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The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced on Tuesday (12 September) that it plans to improve its 3rd Green Building Masterplan to foster a healthier environment for commercial space occupants, reported Channel NewsAsia.
In line with this, it will hold a one-year test on a new set of standards for the Green Mark certification scheme for existing non-residential buildings, which was last updated five years ago. This comes after two major green mark schemes for new buildings were revised in 2015 and 2016.
Under the new criteria, landlords will need to further enhance indoor air quality and install “smart” control systems to manage their buildings. This can be achieved through the use of sensors that monitor air pollutants and high-efficiency filters for ventilation systems.
Owners of projects with higher green mark certification also need to survey their tenants on how to enhance their well-being and comfort.
Moreover, the BCA has teamed up with the Health Promotion Board to launch a new Green Mark scheme geared towards improving the health of occupants via wellness programmes and office interiors that encourage a robust lifestyle.
It intends to amend the scheme for existing commercial space after a research study by the National University of Singapore found that Green Mark certified buildings have lesser bacteria and pollutants in the air versus those not certified. Tenants of the former are also less likely to suffer from “sick building syndrome” or feel ill after staying inside the facility.
Furthermore, the BCA is considering to require all non-residential buildings in Singapore to publish how much energy they consume in “a couple of years”. At present, landlords voluntarily provide this info, but the data to be posted on the BCA’s websites will encompass 76 percent of all commercial buildings here.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
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