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  Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 07
Improving energy efficiency will be govt's strategic priority
By Hasnita A Majid

Business Times 7 Mar 07
Govt to map out energy efficiency plan
By Matthew Phan

SINGAPORE will not be spared the effects and impact of climate change, and will play its part by making energy efficiency a strategic policy, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim, told Parliament yesterday.

The concern with climate change stems, perhaps, from the fact that Singapore is an island. Early in his comments on climate change, Dr Ibrahim noted that regional sea levels could rise 59 cm in a worst-case scenario, according to a study by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change this year.

All of Singapore's reclaimed land is today designed with a platform level of about 125 cm above the highest recorded tide, which should be sufficient to safeguard against worst-case changes, Dr Ibrahim said.

But the country is not resting on its laurels. It has commissioned a study to better understand the long-term effects of climate change on Singapore, such as changes in rainfall or other weather phenomena, which will be completed in two years, with preliminary results expected in 2008.

Meanwhile, the MEWR, through the lead National Environmental Agency, has put in place several domestic initiatives. These include the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme, an Investment Allowance Scheme and an Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund.

The schemes aim to reduce the carbon footprint of industry, the largest energy-consuming sector in Singapore and responsible for 54 per cent of total carbon dioxide emissions.

The government will take the lead and has committed to conducting energy audits on large public buildings, Dr Ibrahim said. All government buildings with air-conditioned floor area above 15,000 square metres, as well as polytechnics and ITEs, will be audited by 2010.

The public sector accounts for nearly 20 per cent of electricity consumed by buildings in Singapore.

In addition, the MEWR is making the Energy Labelling Scheme for air-conditioners and refrigerators mandatory on July 1, 2007, and will consider making the fuel economy label for cars mandatory for all passenger car models.

Dr Ibrahim also updated Parliament on Singapore's co-operation with Indonesia to address the haze. Indonesia has committed to reduce the number of hot spots by 50 per cent in 2007 and budgeted about $110 million a year to that end, he said.

At the local level, Singapore will help them develop and implement a fire prevention plan in Jambi, Sumatra. Political will on Indonesia's part is critical to success, Dr Ibrahim said. 'We are fortunate that the governor of Jambi Pak Zulkifli is an old friend of Singapore, a hands-on man and very keen, but at the same time he will need support from the central government. The fact that Malaysia has said it's a good plan shows we are on the right track'.

The Master Plan is scheduled to launch in the next two months, with the Jambi government working directly with the plantation owners and Singapore giving technical and financial aid.

Efforts will focus on practices like forest management, proper wood waste disposal, or helping locals switch to less fire-prone ways of making a living. But Dr Ibrahim warned: 'The land and forest fires will not go away immediately, nor will the haze affecting Singapore and the region.

Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 07
Improving energy efficiency will be govt's strategic priority
By Hasnita A Majid

SINGAPORE: Government buildings are up for energy audits and there will be mandatory energy labelling for air-conditioners and refrigerators. These are among measures that are being put in place to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Singapore.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been appointed as the lead agency on energy conservation and efficiency. Carbon dioxide makes up a large portion of Singapore's greenhouse gases so the Environment and Water Resources Ministry is targeting sectors that consume huge amounts of energy.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Environment and Water Resources Minister, said: "Improving energy efficiency is a strategic priority within the National Climate Change Strategy. Singapore is reliant on fossil fuels for much of its energy needs at present, but this does not mean we cannot do anything about greenhouse gas emissions.

"Using more energy efficient equipment and appliances or designing more efficient buildings, can save significant amounts of money in the long run, without sacrificing comfort. As noted in a recent Newsweek magazine article, energy efficiency is 'one of the hottest topics in business - and a way to add billions of dollars to the bottom line'."

The Ministry is implementing energy audits of large buildings to improve their energy efficiency. For a start, all government buildings, including schools, will be subjected to energy audits by March 2010. All new schools and large government buildings will also have to meet the Green Mark certified standard. Private companies will also be encouraged to do so.

Under the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe), introduced two years ago, the NEA co-funds half of the costs of carrying out an energy audit.

Alexandra Technopark did so and ended up having its carbon dioxide emission reduced and its electricity costs cut. The move potentially saves the company about S$600,000 a year.

To help consumers go green, the NEA will introduce mandatory labelling for air-conditioners and refrigerators from July this year. It will, however, give the industry 6 months' grace period to comply with this scheme. Currently, labelling of the appliances is on a voluntary basis.

NEA is also considering extending it to vehicles. This is to help consumers identify a more fuel-efficient car.

The Ministry will also extend the Green Vehicle Rebate for another two years. Since the enhancement of the Green Vehicle Rebate in January last year, the number of green vehicles has gone up substantially from about 200 to 700. - CNA/so
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Related articles on Singapore: green energy; Haze and Global warming
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