The National University of Singapore (NUS) launched Singapore’s first net zero energy constructing to be built from scratch on the School of Design and Environment (SDE) on Wednesday (Jan 30).
The six-story constructing, called SDE4, features several sustainable designs similar to rooftop solar installations, a hybrid cooling system and a big overhanging roof.
Net zero energy implies that the constructing produces more energy than it consumes – for instance through the use of solar energy.
The 1,225 solar panels installed on the roof can provide over 500 megawatt hours of energy per 12 months. This can supply as much as 1,500 three-room apartments for over a month.
The constructing is estimated to save lots of about $180,000 a 12 months in energy costs, although its construction cost has not been disclosed.
On days when sunlight is insufficient, the constructing will draw energy from the university’s power grid, NUS said in a media note quoted by Asia News Channel.
NUS president Tan Eng Chye said Times of the Strait upon its launch, the constructing is “a testament to our ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability into various features of our campus life.”
“We hope this innovative concept will inspire future high-performance buildings and sustainable development projects in Singapore and beyond,” he added.
The inauguration ceremony was performed by Heng Swee Keat, Minister of Finance and President of the National Research Foundation.
He said it was necessary that buildings like SDE4 play a task within the fight against climate change, as the development sector accounts for 1 / 4 of Singapore’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“(SDE4) is a good example of how we can achieve better and more sustainable results when government, industry and academia work closely together,” Heng said.
He highlighted the constructing’s hybrid cooling system, a mixed-ventilation design that mixes air con and fresh air, as a way technology will help reduce energy consumption.
The constructing’s public spaces have also been designed to maximise natural wind because of SDE4.
Project partners include architecture firm Serie+Multiply, infrastructure consulting firm Surbana-Jurong and contractor Kajima Corporation.
Construction of SDE4 began about two years ago and is predicted to accommodate roughly 400 students. Most of the rooms will likely be designated as design studios.
