All of DBS’s 41 manned branches will be certified Green Mark Platinum by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) before the end of 2024, announced the bank on Jan 24, nearly seven years after it first started greening its staffed branches.
According to the BCA, this means the branches will be more energy-efficient, with savings of between 50%-60%. Other requirements include improved indoor air quality, greenery, water efficiency and materials and waste management.
Announced on Jan 24, DBS is the first bank in Singapore to set such a target. Currently, 33 of DBS’s manned branches are already certified Green Mark Platinum, with the remaining branches on track to attain the certification later this year.
“Managing the environmental footprint of our operations is a core facet of the bank’s broader sustainability strategy and is key to maintaining our operational carbon neutrality,” says Erwin Chong, group head of corporate real estate strategy and administration at DBS.
Chong adds: “Since 2017, we have pursued opportunities to redesign our branches to be more resource-efficient and carbon-light, and today, we’re well on track to having every single manned branch in Singapore certified Green Mark Platinum before the end of the year. Many of the insights we’ve gained along the way are helpful for any organisation looking to green their operations, and we look forward to sharing our experience with like-minded partners to amplify our collective contributions to Singapore’s sustainability journey.”
In March 2022, DBS launched Singapore’s first solar-powered ATM kiosk at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, with about 30% of the kiosk’s energy derived from solar panels installed on its roof.
See also: Refurbished DBS Newton Green is Singapore's first net-zero building by a bank
In July 2022, DBS opened DBS Newton Green, a 30-year-old building retrofitted to become Singapore’s first net-zero building by a bank. DBS reduced the energy consumption of the building by close to 70%, with the remaining energy needs met through solar power produced on-site.
DBS Newton Green was certified by BCA as a Green Mark Platinum Zero Energy development in further affirmation of the building’s net-zero credentials.
In September 2022, DBS opened its first sustainable self-service branch at Fernvale Community Centre, which was fitted with upcycled materials like reclaimed pallet wood and compressed strawboards. The branch also boasts a thermal air-conditioning system that consumes 35% less energy, according to DBS.
DBS says it achieved carbon neutrality across its operations by the end of 2022 and maintained its carbon neutrality in 2023.
