Dr Aline Wong, Chairman, HDB,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

Introduction

It gives me great pleasure to be here with you today at the inaugural Eco-Buildings Conference. The presence of so many of you here this morning reflects the strong interest in environmental sustainability in the building industry. I am heartened by this.

Sustainable development and Singapore

2 In recent years, we have seen rising global concern for environment issues, as well as increasing awareness of the need for sustainable development. Countries are starting to realise, and in some cases experience first-hand, the havoc that a poorly managed environment can wreak on their public health and their quality of life. Experts are counting the economic cost of environment degradation, and the sums look grim.

3 Here in Singapore, we take the issue of sustainable development very seriously -- long before it became fashionable to do so. Indeed, it has been a key concept underlying our national planning and development since independence. For example, the luxuriant greenery that Singapore enjoys today did not happen by chance; the Garden City is the result of some 40 years of planning and hard work. We have also not flinched from tough decisions to implement strict measures to restrain car ownership and usage, while investing heavily in the mass rapid transit system. In this way, we have managed to avoid the gridlock and vehicular pollution that has blighted many major cities.

4 We have no choice but to be strongly committed to environmental sustainability. Given our lack of resources and our small size, we have to be both innovative and disciplined in managing what is available to us, and in safeguarding the quality of our living space. Environmental sustainability will remain a high priority for Singapore, as we position ourselves for the next stage of our economic development. It is very much work-in-progress. We must continue to plan ahead -- to accommodate an increasing population without compromise to our quality of life, to support our economic growth and to inject even greater vibrancy into our city.

5 This conference is a useful forum to exchange views and learn from others, especially our international speakers. We have already seen strong overseas demand for our expertise in urban planning and greening as well as in water recycling. With the spirit of innovation and a strong partnership between the public and private sectors, we can develop a competitive advantage in this increasingly strategic area.

Environmental sustainability in public housing

6 The Government will take the lead in this effort, starting with environmental sustainability in public housing. HDB takes much pride in the standard and quality of our public housing. Nevertheless, designing quality homes is no longer enough. The challenge for HDB is to look beyond the immediate physical and quality concerns of the flat buyers, and create environmentally friendly and sustainable HDB homes.

7 This process begins right at the planning stages. From the very start, HDB estates are situated near transportation nodes so that residents can commute easily by buses or trains. HDB living environments are designed to optimise natural terrain and climate conditions. And green roofs and park connectors are now common features in our precincts.

8 HDB uses prefabrication to cut down on construction waste. Alternative construction materials have reduced our dependence on sand and concrete. HDB is also looking into the use of other materials like structural steel, recycled concrete, and dry partition walls. Such materials and designs are widely used and accepted in many other countries around the world.

9 HDB’s green efforts in public housing have gone beyond design and construction. It has also engaged our residents, and actively encouraged the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. HDB, NEA and Sembcorp have jointly developed a special refuse chute to make it easier for residents to recycle their waste.

10 To help residents use water efficiently, HDB is also working with PUB, the national water agency, to incorporate products that are labelled water-efficient in HDB's projects wherever possible. This way, we can also help manage Singapore's overall water consumption.

11 HDB will also work closely with the Town Councils and industry partners to see how it can further improve the maintenance of existing estates. An example would be the use of energy-saving lights in the common areas.

Role of Industry Players

12 As we strive to create environmentally sustainable homes for the future, industry players such as you will have a key role to play. It is critical that everyone involved in the public housing development process is on board, from architects to building contractors, to communicate and develop ideas.

Committee of Environment Sustainability

13 Many of the HDB’s initiatives in enhancing the sustainability of public housing are due in no small part to the effort of the Committee of Environment Sustainability. Chaired by Chairman HDB, Dr Aline Wong, this committee brings together representatives from the private sector, academia and relevant Government agencies. The Committee was set up by Dr Wong in 2004 to formulate a long-term strategy to create sustainable towns and estates. I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Dr Wong and thank her for her strong leadership and guidance to HDB in this key area.

Launch of Treetops @ Punggol

14 I am happy to announce that HDB will launch an exciting new development today called Treetops @ Punggol. This is a culmination of the years of work by HDB in the area of environmental sustainability.

15 Treetops @ Punggol is Singapore’s first HDB Eco-Precinct. By consolidating the eco-friendly features and innovations that HDB has been researching over the years, Treetops @ Punggol represents a quantum improvement in what public housing can offer, in terms of resource conservation, and in terms of the experience of living among nature.

Enhancing Site Ecology

16 Let me now highlight some of the eco-friendly features in this precinct which residents can look forward to. First and foremost, the precinct comes with an 'Eco Deck' as the communal centre. Planted with lush greenery, the Eco-Deck is an enhanced green lung for the precinct, where families and neighbours can interact and enjoy themselves. HDB expects that the Eco-deck can reduce temperature build up within the precinct by three to four degrees Celsius. Gardening, strolling, jogging, or just taking in the green environment will be a refreshing daily experience for residents.

17 The greenery is not confined to the ground level; in fact it encompasses the whole precinct. There will be vertical greening along the columns of the blocks, as well as green balconies and planter boxes. HDB will also implement the green roof system so that even the roof decks are green, literally.

Energy Efficiency and Water/Waste Management

18 Equally noteworthy are the eco-features in place to enable resource management and conservation. The “cool walls” technology will reduce heat absorption and hence, reduce the need for air-conditioning. HDB expects that the rainwater collection system will be able to collect more than half a million litre of rainwater for cleaning corridors and common areas. There will be solar panels to generate energy for lighting in common areas. And of course, there will be special chutes to allow residents to dispose of recyclable items with ease. With all these green features and technologies, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has given the project the Green Mark Platinum Award.

Conclusion

19 In conclusion, we have come a long way in promoting sustainable development in Singapore. With the launch of the eco-precinct, we have reached another milestone in our journey towards environmental sustainability in public housing. But there is still much more that we can learn and do.

20 I strongly encourage both the private and public sectors to further develop our expertise in sustainable development. This will not only enhance our quality of life but also create more economic opportunities for Singapore.

21 On this note, let me wish all of you an enriching session at the Eco-Buildings Conference. Thank you.

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