Offering incentives, such as preferential loan rates to building owners who aim for higher green ratings, is just one of the suggestions from the International Panel of Experts (IPE) for Sustainability of the Built Environment. In a meeting to review the two-year-old Green Building Masterplan, the IPE, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and other experts from the building industry indicated that the Government could do more by taking the lead in procurement of green and energy efficient components, such as rainwater tanks or solar panels as this will result in economies of scale and drive down the cost for the private sector as well. Other suggestions from the panel include more R&D on green building technologies and more training for facility managers to handle the operation and maintenance of green buildings. More here.