Core benefits of Sustainable Design

Green facts about asia Square

What is sustainability?

Why Sustainable Design?

achieving sustainability

Delivering seamless sustainability

Key Sustainable Design features

indoor Environmental Quality / Energy Efficiency

Materials and Resources / Water Efficiency

Work-life-Play at asia Square

a day in the life of asia Square

Executive summary

Conclusion / Contact details

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ■ How asia Square supports your business

■ Explaining the framework of sustainability

■ Helpful insights in achieving a “green” office

■ the benefits of implementing sustainability

What you can learn from this

GuiDe {the meaning

of sustainability

in the workplace

third-party

certifications and

their impact on your

workplace strategy

Who should be involved in the workplace design process

How to achieve the

optimal solution

Key areas of

Sustainable Design

outlined

a checklist for

making your

business more

sustainable

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Page 15

Page 22

Page 18

Page 14

GrEEN FACTS about asia Square

Green Label elementsSGLS (Singapore Green Labeling Scheme) certified materials with at least 30%

recycled content will be used extensively in the development.

Enhanced Indoor Environmental Quality uv emitter-equipped air handling units will improve tenants’ Indoor Environmental

Quality, while an eco-office system will reduce energy consumption

by optimising room temperature.

Energy-saving motion sensorsMotion sensor-equipped escalators, toilets, staircases and car

park area will further enhance asia Square’s energy efficiency.

Integrated water irrigation system Capturing around 2000 litres of moisture hourly, condensate water harvested from

air-conditioning units will be used to irrigate the property’s extensive greenery

24-hour district chilled water systemasia Square is connected to the Singapore government’s District Cooling System (DCS).

this reliable 24/7 system uses chilled water for the air-conditioning system to

reduce overall energy consumption.

versatile, eco-friendly light fittingsasia Square features numerous design initiatives to reduce the use of artificial

lighting. the City Room will be lit by large skylights. Sun pipes will be installed to direct

sunlight into the car park area. office perimeter lighting will feature integrated photocell

sensors, which can reduce unnecessary artificial lighting.

Heat insulating building design and materials Combined with its eco-friendly façade and materials, asia Square’s unique design can

maximise natural lighting and minimise heat transmission simultaneously. Energy

costs are much reduced by the enhancement of the cooling system’s effectiveness.

recycling waste into fuelasia Square boasts Singapore’s first biodiesel genera-

tion plant within a commercial building. approximately

four tonnes of waste oil from in-house and neighbouring

restaurants will be collected and recycled monthly.

The largest solar Pv panels in Singapore Equipped with the largest solar photovoltaic (Pv) panels

of any commercial building in Singapore, the building

provides an alternative energy supply for artificial lighting.

Heat resistant façade Triple Low E coating cuts air-conditioning costs by

keeping the heat out while allowing full penetration

of natural light.

Energy-regenerative liftsthe high-tech regenerative drive system will reduce lifts’ energy consumption by approxi-

mately 18%.

Preferential parking to encourage car-pooling and hybrid cars asia Square will help to reduce carbon emissions by

reserving 5% of its 580 parking spaces for tenants

who drive hybrid cars or participate in car-pooling.

Bicycle racks and showering facilitiesthe bicycle racks, together with the solar-powered

showers and locker facilities, will help asia Square to

be the first integrated development promoting the

bike-to-work culture.

E

W

S

N

WHy

HOW

** *

*

*

1

Improve productivity and reduce

absenteeism. Healthy, happy employ-

ees are more innovative and motivated,

and naturally contribute more to the

organisation.

Environmentally friendly, healthy and well-planned offices can help companies to...

Curb environmental degradation by

eliminating unnecessary consumption,

reducing pollution and conserving finite

resources. Support CSR initiatives in

a way that people can enjoy.

Minimise operation costs and

streamline workflows. lower utility

bills and churn costs with an efficient,

effective and flexible work environment. your company can take advantage

to ensure your company can leverage professional insights, asia square has worked with interior Design and engineering firm m moser associates to illustrate the key methodology and benefits of sustainable Design. the following pages act as a simple guide for designing your green workplace, so that it goes beyond form and function to become a strategic business tool.2 3

SuSTAINABLE DESIGN?

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Closely correlated with overall employee morale and satisfaction in the workplace, good iEQ has been found to increase productivity, and lower ab-senteeism, and is a key to recruiting and retaining in the environmentally aware talent pool. by creat-ing a workplace with good iEQ, businesses dem-onstrate their concern for their people’s wellbeing and thus contribute to greater employee loyalty.

Energy conservation is perhaps the best known area of Sustainable Design, because of the sub-stantial cost savings that can be achieved. being energy conscious means using only what is neces-sary, by employing efficient technologies and strat-egies that conserve energy and improve the work environment. Simple measures to lower energy use include maximising natural light and switch-ing to Energy Star-rated office equipment. using

there are several ways to improve iEQ and profit from it. increasing fresh air intake and improving circulation, monitoring oxygen levels, installing zoned temperature controls and using low-emit-ting materials are some examples. a 2002 law-rence berkeley national laboratory study showed that businesses could increase productivity by 3 to 7% and reduce incidence of respiratory illnesses

high-performance lighting can on averageimprove productivity by 4 to 7%, according to Carnegie Mellon and McGraw-Hill. More techno-logically advanced tools range from lED lighting, zoning and motion sensors for lighting and HvaC systems, to it strategies that consolidate and virtu-alise infrastructures. the latter can help midsized businesses quickly see a Roi from lowered power and cooling costs of up to 40% according to a

by 9 to 20% if improvements were made to indoor air quality. Carnegie Mellon and McGraw-Hill studies showed that natural light and window views alone potentially increase productivity by 9 to 12%. the principle is straightforward: Healthy, happy people will be more creative, productive, and more engaged with their work and their place of work.

study by ibM. on average, sustainably designed workplaces use 30% less energy than conven-tional ones – a reduction that, for a 60000 square foot office, is worth approximately SGD 56325 per year or SGD 168975 over a three-year lease pe-riod. Properly implemented, energy conservation strategies deliver cost savings while also conveying to the world at large that the business is actively conserving precious resources.

Step 1: Enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality

■ Regularly monitor carbon dioxide levels and test indoor air quality ■ Routinely test HvaCs and remove contaminants ■ Place printers and copiers in areas with exhaust-only ventilation to avoid harmful vapours ■ use low-voC emitting paints, sealants and adhesives in maintenance contracts ■ Put plants indoors to help absorb carbon dioxide and voCs in the air ■ Ensure optimal setting of room temperature and humidity levels ■ Promptly resolve system performance issues ■ Employ cleaning contracts that use solvent-free and hydrocarbon-free cleaning products ■ Refrain from using herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or pesticides on indoor plants

Indoor Environmental Quality Energy Efficiency

Efficient use of Energy

allowing natural light to flood your workspace and

improving air circulation and quality not only improves

your workforce’s health and productivity levels but

will also enable you to switch to more energy efficient

lighting and ventilation equipment, in order to cut

energy consumption and bills.

to support the tenant in these endeavours, asia Square

features pre-installed occupancy and daylighting sensors.

Comfortable, productive and healthy indoor environment

the more comfortable and healthy a staff feels, the more productive they

will tend to be. Even simple steps to enhance indoor air and lighting quality

and thermal comfort can deliver significant benefits for your business.

Research shows that people working in healthy, naturally lit environ-

ments with good ventilation are happier and more productive than

those in workspaces that lack natural lighting and those with high carbon

dioxide levels. the measurable benefits include better health, fewer

headaches and lower employee depression rates, less eyestrain and

better hand-eye coordination.

Step 2: Conserving precious, finite resources

■ implement occupancy-focused lighting control systems ■ Separate meters for lighting, it and general power systems ■ Regularly check and maintain control systems ■ install temperature and daylight sensors to control energy use ■ utilise energy-efficient supplementary air-conditioning ■ Employ an open plan office design to increase perimeter light penetration ■ install transparent materials and use bright colours to maximise light efficiency

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Step 4: Conserving our limited fresh water supplies

■ install sub-metering to monitor major water uses ■ Ensure sub-meters are supported by enhanced leak detection and maintenance plans ■ Regularly inspect for leaks and other performance issues ■ install water-efficient fixtures in washrooms and pantries

Step 3: Insist on easily renewable or recyclable materials and equipment

■ use modular carpets with recycled content, low-voC levels, with no PvC underlay ■ use FSC-certified wood or rapidly renewable materials like bamboo ■ Reuse existing furniture such as tables, chairs and workstations and reduce clutter ■ use movable partitions instead of fixed walls for easy reconfiguration ■ Choose voC-free, easily disassembled mechanical fixings over adhesives and sealants ■ implement a collection scheme for recyclables in the office ■ Choose durable materials to minimise maintenance and replacement needs ■ insist on water-based instead of oil-based paints

using green materials does not necessarily cost more. the sustainable consumption of materials and resources often mean adhering to the 3R’s of reuse, reduce and recycle (or more recently, the 4th R: Redistribute). Where possible, reusing exist-ing furniture is both environmental and economi-cal. Sustainable Design is about making intelligent choices by knowing what materials are the most consumptive over their lifecycles.

Sustainable materials are those made of rapidly renewable resources or recycled content with low embodied energy. When choosing wood, it should be certified by a recognised third party such as the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit organisa-tion that encourages the responsible management of the world’s forests. importantly, materials should be non-toxic and low-emitting in volatile organic compounds (voCs). Formaldehyde, a common

voC, is often found in conventional adhesives and paints. it irritates the respiratory system and is a known contributor to sick building syndrome - recent research by the Committee on toxicology of the national Research Council estimates approxi-mately 10% of the population is hypersensitive to formaldehyde. in this regard, choosing materials wisely can lead to better employee health, com-fort, and greater trust in a safe work environment.

using rapidly renewable, recycled, and healthier materials

in addition to using materials that are low-emitting and are made of rapidly

renewable resources, tenants can also consider re-using existing furniture to

not only save but also reduce overall environmental impact.

Making your workspace healthier will not only make your company

more sustainable but also help boost morale, reduce absenteeism

and enhance talent attraction and retention levels. Many research

studies show a clear link between healthier material usage and improved

staff performance and productivity. Workplace enhancements in the form

of environmentally friendly materials and resources can benefit your

company’s bottom line.

Consuming water wisely

Eco-efficiency in water consumption now is crucial to ensure safe, reliable

fresh water supplies in the future. it is important that businesses do

their part to conserve water in Singapore and use it efficiently.

For these reasons, asia Square features efficient fittings, sub-meters to

monitor usage and leakage, and an integrated irrigation and cooling

system that uses nEWater and recycled water on-site. businesses can

also promote water conservation plans within by implementing measures

within the workplace.

Materials and resources Water Efficiency

Water conservation not only saves money through reduced utility expenditures, but also supports and complies with Singapore’s water efficiency programmes aimed towards water self-sufficiency and reduction of environmental degradation. Moreover, water efficiency is closely linked with

energy efficiency; use less water and the energy consumed by water supply and treatment facilities decreases. the lasting strategic, economic, social, and environmental benefits of water conservation practices also make them robust investments in the nation’s future.

Workplace measures to improve water efficiency include better leak detection systems and monitor-ing usage in washrooms and pantries. installing motion-sensored, low-flow faucets and toilets pre-vent water wastage and lowers water consump-tion. implementation of these measures not only rewards businesses financially, but also contributes to their role as responsible corporate citizens.

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LIfE

BALANCE

ASIA SQuArE OPTIMISING PEOPLE’S LIfEWORkpLAy

pLAy

mrt and Bus stations

roof Park1.

3.2.

retail

hotel & spa

natural light

400 Bicycle racks

efficient floor Plates

city room

indoor Quality

fitness studio

580 Parking spaces

food court

shower facilities

WORk

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3.

4.

1.

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5.

6.

2.

6.

7.

5.

4.

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AFTErNOON

AFTErNOON

MOrNING

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if we cannot envision the world we

“As one of the world’s leading property

investors, we recognise our responsibil-

ity to be mindful of our impact on the

environment. Our goal is to take every

opportunity to enhance the communities

in which we operate”