SIEW Thinktank Roundtable: Are Net Zero Buildings in Singapore Achievable?

by User Not Found Oct 27, 2023, 16:36 PM

Industry experts confront urban sustainability challenges in Singapore's journey to net zero buildings.

The quest for sustainability has found a crucial battleground in our built environment, particularly in the lofty ambition to achieve net zero buildings. During this SIEW Thinktank Roundtable on " Net Zero Buildings in Singapore, Is It Achievable?", experts delved into the discussion unravelled delved into the intricacies of building efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, sustainable governance, and innovative technologies.

Here are three key takeaways from the roundtable:

Empower people for energy efficiency

Professor Lock Kai Sang, Head, Energy Efficiency Technology Centre, Singapore Institute of Technology, commenced the roundtable by highlighting that "buildings are passive. It is the human activities within that consume energy".

While technology plays a significant role in reducing energy consumption, it is not enough on its own. "We need commitment from people," he said. For this to happen, Professor Sang said that decarbonising buildings and achieving energy efficiency requires strong policy measures to shape behaviours and encourage technological shifts.

He also highlighted the concept of net carbon buildings, which are a step up from net zero buildings, as the former considers a building's overall carbon emissions, from construction to its lifecycle. To move forward, decarbonising building materials and optimising structural design are essential. Overall, he emphasised that cross-sector collaboration, effective policies, affordability, market availability of clean and efficient building technologies, behavioural changes, and green skills are crucial for success.
Retrofit existing buildings for sustainability

Irene Yong, Director, Building Services, Beca, spoke on the need to green existing buildings, but also to address its challenges. "Retrofitting of existing buildings is more challenging compared to working on new buildings," she said.

She highlighted that retrofitting is essential for decarbonisation, rejuvenating community spaces, improving health and wellbeing within the building, and preserving heritage sites. However, the significant capital outlay, perceived limited benefits, and disruptions to building operations hinder progress. Space constraints and reluctance to change are also other barriers. Ms Yong urged all building owners to look at the numbers to identify what part of their operations consumes the most energy so they can better tackle the issue.
Wang Zhenglin, Senior Manager, Energy-as-a-Service, Keppel Infrastructure, echoed similar concerns, but also highlighted the potential for cost savings as a by-product of sustainability. He shared examples of Keppel's buildings that have been retrofitted to be more energy efficient, as well as incorporating other aspects of sustainability such as having solar panels on the roof, improving indoor air quality, and a smart building control system.
Embrace innovative technologies

Francesco Muggeri, Vice President, Power Discrete and Analog Products, APeC & China, STMicroelectronics, discussed innovative power solutions that contribute to carbon neutrality. He stressed the need to collaborate and accelerate innovation to reach net zero goals. "We need to work together to see how innovation can work and … speed up all the action that needs to be done to reach net zero as soon as possible."

He provided an example of STMicroelectronics' work on Singapore’s District Cooling System at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park. Mr Muggeri also emphasised the importance of creating more "resilient" equipment for smart homes. These should be designed for sustainability, energy efficiency and use-friendliness, to reduce energy consumption.

A panel session wrapped up the discussions, with speakers agreeing on the necessity of collaboration across sectors. While challenges on the path to decarbonising buildings persist, a shared commitment to change, collaboration, and action will drive progress.