This morning at Indoor Air 2026, Mr. Kian Seng Ang – Singapore Green Building Council Board Member and Group Director of the Environmental Sustainability Group at the Building and Construction Authority Singapore – delivered an insightful keynote on Singapore’s journey towards healthier buildings.
Anchored on the theme of “Singapore’s Green Mark Journey towards Greater Health and Wellbeing,” Mr. Ang reinforced a powerful message: buildings are not just shelters, they are active enablers of the air we breathe.
Key takeaways
- Evolution of Green Mark – What began in 2005 as an energy-efficiency tool has evolved into a comprehensive framework that places Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), natural lighting, acoustic comfort, and biophilic design at its heart. Health is now a core pillar of Singapore’s green building agenda.
- Pandemic-driven progress – COVID-19 catalysed critical updates to Singapore Standards SS553 and SS554, integrating ASHRAE 241 infectious aerosol control standards. These advancements are set to be recognised in the upcoming Green Mark Version 7, raising the bar for IAQ adoption.
- The path forward – Mr. Ang highlighted the need for deeper research on balancing energy efficiency with IAQ, particularly in Singapore’s tropical climate. Alternative Cooling Technologies (ACTs) hold promise for energy savings, but their impact on air quality remains an open frontier, presenting exciting opportunities for further research and international collaboration.
- With urbanisation accelerating and climate challenges intensifying, the built environment must do more than just reduce carbon – it must actively protect human health and resilience. Singapore’s Green Mark journey offers a replicable model for cities worldwide.
