Mr Sim Chun Siong, CARES’ Senior Lab Manager and the Gold LEAF certification.
CARES joined LEAF in 2023 to improve sustainability practices, achieving the Bronze recognition in 2023 and Silver in 2024. The recent Gold Award in 2026 recognises CARES’ collective efforts since detailed tracking started, the most notable being a near-half reduction in electrical and chilled water consumption.
Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) was developed by the University College London to reduce the carbon footprint of laboratories worldwide by offering calculators, guides, and training programs.
CARES is currently the only lab in Singapore with a LEAF Gold Award. We must acknowledge the collective effort from our professional services staff, researchers, and contractors for the recent energy-saving measures in 2025/6:
- ● Air exchange rate was reduced for both CARES laboratories in CREATE, while not compromising performance. This allowed the Make-Up Air Unit to operate at a higher temperature while maintaining the ambient lab temperature at 25°C, resulting in further energy savings
- ● Faulty and old lighting was replaced with more energy-efficient LED lighting
- ● Simple actions such as turning off equipment when not in use and bringing mugs and containers for events have been widely promoted to create more environmentally responsible habits within CARES
- ● Ongoing work includes exploring time-based scheduling of temperature settings to account for lower lab usage at night and on weekends
Cost savings aside, CARES will ensure our facilities evolve with future ESG and sustainability expectations from funders and collaborators, and compliance for future research grants.
LEAF will continue to be a year-on-year assessment for CARES, ensuring our commitment to decarbonisation is in research and practice, fully aligning our centre with the goals of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
From left to right: Mr San Phyo Aung (Digo Corporation Pte Ltd), Mr Alawdeen Jaffar Hussein (Schneider Electric), Mr Butch Macaraig (Digo Corporation Pte Ltd), Mr Mosqueda Glenn Mueblos (UEMS Solutions Pte Ltd), Ms Elizabeth MacRae (CARES’ Chief Operating Officer), Mr Sim Chun Siong (CARES’ Senior Lab Manager), Dr Leonard Chia (National Research Foundation), Dr Tee Kheang Ng (National Research Foundation), Mr Edwin Goh (Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore).
LEAF Gold was achieved with:
- ● Mr Sim Chun Siong for driving the LEAF programme at CARES
- ● Dr Leonard Chia for supporting CARES’ decarbonisation activities
- ● CARES researchers for green habits and The World Avatar project researchers for lab automation efforts
- ● UEMS Solutions Pte Ltd with Mr Mosqueda Glenn Mueblos for CREATE building management coordination and queries
- ● Digo Corporation Pte Ltd with Mr Butch Macaraig and Mr San Phyo Aung for Electrical and ACMV hardware support and replacement
- ● Schneider Electric with Mr Alawdeen Jaffar Hussein for Building Management software and controls
- ● Leadership from CARES Senior Management Prof Dame Lynn Gladden, Prof Alexei Lapkin, Prof Epaminondas Mastorakos, Prof Henriette Hendriks and Ms Elizabeth MacRae. A special note of appreciation goes to Prof Markus Kraft, whose vision and leadership through The World Avatar project have significantly contributed to CARES’ sustainability journey.
Ms Elizabeth MacRae handing out certificates of appreciation to the team.
