To help decarbonise Singapore’s energy consumption, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is intensifying efforts to cut operational carbon — the emissions generated from a building’s day-to-day energy use.
“Reducing operational carbon minimises demand for power, and renewable energy can then take care of it,” says Ang Kian Seng, BCA’s group director of environmental sustainability. “To tee up for full decarbonisation, including embodied carbon, the focus has shifted towards the Super Low Energy (SLE) programme, as this is where the greatest reduction in operational carbon can be achieved.”
Speaking at The Edge Singapore’s Sustainable Construction Symposium 2026 on April 29, Ang says buildings contribute about 20% of Singapore’s carbon emissions. Greening them is a critical lever to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 — a target the Singapore government announced in October 2022, adds Ang. “Green buildings can play a big part in our transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.”
For now, policymakers are keeping their “primary focus” on reducing operational carbon over embodied carbon, which refers to the emissions arising from the entire supply chain of building materials — extraction, transportation and manufacturing — used in construction.
Partnerships can help the industry move forward, says Ang. “In many cases, we encourage these frontrunners to explore low‑carbon materials and innovative solutions.”
He adds: “Developers such as CapitaLand and City Developments already have their own net‑zero commitments [that] take into account the whole‑life carbon of their projects.”
See also: Unlocking built environment opportunities in the green transition
On the other hand, policy support, he adds, is often “indirect”. For instance, government land sales (GLS) sites and bonus gross floor area (GFA) incentives require developers to meet higher sustainability standards.
“We will not prescribe specific materials, but we encourage the industry to explore different possibilities that align with their costs and budgets,” says Ang. This approach allows leading developers like City Developments to integrate their corporate sustainability goals with national targets, reinforcing Singapore’s collective push toward net-zero emissions by 2050, he adds.
Raising the bar with SLE
See also: Are sustainable building materials better and cheaper?
As at January, about 66% of Singapore’s buildings by GFA have been greened. Now, BCA is sharpening its focus on a more ambitious frontier: SLE certification.
SLE, which is “defined as 60% better in [achieving] energy efficiency than 2005 standards”, is “pushing efficiency to the highest standards”, says Ang. “It is the next big thing that we need to do in our journey towards net zero.” This is done through adopting energy-efficient measures and on-site renewable energy generation.
The backbone of Singapore’s green building push is BCA’s Green Mark certification scheme, which assigns ratings such as Green Mark Platinum with SLE. The scheme was last refreshed in 2021. According to Ang, BCA is in the process of refreshing the scheme and the seventh edition will be unveiled in September.
Under the Singapore Green Building Masterplan 2021, Singapore is aiming for “80-80-80 by 2030” — namely to green 80% of buildings by 2030, certify 80% of new developments with the SLE standard from 2030 and improve energy efficiency by 80% from 2005 for best-in-class buildings by 2030.
Progress has been steady. As at January, 33% of new buildings have been certified SLE, and best-in-class buildings are 72% more energy-efficient compared to 2005 standards.
Policy tools have also shifted accordingly. For instance, GLS sites and bonus GFA incentives are increasingly tied to SLE requirements, pushing developers to adopt higher energy performance standards. “When developers want to bid for land under the GLS programme, there will be SLE standards and likewise when developers [want to] bid for [additional] GFA, the same requirements apply,” says Ang.
In the public sector, projects are also leading the charge under the GreenGov.SG initiative, “where all the agencies are [required to] do their utmost to push the standards of their developments”, adds Ang.
GreenGov.sg, launched in 2021, is a key enabler of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Under GreenGov.SG, the public sector has committed to achieving net-zero emissions around 2045, five years ahead of Singapore’s national target of net zero by 2050, reducing energy and water use by 10% and waste disposed of by 30% respectively in 2030.
The scheme is also expanding its scope to include whole-life carbon considerations, laying the groundwork for future regulation of embodied emissions.
Going into the technicalities, Ang says in his presentation that “alternative cooling technologies are key enablers for SLE buildings”. Alternative cooling solutions — such as air-side systems that leverage natural ventilation and temperature differentials — are gaining traction as a way to reduce reliance on energy-intensive air-conditioning.
Other approaches include hybrid cooling systems, energy-efficient equipment and even behavioural adjustments. Some firms are experimenting with raising indoor temperature setpoints, complemented by fans, to reduce overall energy consumption.
Two examples raised by Ang include The Hive at Nanyang Technological University and City Developments’ Republic Plaza, which illustrate how both new and existing buildings can progressively improve performance.
The Hive achieved Green Mark Platinum Positive Energy certification for producing at least 115% of their energy consumption from on-site renewables, while Republic Plaza achieved Green Mark Platinum SLE in 2023 following major improvements to its air‑conditioning system.
Construction outlook
Meanwhile, BCA is keeping its construction demand outlook for 2026 unchanged at between $47 billion and $53 billion, despite the outbreak of war in the Middle East. “For now, there is no revision,” says Ang.
The bulk (32%) of this year’s construction demand is expected to come from the institutional segment, with likely major projects such as the Changi Airport Terminal 5 development, the Marina Bay Sands expansion and the New Tengah General & Community Hospital.
Singapore’s built environment sector is set to maintain its momentum in 2026, says BCA, with the 2026 forecast range unchanged from that of 2025. As at end-2025, preliminary actual construction demand reached $50.5 billion in nominal terms, within BCA’s earlier forecast of $47 billion to $53 billion.
Preparing the ground for embodied carbon
How do we assess embodied carbon and will there be benchmarks and regulations to balance both adoption and economic viability? Responding to these questions from the audience, Ang says: “We are preparing the ground.”
However, data is still insufficient, he adds. “We are hopeful that in the next few years, we will build more. [In the] review of the seventh edition of the BCA’s Green Mark certification scheme, the standards will be adjusted to better align with some of the international frameworks.”
With stronger industry support and better data, Ang believes more ambitious benchmarks can be set. “It is very much a work in progress,” he says. “But there are already quick solutions such as green cement, recycled aggregates and steel. Green steel is very expensive for now, but never say never. Many of these ‘difficult to decarbonise’ areas will require the industry to come together and agree on a pathway.”
Decarbonisation a collective effort
Singapore is a “renewable energy-challenged” city-state, Ang says. Therefore, reducing energy demand is critical before cleaner energy sources — expected to scale in the 2030s and 2040s — can fully decarbonise the grid.
At the same time, policymakers are balancing competing priorities, including development intensity, economic viability and heritage preservation.
Ultimately, Ang stresses, decarbonisation is a collective effort. “All players in the built environment — developers, consultants, building owners, facility managers and tenants — have a role to play.”
This transition, Ang adds, is one that various sectors will need to navigate collectively. “Governments in Singapore — and globally — will [need] to be there to work alongside industry.”
Read more from The Edge Singapore’s Sustainable Construction Symposium 2026:
- New mindsets and materials for sustainable construction in focus at The Edge Singapore’s symposium
- Coffee or kopi? Contractors aboard sustainability bandwagon, but standards should harmonise: SCAL president
- Vietnam’s MIA Design Studio showcases projects at the nexus of architecture, climate and landscapes
- Are sustainable building materials better and cheaper?
- Unlocking built environment opportunities in the green transition
Read more in our curtain-raisers prior to the symposium:
- Solving the ‘quadrilateral’ dilemma of cost, deadlines, quality and sustainability in construction
- Concrete, bamboo and clay: How future building materials can be more sustainable
- MIA Design Studio exemplifies Vietnam’s cultural identity and environmental sensitivity
- YTL Cement balances business, sustainability and ecosystem-building
- Transforming Singapore’s construction industry through mindsets, innovation and value creation
