CDL builds green with Haus@Serangoon Garden
Each of the 96 terrace houses will have a system to harvest rainwater, generate solar electricity, and convert the heat from air-conditioner to provide hot water.
In a joint release, the BCA and CDL announced another new milestone in sustainable development. Since the BCA Green Mark scheme was introduced in 2005, over 1,000 buildings in Singapore have met the Green Mark standards. This year, the first landed residential estate is joining the fold of BCA Green Mark Platinum buildings -the HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN.
Jointly developed by City Developments Limited and Hong Realty Limited, HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN comprises 96 landed terrace houses located at Serangoon Garden Way. Slated for launch around mid-2012, this is the first landed housing estate in Singapore to achieve the top-tier Green Mark Platinum award.
HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN is designed with environmental sustainability in mind. The development embraces an extensive use of both passive and active green building approaches to ensure that a comprehensive sustainable design is incorporated from the beginning. These include:
Comprehensive passive design for the whole development and individual units
The layout and orientation of the 96 units were designed to minimise heat gain and maximise natural ventilation from the sun-path and wind directions. For individual units, passive designs were incorporated to facilitate good air flow and circulation including a uniquely designed car porch and ample window openings to enhance natural day-lighting. Each house also comes with a roof sky-light and open riser staircase that brings in more natural light into the centre of the house.
Photovoltaic or PV system using solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity
Every house comes with a 1 kilowatt-peak PV system installed on its roof to generate solar electricity. Known to be one of the cleanest and greenest renewable energy sources, the solar power generated by the PV system will off-set the grid electricity consumed by the refrigerator provided for each house and house owners will benefit from direct cost savings on their electricity bills.
Air-conditioner heat recovery system
Another first-of-its-kind innovation for a landed housing estate here is the implementation of an air-conditioner heat recovery system where the waste heat generated from the operation of the air-conditioners will be used to provide homeowners with hot water in their bathrooms. This is a unique add-on innovation to the air-conditioning system which is of the highest energy efficiency “4-ticks” rating provided for each house.
Rainwater harvesting system
Every house will have a rainwater harvesting system to allow for the collection of rainwater for gardening use, hence reducing the use of potable water and also helps in the reduction in water bills.
Homeowners of HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN can benefit up to 40% utility savings for each typical terrace house, depending on their individual lifestyle and utility usage pattern.
In line with CDL’s ethos of conserving as it constructs, beyond the green features, this sterling green residential enclave will also be built with sustainable construction methodology. From the outset, a carbon footprint study will be conducted to identify ways to mitigate the environmental footprint of the development during the construction phase.
HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN will feature an extensive use of sustainable quality materials, including green concrete and recycled raw materials, in the building structure and road works. To improve buildability, resource efficiency and site productivity, pre-cast and pre-fabricated components will also be used widely during construction. All in, the developers invested approximately 4% of the total construction cost of the development in green infrastructure.
Mr Kwek Leng Joo, Managing Director of CDL said, “HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN is a landmark residential development for us as we are able to deliver significant measurable and direct cost benefits to individual homebuyers over a long-term period. Beyond being mindful of reducing the environmental impact during the development phase, this eco landed housing estate will also have a lower carbon footprint throughout its entire life-cycle. Through the extensive ‘greening’ of each and every house within HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN, we seek to create an integrated community of green homes that will inspire greater eco-consciousness across the larger Serangoon Garden residential enclave.”
Commenting on the HAUS@SERANGOON GARDEN, Dr John Keung, Chief Executive Officer of BCA said, “This is a first time we have awarded the Green Mark Platinum rating to a landed housing estate in Singapore, and we are indeed encouraged to see developers like CDL and Hong Realty making the effort to bring environmentally sustainable designs to not only high-rise buildings but individual landed homes. This project would serve as a good prototype for green landed housing in future and even for reference by existing homeowners who are looking to retrofit and improve the energy efficiency of their landed homes.”
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