In Singapore, the built environment accounts for over 20 percent of our carbon emissions. This means our sector is not just part of the solution, it is the catalyst towards a greener, low-carbon future.
At the RISE For the Future forum organised this morning by SGBC Established Member KONE, SGBC President Mr. Allen Ang explained why retrofitting our buildings is no longer “nice to have”, but is essential for climate action, business resilience and value creation. In his keynote, Mr. Ang condensed the impetus for accelerating building retrofits into three points:
- Shift Mindsets – Retrofitting is not a cost but a future-ready investment.
- Enhance Collaborations – Developers, owners, tenants, and financiers all need to collaborate from Day One.
- Redefine โPremiumโ – our building should not just be about high ceilings and sleek finishes but be about low emissions, healthy air, and climate-ready design.
SGBC Board Member Ms Farizan R. further expanded on Mr. Ang’s point during a panel discussion titled Elevating Sustainability in Buildings. Through the course of her work greening the built environment, it is imperative to convince, consult and collaborate to bring carbon emissions down while still keeping energy efficiency up.
In landlocked Singapore, the only way we can build is upwards, but therein lies the opportunity to also build greener high-rise buildings.
