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Sustainability Disclosure 2023

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HTX (HOME TEAM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY)


Sustainability Disclosure for the Financial Year 2023 from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT HTX


HTX is the Science & Technology agency of the Home Team. Formed in 2019, HTX’s vision is “Exponentially Impacting Singapore's Safety and Security” and our mission is threefold:


  • Advance Science & Technology
  • Force Multiply Our Home Team
  • Secure Singapore's Future

HTX operates out of several leased premises which include its HTX headquarter at MediaCorp Campus and laboratories to support our research and capability development activities.

 



BOARD AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

 

 

As MHA’s science and technology agency, HTX is charged with developing and delivering cutting-edge capabilities that force multiply the Home Team in their everyday mission. Our Board is committed to incorporate sustainability technologies in HTX’s businesses; and enable the MHA to contribute to Singapore Green Plan 2030 whilst keeping Singapore safe and secure. 

We strive to reduce our carbon emissions and energy usage through adoption of solar energy, energy efficient Air-Conditioning Mechanical Ventilation systems and electrical appliances in our workplaces. The adoption of Cloud and AI-First strategies for the Home Team will drive-up energy demands. Hence, we will focus on sourcing state-of-the-art technologies to raise the energy efficiencies in all our data infrastructure.

We are committed to reduce water consumption through implementation of water efficient sanitary wares and fittings as well as monitoring system for enhanced visibility and control to minimise wastage. We recognise the fight against climate change is urgent and is a global issue requiring concerted actions at all levels, including the government and individuals. Therefore, we will galvanise our officers to join hands in conserving energy, water and reducing wastage in support of the Green Plan.   



SUSTAINABILITY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE


The sustainability committee jointly led by HTX CSO/ Director Building & Infrastructure (B&I) and Director Corporate & Finance (C&F), reports to CE and HTX Board. The committee comprises eight different departments to formulate strategies and drive implementation to achieve sustainability goals. The committee convenes quarterly for progress tracking and reports to HTX Board every year.

 





HTX’S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS AND PERFORMANCE


Even though HTX is a minor contributor of carbon emission among the public sector, we will strive our utmost to reduce our carbon emissions. Owing to the lack of sustainability data during our initial years in FY18-21, HTX has to adopt FY22 as the baseline to benchmark our sustainability targets and performance even though the agency is still growing in manpower and expanding its workspaces.



Even though HTX is a minor contributor of carbon emission among the public sector, we will strive our utmost to reduce our carbon emissions. Owing to the lack of sustainability data during our initial years in FY18-21, HTX has to adopt FY22 as the baseline to benchmark our sustainability targets and performance even though the agency is still growing in manpower and expanding its workspaces.


GHG Emissions

Target: Peak emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2025.


Electricity Consumption

Target: 10% reduction in Energy Utilisation Index (EUI) by Y2030 compared to FY22.


Water Consumption

Target: 10% reduction in Water Efficiency Index (WEI) by Y2030 compared to FY22.


Waste Generation

Target: 30% reduction in Waste Disposal Index (WDI) by Y2030 compared to FY22.




GHG Emissions



Target: Peak emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2025.



Based on our assessment for FY23, we have achieved a 2.06 % reduction of scope 1 carbon emission against the baseline. However, there is a 16.10 % increase of scope 2 carbon emission against baseline which is attributed to the addition of labs and headcount growth in our staffing level.

Electricity Consumption



Target: 10% reduction in Energy Utilisation Index (EUI) by Y2030 compared to FY22.



Based on our assessment for FY23, there is a 16.67% increase of electricity usage against baseline which is attributed to the addition of labs and headcount growth in our staffing level. However, we achieved a 3.75% reduction of EUI against baseline due to increasing leased spaces (i.e. increase in GFA).



1 EUI is defined as the total electricity consumed by a facility in one year divided by its total gross floor area (GFA).

Water Consumption



Target: 10% reduction in Water Efficiency Index (WEI) by Y2030 compared to FY22.



Based on our assessment for FY23, there is a 8.73% increase of water consumption and 0.76% increase of WEI from baseline, attributed to the increasing number of staff returning back to office after pandemic.



2 WEI is defined as the water consumption per day divided by the total number of public officer headcount including visitors to the premises.

Waste Generation



Target: 30% reduction in Waste Disposal Index (WDI) by Y2030 compared to FY22.





Based on our assessment for FY23, there is a 9.05% increase of waste disposed and 8.92% increase of WDI against baseline with higher number of staff returning to office after pandemic.



3 WDI is defined as the total waste disposed of per day divided by the total number of public officer headcount including visitors to the premises.<


Overall Assessment


The increases in the four environmental indicators are attributed to the ongoing growth and expansion of our organisation as observed from the increase in headcount growth, as well as the recovery phase from the pandemic whereby our officers are returning to office instead of working from home.

 




HTX’S SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT

 


 

HTX spurs our sustainability efforts in three key thrusts – Greening Our Workspaces, Instituting Green Business Practices and Shaping Green Culture. 


Greening Our Workspaces


HTX operates largely out of leased office spaces. We recognised that 60% of our offices’ energy efficiencies are determined by the chiller plants and ACMV selected by our landlords, while the remaining 40% are dependent on the efficiency of our electrical appliances and usage behaviors. 

We seek to collaborate with our landlords to pursue win-win initiatives to bring about more efficient chiller and ACMV systems, harness solar energy, installing EV charging stations and monitoring sensors to allow greater visibility and intervention of our office consumption with the landlords’ building premises. 

We plan to lease electrical vehicles in Q4 2025 to reduce direct carbon emissions. We have been advocating the use of energy efficient appliances, switching off of lights during lunch hour4, shutting down of photocopier machines instead of idle mode during non-office hours5, and maintaining air-conditioning to an optimal temperature of 25°C6 in our offices to reduce electricity consumption and indirect carbon emissions. In addition, we are swapping for water efficient appliances of 3-ticks water fittings and non-disposable crockery to reduce waste disposal.

Instituting Green Business Practices


Green procurement plays a vital role in promoting sustainability globally. Since Dec 2023, we have included green purchases as a criteria in our procurement process such as:

  • Purchase of new office ICT equipment will be required to meet latest ENERGY STAR standards 
  • Events and functions organised by HTX are to be held in venues with at least a Green Mark Certified rating
  • Printing paper procured must be accredited with the Enhanced Singapore Green Label (SGLS+) by the Singapore Environment Council
  • Electrical appliances and lightings must meet the minimum ticks rating under NEA’s Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme. Each Department also has to take into account energy efficiency and lifecycle costs to optimise cost-effectiveness.

Shaping Green Culture


HTX believes that a strong and sustainable Green Culture must be deeply rooted in her people. Hence, HTX is collaborating with institutions to curate a basic training course to enhance staff knowledge and empower them to implement green innovation. 

In FY2023, our HTX’s Sustainability Committee has also organised several events to raise environmental consciousness and encourage behavioral change.

Beach Clean-up

On 4 August 2023, HTX’s Building & Infrastructure Sustainment Centre and Protective Security and Safety Centre of Expertise jointly organised a beach clean-up event at East Coast Park Beach with more than 100 participants from both divisions.

Green Commute

To commemorate World Car-free Day on 22 September 2023, the Sustainability Committee encouraged Xponents to take the Green Commute Pledge to go car-free and switch to alternative modes of transportation including walking, cycling, and taking public transportation.

Green Printing

To build a sustainable culture in HTX, all the printers are configured to double-sided printing as the default mode of printing to improve environmental sustainability.

Bring Your Own Movement

Recognising that a small effort goes a long way to make HTX eco-friendly, we have also urged all staff to use their own cutlery and halt distribution of disposables for the Bring Your Own Movement from Q4 2024 onwards.

 

NOTES


1 EUI is defined as the total electricity consumed by a facility in one year divided by its total gross floor area (GFA).
2 WEI is defined as the water consumption per day divided by the total number of public officer headcount including visitors to the premises.
3 WDI is defined as the total waste disposed of per day divided by the total number of public officer headcount including visitors to the premises.
4 It was calculated that hourly switch off of lighting can reduce up to 8,190kWh energy consumption per year.
5 It was calculated that shutting down 14 photocopier machines instead of idle mode will reduce up to 6,300kWh energy consumption per year.
6 It was assessed that the optimal temperature will be 25°C to provide comfort and reduce carbon emissions by 10% for every 1°C below the optimal threshold.