Singapore Advances Toward Its 2030 Energy Efficiency Targets for the Built Environment Sector 
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore reported on July 30, 2026, that a new Design Prototyping for Decarbonisation (DPfD) study indicates that the country’s target of improving energy efficiency in the built environment sector by 80 percent compared with 2005 levels is highly achievable. The study aims to identify decarbonization pathways for new and existing office buildings, newly constructed hotels, and newly developed mixed-use buildings in support of the “80-80-80” targets established under the 2021 Singapore Green Building Masterplan (Fourth Edition). A detailed report summarizing the findings is scheduled for release by the end of 2026. The announcement was made by the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment at the 2026 Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) Awards Gala Dinner.
Study Findings
According to the study, the following three milestones had been achieved as of July 2026:
- With respect to the target of having 80 percent of buildings certified under the Green Mark scheme by gross floor area (GFA) by 2030, environmentally sustainable buildings currently account for 66 percent of total GFA.
- Against the target that 80 percent of new buildings beyond 2030 achieve the Super Low Energy (SLE) standard, approximately one-third of new buildings have already met the SLE benchmark.
- Regarding the goal of improving the energy efficiency of top-performing buildings by 80 percent relative to 2005 levels by 2030, a 72 percent improvement has been achieved to date.
Factors Supporting the Achievement of the 80 Percent Energy Efficiency Target
The study provides practical guidance for building owners seeking to improve energy efficiency and identifies two particularly effective strategies.
The first is plug load management, which offers a practical and accessible means for building owners to monitor and reduce energy consumption. Through the adoption of Green Leases, landlords and tenants can share the financial benefits generated by energy savings.
The second strategy is the use of Alternative Cooling Technologies (ACT), including Passive Displacement Cooling (PDC) and hybrid cooling systems. These technologies can reduce building cooling energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent while maintaining thermal comfort. Given that cooling typically accounts for 40 to 60 percent of a building’s total energy use, ACT presents a meaningful pathway toward achieving Singapore’s decarbonization goals.
Developments Aimed at Expanding Energy Efficiency Efforts
Singapore Land Group (SingLand), a real estate company participating in the study, is advancing decarbonization initiatives in urban redevelopment projects through the Green Building Innovation Cluster (GBIC) demonstration program. The company has introduced high-efficiency lighting and plug load management measures on office floors and plans to pilot PDC solutions in retail spaces.
In addition, SGBC has released the GO 25 Climate Responsive Apparel Guide. Since 2025, more than 200 industry partners have joined the initiative, and energy efficiency measures are expected to generate annual savings of at least US$6.4 million. SGBC is also encouraging residents in Singapore to optimize cooling practices by maintaining indoor air-conditioning temperatures at around 25°C in homes, offices, and other buildings.
Additional Information
Fact sheets related to the study are provided in Annexes A, B, and C:
- Annex A: Overview of the DPfD consultant study
- Annex B: Overview of the SGBC-BCA Sustainability Leadership Award (LSA) 2026
- Annex C: Overview of GO 25 (Comfort Made Sustainable)
The original article can be viewed at:
https://www1.bca.gov.sg/resources/newsroom/new-bca-study-confirms-80–energy-efficiency-target-is-within-reach-for-singapore-s-built-environment-sector/
The BCA media release is available at:
https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/338/14c08b80-a6ce-49bf-bc75-a51ef8067f2d/Media%20Release%20-%20SGBC%20Gala%20Dinner%202026.pdf
