First eco-friendly precinct at Punggol may be built by 2011
March 26, 2007
New 'green' flats near Punggol MRT
By Jessica Cheam
THE first 'green' flats will sprout soon in Punggol.
At least seven blocks near Punggol MRT station will be designed and built with energy-saving features, said Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Charles Chong.
Labelled Singapore's first 'Eco-Precinct', this new public housing project will offer Singaporeans 'green homes' that will incorporate fresh designs and new technologies to make them environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Residents are likely to enjoy lower utility bills, thanks to solar panels on their roofs and rain-water collecting devices to recycle water in the buildings, said Mr Chong.
The flats, which would take a few years to build, will be the first batch of new 'green' public housing since Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu announced last December that all public buildings will have to get the Green Mark from next month.
The Green Mark rates buildings on their environmental impact and performance.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Chong elaborated on National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan's recent comments which hinted at an 'experimental project' due to be announced soon.
The public will have a say in the making of this eco-precinct, said Mr Chong, and planners would look at how to keep costs down despite the added features.
Industry players weighed in on the 'green' plans. Architect John Ting, former president of the Singapore Institute of Architects, suggested that more flats be built with balconies. These help shade a building and reduce heat gain. They also create a space to grow plants, which further reduce temperatures, he said.
'We should use good design at the fundamental stage to make a building green, rather than just rely on engineering,' he said.
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Govt launches 1st 'green homes' in Punggol
March 28, 2007, 2.27 pm (Singapore time)
Govt launches 1st 'green homes' in Punggol
THE Government has gone green to launch its first 'green homes' in Punggol.
Called 'Treetops@Punggol', the 2.9 hectare environmentally-friendly or eco-precinct will house seven residential blocks, with more than 700 units on sale.
Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan made the announcement at the Eco-Buildings Conference on Wednesday morning.
Eco-friendly features fitted in the units include lush greenery on roofs and community spaces and cool walls.
There will also be a new and improved rainwater collection system where stored water will be used for cleaning the corridors and the centralised rubbish chute.
One of the energy efficient features are the solar panels on roofs to power light fittings in common areas such as the corridors and void deck.
But while the units - mostly four-room flats - are relatively more expensive than the usual prices of flats in Punggol, Mr Mah assured that the 'additional costs to build the flats will not be passed down to home-buyers'.
He added that the services and conservancy charges are likely to remain the same.
'Treetops at Punggol' could be completed as early as 2011.
It will be Build-To-Order and Housing Development Board (HDB) is holding an exhibition at the HDB Hub about the development.
First eco-friendly precinct at Punggol may be built by 2011
First eco-friendly precinct at Punggol may be built by 2011
Posted: 28 March 2007 1839 hrs
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Treetops@Punggol
SINGAPORE: Everything about Treetops@Punggol, which is under Housing and Development Board's Build-to-Order system, spells eco-friendly.
The new eco-precinct has been designed to harness the elements of nature such as light, rainfall and wind to promote sustainable green living.
There will be more greenery with an eco-deck above the car park, skyrise greening on its roofs and a community garden.
These features are expected to lower the surrounding temperature by as much as 4 degrees Celsius.
For energy efficiency, solar panels will be installed on the roof to power the common corridors of the estates as well as the eco-deck.
This will save 80 percent of energy used.
Motion sensors will also be introduced at the podium car park to provide on-demand lighting.
For these extra features, the flats will cost slightly more than other apartments in the same area.
The prices range from S$139,000 to S$254,000 for 3- and 4-room units, and S$370,000 to S$383,000 for five-roomers.
There will be a total of 700 units offered.
Attention is also paid to water and waste management.
A rainwater collection system will be implemented where the water collected will be used to wash the common corridors.
There will be an integrated wash basin and toilet pedestal system in the flats to promote water conservation as well as a dedicated refuse chute for recycling.
Whether these features will be incorporated into future public housing projects will depend on public feedback.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "If there is good response, then yes, we will do more of this. But this is the culmination of the many things that HDB has been doing in the last few years. It's very timely, considering that first of all, the technology is becoming more cost-efficient."
However, the HDB said that it would proceed with the project only if there is a demand for it. There will be a selection process and the results will be known later this year.
If all goes well, the precinct will be ready by 2011.
Treetops@Punggol will be located at the junction of Punggol Road, Punggol Drive and Punggol Place – a few minutes' walk from the Punggol MRT station and the Damai LRT station.
Interested flat buyers can view models of the precinct at an exhibition at the HDB Hub and they can make applications via the HDB website by 17 April.
Treetops@Punggol has been awarded the Green Mark under a scheme to promote eco-friendly building technologies and designs.
The government has announced that it will adopt the Green Mark scheme for all new public housing projects from January.
All developments at the Marina Bay will also be Green Building certified.
- CNA/so
Re: First eco-friendly precinct at Punggol may be built by 2011
HDB receives over 600 applications for eco-friendly precinct
HDB receives over 600 applications for eco-friendly precinct
By Sheralyn Tay, TODAY | Posted: 29 March 2007 2147 hrs
SINGAPORE: There has been a good response to the Housing and Development Board's first eco-friendly precinct, which was launched on Wednesday.
HDB said it has already received 615 applications for "Treetops@Punggol" – the first eco-friendly build-to-order project with a total of 712 units.
The hot draw is the 14 five-room loft units that feature a large living room and an open terrace.
Even though the units are more expensive than other HDB flats, many people still think they are value for money.
They also like the "condominium look".
"Treetops@Punggol" will have seven blocks which are 16-storey high.
They will be built to minimise heating and some of the features include rooftop greenery, heat-resistant walls and a landscaped eco-deck.
The precinct will be ready by 2011.
- CNA/so
Only Day 2, and eco-precinct has drawn 615 applications
Singapore News // Friday, March 30, 2007
Only Day 2, and eco-precinct has drawn 615 applications
DESPITE initial reservations over the premium prices and its remote location, the first eco-precinct here has garnered an enthusiastic response just two days into its launch.
As of yesterday, 615 applications had been received for the 712 units at Treetops @ Punggol — the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) first eco-friendly build-to-order project.
Balloting began in earnest on Wednesday, with 428 applications in by 7am yesterday, and nearly 200 more streaming in over the next eight hours.
Predictably, the hot draw looks to be the 14 five-room loft units that feature a double-volume living room and open terrace. Six of the seven interested buyers Today interviewed had their eyes on these, while one couple said they were looking for a four-room unit as the loft was too "pricey" at $370,000 to $383,000.
But young parents Mr Logapreyan R and his wife, Ms Anujit Kaur, thought this price tag reasonable compared to other flats in the open market.
"The open living concept with natural life is very different," said Mr Logapreyan. "It's about going green and the amenities in the area are very good — close to future schools, the sports complex, marina and water sports, so there's a lot of growth potential."
The price tags did make Mr Norman Ng hesitate over his choice of units. "The difference is very great between the four and five room — about $100,000 — so that's a stinging point for us," said the married 32-year-old, who nevertheless thought the unique eco-project was "value for money".
The chance to live green was not the only draw for would-be buyers, who favoured the "condominium look", location and flat layout.
Said Mr Logapreyan: "(The project) brings some tension to the property market, as HDB is becoming more competitive and projects like these can compare with the private condominium market."
The seven 16-storey blocks were built to minimise heating issues — with rooftop greenery, heat-resistant walls and a landscaped Eco Deck to ensure cooler living.
Compared to similar built-to-order projects in Punggol, such as The Coralinus Phase 2, the four-room flats for Treetops @ Punggol come with a 15 per cent premium — priced at $208,000 to $254,000, compared with $182,000 to $220,000 for the other project.
Treetops @ Punggol has 98 three-room units and 600 four-room units available, as well as 14 five-room loft units. — Sheralyn Tay
