Reduce carbon emissions from the buildings your company operates

Cost
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Cost
MEDIUM
Cost
HIGH
EFFORT
low
EFFORT
medium
EFFORT
HIGH
IMPACT
low
IMPACT
MEDIUM
IMPACT
HIGH

A technical audit of your premises will assess the potential for reducing carbon emissions from the buildings your company operates.

When it comes to energy, the four steps to reducing the carbon footprint of buildings are as follows:

  1. Improve the energy efficiency of your building & facilities through better insulation, high efficiency equipment (lighting, heating, cooling) and improved processes and behaviours, such as lowering indoor temperatures in cold weather and raising them in hot weather.
  2. Switch from fossil fuels to electricity whenever possible
  3. Connect to urban heating/cooling networks where available, such as the district cooling services in Marina Bay or Jurong Lake District for greater efficiency.
  4. Producing renewable energy on site, with rooftop solar panels or awnings on pedestrian walkways.

Think also about energy conservation. The best efficiency is the energy that is not used! In Singapore, for example, the air-conditioning target for offices should be set above 25°C and not less than 8°C below the outdoor temperature: this setting provides healthy thermal comfort for people and reduces energy consumption.

Air conditioning releases other greenhouse gases: efficient maintenance of these refrigerants is key to reducing these specific emissions.

Significantly reducing the carbon footprint of buildings while improving health and well-being is achievable through

  • Collaboration with end users
  • Passive design
  • more efficient lighting
  • heating and cooling equipment
  • electrification and on-site renewable generation to decarbonise the building energy mix
  • innovative materials and nature-based solutions.

A strategic approach is needed to be successful.

You may want to investigate ISO 50001 - Energy Management Systems for a standardized approach.

If you are a tenant, you will need to negotiate with your landlord to share data and action plans. You may also want to change location and negotiate a green lease to improve the performance of your buildings. The Building Construction Authority (BCA) has developed a Green Lease Toolkit to help landlords and tenants work together to improve the environmental performance of buildings.

Browse The Matcha Initiative "Green the Office" and "Digital Footprint & IT" for more best practice and carbon reduction solutions.

39%

of global CO2 emissions are related to buildings and construction
(GlobalABC)

50%

of potential carbon reductions (Scope 1 & 2) realistically achievable by 2030 are related to buildings
(McKinsey)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

- Energy efficiency test for your workplace

- BCA Air-Con Efficiency Portal (Super Low Energy Building - SLEB by BCA)

- Download BCA Energy Performance Points Calculator (2015) (Singapore Building and Construction Authority)

- Download BCA Green Mark for Non-Residential Buildings Scorecard (2015) (Singapore Building and Construction Authority)

- BCA Green lease documentation

- Browse The Matcha Initiative Green the office Section and Digital Footprint & IT Section for more best practice and carbon reduction solutions.