A Case study on the Green Initiatives taken in the Ocean Financial Centre

19SC/SS/HC13

Submitted by

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21/USCA/068

Stella Maris College

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SYNOPSIS

 Introduction

 Triple-glazed façade glass

 Power-saving lighting

 Photovoltaic (PV) cells

 Regenerative drive lifts

 Eco-switch

 Paper recycling

 Greenery

 Water efficiency

 Conclusion
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Introduction

Ocean Financial Centre is a green initiative building located in Singapore developed by

Ocean Properties private limited as a redevelopment of two existing office buildings (Ocean

Building and Ocean Towers) in Singapore’s central business district (CBD). It is built on the

site of the former Ocean Building, which has been demolished. The new building retained the

name and many of the tenants of the former office block, and serves primarily as a home to

financial corporations. It is a 43-story, luxury Grade office building located in Singapore's

financial district. With over 876,000 square feet of prime office space and column-free floor

plates that range in size from 20,000 to 23,000 square feet, it is situated at the intersection of

the Raffles Place and Marina Bay districts. The precincts of Marina Bay are connected to the

Raffles Place MRT junction by a street. The ground floor and basement levels of the office

skyscraper also feature a number of dining establishments and facilities.

The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore awarded the Ocean Financial Centre a

second Green Mark Platinum Award in 2019 in recognition of its environmentally friendly

features and design.

Location

Ocean Financial Centre's unbeatable location at the junction of the Central Business District

(CBD) and the new Downtown at Marina Bay makes it the ideal venue for both business and

[Link] world-class building, which is close to Marina Bay Sands and Esplanade -

Theatres on the Bay, is privy to a wide variety of entertainment [Link] distance to

Changi International Airport for frequent business travellers is only 20 minutes by car.
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Raffles Place MRT Station, a crucial interchange for the East-West Line and North-South

Line, and Downtown MRT Station are both directly connected to the building.

In the centre of Singapore's financial and business hub, Ocean Financial Centre perfectly

combines business and leisure.

GREEN INITIATIVES AT THE OCEAN FINANCIAL CENTER

Fig 1. An illustrational summary of all the green initiatives taken in the OFC

Source:Keppel [Link] [Link]

1. Triple-glazed façade glass

The term 'glazing' refers to the glass component of a building's façade or internal surfaces.

Historically, the installation of glazing was undertaken by a specialist glazier, but today it is
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possible to purchase entire window units which can be fitted by a general contractor., the

triple glazing has been developed, comprising three panes of glass separated by spacer bars,

and two cavities, filled with argon. Triple-glazed façade glass with state of-the-art low

emissive coating is used to maximize light transmittance and transparency while minimizing

heat gain. The high-performance and low-emission triple-glazed glass curtain-wall system is

not only engineered to provide maximum protection for occupants, but the unitized curtain-

wall design is also prefabricated locally to minimize carbon footprint. As well as energy

efficiency, triple glazing can allow improved thermal comfort for the occupants of buildings

(by reducing cold spots and eliminating cold downdrafts) as well as better acoustic

performance, increased security, reduced solar gain in the summer and a reduction in surface

condensation. In combination with other energy saving design features, it can result in

noticeable reduction in bills.

2. Power Saving Lightings

The use of daylighting through windows, skylights and other openings can reduce the need

for electrical lights. In addition, in hotter months, the use of daylighting can reduce cooling

loads, as on average it produces less heat per unit of illumination than electric lights. The use

of power-saving LEDs on the building façade and the roof crown creates an unforgettable

silhouette along Singapore’s magnificent skyline.

3. Photovoltaic (PV) cells

Solar energy comes alive inside just a few square centimetres of silicon, the photovoltaic

cell. Photovoltaic cells (or solar cells) are the heart of solar power generation systems. They

are little dowels pieced together into a mosaic that makes up a photovoltaic module (solar

panel). The building has the largest PV system for a high-rise commercial building in the

CBD area, with more than 400 m2 of solar PV panels harnessing 75kWp of solar energy.
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Located on top of one of the tallest buildings in Singapore, at approximately 250 m AMSL in

height, it will be the highest PV assembly in Singapore.

4. Regenerative drive lifts

Regenerative drives capture the heat generated by elevators during use and convert it into

reusable energy for the building rather than wasting it as heat. When power flows into the

elevator motor, it creates a lifting torque on the shaft and elevator sheave, lifting the cab. All

passenger lifts are fitted with regenerative drive. This feature feed energy usually lost during

braking back into the building where it can be used for other loads, hence reducing overall

energy usage.

5. Eco-switch

The eco-switch is a simple and inexpensive energy-saving device that lets you relocate the

power point switch to a more convenient spot. A programmable switch that provides an

option for tenants to control their air-conditioning temperature and lighting level to suit their

needs during off peak and lunch hour

6. Paper recycling

Recycling paper helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to climate

change. It takes 70% less energy and water to recycle paper than to create new paper from

trees. Manufacturing with recovered paper cuts down on pollution that contributes to smog.

Paper is collected from different garbage bins and is accumulated in a large garbage

container. Then the paper is taken to the recycling plant where the paper is segregated into

different grades. Papers in different grades are then washed with soap and water to remove

ink, staples, and glue. An integrated paper recycling facility encourages the recycling of
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paper waste generated by the commercial office. A paper recycling chute is provided to serve

users on all office floors.

7. Greenery

Having plants in the office has been shown to improve air quality, increase attention span,

improve creativity, lower stress and stabilize mood. Recent studies have found that plants in

the office can boost productivity by as much as 15%. According to the Human Spaces

report, office environments with greenery and natural light can boost workplace productivity

by 6% and increase creativity by 15%. Having plants can reduce cold and cough, and so,

indirectly it also decreases absenteeism. OFC uses extensive vertical green walls for a cooler

and greener environment. The building’s green plot ratio (a measure of greenery provision in

building development, which takes into consideration the three-dimensional volume covered

by plants)

8. Water efficiency

When it comes to water efficiency and awareness, even a small change can have a positive

impact on the company’s water usage. Taking care of the environment and reducing water

costs come hand in hand, to minimise wastewater and be more mindful about water usage in

the workplace. Water conservation measures include using water-efficient fittings, using

submeters for monitoring and leak detection, and harvesting rain water for irrigation.

Rainwater Harvesting is one of the most commonly used methods to save water. It refers to

storing of rainwater for various uses. The notion behind rainwater harvesting is to not waste

the rainwater and prevent it from running off. In other words, it is done to collect rainwater

using simple mechanisms. This method is very useful considering the water scarcity that is

happening in India. Moreover, rainwater harvesting is so easy that almost anyone can do
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it. Rainwater harvesting is very easy and economical. Following the water scarcity in so

many parts of the world, rainwater harvesting has become the need of the hour. It must be

practiced by people of all regions. This will also give them a sense of comfort in knowing

that they won’t have to face water scarcity. Furthermore, rainwater harvesting holds more

importance than we actually think it does. As we know that surface water is not enough to

meet the demands of the people, we can get additional help from rainwater. Also, most

people now depend on groundwater for their uses. Many houses and even flats have

submersible pumps in their place. The groundwater is decreasing day by day because of

excessive usage, deforestation, urbanization and more. Thus, when we practice rainwater

harvesting, it can maintain the level of the groundwater. That way, we all can make use of

groundwater as it will keep on replenishing through rainwater harvesting. Moreover,

rainwater harvesting prevents water from logging on roads. It also reduces the chances of soil

erosion. Most importantly, rainwater harvesting improves the quality of water which we

consume, as it is the purest form of water.

CONCLUSION

There is always a question of the economic profitability of such green initiatives. Due to

novation, the cost of construction for the OFC has increased by about 4%.However, the

advantages over time translates costs into benefits. Considering the energy and water savings

realised, this would amount to a payback period of seven to nine years. Long-term energy and

water savings for tenants will also be a result of the eco-features. Better indoor environments

and air quality are additional benefits, which raise employee wellbeing and productivity. The

long-term effects of such initiative should always be kept in mind before rejecting the notions

of green buildings as "The Earth is what we all have in common."

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References

(2021). Ocean Financial Centre. Asia business council. [Link]

(n.d.).[Link].

[Link]

Rainwater Harvesting -Process, Advantages and Disadvantages. (2019, July 29). Retrieved

November 3, 2022, from [Link]

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