http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/...route-20140904

Developers have $52m incentive to take green route

Five-year initiative aims to spur research in energy-efficient technology

Published on Sep 4, 2014 1:40 AM

By Audrey Tan


BUILDING developers looking to go green now have an even greater incentive in the form of new government funding to help them achieve their goals.

The National Research Foundation has set aside $52 million to spur greater research in energyefficient technology and the demonstration of resulting innovations.

The funding comes under a five-year initiative called the Green Building Innovation Cluster (GBIC).

It was launched yesterday by Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry.

The fund, to be administered by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), will allow developers to work with research partners to develop innovations that can boost a building's energy efficiency, and test-bed them in their own buildings.

The real-time or near real- time data from these projects will be collected and analysed in a database under the GBIC.

This database, part of the National Building Energy Efficiency Repository, will provide data for use in academia or be shared within the industry.

Relevant details, such as intellectual property rights protection and data sensitivity, are being worked out, said BCA chief executive John Keung.

The GBIC initiative will drive research in five areas: integrated designs, building envelope and facade systems, building management and information systems, air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation, and policy and behavioural studies.

More details, such as the criteria for funding, will be unveiled in the next two months.

Eight organisations, including developer CapitaLand, the Housing Board and Nanyang Technological University, have expressed interest in taking part in GBIC's initial phase.

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