Singapore’s push to lower energy consumption in the built environment has taken a concrete step forward with the completion of a significant retrofit at the Singapore Management University (SMU) administrative building. The university recently replaced its previous air-conditioning system with a hybrid cooling setup as part of a pilot project involving 26 developments under the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) refreshed Green Mark certification scheme, Version 7 (GM v7). This shift reflects a broader industry trend where older structures are being overhauled to meet modern sustainability standards rather than demolished or left idle.
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Officially unveiled in September, GM v7 introduces a new “Super Low Energy” (SLE) tier, SLE70, which requires a 70% reduction in energy use compared to a 2005 baseline. This is a notable change from previous iterations of the scheme, which focused heavily on holistic sustainability metrics. By separating energy consumption from other factors, the BCA aims to make the certification process more approachable for existing buildings undergoing retrofitting. The new framework also streamlines requirements and extends the validity of certifications from three to five years, offering building owners a more flexible and business-friendly strategy for asset upgrades.
Green Mark Version 7 is a refresh of BCA’s Green Mark Scheme, which was launched in 2005. In 2021, BCA launched a tailored Green Mark ratings system under the scheme, including four tiers from “Standard” to “Platinum,” based on a building’s holistic sustainability. These criteria include energy efficiency, as well as intelligence, health and well-being, whole life carbon, resilience and maintainability. Now, Green Mark Version 7 unveils a second rating pathway that buildings can take, which evaluates only their energy consumption, making it a more approachable goal, especially for existing buildings that can only become greener through retrofitting. This is the “SLE70” nomenclature, which refers to “Super Low Energy” at over 70% energy savings against the building’s typology 2005 baseline. The new ranking also includes four other tiers below it in ascending order of energy savings, plus formal recognition of the use of Alternative Cooling Technologies.
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The visit to SMU’s admin building was jointly organised by the university and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). The renovation and green retrofitting of the admin building was one of 26 developments that were involved in a pilot project by BCA, which has rolled out a refreshed Green Mark certification scheme – Green Mark Version 7 (GM v7). Officially unveiled on Sept 2, GM v7 is a refresh of the existing Green Mark framework that provides more flexibility for building owners to pursue and demonstrate sustainability performance. Some of the key changes include: the introduction of a standalone BCA Energy Rating a new Super Lower Energy (SLE) tier: SLE70 streamlined requirements and certification processes extended 5-year validity for eligible projects demonstrating sustained energy performance The existing SLE performance level continues as SLE60, while GM v7 introduces SLE70 as a higher performance tier for projects achieving at least 70% energy savings against the stipulated baseline. It took the team at SMU, led by Sundaravadivelan Selvam, Vice President, Campus Infrastructure and Services, a total of three years to get the whole building to a state where electricity costs are substantially cut and to achieve BCA’s latest low energy certification. News pieces like this explain what’s happening in the market. Our consultations are designed to help you understand what it means for your own property decisions. If you’re considering buying, selling or upgrading, we’d be happy to help you work through your options. See how our consultation works → Green Mark Version 7 is a refresh of BCA’s Green Mark Scheme, which was launched in 2005. In 2021, BCA launched a tailored Green Mark ratings system under the scheme, including four tiers from “Standard” to “Platinum,” based on a building’s holistic sustainability. These criteria include energy efficiency, as well as intelligence, health and well-being, whole life carbon, resilience and maintainability. Now, Green Mark Version 7 unveils a second rating pathway that buildings can take, which evaluates only their energy consumption, making it a more approachable goal, especially for existing buildings that can only become greener through retrofitting. This is the “SLE70” nomenclature, which refers to “Super Low Energy” at over 70% energy savings against the building’s typology 2005 baseline. The new ranking also includes four other tiers below it in ascending order of energy savings, plus formal recognition of the use of Alternative Cooling Technologies. The pantry room is designed to be a relaxing and collaborative space. Source: SMU “This will enable more building owners to start their sustainability journey through energy improvement retrofits, and to p
