GREEN homes are growing in Singapore and more than 19,000 of these households could each cut their utility bills by $1,000 a year.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said on Wednesday that there has been a significant jump in the number of green buildings after the BCA Green Mark was introduced to certify green buildings in 2005.
'Just the past year alone, there were about 100 buildings certified under the BCA Green Mark, an increase from 17 per year during the last two, three years,' said BCA CEO, Dr John Keung.
The BCA said more than 60 certified green buildings are residential developments under construction, with a few already completed and occupied by residents.
These developments cover more than 19,000 homes with green features within each unit, and in common areas.
The homes have common green features like energy efficient air-conditioners certified under the Singapore Energy Labelling Scheme, and water efficient fittings such as flushing cistern and basin taps.
According to a BCA study, such green features could make a big difference on a household's energy bill.
'Based on a sample of recent BCA Green Mark private residential projects with air-con usage of 8 hours a day, we found that there could be a potential utility savings of more than $1,000 per household per year,' said Mr Jeffery Neng, BCA's Deputy Director of the Green Mark Department.
