SINGAPORE, July 7 — Senior engineer Vincent Lim, 35, was drawn to a career with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) because of the opportunity to participate in research and development. After two years in the private sector, he joined HDB in 2008.

He said: “I started as an engineer in the Building Technology Department, and conducted research and development on vertical greenery systems. I worked with the project director on the construction of Treelodge@Punggol, HDB’s first Eco-Precinct. During the course of HDB’s research and development projects, engineers are able to apply what they have learnt in school, such as project management and communication skills.”

Lim holds an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the same institution from which he received a Masters in Environmental Engineering in 2013. His Masters degree, which he began studying for in 2011, was sponsored by HDB.

He added, “In 2013, I was given the opportunity to be trained by the professors at NTU in Unsaturated Soil Mechanics, while still working at HDB. This training widened my perspective and deepened my skills in geotechnical engineering, particularly in using a cost-effective green system of recyclable materials to replace reinforced concrete walls for underground structures.”

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Building a green lifestyle

One project that stands out for Lim was the planning of a comprehensive cycling network in Punggol Town, which started in 2014.

“We wanted to promote a green commute among residents and improve accessibility within Punggol Town via cycling. This was a multi-agency effort that required site walks in Punggol to assess the existing conditions while planning the cycling network. It’s still a work in progress, and we are working with other agencies to incorporate the planned cycling paths into future developments in Punggol.”

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Rather than labouring in a bubble, Vincent appreciates feedback from the end-users of his projects. According to him, the best reward is when residents send in compliments to HDB on its initiatives to improve the living environment.

“One well-received project was the introduction of green roofs and vertical green systems in HDB estates,” he recounted. “These types of greenery help to lower ambient temperature to create a cooler environment and beautify the HDB estates.”

R&D@HDB

For Lim, these green solutions are compelling proof that “HDB has research and development capabilities on top of its role as a public housing developer”.

He explains that HDB studies not just the aesthetics, but also the functional aspects of sustainable sky-rise greenery through computer simulations and field-testing. “These software simulations generate outcomes and data that are utilised for preparing a conducive public housing environment.

“In the future, I think engineers can leverage such simulations to create likely scenarios of environments that residents will encounter due to climate change.

“Besides that, Singapore is also land-scarce, so optimising the use of limited land space for future housing developments is a challenge. We have to continue our research and development efforts to come up with better solutions and ideas to handle it.”

Cutting-edge green

Joining the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) meant gaining a different perspective on the regulation and engagement of the built environment sector, an intriguing prospect for Jordan Liang. Before joining BCA in 2013, he spent five years in the private sector. He is currently an executive manager in the Green Mark (New Development) department.

Vincent Lim, who works at HDB, appreciates feedback from the end-users of his projects. — TODAY pic
Vincent Lim, who works at HDB, appreciates feedback from the end-users of his projects. — TODAY pic

Outside of work, Liang’s professional development received a boost: “I had reached a point in my career where I felt it was time to pursue post-graduate studies, and I had heard much about BCA being an organisation that was very supportive of its employees’ upgrading.”

Now 32, Liang is pursuing his Master of Science in Building Performance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore. He is expected to complete it next year. He graduated from NTU in 2008 and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering.

Leading act

At BCA, Liang is part of a team of administrators of the Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) Regulations 2008. He was recently involved in the enhancement of the Building Control Act, which sets a minimum environmental sustainability standard for all new buildings.

He said: “This is in support of our national effort to become a leading global city in environmental sustainability. We are moving in the direction of adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change, which has become a global call today.”

Liang believes that BCA’s efforts to improve building design and efficiency will strengthen Singapore’s energy resiliency, citing the fact that there will be less dependence on energy imports.

Driving green innovation

According to Liang, the Green Mark Scheme has challenged the construction sector to innovate and be creative in how green buildings or infrastructure can be built. “Through our assessment and verification of buildings under the Green Mark Scheme, we have given engineers and designers a better understanding of sustainable and efficient design,” he said.

“Over the years, engineering standards have also improved due to some of our mechanical system pre-requisites. Such trends not only increase the value-add of our engineers and designers to the region, they also put Singapore at the forefront of tropical building design and construction globally.”

As a Green Mark higher-award assessor, Liang is appreciative of the constant exposure to new design ideas, products and innovations. He said: “Such exposure has allowed me to appreciate the possibilities in the industry from a top-down perspective. This is especially useful because it allows us to suggest certain new useful technologies that our clients might not be familiar with.”

Weathering the future

Singapore’s dependence on air-conditioning is a challenge that will grow more complex in the future, said Liang, as energy costs rise and more buildings, like data centres, have intensive cooling load requirements.

“The key to managing this challenge would be to continue innovating in building design for more efficient buildings that reduce cooling requirements, along with adopting efficient mechanical systems that reduce energy consumption needs.

“Mindset changes are also required. Offices and malls will likely be encouraged to raise air-conditioning temperatures to lower cooling energy requirements. We have seen such a successful evolution in Japan.”

He added: “I hope future engineers — and even non-engineers — will have and appreciate green buildings, which are supported by high-tech smart controls that allow them to respond efficiently to weather conditions and cooling load requirements.” — TODAY