Findings of Greenprint pilot programme in Jurong East

Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will provide an update on the findings of the first Greenprint pilot programme in Jurong East and what items from the pilot programme will be incorporated in other housing estates; (b) what is the feasibility of the rainwater harvesting system, which is introduced in the pilot programme, being used as a flood mitigating measure; and (c) what is the current utilisation of the $1 million Greenprint Fund.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) Greenprint was launched in October 2012 to bring sustainable living into existing public housing estates. These initiatives, which include energy and water-saving solutions such as the Rainwater Harvesting System (RWHS) and rooftop solar panels, are being piloted in Jurong East. Work on most of the Greenprint initiatives in Jurong East has commenced and we project to complete them by the end of next year. As the HDB Greenprint at Jurong East takes shape, HDB is exploring extending some of the test bedding to another pilot town to get more feedback from residents on the sustainable initiatives tested. HDB will then study the two pilots to identify the successful initiatives to replicate them in other housing estates.

The RWHS piloted in Jurong East is primarily designed to collect rainwater for washing of common areas and for irrigation. To be used as a main flood mitigation measure, it would either have to be a significantly larger tank that occupies a very large part of the HDB void deck, or it would require major excavation and service diversion works in order to be buried underground. Therefore, HDB's view is that this is not viable. However, HDB is studying with PUB on the feasibility of integrating the RWHS with detention tanks which are for flood mitigation purposes in new HDB estates.

The $1 million Greenprint Fund was launched in February 2013 to encourage the public to come up with original and innovative solutions to promote green living. In November 2013, five proposals were selected for test-bedding and were awarded a total of $350,000. These proposals are Community Farming – "Hobby Farming"; Ducted System LED Light for Common Areas; Community Parklets, or mini parks at HDB common areas; Solar Powered Street Light

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with Mosquito Killer and Motion Sensor Function; and Lightweight Retractable Solar Panel. Work on these proposals started in March 2014. Each project is at a different stage of construction and installation.