As the public housing authority that houses over 80% of Singapore's population, HDB has a key role to play in supporting Singapore’s commitment to sustainable development. Today, HDB made further progress with two key initiatives:
| a) | Procurement of 1MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) panels worth about $2.3 million from the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC). This is by far the single largest solar panel procurement in Singapore to date. The solar panels will be implemented at six HDB precincts covering about 3,000 residential units; and
|
| b) | Collaboration with Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) to develop a modeling tool to quantify and formulate a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) on sustainability environmental targets in developing Punggol as an Eco-Town for the tropics. This will enable a more effective design for sustainability, and support HDB’s planning efforts to enhance resource efficiency and livability within Punggol Eco-Town.
|
2The announcement today marks a key milestone for HDB as it progresses towards a more eco-friendly and sustainable environment for public housing. CEO of HDB, Mr Tay Kim Poh, said, “As the largest developer in Singapore, HDB can play a leading role in supporting Singapore's efforts towards sustainable development. We see a lot of potential in developing clean, renewable energy; and particularly solar energy, given our extensive coverage of HDB blocks all over Singapore. We also see a lot of potential in Punggol, our youngest town, and we aim to further our efforts in developing it as Singapore's first Eco-Town. Hence, we are excited about our partnership with REC and CDM. These initiatives will support our efforts to providing the best possible homes and living environment for our residents."
3The procurement of solar PV panels is part of HDB’s Solar Capability Building Program for Public Housing, a wide-scale testbedding project which is funded by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development (IMCSD).
4These PV panels will be installed in 6 precincts at Jurong, Aljunied, Telok Blangah, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Jalan Besar commencing in the 4th quarter of 2010. A total of about 3,000 residential units will benefit from this procurement.
5Founded in Norway, REC is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated player in the solar industry. It is also one of the world's largest producers of polysilicon and wafers for solar applications, and a leading manufacturer of solar cells and modules. REC will provide the PV panels, which will be produced locally.
6HDB is reinforcing its commitment in the area of sustainable development in its public housing estates. One of these initiatives is the first non-commercial collaboration with CDM to develop a modeling tool to quantify and formulate a set of KPIs, particularly in the areas of:
• Water Reduction
• Energy Reduction
• Waste Reduction
• Ambient Air Temperature
• Provision of Town Greenery
• Alternative Transportation Utilization
7As Singapore’s youngest town, Punggol is equipped with green spaces for spatial relief and community use, and the necessary elements and facilities to embrace sustainable living. CDM’s Neyasdurai Centre in Singapore will help to develop the Urban Systems Model to support planning and design decisions. The results from the collaboration will translate into HDB’s planning and sustainability design processes for the development of Punggol as Singapore's first Eco-Town.