Built and conceived with environmental preservation in mind, Siloso Beach Resort on Singapore’s southern Sentosa Island has earned a reputation since 2003 as the country’s leading eco-resort.
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The hotel of more than 200 rooms boasts a lush landscape thanks to the decision to carefully preserve more than 200 fully grown trees during construction, and by planting another 450 trees post-construction, all integrated with the building structure.
The resort was built to maximise natural lighting to reduce electricity consumption and natural cooling is enabled by a large water landscape pool in the resort. Atop its rooftop gardens, organic vegetables are grown using a composting system on site and supplies the resort’s restaurants.
The resort also conducts specialised eco-tours to guests and visiting students through an active community engagement programme with organisations such as Conservation International, Singapore Environment Council, World Wide Fund for Nature, and the National University of Singapore.
For its efforts in sustainability, the resort was given the country’s highest honour – the President’s Award for the Environment (PAE) – a first for a hotel here, at a ceremony on Tuesday night by Singapore president Tony Tan Keng Yam.
Siloso Beach Resort’s director of corporate sustainability, Sylvain Richer de Forges, told Eco-Business the resort is proud to have won the award “in recognition of our holistic and continuous approach to sustainability and having successfully integrated the concept as part of our core business model.”
“SBR believes that hotels around the world can play a significant role in education and we have chosen to focus on sustainability. This award brings us another strong drive to pursue this commitment and a unique opportunity to inspire others,” he said.
Two other schools, Fuhua Primary School and Dunman High School, were also given the prestigious award.
Fuhua Primary School similarly made history as the first primary school to be given this award for its comprehensive environment-related programmes for staff and students, and for integrating environmental messages which promote water conservation, waste minimisation and biodiversity preservation into the school curriculum.
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The award winners have demonstrated a high level of commitment and excellence both in educating our young on environmental matters as well as leading the drive for green business.
Dr Lee Bee Wah
The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, which administers the award, in its eighth year, said Dunman High is a “veteran advocate of the environmental cause”, having won past awards for its efforts to protect water resources and promoting the water cause to its students.
In recent years, it has also promoted recycling and waste minimisation, nature preservation and public cleanliness and its students are tasked with spreading environmental messages to the community such as anti-littering, nature preservation, resource conservation and toilet cleanliness.
Dr Lee Bee Wah, chairperson of 2013 awards judging panel, who is also a Member of Parliament, said: “The three award recipients stood out from the 32 high-quality nominations received for this year’s PAE. They have taken innovative steps to make our environment much cleaner and greener for every Singaporean to enjoy. They have also demonstrated a high level of commitment and excellence both in educating our young on environmental matters as well as leading the drive for green business.”
In total, 15 individuals and organisations were honoured for their achievements in environment and water sustainability at the Singapore Environment and Water Awards Ceremony, held at the Marina Barrage.
Four individuals and organisations of the national water agency PUB’s Watermark Award and eight individual recipients of the National Environment Agency (NEA)’s EcoFriend Awards received their awards from Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Ms Grace Fu, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.
She said: “I admire and am grateful to these individuals and organisations. They have dedicated themselves tirelessly to the environmental causes for the betterment of Singapore. They are truly role models for us, in taking ownership of our environment and water resources, for a better quality of life for our future generations.”
Watermark Award 2013
Introduced in 2007 to recognise individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions and commitment to protect and raise awareness of Singapore’s precious water resources.
- Compassvale Secondary School
- Philips Lumileds
- Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd (SSMC)
- Ms Lim Bin, Maths Teacher, Woodgrove Secondary School
EcoFriend Awards 2013
Introduced in 2007 to recognise the efforts and achievements of environmentally-proactive people in Singapore who have made contributions to the environment.
- Ms Regina Chong, Chairperson, Kim Seng CC YEC
- Ms Susan Tan, Zone Principal, Kinderland Childcare Centre @ MOM
- Mr Lee Jun Wei, GAHA Member, NYAA
- Ms Lee Qian Yi, Membership Secretary, Ci Yuan CC YEC
- Mr Loh Yi Rong, Vice-Chairperson, KSBM Youth Committee
- Mr Desmond Chua, General Manager, Keppel Club
- Mr Eden Liew, Principal, ITE College East
- Ms Olivia Choong, Co-Founder and Organiser, Green Drinks Singapore
