More and more builders are joining the green movement, a trend that has prompted the government to expand its green certification scheme.
This year, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) issued 151 awards, up from 97 last year. The Green Mark certification scheme, which was introduced in 2005, attracted more interest especially the construction industry. Around 103 buildings received Green Mark certifications, compared with 69 in the previous year.
In response to the growing commitment of the industry to adopt sustainable design, BCA has expanded the Green Mark scheme this year to cover three more categories, namely infrastructure, landed houses and office interior. The scheme had been offered previously only to buildings.
Analysts attributed the sharp shift to sustainable design to the strong demand of environmentally-conscious corporations. According to Paul Baxter, corporate services director for Asia-Pacific at Colliers International, most multinational corporations are keeping an eye on their environment impact, whether due to mandatory impact assessment or voluntary environmental initiatives. For either reason, operating in a Green Mark-certified building helps companies fulfil their sustainability objectives.
Another thing that fuels the green trend is the willingness of companies to pay more for sustainable properties. CoreNet Global and Jones Lang LaSalle reported that 60 percent of Asia-Pacific firms would not mind paying a premium to rent sustainable buildings despite the economic slowdown.
Among the green builders recognised by BCA this year were Tiong Seng Contractors, Poh Lian Construction and Lum Chang Building Contractors. A Green Mark Platinum award was given to Marina Barrage, the nation’s 15th reservoir. There were four properties that received Green Mark awards under the Office Interior category and two under the Landed Houses category.