recommend strategies to achieve our national energy objectives: economic competitiveness, energy security and environmental sustainability.

Here are the 5 strategies and 11 recommendations to help Singapore build a Smart Energy Economy:

Strategy 1: Diversifying our Energy Sources

1. Allow entry of new energy options on a market basis

2. Develop renewable energy sources

3. Study the feasibility of the nuclear energy option and develop expertise in nuclear energy technologies

Strategy 2: Enhancing Infrastructure and Systems

4. Invest in critical energy infrastructure ahead of demand

5. Develop Jurong Island as an energy-optimised industrial cluster

Strategy 3: Increasing Energy Efficiency

6. Promote energy efficiency for buildings, industry and in homes

7. Support clean and efficient technologies in transportation

Strategy 4: Strengthening the Green Economy

8. Establish energy as a key national R&D priority

9. Build capabilities for the green economy

10. Apply a green lens to government procurement

Strategy 5: Pricing Energy Right

11. Price energy to reflect its total cost

The ESC was formed in May 2009 to:

develop strategies for Singapore to build capabilities and maximise opportunities as a global city in a new world environment, so as to achieve sustained and inclusive growth.

The ESC is chaired by Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Finance, and comprises members from the government, the labour movement, the private sector as well as academia.

Key Recommendations:

We must achieve higher productivity growth of 2 to 3 percent per year, enabling our GDP to grow on average by 3 to 5 percent per year over the next decade.

Increased productivity is not achieved merely through increased efficiency, but restructuring our economy to provide more room for rapidly growing and innovative enterprises.

7 Key Strategies:

1. Growing through skills and innovation
2. Anchor Singapore as a Global-Asia Hub
3. Build a Vibrant and Diverse Corporate Ecosystem
4. Make Innovation Pervasive, and Strengthen Commercialisation of R&D
5. Become a Smart Energy Economy
6. Enhance Land Productivity to Secure Future Growth
7. Build a Distinctive Global City and an Endearing Home

Here’s the ESC’s recommendations on Smart Energy Economy in the report:

Become a Smart Energy Economy

As a small, resource-constrained country, we have to ensure that energy does not become a limiting barrier for Singapore’s economic competitiveness and growth. We also have to play our part in reducing carbon emissions as a responsible member of the global community. We must become a smart energy economy – resilient, sustainable, and innovative in our energy use.

The ESC recommends the following:

1. Diversify our energy sources

In the medium term, Singapore should explore coal and electricity imports to diversify both the fuel types and fuel source countries in our energy portfolio. The import of electricity is an option which can free up valuable land in Singapore. It could also allow us to tap on the significant renewable energy potential in our region, such as in the form of hydro-electricity or geothermal power.

For the long-term, we must continue supporting innovation and investing in the infrastructure necessary to develop renewable energy. We should also study the feasibility of nuclear energy, a possible option in the long-run to meet baseload electricity demand, as well as energy security and sustainability imperatives. Advances in nuclear technology will make it much safer than earlier designs, and we should carefully study its viability for a small city-state like Singapore.

2. Invest early in critical energy infrastructure

Push ahead to establish Intelligent Energy Systems (IES) as the centrepiece of a smart energy economy. The IES will promote greater competition among retailers and enable households to make informed choices on their electricity consumption. At the same time, the IES will incorporate devices such as smart meters and home automation networks to programme appliances to function during off-peak hours when electricity prices are lowest.

Make early investments in public goods such as energy infrastructure to improve national energy security and efficiency. One example is the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal which will allow Singapore to gain access to global gas markets. Investing in the extension of the gas pipeline infrastructure can also potentially reduce the cost of electricity and open up new economic clusters in Singapore.

Develop Jurong Island as an energy-optimised industrial cluster. We should harness innovative systems-level solutions, to provide integrated, low-cost and low-carbon solutions for the industry clusters on the island. For example, recycling waste heat from industry for desalinating sea water; the desalinated water would then be channelled back to industry for cooling industrial processes, forming a virtuous cycle. With government planning and infrastructure investment to enable such “exchanges”, we can significantly improve resource efficiency.

3. Increase energy efficiency

Step up measures to promote energy efficiency for buildings, industry and in homes. We should enhance incentives, education and adopt essential legislation such as mandatory energy audits which will help build energy conservation know-how and internalise energy management practices.

Support low-carbon solutions in transportation. We should continue the shift of commuter load to public transport and support the introduction of clean and efficient technologies for public buses. This will ensure that energy-efficient public transport can be realised without higher prices for commuters. We should set the appropriate incentives for the adoption of clean vehicle technologies for private vehicles by awarding the Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) based on fuel efficiency or carbon emissions of the vehicle.

4. Price energy to reflect real costs and constraints

Price energy to reflect its total cost, taking into account various externalities and constraints, such as energy security and environmental sustainability. Appropriate price signals could both promote the use of, as well as encourage investments in energy-efficient and low-carbon solutions.

The Government should study how best to implement a carbon pricing scheme in anticipation of future carbon constraints, should there be a global agreement on climate change. It can also insure us against future spikes in energy prices. This should be carefully calibrated and introduced gradually, with offsets for specific groups like low income households to buffer the transition.

Source: Economic Strategies Committee Main Report; ESC Press Release Annex A

Venue: Canadian International School (Singapore)

Country: Singapore

Event dates:

Air 13th April, 2010

Earth 20th April, 2010

Water 27th April, 2010

Fire 4th May, 2010

The events are a celebration of how people are connected to and by the elements: Air, Earth, Water and Fire. Through interactive experiences, we hope to restore a sense of connection that is often lost by living in highly urbanized cities.

Register online: www.fourelements.myevent.com

From Green Drinks Singapore:

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Venue: Naive, 99 East Coast Road

This month, we are gathering all the green groups, societies, businesses and individuals with green values to talk about their plans for 2010, and explore ways we can all work together.

In particular, we are targetting to have ECO (Singapore), SEC, Nature Society (Singapore), Vegetarian Society (Singapore), Social Innovation Park, Food for All, green societies from the various tertiary institutions, various businesses, and individuals already well known in the green sphere. As always, everyone is welcome!

Let us have a meaningful greater conversation about what we can do together! Do spread the word, and we hope to see you there!

Foodwise, Naive has kindly put together a special three-course menu at the price of $18+ for those wishing to dine there.

How to get there: By bus- 10, 12, 14, 32, 40; By car- parking is available at Katong Mall and Katong Village

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(We are selling Al Gore’s new book, Our Choice, at Green Drinks to raise fund for the Haiti Earthquake relief operations. Have 40 copies of the book to sell at $50 each. 100% of profits will go to the Singapore Red Cross who will channel it to the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies.)

We saw this ad by Standard Chartered Bank on Sunday in the newspaper – “You want a new car we give you the perfect excuse”. Standard Chartered is giving away 5 Audi cars to customers who deposit or invest with them.

What’s wrong with giving away cars as a promotion? What’s wrong with showing a picture of a car being dumped?

This is probably no big deal to the public, except that we have always read that Standard Chartered is concerned about the environment and climate change.

Standard Chartered claims on their website that:

We are conscious of our responsibility to cut the carbon dioxide emissions caused by our operations and have exceeded our reduction targets for 2008. But we can do much more to deal with the business and other risks that we all face. We work with employees, customers and other stakeholders to raise awareness, stimulate action and reduce their impact on the environment. We set ambitious targets to minimise our own carbon footprint and paper use. And we finance businesses and projects that will reduce emissions and help people adapt to climate change.

So, is this the perfect excuse for you to want a car?

Event Venue: Grand Hyatt Shanghai

Event Website: www.ibc-asia.com/greenbuildingschina

Enquiry: info@ibcasia.com.sg

Booking Hotline: +65 6514 3180

• Be updated on latest updates on green building initiatives and policies in China
• Keep abreast of key accreditation schemes for green buildings in China
• Identify abundant opportunities from up-coming sustainable cities such as the Tianjin Eco-city
• Learn how you can leverage on Eco-tourism
• Gain indepth understanding of the ROI of green buildings and learn about the latest financing options and models in project financing for the built environment
• Understand how you can achieve utmost energy efficiency in buildings
• Get an insight on maximizing renewable energy utilization in green buildings
• Discover the latest trends and issues associated with sustainable and alternative building material

Thailand faces serious energy security issues in the wake of volatile oil prices and the limit to the traditional sources of energy such as oil, gas, coal, etc. Placing importance on this energy policy, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the Government would provide support for the promotion of alternative energy sources. The Government has placed the use of alternative energy in the national agenda. In response to this aims, it will encourage the production and use of alternative energy such as biomass, biogas, ethanol-based oil, biodiesel, natural gas for vehicles, wind, solar and waste energy to enhance energy security.

In response to the nation’s energy security challenges, this first-time Alternative Energy Thailand Forum 2010 aims to provide participants with a platform to keep abreast with government policies & regulatory updates, latest market developments, practical insights, and regional/international trends and perspectives on alternative energy development.

Download the event info here.

Society of Entrepreneur Ecology (SEE) – Top Non-profit Environmental Protection Organization

Initiated China Green Build Movement Meeting in Shanghai

Organized by Society of Entrepreneur Ecology (SEE), China Urban Realty Association (CURA) and China Philanthropist Network, China Green Build Movement was initiated at Chateau 599 on January 5, 2010 in Shanghai. This meeting has obtained positive response from all participants including Zendai Group, Greentown, Landsea，Forte Land Co., Sunny World，Shanghai ZK-Group, Dasso Industrial Group, Somfy China, Shanghai QingYing Sun-shading Technical Development Co., NVC Lighting Technology Corporation, Tongji University and China Green Building Council Jiangsu Branch etc, covering the real estate development, green material, energy saving technology, research organization and other related industries. All participants accepted this campaign unanimously and agreed on supporting the movement.

China Green Build Movement aims at calling on people to raise concern about the ecological protection in the situation of the rapid development of urbanization, meanwhile, to promote the urban development and reduce the energy consumption during the construction. Moreover, it advocates the environmental protection issues by enhancing daily behavior and assists the government to upgrade the regulation of urban planning and construction. Through joint effort, the earth will be much greener and help create a sustainable environment for mankind.

To be held from March 23-25 in Shanghai, China Green Build Movement will host a series of activities including the China Sustainable Building Leaders Summit, the Founding Ceremony of Society of Entrepreneur Ecology Eastern China Region, 2010 China Sustainable Building Forum, USGBC LEED Educational Training, Green Design Workshop, Qualified Green Materials Souring Show, Green Investment Opportunity Fair. This event will bring together over 60,000 professional visitors from government agencies, real estate developers, building and construction corporations, educational institutes and media partners around the world.

Visit the event website at http://www.csbexpo.com.cn/.

commonly used to help an organization define and evaluate how successful it is, typically in terms of making progress towards its long-term organizational goals. – Wikipedia

We think it’s important for NGOs to have KPIs to keep track of their work and outreach. Here are some suggested KPIs:

1) Number of or % reduction/improvement of environmental problem/opportunity (depends on mission) due to organisation’s efforts (services, projects, campaigns, events, outreach, etc)

2) Number of volunteers and turnover rate (over 1, 3, 5, 10 years), and “followers” (Facebook, Twitter, RSS feed and newsletter subscribers, etc)

3) Number and frequency of media coverage (newspapers, radio, magazines, blogs, Facebook links, Twitter tweets and retweets, etc), and website traffic

4) Number of participants/visitors/partners for campaigns and events (for recurring and one-off events)

5) Amount and % of financial income from sponsors, regular and one-off donations, sales from products and services, etc

Are you aware of environmental NGOs that have KPIs? Share the information with us, thanks.

How do you integrate cost effective energy storage solutions and renewable power into the smart grid?

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- Forecasting Energy Storage Return On Investment

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Click Energy Storage for more information.