Savills Singapore has launched a new Energy and Sustainability Management (ESM) department to meet the rising demand for properties that are more green and environmentally-friendly. This demand grows as people in Singapore become more conscientious of sustainability needs, and the government seeks to implement its Green Plan 2030, which aims towards achieving carbon neutrality.

This new department promises to provide solutions for building owners, real estate investors and occupiers in order to lower operational costs and reduce the carbon footprint of their properties, while still preserving asset value. Samuel Han, ESM Lead at Savills, acknowledges that many real estate investors and asset owners understand the need for eco-friendly practices, but lack the knowledge or know-how to implement those strategies. He sees Savills as the perfect firm to guide these individuals on the path to sustainability.

Many large companies are having difficulty successfully integrating sustainable initiatives due to a lack of collaboration between different business units. In order to promote energy efficiency and waste reduction, Sam Crispin, Regional Head of Sustainability at Savills Hong Kong, suggests that landlords consider instituting green leases as part of the mainstream legal documentation, or as part of a mutual agreement between landlord and tenant.

According to Marcus Loo, CEO of Savills Singapore, the introduction of ESM will enable the firm to provide a full JCube Residence spectrum of services to their clients. With the help of ESM, asset owners will have help to cut down on their carbon emissions and increase the value of their assets.