[Photos: Neo Xiaobin, Source: Building and Construction Authority]

by Dawn Tay

AN ACADEMY building has been transformed into an environmentally friendly structure, to test "green" building designs and technologies.

The retrofitting of the building - part of the Building & Construction Authority's (BCA) headquarters - cost $11 million, but will save the BCA about $84,000 a year on electricity.

Launched yesterday by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, the Zero Energy Building in Braddell Road uses 50 per cent less energy than a similar building, and is expected to produce as much electricity as it uses.

The project was carried out by the BCA, National University of Singapore, Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore and three private firms.

Installing energy-efficient technologies cost just 5 per cent more than installing conventional ones, said BCA chief executive John Keung. This means energy-efficient technologies cost an extra $500,000, on top of the $8.5 million conventional ones would have cost. Installing solar panels to produce energy cost another $2 million.

He said that developing green technologies is part of Singapore's uphill task to meet the target of making 80 per cent of all buildings here green by 2030.

BCA estimates that 5 per cent of all buildings here are green. The Government will spend $500 million over the next 10 years to make public buildings environmentally friendly. The BCA will hand out a total of $100 million in incentives for retrofitting private buildings, and grant developers extra floor area in new buildings if they meet high environmental standards.

If the industry fails to adopt green practices despite education and incentives, the Government will consider legislation, Mr Mah said yesterday.

He added that Singapore needs to build up a "greencollar workforce" of 18,000 to 20,000 workers to develop, design, build and run green buildings within the next decade.

Cooling System

Solar-Assisted Stack Ventilation System

Sunlight warms a solar chimney (click on thumbnail to view) and ducts, causing hot air to rise through them and cool air to flow in. This enhances natural ventilation and cuts the need for air-conditioning.

Displacement Cooling

Cool air is supplied via diffusers on the floor, and removed after it becomes warm and rises, via extraction vents in the ceiling. This uses less energy than a typical air-conditioning system.

Air-Conditioning
A more energy-efficient system - which detects carbon-dioxide levels and lowers its fan speed when there are fewer people around - is used.

Personalised Ventilation (click on thumbnail to view)

The temperature of air-conditioning around each desk can be adjusted individually, which can reduce the surrounding level of air-conditioning needed.

Lighting management system

Using Efficient Lighting
Energy-efficient fluorescent lamps are used in 90 per cent of the areas, cutting operating power by 26 per cent, while maintaining required light intensity.

Dimmers & Motion Sensors
They control the artificial lighting based on the amount of daylight and the number of occupants, and thus save energy.

Passive Daylight Solutions

Sunlight is harnessed to light the interior, via light pipes (click on thumbnails to view), light shelves and mirror ducts, so less artificial lighting is needed.

Heat management

Greenery System

Plants are planted on the roof and walls (click on thumbnail to view) of the building, reducing heat transmission into the building and the need for air-conditioning.

Shading Devices
Shades are designed to reduce heat gain from the sun, while still allowing diffused daylight to enter.

High-performance Glazing
Special types of glass are installed to reduce the amount of sunlight entering the building directly. Some types that are embedded with an electricity-generating film even produce energy.

Photovoltaic technology (Solar cells)

The building is powered by photovoltaic technologies, such as silicon wafers and thin film systems solar panels, which convert energy from the sun into electricity.

The solar panels are fitted on the roof (click on thumbnails to view), railings at the side of the building (bottom right), the staircase facade and the shelter of the carpark.

The total amount of energy output reaches 207,000kWh per year, or enough energy for 30 four-room HDB flats in a year.

dawnt@sph.com.sg

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