Punggol Eco-Town- The Sustainable Waterfront Town in the TropicsSingapore
■ Overview
- Singapore's overall goal is to grow in an efficient, clean, and green way. As the public housing agency that houses over 80% of Singapore's population, the Housing & Development Board(HDB) has a key role to play in supporting Singapore's commitment to sustainable development. Over the years, HDB has already been driving sustainable development efforts in its towns and estates. At town level, HDB towns are planned comprehensively to include all key facilities to create a work-live-learn-play environment to meet resident's needs. HDB buildings are designed to embrace local tropical climate conditions, utilizing passive design strategies to achieve effective energy, water and waste management.
While HDB has achieved much in promoting sustainability, there is a need to do more through new ideas and innovations to stretch our environmental targets. As the youngest HDB town currently under development, Punggol town presents a very good opportunity to demonstrate sustainable urban planning and design, green technology adoption and active community partnership. As such, HDB is developing Punggol town into Singapore's first Eco-Town, encompassing environmental, social and economic sustainability. The vision for Punggol Eco-Town is to be ‘The Sustainable Waterfront Town in the Tropics', with the aim of enhancing the living environment in Punggol estates and allowing residents to play their part for the environment.
■ Period of Implementation
- Phase 1: 2011 - 2015
Phase 2: Beyond 2015
■ Features
- Singapore's First Eco-Town- The Sustainable waterfront Town in the Tropics
- Punggol will serve as a 'living laboratory' to test new ideas and technologies in sustainable development, integrating urban solutions to create a green living environment. One of the key green initiatives for Punggol is the introduction of a waterway traversing through the town. Leveraging on the waterway, Punggol will herald a new generation of eco-living concepts in the next decade and beyond. To realize the plans for Singapore's first Eco-Town at Punggol, key strategies were adopted to steer the development of Punggol:
- a) Introducing effective planning and design concepts to make it conducive for residents to adopt eco-lifestyles
In promoting the concept of ‘Green Living by the Waters' in Punggol, more environmentally friendly buildings will be built by tapping on the elements of nature such as sun, rain and wind to aid in the future planning and design of Punggol Town.
- b) Exploiting urban solutions to achieve stretched environmental targets
HDB will be working with various government agencies and partners to carry-out large scale test-bedding of new green technologies and urban solutions in the areas of energy, waste and water management. Eventually, HDB hopes to lower the implementation cost of these solutions and to replicate them across other towns islandwide.
- c) Engaging, educating and enabling people to be part of the 'go green' efforts
People have an important role to play in supporting environmental sustainability. HDB will work closely with key stakeholders to engage, educate and encourage residents to go green. This will help instill a sense of commitment from the residents in realising the vision for Punggol as an Eco-Town for the Tropics.
■ Outcomes / Achievements
- The desired outcomes to be achieved under each of the 3 aspects of sustainability are detailed below.
- a) The environmental strategies focus on reducing carbon emissions, encouraging greener forms of transport, enhancing greenery and biodiversity, achieving effective water and waste management, and providing a clean, healthy and comfortable living environment.
- b) To ensure social sustainability whilst meeting the evolving and diverse social needs of a wide spectrum of residents, the social strategies seek to encourage more social activities and instill a greater sense of identity. These include introducing a new civic space typology at the Punggol Town Square, creating recreational spaces along Punggol Waterway and coastal promenades, and developing a ‘Heritage and Discovery Plan' for Punggol.
- c) Strategies for economic sustainability focus on creating economic and social vibrancy. Punggol Eco-Town is positioned as a 'living laboratory' to test-bed urban planning, sustainable design and green building solutions. It is an excellent platform to build capabilities and develop new solutions while providing a quality living environment.
■ Cost
■ Inquiries
- HDB Building Research Institute
Housing & Development Board, Singapore
Email(enquiries_hdbbri@hdb.gov.sg)
■ Related Links
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