In an exclusive interview with Southeast Asia Infrastructure magazine, Associate Professor Steve Kardinal Jusuf, Chairman of the Sustainability Education Committee at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), shared in-depth perspectives on SIT’s pioneering approach to green urban infrastructure. He highlighted how the university’s new Punggol campus functions as a “living lab” for sustainability—integrating smart energy systems, eco-conscious architecture, and real-time data-driven technologies. From advancing low-carbon goals and fostering industry collaborations to embedding sustainability in education and research, Professor Jusuf outlined SIT’s holistic framework for shaping resilient, future-ready infrastructure across Southeast Asia. Excerpts…

How does SIT’s new Punggol campus function as a “living lab” for sustainable infrastructure, and what core features demonstrate its smart, eco-conscious design?

  • SIT’s Punggol campus is purposefully designed where sustainability is not only practiced but also actively studied, tested, and refined.
  • Among the core features is the deployment of two Super Low Energy (SLE) buildings, the Food Court and the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH), which each achieve at least 40% energy savings through a combination of design and technology. These structures utilise a Mass Engineered Timber (MET) framework and building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels, which harness solar energy efficiently.
  • The campus also incorporates a District Cooling System (DCS) that improves energy efficiency by approximately 30% compared to conventional systems. In tandem, the Multi-Energy Microgrid (MEMG) integrates renewable energy sources, such as rooftop solar panels and energy storage systems, facilitating grid resilience and sustainable energy integration.
  • Moreover, SIT has embedded sustainability into its landscape planning. The campus preserves green spaces, such as the secondary tropical rainforest at Campus Heart, and enhances biodiversity with eco-sensitive designs like elevated link bridges amidst tree canopies. To ensure sustainable water management, SIT also has a rainwater harvesting system that collects runoff from 40% of the site, saving up to 86,000 cubic metres of non-potable water annually.
  • Together, these features not only create a sustainable learning environment but also serve as testbeds for applied research and collaborative innovation in green urban infrastructure.

 

In what ways is SIT advancing Singapore’s low-carbon goals through applied research and innovation in the built environment?

  • SIT is committed to aligning with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 by applying research and innovation to create tangible, scalable solutions for a low-carbon future. The SIT Punggol Campus serves as a real-time research hub, enabling the study of energy performance, microgrid operations, passive cooling systems, and sustainable building materials in actual usage conditions.
  • Through the MEMG and DCS, students and researchers have access to advanced systems that simulate and manage real-world energy networks, enabling experimentation with solar energy integration, battery storage, smart metering, and data-driven energy optimisation. These systems contribute directly to Singapore’s goals for energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and future-ready infrastructure.
  • SIT also supports innovation through dedicated centres such as the Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC), launched in partnership with the National Environment Agency (NEA). The EETC provides SMEs with access to energy audits, assessments, and collaborative research on industrial energy efficiency, strengthening the ecosystem’s overall carbon reduction capability.

 

Can you share examples of how SIT’s collaborations with industry partners are accelerating clean energy adoption and driving innovation?

  • SIT’s Living Lab initiatives integrate real-world learning with innovation by embedding cutting-edge green infrastructure into its design and operations and provides opportunities for students and researchers to tackle real-life projects both in and beyond the campus.
  • With that in mind, one example is SIT’s collaboration with ENGIE on the design and development of the DCS at the Punggol campus. This system not only reduces carbon footprint by approximately 30% compared to traditional cooling but also functions as a live training platform for students to learn about energy-efficient infrastructure and maintenance through Pre-Employment (PET) and Continuing Education (CET) pathways.
  • SIT [HS1] also collaborates with SP One, the operator of the microgrid for the Woodleigh Concept lab, to develop a digital twin of the Punggol Campus microgrid to enhance preparedness for power disruptions. The project, part of the S$20 million EDGE programme by the Energy Market Authority and SIT, aims to improve the resilience and efficiency of renewable energy systems. The digital twin also supports predictive maintenance by identifying early signs of equipment degradation, helping prevent major failures. The microgrid at SIT Punggol Campus serves as a living lab where SIT undergraduates and master’s students participate in experiments with the digital twin.

 

How are data and digital technologies being used to optimise campus operations and environmental performance in real time?

  • Various shared spaces on SIT’s campus have been programmed and designed to leverage technology to optimise campus operations. For one, the Food Court adopts a hybrid cooling model to cool the space, using energy efficiency and data-driven automation. Air-condition set-point temperature is set at 27°c instead of 24- 25 °c. The increase of set-point temperature is compensated with the operation of ceiling fan to increase air circulation to ensure that dining experience remains comfortable for all visitors.
  • On the other hand, the MPH uses a Passive Displacement Ventilation (PDV) system installed for efficient cooling, with shading device windows to support high solar heat reduction. The PDV relies on heat from human bodies to circulate cool air, which helps generate more energy-efficient and localised cooling. Beyond streamlining infrastructure installation and minimising the need for airflow adjustments, it has been found to lower energy consumption by about 30% compared to traditional air-conditioning systems.
  • Our campus is also powered by IoT, an Integrated Building Management System (IBMS) which has a network of over 20,000 sensors, that oversees campus-wide systems such as lighting and security to enable holistic facilities management and energy optimisation.

 

What role do students and faculty play in shaping and participating in SIT’s sustainability agenda, both in research and campus life?

  • To equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to contribute to a more sustainable future, sustainability education is being integrated throughout SIT’s curriculum across our different academic programmes. This was a change made in Academic Year 2022, where we had introduced a compulsory micro-module for all undergraduate students in SIT and joint degree programmes.
  • With that said, the faculty play a significant role in driving the agenda by integrating sustainability into curriculum and applied research, fostering innovation that addresses environmental challenges.
  • Students, on the other hand, are thus empowered to participate in Living Lab initiatives, joining student-led green initiatives, and contributing to sustainability-focused projects like the Mapletree Challenge. 
  • Engaging with the broader community to foster sustainability practices beyond the campus is also an ongoing initiative by students and the faculty. This includes partnerships with external organisations and industry partners to drive these sustainability efforts on a larger scale.
  • On campus, student and faculty visitors are also encouraged to live through sustainable means, which includes bringing their own containers for takeaways from the campus food court. This fosters a lifestyle of moving away from single-use disposables, and making a responsible decision to use reusable containers and reducing the amount of waste and carbon footprint from incineration processes.

 

From your experience, how has urban environmental modelling evolved, and how has it influenced the Punggol campus’ design and performance?

  • Urban environmental modelling has become an important design support tool embedded in the urban and building design process. Previously, it was merely an academic exercise. For example, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation is commonly used to evaluate natural ventilation potential to reduce air conditioning energy consumption. The cost of high-performance computers used for such simulation has become much lower compared to a decade ago. As such, complex environmental modelling can now easily be done by urban and building designers within a reasonable time, resources and effort.
  • In designing the Punggol campus, the consultant conducted various environmental modelling including CFD simulation of natural ventilation and wind-driven rain to harness natural ventilation potential while minimising the amount of rain brought into the semi-outdoor spaces, such as common corridors and public seating areas. Sun path analysis on the building facades was also done to minimise the amount of solar heat gain and reduce daylight glare.

 

As both a researcher and educator, what major shifts have you observed in how sustainability is integrated into infrastructure planning and higher education?

  • Sustainable development has become an important agenda worldwide and in Singapore. The Singapore Green Plan 2030, first launched in 2021, is a comprehensive national sustainability movement aimed at advancing Singapore’s agenda on sustainable development and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • As a result, in infrastructure planning, sustainability is no longer just an optional or add-on feature, e.g., installation of solar photovoltaics as an afterthought when the construction is completed, but it is embedded in the design process from the start, including site selection, material and resource use, energy efficiency during operation and whole lifecycle of the infrastructure.
  • Infrastructure is also designed to be more resilient to extreme weather conditions such as torrential rain, flash floods, or extreme heat. 
  • We also see a rapid increase in demand for environmental sustainability knowledge and skillsets within the workforce. Sustainability is no longer confined to just environmental science or environmental engineering degree programmes, but it is integrated across disciplines: healthcare, business, design, engineering, and so on.
  • It becomes imperative that university graduates need to have fundamental knowledge and skillsets in the area of sustainability in order to contribute to addressing sustainability challenges in various industry sectors wherever they are.

 

Looking forward, how can SIT’s sustainability framework be scaled or adapted to support national and regional infrastructure development across Southeast Asia?

  • SIT has developed a comprehensive sustainability framework anchored on three strategic thrusts: Sustainability Talent Development, Sustainability Research and Innovation, and Sustainable Campus. This framework demonstrates SIT’s steps in contributing to and ensuring a sustainable future for all.
  • In Sustainability Talent Development, SIT focuses on hands-on learning and collaborating with industry to train students in real-world sustainability skills. All SIT students have to take a basic mandatory sustainability module; while some undergraduate degrees, such as the Sustainable Built Environment and Electrical Power Engineering programmes, are tailored to green sectors. For working adults, SIT offers short courses such as a professional certificate in carbon accounting and sustainability reporting to meet industry needs.
  • SIT focuses on research and innovation with real-world solutions by working closely with industry. Projects such as digital twins for microgrids help boost energy efficiency, while partnerships with companies like ENGIE and Singapore Power support smart cooling and energy grid systems. These efforts create practical solutions that can be used in other Southeast Asian cities facing similar sustainability challenges.
  • The SIT Punggol Campus demonstrates the university’s strong commitment for sustainability. It uses super low energy designs, solar panels, and smart cooling systems to reduce on energy use. The campus also runs on a multi-energy microgrid and acts as a “living lab,” where students and partners can learn from green technology in action and apply it to city planning.
  • By aligning education, research, and campus operations, SIT’s sustainability framework offers a holistic approach adaptable to Singapore and Southeast Asia’s unique needs. SIT invites regional partners and institutions to connect for discussions or explore collaborations in advancing sustainable infrastructure.

For more details, please visit: https://southeastasiainfra.com/ 

For queries or any information, please contact: Namrta Bangia, Senior Director, Southeast Asia Infrastructure at namrta.bangia@southeastasiainfra.com