Impacts
The Beginning
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“When we first saw the site it was very apparent to us that if we were going to build a hotel here the terrain and its trees will have to be preserved to a great extent. We took this as a challenge not an obstacle ; this is precisely why we chose this site”
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Mr Ng Swee Hwa
Chairman/Owner
Siloso Beach Resort
Mr Ng and a contractor entering the forest site of what will eventually become Siloso Beach Resort (2003)
Constant reminders and training of the construction team was a daily exercise to ensure the preservation of the trees. Panels reading “Keep the trees alive!” were put in place. Littering was constantly monitored throughout the site and emphasized through staff meetings. Monitoring was intense.
Building the resort inside the rainforest was a major challenge.
In order not to damage the trees roots, a special technique known as microbore piling had to be used. Thus, vibrations were greatly reduced by doing so and the trees were preserved.
Constructing within a rainforest surrounded by trees also meant to use smaller machineries so as to navigate within the terrain to limit damage to the surroundings. Heavy machineries could not be used.
Construction of the Resort
Building on stilts allowed better protection to the trees and to build on a sloped terrain.
Description of Key Impacts
As a hotel business, Siloso Beach Resort acknowledges the fact that its operations have impacts on the surrounding environment and sustainability in general.
Key environmental impacts are of various sorts, the points below highlight the major ones:
High Priority
The natural resources used include concrete products (sand, limestone), steel and other metals, wood products, living resources (for our F&B) and so on.
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As a hotel, the usage of natural resources is high. There are however, a multitude of ways in which these impacts can be reduced.
Use of Natural Resources
Atmospheric Emissions
High Priority
In Singapore, atmospheric emissions can be mostly traced to energy consumption which in turn, originates from the combustion of natural gas. Other emissions are from activities such as transportation, gardening and other maintenance activities.
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SBR acknowledges the seriousness of climate change and believes that it can play its role by significantly reducing its emissions and showcasing these efforts.
Land Disturbance
High Priority
Despite the tremendous efforts that have been made to limit the impacts on the surroundings, construction activities have resulted in some disturbance to the original landscape.
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As SBR has been built on a pristine forested environment, preserving the terrain has always been of high importance.
Noise
Low Priority
Noise is produced during construction and hotel operations
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SBR operates below the legal noise level. Noise has never been an issue within the hotel facilities. SBR however, closely monitors its noise levels to ensure that there is no disturbance to its guests and wildlife.
Water Consumption
High Priority
Consumption of tap water from the network and rejects of contaminated water from operations to drains both contribute to SBR's water consumption.
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SBR continuously pushes to reduce its tap water usage. However, due to the unique location of the resort above a natural water source and numerous water-saving measures in place, tap water consumption is already very low for a hotel of its size.
High Priority
Our waste consists of both organic and non-organic waste.
SBR already has many programs in place to reduce its waste, often by reusing whatever waste that can be utilised in other ways. SBR actively practices the 3Rs of "Reduce, Recycle, Reuse".
Waste
Biodiversity
High Priority
As a forested terrain, SBR's activities have an impact on biodiversity despite our tremendous efforts made to reduce the impacts.
As SBR has been built on a pristine forested terrain, preserving the biodiversity on site has always been of high importance.
Energy Consumption
High Priority
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SBR is continuously trying new ways to reduce its energy usage through the adoption of new practices and technologies.
Main Processes in Place to Address Performance and/or Relevant Changes
In order to address performance, SBR has a Sustainability Committee in place. The committee meets at least twice a year to assess the progress made and benchmark against standards and targets. Under the guidance of the committee, annual targets are set to address key sustainability issues. Key performance indicators are also put into place by the committee to monitor and track changes and progress over time.
During these meetings, issues regarding performance and potential changes are addressed, which often leads to strategic planning and setting targets and objectives.
Approach to Prioritizing These Challenges & Opportunities
SBR considers all the above impacts to be important but it also acknowledges that some have higher impacts than others and therefore should be given different reduction priorities.
SBR acknowledges the fact that its activities, as a business, have impacts on the surrounding environment and that it can work towards reducing these impacts.
Key Conclusions about Progress in Addressing these Topics
Use of Natural Resources
Numerous progress have been made to reduce the usage of natural resources of all sorts. Current achievements are judged satisfactory and SBR will continue to pursue its natural resources minimization strategy with targets for continuous improvements.
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Atmospheric Emissions
Numerous initiatives have been taken to reduce energy consumption. There is still a lot that can be achieved at SBR in terms of reducing emissions. SBR has identified this aspect as one of its priorities for the coming years.
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Land Disturbance
Tremendous efforts have been put in place since the very beginning of construction work. Land disturbance reduction efforts have been very successful. SBR will continue to push for limited impacts in this field.
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Noise
Noise levels have never been an issue within the premises. SBR will continue to push for limited impacts in this field. Noise pollution from outside the premises remains an issue
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Water Consumption
Initiatives undertaken at SBR since its conception have resulted in very low water consumption. Water saving has been evident. SBR will continue to push for limited impacts in this field.
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Water Contamination
SBR does not have rejects of hazardous substances in significant amounts. Water contamination at SBR is judged insignificant to date
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Waste
Since its conception, SBR has implemented numerous programs to reduce its wastes. Initiatives have resulted in very minimal waste being generated including from the F&B department. SBR will continue to push for limited impacts in this field
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Biodiversity
Since its construction phase, SBR has taken extreme measures to preserve the biodiversity on site. This aspect has been very successful and exemplary. SBR will continue to push for limited impacts in this field
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Energy Use
Great achievements have already taken place at SBR to reduce energy usage and the hotel will continue to push for improvements
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