SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
GREEN MARK METHOD
1.0 INTRODUCTION
BCA Green Mark is s green building rating system to evaluate a building for its
environmental impact and performance. Green Mark(GM) Scheme was launched in January
2005 by Building and Construction Authority (BCA) as an initiative to move Singapore’s
construction industry towards more environment-friendly buildings. It is endorsed and
supported by the National Environment Agency. It provides a comprehensive framework for
assessing building performance and environmental friendless. It is intended to promote
sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers,
designers and builders when they start project conceptualization and design as well as during
construction [Zuhairuse Md Derus et.al (2009)]. It is endorsed and supported by the
National Environment Agency.
It is a benchmarking scheme which aims to achieve a sustainable built environment by
incorporating best practices in environmental design and construction, and the adoption
of green building technologies.[www.greenmark.sg]. The scheme uses a point scoring
system to determine if a building is green.
1.1 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is an
agency under the Ministry of National Development,
championing the development of an excellent built
environment for Singapore. “Built environment” refers to
buildings, structures and infrastructure in our surroundings
that provide the setting for the community’s activities.
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
BCA’s mission is "we shape a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly
built environment". Safety, Quality, Sustainability and User-Friendliness are four key
areas where BCA has a very significant influence on the built environment and they
distinguish Singapore’s built environment from those of other cities. Hence, their vision
is to have "the best built environment for Singapore, our distinctive global city"
(www.greenmark.sg).
2.0 GM SCHEME OBJECTIVES
1) Promotes Awareness of Environmental Impact of Buildings.
- Energy
- Water
- Materials / Land
- Indoor Environment Quality
Health
Comfort
Productivity
2) Recognize the efforts made by developers & building owners
and design teams in creating environmentally sustainable buildings.
3) Benchmark and identify good practices in development, design, construction,
management and maintenance of green buildings
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
3.0 GM CRITERIA
4.0 GREEN MARK AWARD RATING
The Green Mark rates the environmental friendliness of a building based on a point-
scoring approach. Depending on the score, the rating is categorized into four levels -
Platinum, Gold Plus, Gold and Certified. It enables the benchmarking of a building's
environmental performance and allows comparison between buildings. Buildings also are
required to have triennial assessment to ensure that the Green Mark Building continues to
be well maintained.
Rating Points
Platinum 90 and above
GoldPLUS 85 to <90
Gold 75 to <85
Certified 50 to <75
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GM CRITERIA
Energy Efficiency Water Efficiency
Site/Project Development & Management
(Building Management & Operation for Existing Buildings)
Innovation and other Green
Features
Good Indoor Environmental Quality & Environmental Protection
Table 1: Rating and points for GM
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
5.0 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
BCA Green Mark has assessment criteria for two main categories; New Building
and Existing Building. The GM provides a comprehensive framework for assessing the
overall environmental performance of new and existing buildings to promote sustainable
design, construction and operations practices in buildings.
Under the assessment framework for new buildings, developers and design teams
are encouraged to design and construct green, sustainable buildings which can promote
energy savings, water savings, healthier indoor environments as well as the adoption of
more extensive greenery for their projects. As for existing buildings, the building owners
and operators are encouraged to meet their sustainable operations goals and to reduce
adverse impacts of their buildings on the environment and occupant health over the entire
building life cycle.
Certified Green Mark buildings are required to be re-assessed every 3 years to
maintain the Green Mark status. New buildings certified will subsequently be re-assessed
under the existing buildings criteria. Existing buildings will be re-assessed under the
existing buildings criteria.
There are a few scheme under BCA Green Mark to make sure the scheme is
effective. Below is the list of BCA GM scheme. The last four item such as Office
Interior, Landed Houses, Infrastructure and District was the new scheme and launched by
last year to upgrade and improve the GM.
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
BCA Green Mark
Schemes
Description Effective Date
Non-Residential New
Buildings (Version 3)
Applicable for new buildings
such as offices, commercial,
industrial and institutional
buildings with or without air-
conditioning systems.
31 Jan 2008 onwards
Residential New buildings
(Version 3)
For new private and public
residential developments.
31 Jan 2008 onwards
Existing Buildings
(Version 2.1)
Applicable to existing
commercial, industrial and
institutional buildings under
operation. Assessment by this
criteria is necessary for
application of GMIS (Existing
Building).
01 Dec 2009 onwards
Office Interior (Version 1) Applicable for tenant renovation
and maintenance practices
27 May 2009 onwards
Landed Houses (Version 1) For landed housing projects. 27 May 2009 onwards
Infrastructure (Version 1) For infrastructure projects e.g. as
barrages, roads, bridges.
27 May 2009 onwards
District (Version 1) For district projects. 29 Oct 2009 onwards
(Source:www.bca.gov.sg)
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Table 2: List of GM schemes
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
Parameters New Building Existing Building
a) Energy efficiency 14 pre-requisite & 21
additional points
14 points
b) Water efficiency 6 pre-requisite & 9 additional
points
15 points
c) Site & project
management
5 pre-requisite & 15 additional
points
25 additional points
d) Indoor environment
quality and environment
protection
5 pre-requisite & 10 additional points
15 additional points
e) Innovation 15 additional points 20 additional points
* Points 50-70 (Green Mark Certified); Points 70-80 (Green Mark Gold); Points 80-85
(Green Mark Gold-plus) and Points 85-100 (Green Mark platinum)
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Table 3: Parameters for new and existing building
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
6.0 GREEN MARK CERTIFICATION PROCESS
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Applicant preferably submit the application form for the assessment before
- commencement of design and construction works or
- before handing over of possession of the PROJECT to the purchaser or the applicant or any third party occupying the project
Applicant shall appoint a Co-ordinator to liase with BCA’s Assessor for the duration of the assessment.
New Building: a pre-assessment briefing should be scheduled at the early stage of development phase, followed by actual assessment during the substantial completion of design phase. Follow-up assessments should be arranged during early stage of architecture construction phase and final assessment after TOP(Temporary Occupation Permit).
Existing Building: a pre-assessment briefing should be arranged, followed by the actual assessment to be conducted.
Approval on Green Mark rating
Inform Applicant on Green Mark rating awarded
Verification at TOP stage orupon project completion
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
7.0 FRAMEWORK BCA GREEN MARK RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
8.0 FRAMEWORK BCA GREEN MARK FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL
9.0 COMPARISON POINTS NEW AND EXISTING BUILDING OF GM
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
(SOURCE: www.teeam.com/p_afeec.htm)
BENEFIT OF GM
(1) Increase the corporate image. Leasing and resale value of building
(2) Facilitate reduction in water and energy bills.
(3) Improve indoor environmental quality for a healthy and productive workplace.
(4) Reduce potential environmental impact.
10.0 EXAMPLE OF BUILDING THAT RECEIVE GM AWARD
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
(1) SOPHIA RESIDENCE, SINGAPORE – PLATINUM AWARD
The environmentally-friendly design of Sophia Residence incorporates the following key
green features:
a) Innovative design process for the building facade yielding RETV (Residential
Envelope Transmittance Value) of only 18.1 W/m², as against the maximum
permissible RETV of 25.0 W/m² under the BCA Green Mark Scheme. A lower
RETV results in lesser heat load and can achieve up to an approximate 25%
reduction in electricity bills for air-conditioning;
b) A superbly high Green Plot Ratio of 5.1, as against the 2.0 to 4.0 specified under
the BCA Green Mark Scheme. This comes in the form of a roof garden,
landscaped walls, landscaped terraces, vertical greenery and conservation of
matured trees and palms. The development will have one of the longest
residential roof gardens in Singapore, measuring over 200 metres – equivalent to
the height of a 55-storey building;
c) Photovoltaic modules are to be used as an alternative source of energy to
supplement power supply from the grid. This is to be integrated with a display
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
panel at the clubhouse which will highlight the total amount of solar energy
generated and amount of carbon dioxide avoided by the photovoltaic system.
This serves to raise residents’ awareness on energy consumption and
conservation; and
d) A sophisticated water management and water harvesting system to reduce usage
of potable water for landscape irrigation. Rainwater and ground water are filtered
using oxygenating reeds in Eco and Bio Filter ponds, and recycled to irrigate the lush
landscape.
(2) GTOWER KL CITY, MALAYSIA – GOLD AWARD
GTower integrates offices, hotel rooms and club, food and beverage and recreational
facilities to provide a holistic and conducive working environment for temporary, short-
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
term and long-term business people. It is designed to maximize energy and water
efficiency, and provide high standards in indoor environmental quality.
GTower is the first and only Malaysian corporate office achieving an international
“environment-friendly” standard from Singapore’s Building & Construction Authority
(BCA) Green Mark GOLD certification (provisional),
This credential was earned by the sustainable technologies incorporated into the
building’s design such as:
Energy Savings of 23% from energy efficient air-conditioning and centralized
chilled water
Double glazing glass for lower heat transmission
Glass to Floor ratio (1: 3.8)
Toxic-Free building materials with Low Volatile Organic Content (VOC)
A land area to Green Planting ratio if 1:4 with ‘Green Walls’ and Green Roof
System
Carbon Dioxide detectors for air quality controll
Carbon Monoxide detectors on car parking floors
30% reduction in water outflow & rainwater harvesting system
Extensive use of recycled materials
(Source:www.gtower.com.my)
11.0 CONCLUSION
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
Green Mark is one of the building rating system for green building. It was
launched at Singapore and now, Malaysia also started to use Green Mark as the
rating tools for green building indicator. The GM can be assessed whether new or
existing building. The version of the GM also always reviewed by the BCA
authority to make sure the effectiveness on the current situation.
Certified Green Mark buildings are required to be re-assessed every 3 years to
maintain the Green Mark status. New buildings certified will subsequently be re-
assessed under the existing buildings criteria. Existing buildings will be re-
assessed under the existing buildings criteria.
REFERRENCES
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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERINGASSIGNMENT 1: GREEN MARK SYSTEM
[1] Zuhairuse Md. Edruse et.al (2009), “Development of Sustainable Campus:
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Planning and Strategy”. Journal of WSEAS
Transactions on Environment and Development, Issue 3, Volume 5 (ISSN:1790-
5079).
[2] www.greenmark.sg
[3] www.bca.gov.sg
[4] www.teeam.com/p_afeec.htm
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