New Green Mark schemes for supermarkets, retail and data centres will be launched at International Green Building Conference 2012 in Singapore  this week (10-12 October) , when more than 50 international experts from 25 countries speak on green buildings and sustainable living. It is held in conjunction with the Build Eco Expo (BEX) at the Marina Bay Sands. And for the first time the International Energy Centre will conduct a training week in Singapore 19-23 November on energy and carbon for executives and policy makers. Read more

New initiatives to engage the business community will be rolled out at the International Green Building Conference (IGBC 2012) to be held from October 10 to 12, 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

These will include new Green Mark schemes for supermarkets, retail and data centres – all of which are major energy consumers – and a web-based carbon calculator that will help building professionals find out the carbon footprint of major construction materials and buildings. These initiatives will be unveiled by Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Some 10,000 people are expected to attend IGBC 2012 and Bex Asia 2012, an annual regional building expo focusing on eco-friendly products and solutions. IGBC 2012 is organised by Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC).

Local Green Giants at IGBC

Real estate giants, major brands and household names which are early green building converts such as City Development, Lend Lease, United World College (UWC), and NTUC Fairprice, will be present at IGBC 2012.

Speakers representing these organisations include Mr Kwek Leng Joo, Managing Director of City Development Limited (CDL) and President of Singapore Compact, Mr Rod Leaver, Chief Executive Officer, from Lend Lease Limited, Asia, Mr Simon Thomas, Southeast Asia Project Director, United World College and Mr Koh Kok Sin, Director, Organisation Development, NTUC Fairprice. They will share their views on sustainable development for stakeholders and the economic value-add from green building investments.

Global Cast of Green Experts/ Practitioners

In addition to local advocates, some of the best known global names in sustainable development will also speak at IGBC 2012.

They include Professor Jacqueline Cramer, Director of Utrecht Sustainability Institute and former Minister of Housing, Social Planning and the Environment of the Netherlands, Ms Hilary Beber, Policy advisor of Green Buildings in New York City Mayor Office, Ms Yukio Nishida, Planner for Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metroplitan Government, and Ms Jane Henley, CEO of the World Green Bullding Council (WGBC). The Presidents of Green Building Councils from Malaysia and Hong Kong will also be speaking at the Conference.

Joining this scintillating cast of sustainable development experts will be global green icon, Mr Andy Ridley, founder of Earh Hour, who wants to inspire the community, especially the younger generation to adopt and support green lifestyles to do their part for sustainable living.

Government Leadership in Sustainable Development

The Conference will also highlight the importance of leadership and policies to effect a diverse mix of strategies, from mandatory regulation to tactical incentives as well as innovative funding mechanisms.

For those who want to learn more about Singapore’s latest iconic Gardens By the Bay, they can hear from National Parks Board’s Chief Operating Officer – Mr Kenneth Er who will share the green secrets behind this iconic development.

Commenting on IGBC 2012, SGBC’s President Mr Tai Lee Siang said,”The green building movement has certainly evolved over the past years. Today, we believe that we have to go beyond buildings to spotlight on the key role of buildings influencing and being influenced by the lifestyles of people. So this year, as our conference theme suggests, “Green Community, Green Action,” IGBC will focus on the community – to galvanise tenants, consumers and even the young to drive home the message that they too can contribute significantly to conserving resources, saving money and creating jobs while building owners together with regulatory bodies will work together to providing healthier places for all of us to live, work and play.”

About Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC)

Singapore Green Building Council was set up in 2009 to propel Singapore’s building and construction industry towards environmental sustainability. It promotes green building design, practices and technologies, integrate green initiatives into mainstream design, construction and operation of buildings as well as enhance capacity and professionalism to support the wider adoption of green building development and practices in Singapore.

SGBC, a member of World Green Building Council (WGBC) since 2010, launched its first Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) Certification Scheme in January 2011. The SGBP certification scheme complements Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in driving the green building sustainability development towards the Singapore 2030 Green Plan. SGBC, which has more than 300 members, has certified 144 green products.

SGBC is the host for the International Green Building Conference (IGBC) 2012 and strategic partner for BEX Asia 2012. In 2010, SGBC organized the World Green Building Council’s International Congress and its Inaugural Green Building Conference . Together with BCA, SGBC also launched the Green Building Individual Awards to recognize their continual and outstanding contributions towards the sustainability of Singapore’s built environment. SGBC membership is open to developers, contractors, manufacturers/suppliers, engineers, architects, institutions/associations, agencies and individuals concerned with or interested in transforming Singapore’s built environment towards a sustainable future.

About International Green Building Conference (IGBC)

The International Green Building Conference (IGBC) 2012, organized by SGBC in strategic partnership with BCA, is the anchor event of Singapore Green Building Week. Focusing on green leadership and green community this year, IGBC aims to engage the next generation of green leaders and the public in strategic and policy planning for a greener and healthier future.

Inaugurated in 2009, it serves as a platform for global industry players, practitioners, academics to congregate and share cutting-edge ideas and best practices. The conference focuses on a different theme every year, aimed at propelling the green building and construction industry.

Besides talks and presentations by distinguished experts from the green industry, IGBC provides participants with practical learning experiences through workshops and tours of local Green Mark buildings – where participants can gain first-hand knowledge of how Singapore developed its reputation as a front runner in the green building industry through the formulation of green building programmes

Source:  www.sgbw.com.sg

Announcement from the International Energy Centre

Asia Energy & Carbon Training Week

19-23 November 2012

Energy is a key economic, environmental, social and security issue for Asia. Challenging industry and government to think and act in innovative ways is a necessary and constructive way forward, if the growing needs of the region are to be met while ensuring long-term sustainable development.

The 2012 Asian Energy & Carbon Training Week (AECTW) is an exciting 5-day Professional Development program, designed to equip executives and policy makers with practical skills, knowledge and experience, and networks to manage carbon and energy issues in an increasingly complex policy and business environment.

The Training Week is for participants from organisations who recognise and wish to build capacity and strategies to respond to the emerging risks and opportunities presented by domestic and global carbon and energy markets. As an “end-to-end” management course it is valuable for participants from all backgrounds and of all levels of knowledge.

This 5-Day course will feature a set of highly interactive lectures, workshop discussions, field trips, and, networking and dinner events featuring talks by industry experts.

The course will be conducted by three energy and carbon experts – Simon Smart, Adrian Ward and Sebastian Thomas. Guest speakers at special sessions will be Edwin Kwee, President of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS), Ken Hickson Chairman and CEO of Sustain Ability Showcase Asia, Marion Verles, Executive Director of Nexus-Carbon for Development and Angus McEwin is the Managing Director of Monsoon Carbon,

The International Energy Centre (IEC) is a network of three of Australia’s leading universities in the energy domain – The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia and The University of Newcastle – and leading foundation industry partner Xstrata Coal.

The IEC’s vision is to play a critical role in equipping leaders with the skills, knowledge and expertise to address energy challenges and devise solutions for a sustainable future.

This goes beyond the immediate resource focus and includes clean technology, integration in areas such as regional and developing country processes, climate change, carbon management, sustainability, economics and international policy as well as other areas where energy forms an important part of the future.

Professional Development Outcomes

On completing the Training Week, participants will be competent in:

• Understanding      the fundamentals of energy and carbon;

• Understanding      the various energy systems and technologies ;

• Applying key      concepts related to international and national energy and carbon policy      and markets;

• Understanding      the advantages and disadvantages of different energy and climate policy      options, including case studies from other jurisdictions such as China,      Chile, the EU, Australia and California;

• Identifying,      conceptualising and evaluating cost-saving energy management and      low-carbon generation opportunities within their organisations;

• Appraising       different energy technologies and other emission reduction projects      according to the capital budgeting process and a robust risk framework;

• Developing      carbon offset methodologies and projects (such as under the Clean      Development Mechanism) and opportunities to sell these onto international      markets;

• Building skills      in developing carbon and energy management strategies for organisations      including: Compiling a      carbon footprint; Identifying energy and climate change      related regulatory risk; Understanding energy systems and technologies; Learning to set organisational      goals and objectives to reduce energy consumption and emissions; Building      a greenhouse gas marginal abatement cost curve (MACC); Putting into      practice carbon and energy management strategies; and Building a portfolio      of options to reduce energy costs and maximise carbon market      opportunities.

For the full details of the programme and to register for the week long training go to www.internationalenergycentre.com or email: a.ward@energycentre.com