-governmental organizations, the Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore and 4 public waste collectors have signed the Singapore Packaging Agreement.

  Find out more    

Fuel Economy Label

The use of motor vehicles is one of the main sources of air pollution in many major cities around the world. Fortunately, Singapore has been able to enjoy good air quality by putting policies and emission standards in place.

Every one of us can play a role in ensuring that our environment is safeguarded. By choosing the right vehicle, adopting good driving habits and ensuring proper vehicle maintenance, you can help to further protect our environment, save energy and lower your fuel costs.

Find out more

Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme

Hawker centres were built more than 20 years ago and many are in rather poor condition, jarring with the surrounding modern architecture. Hawker centres are unique to Singapore and form an integral part of Singaporeans' lifestyle. Its authentic style and variety of food appeals, not only to Singaporeans, but to foreigners and tourists as well. Therefore, hawker centres are being preserved and upgraded.

Find out more   

Straight 'A' Programme

The Grading System for Eating Establishments and Foodstalls was introduced in June 1997. Its two main aims are to provide a more structured system of appraisal for food outlets and to motivate licencees who improve and maintain good personal and food hygiene at their stalls. Besides providing recognition to licensees to improve and maintain a high standard of cleanliness, housekeeping and hygiene, this system enables the public to make a more informed choice when patronizing these stalls

Recycling companies

Recyclables collected are either sent to local recycling facilities or sorted, baled and sent overseas for recycling. Companies involved in recycling in Singapore can be found in the following links: 

Local Recycling Facilities

Local Collectors / Traders

Take-Back Programmes / Collection Centres for used items

There are various Take-Back Programmes initiated by suppliers such as Canon, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Nokia, Motorola to collect used computers, printers, ink & toner cartridges and telecommunications products for recycling. Details of these Programmes are available at the link below:

Take Back Programmes

There are various collection centres where used items can be dropped off for donation, sold or exchanged. Details are available in the following link: 

Collection Centres

Singapore Packaging Agreement

The Singapore Packaging Agreement is a joint initiative by the NEA, industry groups and individual companies in Singapore to reduce packaging waste at source. This 5-year programme, which came into effect on July 1, 2007, focused initially on food and beverage (F&B) products, which are predominant household items. It has since been extended to cover all products. The agreement covers the entire supply chain, including manufacturers and suppliers of packaging, product manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers.

Click at the link below to find out more about the Singapore Packaging Agreement

Singapore Packaging Agreement

3R Fund

The 3R fund is a $8 million co-funding scheme to encourage organisations to undertake waste minimisation and recycling projects.

Click at the link below to find out more about 3R Fund

3R Fund

Events / Campaigns

Recycling Week (2011)

This annual event, organised in partnership with the Public Waste Collectors, Town Councils, National Library Board, the People’s Association, schools and grassroots organisations, is a series of activities between 4 and 11 June 2011 to raise public awareness on the importance of waste minimisation and recycling. 

Please click below for other campaigns and events :

Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD)Retailers or other businesses interested in participating in the BYOBD campaign can contact the SEC at this link

Why   waste plastic bags?   Choose reusable bags! Funds & Incentives

Environmental Funds

3P Partnership Fund   3R Fund

Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES)

  Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)

Energy Efficiency Incentives

Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET)   SCEM Training Grant

Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant

  EASe Scheme

Incentive for Energy Efficient Equipment and Technology  

  Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE)

Other Funds & Incentives

Tax Incentive scheme for Highly Efficient Pollution Control Equipment & replacement of old Diesel-Driven Goods Vehicles and Buses

  Green Vehicle Rebate

Environmental Awards

EcoFriend Awards

EcoFriend Awards  

President's Award for the Environment

President’s Award for the Environment  

Singapore’s “Green” Efforts

By Singapore News Group (Originally in English)

Global warming may be the biggest environmental problem facing the world today.  Since the industrial revolution, we have been burning fossil fuels to power our homes, industries and vehicles. This generates greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, resulting in significant global temperature increases.

Singapore, a small island nation with a large population relative to its size, has not been spared from the threat of global warming. The 10 warmest years on record for Singapore have occurred since 1990, including every year since 1997.

These climatic changes are related to the rapid industrialization and economic development that Singapore has experienced in the past decade. Standards of living have increased tremendously, but unfortunately, so has pollution.

Aware that without control measures, emission levels will continue to rise, the government of Singapore is doing its part to decrease pollution. In the words of Mr. Lim Swee Say, Singapore’s former Minister for the Environment, “sustainable development is our common challenge. We must not allow

economic growth and social progress in the short term lead us to environmental disasters in the long term.” 

Singapore’s first CNG bus

CNG-powered SMART taxi. SMART is one of the first companies in Singapore to utilize CNG-powered vehicles.

Singapore’s authorities intend to improve air quality by enforcing stringent emissions standards, promoting energy conservation, and investing in cleaner sources of energy.  In April 2006, Singapore ratified the Kyoto protocol, aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. Clean mechanism development, a provision of the Kyoto protocol, encourages businesses to become more energy efficient by implementing carbon trading schemes and green technologies.  In accordance with Kyoto, the Singapore Green Plan 2012 has been revised to “improve carbon intensity (i.e. carbon dioxide emission per GDP dollar) by 25% from the 1990 level by 2012…”

Among other things, this means promoting the replacement of traditional cars with low-emission vehicles. The Land Transport Authority encourages people to drive “green” cars. These vehicles, including electric hybrid vehicles and cars powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), emit less pollution than traditional cars. Hybrid vehicles combine traditional engines with other sources of power, such as electricity or pressure. Hybrid vehicles use an electric motor to start and when traveling at low speeds. A fuel-burning

engine works in conjunction with the electric motor for acceleration and traveling at high speeds.

To encourage people to buy hybrid and CNG cars, the government is offering tax rebates to offset costly registration fees and taxes. Similar monetary incentives make it easy for drivers to switch their vehicles from Euro II to the more stringent Euro IV emission standards. To increase awareness of these issues, a handbook called “Green Transport Guide” has been made available to the public.

In conclusion, Singapore’s government sees environmental stewardship as an integral part of responsible leadership. From this enlightened point of view, economic development and environmental conservation become mutually supportive goals.

At Home

By reducing the energy usage at home, not only will you help to save the climate, you will also cut down on your electricity bills. 

1. Print double sided, or on used paper that has been printed on one side. Make use of recycled paper whenever possible.

2. Recycle your used ink cartridges.

3. Set your air-conditioners at the optimal temperature of 25°C. On cool days, use a fan or open the windows for natural ventilation.

4. Unplug electronic devices, or switch them off at the plug when they are not in use. Leaving them on standby mode will still result in a phantom load of 15%.

5. When you are buying electrical appliances, remember to look out for the energy efficiency level of the device. Although an energy efficient appliance may cost a little bit more, you will recover the extra money spent with savings in your energy bills. Click here to find out more about Singapore’s Energy Labelling Scheme.

6. Make improvements to your household lighting by using energy-efficient lightbulbs such as the compact fluorescent bulbs, which provide the same energy levels as incandescent bulbs but last 4 to 10 times longer.

7. Switch off the lights when you leave the room. The common belief that turning

Singapore’s Green Transport Guide

on the lights will result in a surge which uses up more electricity is fallacious.

8. Take a shower instead of a bath as the former uses less water. Limit the duration of your shower. In tropical climates such as Singapore, there is no need to perennially heat up the water for showering. Instead, opt for cold shower which can boost blood circulation, plus it is a good way to wake up and start the day.

9. Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth. Use a rinsing cup instead.

10. Use recycled products wherever possible, such as recycled toilet paper.

11. Sort and recycle your garbage.

12. Use rechargeable batteries instead of the disposable types.

13. Recycle your water from showering to flush your toilet or wash the toilet floor.

14. Donate your unwanted and reusable items to a charity of a thrift shop.

15. Start a composting bin in your backyard to decompose food and/or organic scraps.

16. Use natural cleaning products such as baking soda or vinegar.At Work

The office is the place where we spend a large part of our time. If each worker could make efforts to protect the environment, which would translate to significant reduction in carbon emissions, not forgetting the money saved for the company.

1. Pack your own healthy lunch instead of takeaways or packaged convenience food. Get yourself some sturdy containers of various sizes to cater for different treats everyday.

2. Eliminate the use of disposables in office functions and events.

3. Grow plants at home and at your office to improve indoor air quality. Interior air can sometimes be contaminated with toxic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from carpeting and paint.

4. Switch off the computer screen when you are not at the desk for extended periods, e.g. lunch or meetings. Peripheral equipment such as printers and scanners need not be constantly plugged in if they are only used occasionally.

5. Carpool or travel on public transport for your external meetings. If your company cannot phase out the use of cars, consider getting a hybrid or compressed natural gas (CNG) car. For the more adventurous and energetic workers out there, you can even cycle to work. (Foldable bicycles are now allowed onto trains).

6. Purchase recycled paper for printing. Do not print unnecessarily, and print on both sides of the page whenever possible. Re-use misprinted or one-sided paper for scribbling messages or random ideas in the office.

7. Switch off the lights and air-conditioners when they are not in use. Set your air-conditioners at the optimal temperature of 25°C.

8. If you office is planning to upgrade the furniture, you can donate the used furniture (which is still in good condition) to a charitable organisation.

9. When purchasing furniture for the office, opt for pieces which are not made of composite materials and are easy to assemble and disassemble to increase the

ease of recyclability at the end of their useful lives.

10. Implement a recycling system in the office. Set up recycling corners or boxes for paper waste, plastics, glass, etc.

At Play

1. Buy your groceries in bulk as that will use less packaging.

2. Bring you own bag when you go shopping.

3. Go organic. Organic food items are getting more affordable and do consider organic options for cosmetics & toiletries.

4. Shopping at the neighbourhood grocery shop or market reduces the need for you to drive and gets you more exercise.

5. Shop for clothes that are made of eco-friendly fabrics and textiles such as organic cotton or hemp.

6. Shop smart and choose products endorsed by the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme.

7. Do not buy products made from endangered animals or plants.

8. Take the stairs instead of the lift. This helps to save electricity and will tone up your legs.

9. Learn to cycle if you don’t know how. It is a healthy, eco-friendly and economical habit for life. Plus, you get to exercise regularly, gaining a fitter body and a stronger heart.

10. Eat less meat, as eating lower on the food chain will produce less carbon dioxide and animals such as beef cattle need lots of water and feed meal that is grown on arable land.

11. Buy local or regionally-produced/ seasonal produce whenever possible. Less energy and emissions are expended in transporting these produce to the markets.

12. Brush up your knowledge of environmental issues and innovations, and devise more ways to green your lifestyle. Good websites include www.treehugger.com.

13. For birthdays and parties, give your family and friends the gift of donating to an environmental organisation.

14. Send e-cards and e-invites instead paper invitation and gift cards.

15. When decorating for the holidays, use natural materials or decorations saved from the previous years.

16. Instead of buying new books and worrying about storage space, borrow books from your local library.

17. Consider buying a hybrid or fuel-efficient car.

18. Turn off your car if you are going to be idling for x minutes.

19. Keep your car tyres properly inflated to save gas.

S$100 million Boost to Clean and Green Shipping in Singapore

12 maritime organisations pledge their commitment to environmentally

friendly shipping

Clean and green shipping in Singapore got a shot in the arm as the Maritime and

Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched a comprehensive package to

promote environmentally-friendly shipping.

Maritime Singapore Green Initiative

Called the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative, it was announced by Mr

Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs at

the Singapore International Maritime Awards 2011 on 12 April 2011.

Emphasising Singapore‟s commitment to address greenhouse gas emissions by

shipping, Minister Lim said, “To encourage companies who are ready or thinking

about undertaking environmentally-friendly shipping practices above and beyond

what is IMO-mandated, the MPA will invest up to S$100 million over the next five

years in the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative. This initiative underscores

Singapore‟s commitment as a responsible flag, and port state to clean and green

shipping.”

The Maritime Singapore Green Initiative seeks to further reduce the

environmental impact of shipping and related activities and to promote clean and

green shipping. It is a comprehensive initiative comprising three programmes -

„Green Ship Programme‟, „Green Port Programme‟ and „Green Technology

Programme‟.

Under the Green Ship Programme targeted at Singapore-flagged ships, MPA will

provide incentives to ship owners who adopt energy efficient ship designs that

reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Singapore-flagged ships

which go beyond the requirements of IMO‟s Energy Efficiency Design Index will

enjoy a 50% reduction of Initial Registration Fees (IRF) and a 20% rebate on

Annual Tonnage Tax (ATT) payable. Ship owners will also be recognised through certificates and a new “SRS Green Ship of the Year” award starting from

the next Singapore International Maritime Awards.

The Green Port Programme is aimed at encouraging ocean-going ships calling at

the Port of Singapore to reduce the emission of pollutants like sulphur oxides and

nitrogen oxides. Ships that use type-approved abatement/scrubber technology or

burn clean fuels with low sulphur content beyond MARPOL requirements within

the port can enjoy a 15% reduction on port dues payable.

The Green Technology Programme aims to encourage local maritime companies

to develop and adopt green technologies through co-funding of up to half of

qualifying costs. For a start, MPA will set aside S$25 million from the Maritime

Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund for this programme. If response is good,

MPA will set aside another S$25 million for this programme.

Mr. S.S. Teo, President of the Singapore Shipping Association was pleased with

the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative. He said, “I am glad that the MPA has

taken the initiative as a leading ship registry, to become the world‟s first maritime

administration to launch a comprehensive pro-environment initiative for

Singapore‟s maritime sector. The three Green Programmes will enhance

shipping‟s environmental image, and raise the social awareness of Singapore‟s

shipping community, as we take on an even more active role in further reducing

greenhouse gas emission from shipping.”

HDB to Develop Punggol as Singapore's First Eco-Town for the Tropics 

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Date issued : 28 Jan 2010

 Singapore's sustainable development model was highlighted by the Minister for National

Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, on 27 Jan 2010 during his keynote address at the

International Housing Conference. As part of the sustainable development blueprint, HDB

has plans to develop Punggol as Singapore's first Eco-Town to enhance the living

environment in its estates, and encourage residents to do their part for the environment.

Sustainable Development Model

2Singapore’s overall goal is to grow in an efficient, clean, and green way. The aim is to

develop without squandering resources, causing unnecessary waste, and without polluting

our environment. We also aim to develop while preserving greenery, waterways, and our

natural heritage.

3The three key guiding principles are:

a) A long-term, integrated planning approach. We align our policies – from energy to

transport to industry and urban planning – and take a long-term, holistic view of our needs

and circumstances 

b) Adopt a pragmatic and cost-effective approach. We aim to achieve economic

growth without degrading the environment, and to do so in the most cost-effective way,

recognising that public resources are finite

c) Flexibility. We need to remain adaptable, and adjust flexibly to changes in technology

and in the global environment. We will invest in building our capabilities today to give us

more options to respond to challenges tomorrow

Punggol as Singapore's First Eco-Town

4Punggol will serve as a 'living laboratory' to test new ideas and technologies in

sustainable development, integrating urban solutions to create a green living environment.

Punggol Town, being one of HDB's younger towns, is well positioned to be developed into

an Eco-Town. HDB is already developing its first Eco-Precinct, named the

Treelodge@Punggol. With its eco-friendly features that capitalise on nature and the use of

green technologies, the precinct will create a green living environment and raise popular

awareness of environment sustainability.

5Right from the planning stage, Punggol has been designed to promote sustainable living.

Punggol Town is planned such that it has smaller, more intimate estates with common

green, a wide range of quality housing with supporting facilities, and a well integrated

public transport network and enhanced accessibility for residents. In addition, one of the

key green initiatives for Punggol is the introduction of a waterway traversing through the

town. Leveraging on the waterway, Punggol will herald a new generation of eco-living

concepts in the next decade and beyond.

6A three-pronged approach has been drawn up to develop Punggol as Singapore's first Eco-

Town:

a) Introducing effective planning and design concepts to make it conducive for residents

to adopt eco-lifestyles 

b) Exploiting urban solutions to achieve stretched environmental targets set

c) Engaging, educating and enabling people to be part of the 'go green' efforts

Planning and Design

7In promoting the concept of ‘Green Living by the Waters’ in Punggol, more

environmentally friendly buildings will be built by tapping on the elements of nature such

as sun, rain and wind to aid in the future planning and design of Punggol Town. HDB will

also aim for higher Green Mark ratings for new developments along the waterway. Punggol

residents will be encouraged to opt for clean commuting through physical provisions like

cycling paths, charging stations at carparks and spaces for car sharing services in the

estates.

Urban Solutions

8HDB will be working with various government agencies and business partners to carry-out

large scale test-bedding of new green technologies and urban solutions in the areas of

energy, waste and water management. Eventually, HDB hopes to lower the implementation

cost of these solutions and to replicate them across other towns islandwide.

People

9People have an important role to play in supporting environmental sustainability. HDB will

work closely with Advisers, local Town Councils and Grassroots Leaders to engage, educate

and encourage residents to go green. Outreach and educational programmes will be

organized so that residents of Punggol will be more aware of Punggol’s unique natural

environment, the specialised planning and design concepts aimed at minimising impact on

the environment, and what they can do to contribute to the environment. This will help

instill a sense of commitment from the residents in realising the vision for Punggol as an

Eco-Town for the Tropics.

Solar PV Efforts in Public Housing

10As part of HDB's ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability, HDB is pushing

forward the installation of solar photovoltaic panels (PV) at its estates. Four precincts,

located at Tampines, Bukit Panjang, Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade will be equipped

with 600 kWp solar PV at their rooftops. The solar power generated will be used to offset

the usage by these precincts.

11Mr. Tay Kim Poh, Chief Executive Officer of HDB, made this announcement on the second

day of the International Housing Conference. He said, “HDB sees investing in this future

environment as part of its goal to provide a higher quality of life for residents. As the

largest developer in Singapore, we have the responsibility to promote environmental

sustainability. We hope to achieve cost-effective solar PV solutions suited for our local

environment that could ultimately be replicated in other HDB towns, and the whole of

Singapore.

12The latest solar PV effort comes after HDB first installed solar PV panels at two precincts

at Serangoon and Wellington in 2008 to test the use of renewable energy as part of its

Energy SAVE programme. The successful trial at both Serangoon and Wellington has

allowed HDB to carry out a wider-scale test-bedding of solar PV to build up solar

capabilities. See Annex for background.

Further Collaboration on Solar Energy

13On 21 Jan 2010, HDB signed a Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) with the Solar

Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS). HDB will be collaborating with SERIS on

two research projects:

a) Improvement of Performance of Solar Photovoltaic Systems. The project looks at

improving the performance of solar photovoltaic installation in HDB estates. This study

involves the installation of monitoring instruments in one of the Wellington Circle solar test-

bedding residential blocks to assess the performance of solar power generation. The data

received will help towards optimising solar photovoltaic systems which will be beneficial to

Singapore and HDB. The study will take about 2 years to complete

b) National Solar Repository of Singapore (NSR). The project is a Clean Energy

Programme Office (CEPO) initiative by EDB. The NSR is a database which compiles solar

power generation of photovoltaic systems in Singapore to assess the performance of public

and private sector solar test-beds funded by CEPO. SERIS has been identified as the lead

manager for the NSR, with Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic as NSR

programme administrators.

Annex - Progress of solar PV panels installed at HDB estates

Aug 2008: Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) Panel Data for Serangoon and Wellington Precincts

Serangoon and Wellington precincts are the very first HDB precincts to the installed

with Solar PV panels in 2008. Block 551 Serangoon North Avenue 3 has the distinction of

being the very first HDB block to be installed with Solar PV panels. 

With Solar PV panels installed, each precinct is able to generate about 220 kWh per

day, enough to meet the electricity requirements for the common services for one block.

Apr 2009: HDB’s Large-Scale Solar Testbed for Public Housing

HDB announced it will conduct a wider-scale test bedding of 3.1 MWp solar PV in some 28

existing HDB precincts and 2 new precincts over a 5-year period. This is by far the largest

solar test bed in Singapore, funded from the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable

Development's (IMCSD) budget to the tune of $31 million. The programme will:

Attract several leading global manufacturers to set up base in Singapore and

conduct R&D on solar PV panel technologies.

Allow HDB to study the effects of location and differing block configurations to solar

electricity generation, as well as assessing the feasibility of various solar PV technologies

with regards to the local environment.

Enable HDB to gather numerous learning points from the design and development,

installation procedures, and operation and maintenance of solar PV systems when

incorporating solar PV technologies into existing HDB buildings. This will further enhance

HDB’s overall sustainable building design approach.

Drive down solar PV panel costs with the establishment of manufacturing plants

and continual R&D, which accounts for 50-65% of the total market value.

Begin in 2009 and complete by 2015.Young athletes to learn more about green initiatives31 Oct 2009

Young athletes to learn more about green initiatives & the environment during Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games

The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) has partnered HortPark to share green initiatives and good environmental habits with the young athletes taking part in the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010).

Dr Amy Khor, Mayor for South West District and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Water Resources announced the partnership today at the opening of CAN! Green, the environment edition of the quarterly Singapore 2010 CAN! (Create Action Now!) festival.

HortPark will organise activities under "Exploration Journey", one of seven Games-time Culture and Education Programme (CEP) formats (Please refer to fact sheet for more information) during Singapore 2010. Athletes will explore HortPark’s themed gardens, learn about unique plants, and find out the possible impact of human intervention on the ecosystem.

"Environment protection and sustainable development is the third dimension of Olympism and the IOC's

Sport and Environment Commission has been working with partners on programmes and activities that contribute to raising awareness about the importance of sustainable development in sport. We are adding on to these efforts through the CEP, which will be a platform for athletes to learn more about the environment and play an active role in their community," said Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive Officer, SYOGOC.

"Through the activities at HortPark, youth athletes will develop a greater appreciation for plants and understand the importance of caring for the environment. They will go on to become peer motivators to raise the awareness of environmental issues in their own communities," said Mr Kong Yit San, Director of Parks, National Parks Board.

CAN! Green is organised by The Arts Fission Company in conjunction with Clean and Green Singapore. The festival brings youths and the community together in celebration of Singapore 2010 and the environment. Artists at the event are collecting footprints from members of the public as green pledges. These footprints will be curated into an art installation for public display. Other activities included a terrarium workshop and an organic food demonstration. Members of the public can look forward to fun and interesting youth and community initiatives over the next three months, and learn more about green living and environmentally-friendly practices through other CAN! Green activities.

Singapore 2010 – Blazing the Trail

Singapore will be hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 to 26 August 2010. The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will receive some 5,000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), along with an estimated 1,200 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and more than 500,000 spectators. Young athletes - aged between 14 and 18 years - will compete in 26 sports and take part in the Culture and Education Programme.

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games aims to inspire youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. It will create a lasting sports, culture and education legacy for Singapore and youths from around the world, as well as enhance and elevate the sporting culture locally and regionally.

Food Waste Recycling Programmes launched at NUS canteens on 16 August 2007Food waste recycling has been discontinued since March 2011 with the closure of IUT. We welcome any new food waste recycling vendors to approach us at [email protected]

Check out this excellent page on the food waste situation in Singapore!

Have you ever wondered how much food waste is being disposed in Singapore every year? Based on the National Environment Agency (NEA)'s statistics on waste and recycling rate for 2006, food waste amounts to approximately 10.4% of the total waste output! Most of the food waste ends up in the incineration plants. Only a small portion (8%) of this food waste is recycled. 

In view of land scarcity and environmental preservation, Singapore's Green Plan 2012 targets to raise the overall waste recycling rate to 60% from the current 48%. In co-ordination with the nation’s overall recycling efforts, CSC decided to embark on one of its new initiatives - NUS Food Waste Recycling Programme by working closely with IUT Global Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based environmental waste management company.

The NUS Organic Food Recycling Programme kicked off on 16 August 2007. NUS is the first tertiary institution to launch this programme in Singapore. 

All 5 canteens of NUS - Frontier, TechnoEdge, The Terrace, The Deck and Central Square have already taken part in this programme. All of the canteen operators were briefed on separating the food waste from other waste and place the separated food waste into the appropriate food waste bins provided by IUT Global. Every day, IUT would collect the waste from the canteens and send it to their plant for recycling. Through this, NUS is doing its part in contributing to meet the overall SGP 2012 recycling target and helping to protect our environment. As the saying goes, ‘Every little effort makes a BIG difference!’

Used Cooking Oil

Cooking oil recycling is a process where vegetable oil and animal fats are collected and processed to produce biodiesel. The newly formed biodiesel can then be used as a fuel for vehicles or as an additive to reduce levels hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Although biodiesel is not a commonly used transport fuel for vehicles in Singapore, it promises to be a viable alternative, especially in times of increasing oil prices and a greater need for a sustainable environment. Recycling used cooking oil is good for the environment because used cooking oil that is not recycled will have to be disposed off as waste.

Since October 2008, 2 canteens at NUS – Frontier and Techno Edge – started recycling cooking oil as part of a joint effort by Office of Estate and Development (OED) – Retail and Dining and Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES). Alpha Biofuels, the company which processes the recycled oil, collects the barrels (80 litres) from the 4 canteens once every 2-3 days. TechnoEdge is paid $30 for every barrel while Frontier contributes its efforts on goodwill. OES looks forward to extending this initiative to more canteens around campus.

ocal Efforts

Wherever we are, we act with respect to exert a positive impact on people and on the limited resources of our planet. 

IKEA always tries to do more with less. This goes hand in hand with our environmental work - to use natural resources in an economical and prudent way. 

The IKEA Group is involved in many national and local activities. Below you can read about those that are taking place in your local community.

Going Beyond Earth HourWe'd like to say a big THANK YOU to those who came for the IKEA bulb exchange during the weekend! We have collected a total of 829 incandescent light bulbs. 

Every small effort counts and we hope you'll be enjoying our SPARSAM low energy bulbs while saving Mother Earth!

Earth Hour at IKEAEarth Hour is organised by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.It is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change 

This year, Join us for dinner at both Restaurants at IKEA Alexandra and IKEA Tampines during Earth Hour from 8.30pm - 9.30pm on 31 March 2012. All proceeds collected at both Restaurants during this hour will be donated to WWF Singapore in support of their conservation and outreach efforts in Singapore. The IKEA building facade and external lights will also be switched off during Earth Hour. 

The SUNNAN solar-lit dinner at the IKEA Restaurants during Earth Hour 2011 was a huge

success! We not just turned off the façade and external lights during Earth Hour, but also switched off the IKEA Restaurant lights for dinners lit by our SUNNAN solar-lamps. A total of $7,177.61 collected from sales proceeds at the IKEA Restaurant during this hour was donated to WWF Singapore to support their outreach and conservation efforts in Singapore.

1. We're one great big Garden City

Garden City by name, Garden City by nature. We take the green stuff so seriously, we're known as the Garden City. The development of Singapore as a Garden City was a vision put forward by former Prime Minister (and now Minister Mentor) Lee Kuan Yew way back in 1968, just after our independence, to integrate the environment with urban development and soften the effects of a concrete jungle. Now, there are trees along every road and parks in every estate. Just ask any visiting tourist what's their first impression of Singapore. Go on, we challenge you.

A NeWater treatment plant

2. Waste not, want not

Singapore literally does not waste a single drop of water if it can be helped. Through the marvels of modern desalination technologiesand more than a little desperation (Singapore imports less than half the population's water from Malaysia with agreements set to expire in 2011 and 2061), this little patch of land recycles and conserves almost all rainfall and water reserves (including non-potable waste water) to produce NeWater, a high-purity H2O that can be used for industrial development and even drinking. Gross but true.

3. Drive up, plug in, power on

Until the brainy science types can figure out safe hydrogen energy or cold fusion, electric power is still the most viable and cleanest green energy source to drive cars and assorted motor vehicles. Ever heard of Greenlots? They're an island-wide network of power stations for electric vehicles to plug in and recharge which run off the national power infrastructure. Not to be outdone, there are now solar

Greenlots being tested now which draw their power from the sun -- not a bad idea for a tropical sunny island.

ST Kinetics' hybrid bus

4. Electric cars are so yesterday

It's not just the passenger vehicles that are going electric, a whole bevy of vehicles are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Cab operator Prime Taxis has put on the roads 30 cabs that run on petrol and electric power, while hybrid buses which use a combination of diesel and battery power and consume use up to 30 percent less fuel are on trial now as well. On the industrial front, Singapore-based ST Kinetics has launched the world's first commercially ready Hybrid Hydraulic Drive (HHD) enhanced port prime mover (PPM)which captures and re-uses the energy normally lost from braking, using a hybrid system that can be easily adapted to other commercial machines such as tractors, heavy trucks and excavators.

5. The big evil master plan to save the Earth

Well, it's not so much evil as all-encompassing, but the grandiose-sounding Singapore Green Plan 2012 is a government blueprint for environment sustainability that's put together and put into action by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in 2002. It looks at six main areas -- Clean Air & Climate Change, Water, Waste Management, Public Health, Conserving Nature, and International Environmental Relations. Almost all the green efforts for Singapore is guided by this master plan, including the Sustainable Development blueprint, Green Transport Week and the next reason.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV

6. We're getting paid to go green

From cars to weddings, Singaporeans are subsidized to do the right thing. Mitsubishi is bringing in up to 50 i-MiEV electric cars for use in the $20 million three-year study to test the infrastructure needed to keep them running here. The Japanese car maker will sell the cars for between S$80,000 and S$90,000, lower than the S$160,000 estimated retail price, if you're willing to take part in the study. And if you're getting hitched, the National Park Board (NParks) will give you a nice 20 percent discount for venues at the HortPark in Alexandra Road. The catch -- couples have to show NParks that they have taken at least eight environmentally-friendly measures for their wedding. These include using recycled paper for their wedding stationary, holding the ceremony at non air-conditioned venues and using a hybrid car for their bridal car.

7. The longest green campaign. Ever.

The Clean and Green Singapore (CGS) campaign has been kicking around for close to two decades now and it's one of the longest in the island's history. It was formerly known as "Clean and Green Week" for about 17 yearsbefore it went full steam into a year-long campaign and morphed into simply Clean and Green Singapore in 2007, with regular events, activities and community projects all over the country all the time. Now that's what we call a sustainable effort.

Green Singapore 2050

8. Get them while they're young

Not to be outdone by CGS, Green Singapore 2050 (GS2050) is a community platform for youngsters to express their concerns about environmental issues, and think of solutions to them. Why 2050? It's because these youths will be the ones to inherit and run the country in 2050, and hopefully solve the world's problems. GS2050 runs environmental surveys, forums for discussions and projects aimed at solving real issues.

9. Of mega parks and super trees

It will be the largest and most ambitious garden project ever attempted in Singapore, with the aim of creating a continuous ring of greenery, with the three different gardens wrapping around the Marina Bay area. Called"Gardens by the Bay," the project will stretch over 54 hectares, approximately the size of 72

soccer fields when it's completed in 2010, and it will boast enormous super trees that provide the gardens with shade, shelter and a steady source of rain   water as well as a cluster of green conservatories.

The Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

10. "Way to stay cool, good looking"

The Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, besides its mission to be the "biomedical hub of Asia," is one of the great examples of green design and environmentally conscious construction while still architecturally beautiful. The use of sustainable design elements such as the eight-story glass atrium that provides vertical circulation to the whole building and ceramic tiles which contain titanium dioxide (a material which keeps maintenance down and withstands tropical mold) earned the building Green Mark certification. But it's not a singular building that's eco-conscious -- the massive Resorts World Sentosa also won an award from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for integrating sustainable building concepts into the master design of its development.

11. The most glam eco advocates around

Green Kampong is a eco-community started by supermodel and MTV VJ turned eco-activist Nadya Hutagalung and a group of like-minded earth angels, including former magazine publisher Holman Chin, capital investor Desmond Koh and Green Drinks Singapore founder Olivia Choong. Now that's a good-looking bunch of people that's saving the world in style.

Kite flying on the Marina Barrage

12. We all want to save the world

Ultimately, we all want to be green. From bringing your own shopping bags and eco movements and groups that are popping up everywhere, Singaporeans are genuinely aware of the need to be earth-friendly and save its resources. A recent survey by the National Environment Agency (NEA) showed an overwhelming number (87.2 percent) of Singaporeans who are willing to adopt a clean and green lifestyle. A Kelly Services study revealed that over 90 per cent of people working in Singapore said they are more likely to work for an organization that is ethically and socially responsible, while nine out of 10 teens in another survey are concerned about protecting the environment, with 96 percent agreeing that it's their responsibility to take care of Mother Earth.

MBS receives Green Mark Gold award for 'green' effortsBy Evelyn Lam | Posted: 03 March 2012 2044 hrs

SINGAPORE: Integrated resort Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has been awarded a Green Mark Gold award for its sustainability efforts.

MBS is the largest building to receive the prize.

More than a hundred tonnes of waste get recycled at Marina Bay Sands each month, since it first opened its doors in 2010.

And it is doing so by incorporating several eco-friendly practices into its daily operations.

From installing energy-efficient LED light bulbs in hotel corridors to harvesting rainwater for its toilets to encouraging a 'green culture' amongst its staff.

The award is given by the Building and Construction Authority.

Kevin Teng, director for sustainability, MBS, said: "We do an interdepartmental paper reduction challenge, giving prizes and we track the amount of printing - that every colour printing and total volume printing that every department does. And with that, we can challenge them to print less paper."