A study by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Sustainable Building and Construction Initiative (SBCI) have shown that the building and construction industry worldwide is responsible for a third of total energy use and in most parts of the world, the greatest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) (UNEP-SBCI, 2009). One would therefore think that the efforts resulting from the Kyoto protocol which sets binding targets to reduce GHG emissions would focus on the Building and Construction industry, and this is an opinion which may be true. The effect of the protocol have seen a paradigm shift in the industry towards a ‘Sustainable Development’ movement, being more conscious to the effects the industry has on the environment. The building and construction industry in Singapore has also recognised the need to protect the environment and there have been various efforts to encourage construction activities which may reduce GHG emissions such as the use of alternative energy, recycling construction materials, alternative materials and various government-led initiatives.

Singapore however is a small city-state which the UNFCC recognises as an alternative energy-disadvantaged state, facing difficulties in using alternative energy given its small size and compact area (NEA, 2014). Nevertheless, Singapore continues to moderate its GHG emissions by exploring the use of alternative energy sources, particularly natural gas and solar energy. The switch to natural gas has effectively reduced its emissions growth rate from 6.4% per year in 1994 to 2000 to 1.1% per year in 2000 to 2005 (NEA, 2014). Another alternative energy source in Singapore is solar energy which is gaining influence in the local building and construction industry. The Housing Development Board (HDB) is investigating the deployment of photovoltaic systems on public housing estates in the future there are even plans to explore a floating PV systems on reservoir surfaces (NEA, 2014). However, it is also important to mention that most construction plants still rely on carbon fuel.

The increase in awareness on sustainable development has also prompted the Singapore government to put in place both regulations and incentives. The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) launched the Green Mark Scheme in 2005 to encourage the construction of environment-friendly buildings. The objective of this scheme is to promote environmental awareness to industry personnel starting from project conceptualisation to during construction and even after completion (BCA, 2015). New building projects and retrofitting projects are required to achieve minimum Green Mark Standards under the Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) Regulations (BCA, 2015). Projects in downtown areas such as Marina Bay and in the financial district are required to meet even higher standards. These regulations are complemented by various incentive schemes to assist owners to finance the higher costs of green construction.

The construction industry in Singapore, in its commitment towards a more sustainable industry also focuses its efforts on construction materials. Under the BCA Sustainable Construction Masterplan, the BCA sets targets with regards to construction materials such as reducing the local industry’s dependence on imported materials, recycling and using recycled materials along with reducing the dependence on concrete and efficiently using natural materials (BCA, 2013). For example, many new projects are encouraged to use steel as the primary structural material instead of the traditional concrete. Steel is a highly recyclable material whereby almost half of its production comes from scrap material while waste from concrete building demolition is unsuitable for building structures (BCA, 2013). Besides, the use of steel in construction provides further benefits over concrete construction, such as speed of construction, manpower savings, factory-fabricated quality and has higher strength-weight ratio (Steel Vs Concrete, 2010). The BCA also provides guidance for the use of recycled materials for construction such as treating construction and demolition waste where the aggregates produced may be used for non-structural work such as pavements and partition walls. Other recycled materials are also considered such as steel slag, a by-product of rebar production used for resurfacing of roads, copper slag from the production copper and incineration bottom ash from waste incineration plants, both for use in non-structural components such as road kerbs (BCA 2013). Recycling and efficient use of material does not only reduce dependence on natural resources but also a very important waste management approach especially in Singapore’s context where there is limited landfill capacity due to its small area.

Singapore being a small city-state, may have its efforts considered negligible on a global scale especially on its efforts to reduce GHG emissions. However Singapore remains committed to achieve the targets set by the UNFCC. The Green Mark Scheme has received recognition in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. Application for the GM certifications were submitted from 15 countries (NEA, 2014). Singapore also partnered with other countries such as China where in 2007, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City was launched as a model for sustainable development for other Chinese cities (NEA, 2014)

Similar sustainable building efforts with regards to alternative energy, materials, and waste management can be seen in various parts of the world, headed by respective government agencies. For example the Environmental Protection Agency in the USA spearheads the sustainable movement there, putting in place Acts and regulations affecting the building and construction sector such as regulations on construction waste management, providing grants for green efforts, and encouraging green infrastructure, amongst many others (EPA, 2014).

Despite these efforts, the potential to reduce GHG emissions from the building and construction industry remains high (UNEP, 2008). This may be due to limitations that the industry presents such as the fragmentation of the building sector, split economic interests, lack of expertise, perceived high business risk and lack of economic incentives (UNEP, 2008).

In conclusion, the Kyoto protocol has increased the environmental awareness in the international construction industry, As a result, various sustainable development efforts led by governmental agencies were carried out, to contribute directly or indirectly to the GHG emission reduction targets. These efforts usually focuses on alternative sources of energy, recycling and use of alternative materials, waste management, regulations and incentives, and even international partnerships. However more can still be done, especially to investigate on how to overcome the limitations of the industry so that its potential to reduce GHG emissions may be realised.

Bibliography
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