As the digital economy continues to expand, the industry’s challenge is clear: how do we meet skyrocketing data demand while decisively reducing environmental impact? The discussions that took place during the SGBC Seminar on 19 Sept. 2025 – featuring incredible experts from the Building and Construction Authority, Cundall, and Schneider Electric – provided a wealth of quality data to process.
Here are the top takeaways:
A Dedicated Green Mark Standard for Data Centres
Mr. Thomas Pang from BCA provided a comprehensive overview of the Green Mark for Data Centres (GM DC: 2024) scheme. The key highlight? Singapore is raising the bar with a specialised framework developed with IMDA, setting a clear implementation timeline and robust standards for energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and holistic sustainability in data centre design and operation.
We Must Redesign Our Approach to Power and Redundancy
Mr. Marcus Kan from Cundall masterfully challenged the “Efficiency Illusion,” arguing that prevailing assumptions about redundancy are outdated. His presentation on redesigning power, redundancy and carbon made a compelling case that rethinking these core principles is the key to unlocking significant carbon reductions without compromising on reliability.
A Holistic, “Grid-to-Chip” Strategy is Non-Negotiable
Mr. Han Ming Kuang from Schneider Electric demonstrated that true sustainability requires optimisation at every stage. An AI-ready data centre must be viewed as an integrated system: from the power grid to the semiconductor chip and from the chip to the chiller, ensuring sustainable performance across the entire energy and thermal management cycle.
Collaboration is the Essential Architecture for a Net Zero Data Centre
The Seminar’s expert panel, moderated by Mr. Patrick Phang and featuring Ms Ivy Xin, Mr. Alan Cribbett and Mr. Marcus Kan tackled the big question: Can Data Centres Really Go Net Zero? The short answer was yes, but it requires a concerted effort. Key themes included the critical role of innovative partnerships, adopting a circular economy for waste heat reuse, and the urgent need to align with national and corporate ESG goals.
A special thank you to SGBC Founding Member Schneider Electric for the insightful technology showcase at their Innovation Hub, which proved these solutions are not futuristic, they are commercially available today and are already helping to drive down carbon footprints.
