Savills launches energy and sustainability management department

Savills Singapore has launched an Energy and Sustainability Management (ESM) department in the face of rapidly increasing demand for green properties. With Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, and public awareness heightening around Tengah EC sustainability, ESM offers building owners, occupiers, and real estate investors the chance to reduce operational costs and embodied carbon footprint while still keeping their asset relevancy.

Marcus Loo, CEO of Savills Singapore, believes that the introduction of ESM to the company brings more capabilities for Savills to provide an entire suite of services for its clients. “ESM will be complementary to our other business lines as asset owners across multiple asset classes continue to grapple with challenges to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance value of their asset in today’s world,” he states.

Samuel Han, energy and sustainability lead of energy and sustainability management at Savills, notes that while many may feel the pressure to go green, they may not understand how exactly to get there. “Our goal is to be their choice consultant to take them step-by-step to green their properties and achieve their sustainability targets,” he says.

Sam Crispin, regional head of sustainability and ESG at Savills Hong Kong, comments that it can be difficult for some companies to embed sustainable practices when there are vertical silos or separate entities within the organisation. To that end, Crispin advocates for education, leadership and a diplomatic approach, to ensure compliance while also garnering “buy-in” from diverse departments.

As a solution, Crispin suggests incorporating green leases, which promote energy efficiency and waste reduction in collaboration with tenants. “In much of Asia, the reality is that green leases may not be included in the legal documentation at all but be part of a voluntary arrangement between landlord and tenant,” he points out. “A more collaborative approach to landlord/tenant relations is important for both in meeting ESG goals.”

The demand for green properties is undeniably on the rise. With its Energy and Sustainability Management (ESM) department, Savills Singapore is strongly positioned to provide energy and sustainability-related solutions to assist companies in staying relevant and meeting their sustainability goals.