Singapore 30 November 2020 – The National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Design and Environment 4 (SDE4) is the first building in Southeast Asia to be awarded the Zero Energy Certification by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a non-profit organisation that also administers the flagship Living Building Challenge.
The Zero Energy certification by ILFI is based on actual performance and awarded to Green buildings where 100 per cent of their energy needs is supplied by on-site renewable energy sources on a net annual basis, with no combustion.
“As the world addresses climate change, it is critical to see buildings like the NUS SDE4 move aggressively to earn zero energy certification. This fantastic project shows that project teams can rise to the challenge by creating buildings that produce more energy than they use, serving as a model for other universities in Singapore, across Southeast Asia, and around the world,” said Shawn Hesse, Director of Business Development at the ILFI.
The multidisciplinary academic building, which is six-storey high and spans 8,588 square metres, was developed by NUS Design and Environment in partnership with external consultants, builders and developers. It consists of a range of sustainable design features that have been holistically integrated into its architecture to not only deliver user health and comfort in the tropical context, but also meticulously programmed to be highly energy efficient.
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One of its key features is a large overhang, which hosts more than 1,200 photovoltaic (PV) panels to harness solar energy to meet the energy demands of the building. It also features an innovative hybrid cooling system to effectively manage the building’s energy consumption, supplying 100 per cent fresh pre-cooled air, albeit at higher temperatures and humidity levels than in a conventional system, and augments this with an elevated air speed using ceiling fans.
– Construction+ Online
Source: NUS
