Energy-intensive buildings require audit under new law

Owners of such buildings must submit report, take action to reduce energy use

- Isabelle Liew

A requirement for highly energyintensive buildings to improve their energy efficiency was passed in Parliament on Sept 10.

The changes to the Building Control Act, which will be rolled out in the third quarter of 2025, require owners of such buildings to carry out an energy audit and take action to reduce the energy consumption of their buildings.

These changes will apply to commercial, institutional and sports and recreation buildings, as well as healthcare institutions that have a gross floor area of 5,000 sq m and above.

Fewer than 100 such buildings are expected to come under the first batch of the new Mandatory Energy Improvement (MEI) regime, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann.

At present, there are highly energy-intensive buildings that are not required to improve their energy efficiency, as they do not undergo major retrofits or change, she added.

Under the amendments to the law, owners of these buildings must submit information on their building's energy use so that the Commissioner of Building Control can assess if the building is energyintensive and should be subject to the MEI regime.

Ms Sim noted that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) already collects energy consumption data from these buildings yearly. In practice, building owners will not have new reporting requirements.