SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has certified Keppel Bay Tower as a Green Mark Platinum (Zero Energy) building, which means it has a low energy use index (EUI) of less than 115 kWh per sq m per year and also uses renewable sources of energy both onsite and offsite.

It is the first commercial building in Singapore to achieve this accolade. In 2018, Keppel Land received a grant of up to $1.28 million under BCA’s Green Buildings Innovation Cluster (GBIC) programme to implement new and emerging energy-efficient technologies at Keppel Bay Tower. Solutions include a high-efficiency air distribution system, an innovative cooling tower water management system, and smart LED lighting.

By February, it had achieved a reduction of 22.3% in annualised energy consumption, exceeding its initial target of 20%. It has also installed photovoltaic (PV) panels on the rooftop of the 18-storey Keppel Bay Tower and the six-storey podium block, which will generate an energy yield of about 100,000 kWh per annum.

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Upon completion of these initiatives, Keppel Bay Tower’s annualised energy consumption will be less than 115 kWh/m per sq m per year, a reduction of over 30% from its 2017 Green Mark Platinum level, generating energy savings of over 2.2 million kWh per year. This translates to cost savings of approximately S$400,000 annually.

This is almost 50% less compared to typical office buildings in Singapore. The remaining energy use will be offset through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through Keppel Land’s electricity retailer, Keppel Electric, which are generated from PV panels installed at Keppel Offshore & Marine’s yards in Singapore.

In January, Keppel Bay Tower became the first commercial development in Singapore to use renewable energy to power all its operations, including the offices in the building. The purchase of RECs, together with the installation of onsite PV panels at Keppel Bay Tower, will result in a reduction of over 2,400 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum.

Tan Swee Yiow, CEO of Keppel Land, says that Keppel’s Vision 2030 places sustainability at the heart of Keppel Land’s strategy and operations. He adds that the certification affirms Keppel Land’s innovative efforts to enhance the environmental performance of its buildings.

Keppel Land also encourages its tenants to adopt green practices. All office tenants in Keppel Bay Tower signed green leases last year, which demonstrates landlord and tenants’ commitment to provide energy-efficient, resource-efficient and healthier interior spaces for its building occupants. The green leases incorporate the requirements of the BCA-HPB Green Mark (for Healthier Workplaces) Certified standard, which focuses on the health and well-being of building occupants in green offices.