TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GREEN POLICY AND GREEN FEATURES IN HDB IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

In today’s situation where climate change effects are felt by everyone, it is imperative for countries to take steps to mitigate any further contributions to adverse climate change. It is clear that the process of construction makes major, long lasting alterations to our natural environment, often resulting in unwanted effects for instance loss of biodiversity. Hence it is important for cities to step up and exercise caution when making decisions that would adversely affect nature Moavenzadeh (1994).

According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 1996), the construction industry is expected to consume thirty-eight percent of the global energy and emit 3800 mega tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) every year. This vast consumption of resources and emission of GHG has pushed the agenda of sustainability to the forefront in the construction sector.

The main significance of this research is to determine the awareness of Singaporeans towards sustainable construction. A way of evaluating their knowledge is through sending out a survey regarding Singapore’s first environmentally friendly public housing, the Eco Precinct, namely Treelodge@Punggol. Additionally, barriers which are holding prospective buyers of green public housing back are determined.

Although efforts for sustainable development have been the centre of discussion for many international board meetings, Singapore’s step towards sustainability has only gained speed during the recent years. The Green Mark Scheme is still at its fledging years, set up in 2005, compared to assessment systems from the western countries, for instance Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Given that, there are only a handful of green buildings constructed in Singapore, with the completion of Treelodge@Punggol in December 2010. Hence, the people might not be fully knowledgeable regarding the effects that green development can bring and might be skeptical on advocating such attempts. Moreover, Green buildings today and the energy-efficienct mechanical and electrical systems may have higher capital costs as compared to conventional buildings. (OECD,2003,2008) This would undoubtedly be a deterrent for prospective buyers. A perception study was conducted to investigate the level of awareness of the public towards Singapore’s attempts towards sustainable development. Singapore’s first green public housing constructed, the Treelodge@Punggol was also used as a case study. The questionnaire revealed that the more academically inclined respondents were familiar with the terms of sustainability and Singapore’s efforts to achieve environmental sustainability. The study also showed that majority of the respondents was amenable towards purchasing a green apartment. However, the survey also revealed that the major concern that might serve as a deterrent to the public towards purchasing a green home is the high capital cost and the lack of awareness towards the benefits these technologies can bring. Hence, through better education and greater awareness, the public would realize the potential cost savings that could outweigh the higher capital cost needed to buy a green home. Apart from the economical benefits, the occupants should be appreciative towards the environmental and social benefits brought about by being environmentally friendly. Hence, the new Green Mark Scheme which mandates all new buildings to be Green Mark accredited would undoubtedly pave the way for Singapore to be eco-friendly in terms of economical, social and environmental factors, achieving the triple bottom line equilibrium.