In the article, “Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future”, Mackenzie (2017) stated that promoting Eco-friendly buildings will be the solution to a cleaner and sustainable future for Singapore. The article emphasizes the importance of how sustainability can significantly affect the future. Singapore generates high energy consumption due to its metropolitan lifestyle and vast infrastructures. The immense demand for energy has gravely affected the natural environment because of the process the generate energy has led to the massive amount of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions being released. As a keen supporter of environmental protection, Building Construction Authority (BCA) aims to influence developers and designers to incorporate sustainable design into their buildings. In addition, the author also mentioned that the implementation of green buildings was a huge success and it can benefit the developers to save costs in the long run. Green buildings such as the Asia Square has proved that design is an important factor and therefore, it gives designers and stakeholders the power to achieve sustainability. The author concluded that a proactive approach to protect the environment will help to deal with climate change.
I do agree with the article that implementing green features into buildings will alleviate the environmental impact and act as a stepping stone to pave out a greener future for Singapore.
Firstly, as a developed country with dense population, the high demand for energy is unavoidable. However, Build Construction Authority (BCA) has shown that there is a distinctive reduction in the consumption of natural resources. Based on the article “Green buildings also better for health, not just more energy efficient’’, Boh (2017), mentioned that BCA has tabulated data on existing buildings that have adopted green features and have attained an outstanding result of a major reduction in energy consumption. Therefore, green features have shown their impact and significance on the environment. On BCA’s website, the news article has provided a graphical report to showcase the gradual reduction of the energy consumption contributed by commercial building with Eco-friendly features. As a result of the increase in influence and advancement in green technology, resources were being consumed efficiently.
Furthermore, Singapore has been diligent in educating and encouraging students to take part in the journey for a greener future. In the article, ‘‘Green moves to get students and companies involved in sustainability efforts”, Seow (2016) remarked on how students were exposed to sustainable practices and given opportunities to participate in promoting green features. Nurturing the young about the impact of green buildings will help to cultivate the habit of a sustainable lifestyle for them. On the WWF’s webpage (2017), it supports the idea on educating the younger generation by raising environmental awareness through helpful programmes. With proper education on sustainability to the younger generation will promote the use of green features which improves the environment.
Lastly, Singapore’s Government plays a major role in protecting the environment. The Government has set policy to achieve environmental goals by indirectly encouraging the developers to take up Eco-friendly measures. In the article, “Singapore Budget 2018: Singapore’s carbon tax to start at S$5 a tonne”, Soh (2018) informed that government aims to reduce the carbon emission and imposed a tax based on the amount of carbon emission released by industrial companies. However, the Government has offered their assistance by providing grants to companies to improve the sustainability for their buildings. Based on greenfuture’s webpage, there are more than 30 incentives and funds offered to developers that are interested to take up the green future challenge therefore, showing that the government is keen on promoting green features to improve the environment.
In conclusion, with the continual advancement of green technologies and progressive involvement to fight against climate change. I firmly believe that green features will be the key to a greener future.
630 words.
References
Boh, S. (2016). Green buildings also better for health, not just more energy efficient: BCA study. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/green-buildings-also-better-for-health-not-just-more-energy-efficient-bca-study
Build Construct authority. (2017). HEALTHIER AND GREENER BUILDINGS IN NEXT LAP OF SINGAPORE’S GREEN BUILDING JOURNEY. Retrieved from https://www.bca.gov.sg/newsroom/others/Media_Release_SGBW_2017_120917.pdf
Seow, J. (2016). Green moves to get students and companies involved in sustainability efforts. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/green-moves-to-get-students-and-companies-involved-in-sustainability-efforts
World Wildlife Funds. (N.D.). Eco-Schools Programme, Retrieved from http://www.wwf.sg/wwf_education/eco_schools_programme/
Soh, A. (2018). Singapore Budget 2018: Singapore’s carbon tax to start at S$5 a tonne. Business Times. Retrieved from https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/singapore-budget-2018/singapore-budget-2018-singapores-carbon-tax-to-start-at-s5
Green Future. (2015). 2015 Guide to Singapore Government Funding and Incentives for the Environment. Retrieved from http://www.greenfuture.sg/2015/02/16/2015-guide-to-singapore-government-funding-and-incentives-for-the-environment/
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