Environment A Pillar Of CDL's Business

Source : The Strait Times, Dec 07, 2007

Property developer has incorporated eco-friendly practices into its business model

THE building and construction industry has long been fingered as a major culprit for the world's climate change woes, as forests absorbing carbon dioxide are decimated to make way for skyscrapers.

GREEN MESSAGE: CDL's South Beach project will feature an 'environmental filter' canopy. -- PHOTO: CITY DEVELOPMENTS

But home-grown property developer City Developments(CDL) hopes to show how the sector can improve its green rating.

For incorporating eco-friendly practices into its business model and promoting green outreach programmes, it has become the first private company to be honoured with the President'sAward for the Environment.

While many companies are taking green steps now, CDL made the environment a pillar of its business in the late 1990s, long before it became trendy.

'We embarked on our green journey with the simple intent of conductingour business in a socially responsible manner,' said managing director Kwek Leng Joo.

'So this award is truly an honour.'

Today, green features such as energy saving lights, pneumatic waste disposal systems and multiple recycling corners havebecome landmarks of CDL's 110 commercial and residential developments in Singapore.

A total of 16 of its buildings have also received the Green Mark Award conferred by the Building and Construction Authority to recognise environmentally friendlybuildings - the most for any company here.

To help get the green message out to its stakeholders, CDL has rolled out a slew of programmes over the years, including Project Eco-office with the Singapore Environment Council. The annual campaignpromotes green habits at the work place.

The developer has also started another pilot project recently. It is measuring the carbon emissions saved by adjusting air-conditioning temperatures up one degree in five buildings here, including RepublicPlaza in Raffles Place.

'We hope to show that small actions, at no cost, can make a big difference,' said a CDL spokesman.