Mall carparks going green

Two of them offer reserved parking spaces for drivers of eco-friendly cars
By Irene Tham

(Ecologikal Notes: which mall in Malaysia will take the lead?)

GOING green has its privileges for drivers of eco-friendly wheels, such as hybrid cars, who get to use reserved parking spaces at some malls.

At least two malls here - 313@Somerset in Orchard Road and City Square Mall in Kitchener Road - have such reserved spots, even if these tend to be mostly empty. The two malls' spokesmen said they want to give drivers of eco-friendly cars a pat on the back.

Hybrid cars are so called because they have a petrol engine as well as an electric one. They pollute less but cost more than petrol-driven cars.

There are only 2,600 hybrid cars (the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Lexus RX400h models) here, compared to 571,600 petrol-driven cars.

All-electric cars are also privileged at the two malls but there is only one such vehicle here as of last year, the Land Transport Authority's website showed.

A spokesman for property developer City Developments Ltd (CDL), which manages City Square Mall, said: 'We encourage shoppers to choose eco- friendly vehicles to save the environment.'

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Sustainability initiatives in project offices at 313@somerset

The project teams at 313@somerset are committed to delivering a sustainable future for all our stakeholders and we recognise the importance of being accountable for what we take, what we create and what we leave behind.

Our project has already achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award and our team continues to strive for excellence in our work environment. Initiatives include:

* Solar panels to harness the sun’s energy to power the Centre.
* CO and CO2 sensors at loading docks and car parks to control fan usages.
* Energy saving stand-by escalators to reduce energy consumption during lower peak period.
* Low-energy LED façade.
* High frequency ballasts for down-lights and T5 fluorescent lamps in lieu of T8.
* Extensive use of energy & water sub-metering for base building and tenants to closely monitor energy uses.
* Water efficient tap fittings to highest practical level and efficiency throughout to reduce water consumption and water wastage.
* Usage of NEWater (Public Utilities’ Recycled Water) for cooling towers and sprinkler make-up water.
* First privately developed building in Singapore to use Sprinkler Tank for Thermal Energy Storage Bank, thus allowing the building management to perform load shifting, load shaving and energy conservation.
* Co-generation plant produces heat from bio-diesel made from waste cooking oil to heat up hot water to supply the Centre’s requirement.
* Intelligent lighting control system, lighting controls and lighting sensors in atrium, top-level car-park to save energy during the day, motion sensors for staircases.
* Mechanical Grease Extraction System. Self-cleaning, in-built mechanical cutter and pump for grease extraction minimizes access to grease pit and improves indoor air quality.
* The long facades facing North-South incorporates high performance, “Low-E” double glazed system with insulated back panels to exposed areas to optimise HVAC loads as well as enhance occupant comfort.
* Gearless lift system coupled with AC VVVF drive uses less energy. Light-weight decorations and sleep mode are also featured.
* Energy Recovery Wheel is installed to capture the cooling energy from the exhaust air that is from the air-conditioned space which is then transferred to pre-cool the fresh air going into the air-conditioning system.
* Collection of rainwater for toilet flushing, vertical greening in sky terrace and landscaping in discovery walk.
* Use of recycled materials, low VOC paint & low emissive materials to the project including reuse of carpet tiles and workstations from leasing office to centre management office.
* Green Lease and Tenancy Collaboration.

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