Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has completed its Design Prototyping for Decarbonisation (DPfD) study, finding that an 80% improvement in energy efficiency from 2005 levels is technically feasible for new and existing office buildings, new hotels and new mixed developments. The study identifies Alternative Cooling Technologies (ACTs) and plug load management as key strategies for reducing energy consumption.
ACTs including Passive Displacement Cooling (PDC) and Hybrid Cooling systems can reduce building cooling energy consumption by 30% to 50% while maintaining thermal comfort, according to BCA. Cooling accounts for 40% to 60% of building energy consumption. As of July 2026, at least 33 public buildings and 14 private buildings in Singapore had adopted ACTs.
At Dulwich College (Singapore), PDC used in classrooms, the auditorium and collaborative spaces achieved 49.5% energy savings for the air-distribution system. At Paya Lebar Green, a system combining perimeter active chilled beams with interior VAV (Variable Air Volume) AHU (Air Handling Unit) systems and a high-efficiency dual-temperature chiller plant delivered 45% energy savings.
Singapore Land Group will also test Passive Displacement Cooling in the retail space of The Clifford redevelopment under the Green Building Innovation Cluster Demonstration programme. The project will use high-efficiency lighting and promote plug load management systems on its office floors, targeting an improvement in the office block’s energy efficiency performance from 65% to 75% compared with the 2005 baseline.
Singapore’s best-in-class buildings have so far achieved a 72% improvement in energy efficiency from 2005 levels, against the 80% target for 2030. BCA said a public report detailing the DPfD study will be available by the end of 2026.
“The findings from the DPfD study gives the industry the evidence it needs to act with confidence,” said Tan Chee Kiat, Deputy CEO (Industry Development) of BCA. “We now know that achieving 80% energy efficiency improvement is technically feasible for new and existing office buildings, new hotels and mixed developments. ACTs alone can cut cooling energy consumption by up to 50% — the technology is ready and the business case is clear.”
