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What other national regulatory measures are there, such as taxes on energy consumption and/or tax reliefs on energy-saving measures, that can encourage more efficient use of energy in buildings?

Introduction

On or before 31 March 2021, the Investment Allowance (Energy Efficiency) (IA-EE) scheme provided investment allowance for those energy efficiency improvement projects approved by the Economic Development Board (EDB), the government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry responsible for enhancing Singapore's position as a global center for business, innovation and talent. Data centers were subject to additional qualifying conditions.

The IA-EE scheme has been renamed the Investment Allowance for Emissions Reduction scheme,¹ with the following revisions:

Expanded scope of qualifying projects to include projects involving a reduction of GHG emissions
Streamlined and updated eligibility conditions that apply to all projects approved by the EDB from 1 April 2021 to 31 December 2026 (both dates inclusive), there being no distinction between data centers and non-data centers

Qualifying research and development (R&D) activities may benefit from the R&D tax measures, which are targeted at encouraging businesses to build up R&D capabilities in Singapore. To qualify, the R&D activity must fall within the definition of R&D under Section 2 of the Income Tax Act 1947 and meet all three requirements. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, the government agency in charge of administration of taxes and enterprise disbursements, has provided guidance² on which energy-saving R&D activities meet the requirements (e.g., meeting the novelty or technical risk objective or comprising a systematic, investigative and experimental study in a field of science or technology).

In addition to the Building Control Act 1989, the 2008 Regulations and the 2013 Regulations, which primarily target office, hotel and retail buildings, the Energy Conservation Act 2012 regulates large energy users in the transport and industry sectors that consume more than 15 gigawatt-hours each year. Summarized below is a comparison³ between energy efficiency measures under the Building Control Act 1989 and the Energy Conservation Act 2012:

Energy efficiency measures	Building Control Act 1989	Energy Conservation Act 2012
Minimum standards	Under the initial phase, office, hotel, and retail buildings with a GFA of more than 15,000 m2 are required to meet the minimum standards, triggered by installing/replacing cooling systems.	No minimum standards, but prescribed users must submit energy efficiency improvement plans.
Reporting energy use	Utilities and building owners are required to submit energy consumption and building-related information.	Companies are required to appoint energy managers to submit energy efficiency plans.
Monitoring energy use	A periodic energy audit of the following is required: Any new building (for which an application for planning permission was submitted on or after 1 December 2010) Any existing building that is having its air-cooled or water-cooled chiller installed or replaced and that is subject to the minimum standard under the 2013 Regulations	No mandatory energy audits, but energy efficiency plans submitted by energy managers must also include energy efficiency improvement plans.

[1] See the Ministry of Finance: Budget 2021 Annex F-1: Tax Changes.

[2] IRAS e-Tax Guide Research and Development Tax Measures (Seventh Edition).

[3] See the BCA: FAQS Periodic Energy Audit.

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