Articles on sustainable practices

Read our thoughts and perspectives on climate change, sustainability and best practices from companies in APAC.

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green building

What are the Characteristics of an Environmentally Friendly Real Estate Development?

APAC
Commercial real estate
ESG

Climate change affects all aspects of life, from the diet to the capability to survive the natural disasters that come our way from time to time. However, the real estate industry has been pretty slow in addressing the concerns of sustainability, including climate change. This trend is now changing as more stakeholders, including investors, local authorities, the international community, and neighbors demand responsible operations. If you are a real estate developer, owner, or manager, people have discovered that their actions can help to save the planet. The capital markets are also demanding actions and delisting firms that do not provide accurate and verifiable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports. This is why you should target making your property more environmentally friendly. Keep reading to learn more about environmentally friendly real estate, including benefits and the main characteristics.

Shelley
Shelley
December 1, 2022
buildings

What is the Future of the Commercial Real Estate Industry?

APAC
Commercial real estate
ESG

The last two years have hard-pressed most industries, and real estate is no exception! When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the planet in 2020, businesses were forced to close down, people had to work from home, and the real estate industry nearly came to a screeching halt. Now that we are overcoming the pandemic, every sector is quickly getting on its feet. So, if you are new to the property market or a veteran who wants to consider options, you must ask the big question, "What is the future of the real estate industry?" This post takes a closer look at the industry to identify the common problems facing it and the emerging trends shaping its future. Keep reading to learn more and orient your company in the right direction for success.

Shelley
Shelley
November 30, 2022
Singapore buildings

How Does Inefficient Maintenance of Air-Conditioning Affect Big Multinational Companies (MNCs) in Singapore?

Singapore
Air quality & Pollution
HVAC

Do you run a multinational company (MNC) or a large organization in Singapore? If you do, we're sure you are always on the lookout to find ways how to be efficient in running your company/business, including the management of direct expenses such as the energy use for your entire building. HVAC/air conditioning systems account for approx. 30-50% of a building's energy consumption. So it is very important to adopt ways how to cut down this expense source. Also, one of the things that you must get right is a good working environment for your staff. The Singapore laws indicate that all workers are entitled to work in environments where all risks to their safety and health are appropriately controlled. To deliver this conducive working environment, one huge factor is to have a good air-conditioning (AC) system. The AC system helps to control not only the temperature and humidity but also clears harmful particles from the indoor environment. Therefore, it is prudent to ensure that it is running optimally all the time. However, it is not uncommon to find some malfunctioning systems in some companies. In this post, we take a closer look at the air conditioning for multinationals in Singapore and demonstrate the negative effects of inefficient maintenance. We will also highlight the best methods that you can use to maintain the AC in top-notch condition.

Shelley
Shelley
November 29, 2022
ghg

What is the Average GHG Emissions of Singapore Schools and Ways to Reduce It?

Singapore
Schools & Universities
GHG & Emissions

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has compared the planet to a vehicle on the “highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator” during the recent COP27 summit in Egypt. This warning is coming hot on the heels of another warning from the Paris Climate Conference of 2015 that called on governments to use every means to pull down global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. With the dangers facing us becoming clearer than at any other time in the past, we must act fast to avert the looming catastrophes. Schools are some of the big greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, and they have to get involved in helping to wrestle down the ballooning problem of global warming. So, how can they cut down their carbon footprints? Keep reading to learn more about sustainability in schools and the efforts they have adopted to reduce their carbon footprints.

Shelley
Shelley
November 25, 2022
CO2

How to Calculate the Carbon Footprint for Your School

APAC
Schools & Universities
Carbon Footprint

The earth is heating and burning up really fast! According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) the global average temperatures have risen at a rate of 1.7 degrees Celsius per century since 1970 compared to the decline reported in the past 7000 years. The effects, from extensive draughts to the sinking of coastal lowlands, are catastrophic. Between 2030 and 2050, global warming and climate change are expected to result in 250,000 more deaths per year. Remember that global warming is cross-boundary, and if you are yet to notice the threats, they are about to come knocking. This calls for urgent action to address the problem. In Singapore, schools form one of the largest emitters of greenhouse (GHG) gases, which are the primary causes of global warming. So, if you are a school manager, owner, or leader, it is time to reduce emissions, which has to start with carbon footprint calculation. Keep reading to learn more about carbon footprint in schools, including what it is, and the best way to calculate it. We will also highlight the best strategies to help you cut down emissions and run a more sustainable school.

Shelley
Shelley
November 23, 2022
teach

How to Teach Eco-Consciousness in School?

APAC
Schools & Universities
ESG

If the previous generations did not conserve the planet as we know it, we probably would not be here today. Imagine a world where the human generation and all the things we cherish are threatened with extinction. However, it is sad because humans’ actions are, indeed, accelerating the process of destruction and risking future generations. During a recent climate summit in Egypt, the main message was that the planet is racing toward self-destruction. We have to stop the destruction by making every effort to save the planet. It is time to adopt eco-consciousness at all levels. This has to start with education in schools. So, how do you teach eco-consciousness in Singapore schools? Here are some expert suggestions.

Shelley
Shelley
November 21, 2022
school

Are Schools on Track with Singapore's Goal to Reduce Carbon Footprint?

Singapore
Schools & Universities
Carbon Footprint

On October 25th, 2022, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, announced the country was cutting its forecast for its carbon dioxide emissions in 2030 to 60 million tons of CO2. Initially, the government had targeted 65 million tons of CO2, and the reduction is equivalent to reducing current transport-related emissions by 75%. This announcement is one of the emerging notions of success from the effort to fight global warming by different stakeholders. One category of stakeholders working extra hard to help reduce the country’s carbon footprint is the schools. Over the last ten years, schools in Singapore have stood out for their efforts in promoting sustainability. They have shown the way, but the truth is that there is a lot more that needs to be done to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030. Keep reading for insights on what schools in Singapore are doing to reduce their carbon footprint. We will also highlight additional ways that school administrators can use to keep their emissions as low as possible.

Shelley
Shelley
November 18, 2022
esg

Do Schools in Singapore have ESG Goals to Reduce their Carbon Footprint?

Singapore
Schools & Universities
ESG
Carbon Footprint

The global temperature is likely to increase by 2-4 degrees Celsius by the close of the century, which will be disastrous to life if we do not effectively address the problem of global warming. The situation is so dire that the Secretary General of the United Nations describes the planet as "periled and paralyzed." To avert the looming danger, there is only one way out: cutting down the carbon footprint from our operations. In Singapore, one of the main greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters is schools, which release an average of 9.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Despite the high emission rates, schools in Singapore have ESG goals to help them cut down GHG gases in line with the UN targets of achieving net zero carbon rates by 2050. Keep reading as we dig deeper into the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which aims to start by hiving off 2/3 of GHG by 2030 and zero carbon emissions by 2050. We will also outline key activities that school administrators can use to keep their carbon footprints low.

Shelley
Shelley
November 17, 2022
students

What is a School Student's Average Carbon Footprint in Singapore?

Singapore
Schools & Universities
Carbon Footprint

Schools are walking the talk in their efforts to cut down carbon footprint. One of the ways of achieving this is by assisting learners in understanding personal carbon footprint and reducing it to help protect our planet. This is crucial because helping students adopt sustainability means the skills they acquire will also be employed in the community and in areas of work later to further promote sustainability. To help more learners cut down their carbon footprint, the first step is determining the current levels. This post takes a closer look at school students' carbon footprint to determine the rate and best strategies for reduction.

Shelley
Shelley
November 16, 2022
green building

How Big is the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark?

APAC
Commercial real estate
ESG

For commercial real estate companies/owners, benchmarking sustainability performance is vital in helping stakeholders make their decisions to work with you. Sustainability is at the centre of the green building drive, which is rooted in the desire to make the world a better place. With more stakeholders demanding properties with positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts, you cannot afford to be left behind. One way of doing this is by using the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB). GRESB is one of the biggest ESG frameworks, which helps to provide a way for systematic evaluation of buildings for sustainability. We can liken it to other models, such as the Task-force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TFCD) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). So, if you are in the real estate business, this is one of the crucial tools to have in your portfolio. Keep reading to learn more about GRESB, including how big it is, its rating, and tips for improving your building's score.

Shelley
Shelley
November 15, 2022
schools

What is the Average Energy Consumption of Schools in Singapore?

Singapore
Schools & Universities
Energy consumption

All over the world, everyone is in a race to counter global warming that is threatening to tear apart the planet. This is our only home, but sadly, human activities have put it at the tipping point. To put it more clearly, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has said that "it is now or never" to slash global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, what are you doing to keep down global warming? In Singapore, no one wants to be left behind in this noble fight. For schools, this is one of the most important areas of focus because their impacts are pretty big. Therefore, school managements have to craft good strategies for cutting down their carbon footprints. This has to start with establishing the level of energy consumption. Keep reading as we establish the average energy consumption in Singapore schools and outline clear methods for cutting it down.

Shelley
Shelley
November 11, 2022
eco workplace

How to Bring an Eco-conscious Workplace

APAC
Commercial real estate
ESG

More and more organisations in different niches are shifting to sustainable operations to reduce their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts by making their workplaces eco-conscious. This move is driven by the growing stakeholders' demand for responsible and ethical operations. The impressive thing about sustainability is that companies, their management, and staff are sure of helping the planet to address the threats facing it. So, what activities can help make workplaces eco-conscious? This post takes a closer look at the top seven strategies that you can adopt to make your company's workplace eco-conscious and highlight the main benefits that come from it.

Shelley
Shelley
November 10, 2022
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