Raffles Institution first to attain BCA Green Mark GoldPlus, the highest so far for existing schools
1 Existing schools can be green too. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has worked closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to develop the new BCA Green Mark for Existing Schools, which places strong emphasis on raising the awareness amongst students and educating our future generation on the importance of environmental sustainability and conservation.
2 Among the six pioneer schools, Raffles Institution is the only school that has clinched the ‘GoldPlus’ award, the second highest Green Mark rating, under the BCA Green Mark for Existing Schools. Rulang Primary School and Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ Secondary School both achieved the BCA Green Mark Gold Award, while Stamford Primary School, Tampines North Primary School and Innova Junior College achieved the basic “Certified” level.
3 Dr John Keung, CEO of BCA said, “The BCA Green Mark scheme has come a long way in helping Singapore achieve environmental sustainability since 2005. Singapore’s green building movement has evolved to a point where we now place more emphasis on users’ behaviour and how they play an integral part in keeping buildings green. In this regard, we are glad to extend the BCA Green Mark scheme to existing schools and recognise those who have made an effort in environmental sustainability.”
4 The GoldPlus Award for Raffles Institution was the outcome of its efforts driven mainly by its students. It took the students half a year and three meetings weekly at the initial stage to kick-start the project. In addition to having energy efficient air-conditioners and lighting, solar water heaters and extensive greenery within the school premises, the school adopted a comprehensive four-pronged approach to strive for energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Outstanding student involvement and active engagement in environmental sustainability can been seen through its One Earth Club and community involvement projects.
5 Gold winner Rulang Primary School is among the top few schools in terms of low energy utilization and is committed to reduce water wastage through rainwater and greywater harvesting. It also displayed leadership with its school-wide environmental programmes and by having strong partnership with overseas schools in environmental education.
6 Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ Secondary School, the other BCA Green Mark Gold winner, has green features such as real time energy management system and modular trays of greenery on the school’s roof. It also has an energy education platform which allows students to participate in competitions relating to individual energy use.
7 Commenting on the efforts by the students of Raffles Institution, Dr John Keung said, “The level of participation by the students is indeed commendable. They have clearly shown exemplary leadership and drive in environmental sustainability. It is also the first time we see such strong motivation and participation by the users (the students) in driving the certification for Green Mark. We hope their story will inspire more schools to come on board this green building journey. BCA will continue to work closely with the schools to achieve the desired level of Green Mark rating possible.”
8 BCA has formulated a Green Building Masterplan that sets out specific initiatives to achieve the national target to green at least 80% of the buildings in Singapore by 2030. Its current focus is on greening existing buildings. Under the second Green Building Masterplan, all old and new public buildings owned by government agencies have to attain the Green Mark GoldPlus standard by 2020. To help schools achieve the award and certification, BCA has developed the new criteria to include school policies, initiatives and facilities so that the criteria suit the operational characteristics of schools.
9 To further showcase Singapore’s efforts in environmental sustainability and to offer an extensive sharing and learning platform for international green building experts and practitioners, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will be hosting the Singapore Green Building Week in September. The 2nd International Green Building Conference (IGBC), a biennial event, and the Build Eco Xpo Asia (BEX Asia) will be held at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 13 to 16 September this year.
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