New national standard to get non-domestic users to save water

Source: Today Online

SINGAPORE — The Republic will have a new voluntary national standard to get non-domestic users to save and use water more efficiently.  It does not prescribe water efficiency goals; instead it provides a framework, methodology and set of guidelines to put in place policies, systems and processes to use water more efficiently, which promises to help enterprises achieve water savings and reduce operational costs.

Called Singapore Standard SS 577:2012, it will be launched today by the Singapore Standards Council and PUB, the national water agency. According to the PUB, water demand in Singapore currently stands at about 400 million gallons a day. The non-domestic sector accounts for about 55 per cent of Singapore’s total water consumption and this is expected to increase to about 70 per cent in the next 50 years.

The new standard complements the PUB’s 10% Challenge programme, which encourages non-domestic users to reduce water consumption.  To encourage the adoption of the standard, the agency has enhanced initiatives like the Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) and Water Efficient Building (WEB) certification.

Funding quantum for the WEF — a co-funding scheme — has been increased from 50 per cent to 90 per cent of the total water audit costs, subject to a cap of S$15,000.  The PUB will also co-fund an additional 90 per cent of the upgrading or installation cost for remote metering, subject to a cap of S$15,000.

The WEB certification will now have two more tiers — Gold and Silver — to better recognise exemplary performers in water efficiency, as well as those certified in the new standard.

Environment council aims to double number of firms with 'eco certs'

Singapore Environment Council aims to boost green office practices     
Published in the Straits Times on Feb 25, 2012

By Carolyn Khew

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) hopes to double the number of companies certified for environmentally friendly practices by the year end. To date, 110 firms have received the Eco-Office certification, with 30 getting the nod last year. The initiative was launched in June 2002 by the council and real estate developer City Developments.

Background story

Started in 2007, it hopes to create awareness and encourage companies here to conserve energy in conjunction with World Environment Day on June 5. Said Ms Wong Yee Thing, senior executive of regional environmental management group at Ricoh Asia Pacific: 'We want to target organisations because most energy is consumed in offices. By reaching out to organisations, we're also influencing more people to save energy.'

To mark its 10th anniversary, an event was held at City Square Mall - Singapore's first eco-friendly shopping centre - on Thursday, where Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan presented certificates to organisations that had received the Eco-Office label last year.