Singapore – On 23 November, global education leader Education in Motion (EiM), announced the grand opening of The Greenhouse, Singapore’s first net zero international school building located at the Dulwich College (Singapore) campus in Bukit Batok.
The building achieves more than 100 percent energy savings and reduces about 216 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during operations, the equivalent of powering 122 four-room HDB flats or planting 8,600 trees. The ceremony was officiated by Guest of Honour Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, and distinguished guest, Her Excellency Kara Owen, British High Commissioner to Singapore.
The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore) is the only international school building in Singapore to be certified Green Mark Platinum Zero Energy, contributing to the Singapore Green Plan 2030 through its energy savings and carbon reduction features. This is the highest level of sustainable construction certification in Singapore.
The design of the building also marks a first in Singapore with the introduction of an eco-envelope consisting of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) panels covering an extensive 1,300 square metres extending from the north facade of The Greenhouse to the rooftop. Generating a total of 210,000 kWh of renewable energy annually, the eco-envelope will offset 85 tonnes of CO2, which is the equivalent of planting 3,400 trees. This was achieved through close collaborations with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to ensure the innovative system fully complied with all safety and design requirements in Singapore.
Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, shared during his speech at the grand opening, “I applaud Education in Motion’s efforts in pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency and encourage more organisations to follow suit. This will not only allow companies to develop a competitive edge, but it also helps to align them with the growing environmental consciousness of investors and building users.”
Ms Karen Yung, Founder and Chief Collaboration Officer at EiM echoed: “We believe that education and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Sustainability has always been close to our hearts, and it needs to start from the ground-up – in our schools. At Education in Motion, we pride ourselves on being the progressive leader of education for a sustainable future. We created The Greenhouse to be a space where students are inspired and empowered to create a sustainable future for generations to come. The Greenhouse is not just a building – it is a testament to nurturing environmentally conscious global citizens who are deeply passionate and committed to creating real impact for a better world.”
Aligned with the Singapore Green Building Masterplan, EiM’s The Greenhouse captures Singapore’s collective commitment to pursue more ambitious sustainability standards through its features.
One critical aspect of The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore) is the use of technology to educate the student body on sustainability and energy consumption. Within the building, screens display real-time information about energy usage generated from the solar panels, rainwater harvesting tank, and more. The data is then integrated into the College’s Senior School curriculum, empowering students to recognise and better understand the impact of their activities on the environment. This approach brings to life the practical application of sustainability principles through the building architecture and how students interact with it.
