BCA SkyLab is an advanced test facility for industry professionals, researchers, and innovators to test-bed their building technologies to achieve greater energy savings and higher performance. This state-of-the-art testbed facility is capable of testing energy-efficient technologies in façades, air-conditioning, lightings and controls. Sitting on top of a 7-storey building at Braddell Road, SkyLab has a 360-degree rotatable platform which allows technologies to be tested under real-world conditions at different building orientations.
The 132 m2 facility has over 200 laboratory grade sensors with high accuracy and granularity for comparison testing across two identical test chambers. These sensors measure performance metrics such as energy performance, indoor environmental quality, outdoor environmental parameters, etc.
SkyLab is developed in collaboration with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, a world leader in science and engineering, and building energy performance research.
What we offer
BCA SkyLab is the open innovation lab that helps industry professionals, researchers and start-uppers to develop and apply novel solutions to green buildings. We offer opportunities for users to conduct testing, verification, and knowledge sharing and dissemination with our advanced infrastructure and technical assistance.
The technologies covered include:
- Building Envelope – Smart glass, dynamic façade systems, shading devices, advanced façade materials, etc.
- Air-conditioning – Passive and active cooling technologies, dehumidification, ventilation solutions, etc.
- Lighting - High quality and energy efficiency lighting technologies and designs, smart lighting, daylight harvesting and integration, etc.
- Smart Control – Advanced building management system, smart energy management systems, AI/data driven building control or equipment control, etc.
In addition, SkyLab also serves as a platform for industry and the research community to co-innovate green building solutions. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their proposals under the Request for Information (RFI) for collaboration opportunities.
For expression of interest of testing or collaboration, please contact us at BCA_SkyLab@bca.gov.sg.
Sample technologies tested at SkyLab
Since the launch of SkyLab in 2016, a number of innovative technologies have been tested
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Technology
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Description
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Benefits
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Automated reflective blinds with dimmable LED lighting system
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LED, auto-dimming lighting and automated reflective blinds
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Dimmable LED lighting with automated reflective blinds can:
- Save substantial lighting energy compared to T5 lights with manual blinds down and no dimming control
- Eliminate glare discomfort
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Chilled beam in air-conditioning
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- Provides radiant and convective cooling via circulated cool water within its cooling coil
- Does not have a built-in fan, unlike conventional fan coil unit
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- Higher energy savings due to reduction in fan power and refrigeration energy
- Requires little maintenance as there are no moving parts
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Smart Lighting
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Uses sensors to automatically adjust the brightness of the artificial lights based on the presence of occupants and current ambient environment
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- Use of daylight dimming control with T5 fluorescent lamps, results in high lighting energy savings compared to T5 fluorescent lamps with no smart lighting and daylight dimming control
- More energy savings when combined with automated shading control
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Electrochromic (EC) glass
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- Self-tinting and heat responsive glass technology for optimal lighting and heat moderation
- Able to change transmittance based on ambient environment conditions, occupant thermal or visual comfort
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- Energy saving in air-conditioning due to reduced solar heat gain
- Has potential to improve the visual comfort and thermal comfort experienced by occupants of the space
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Combined Technologies: EC glazing/Automated blinds, Active Chilled Beam(ACB), LED and Auto-dimming
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The inter-dependency of different technologies looks at effectiveness of the combined system operation and the saving energy potential
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- Different orientations have different strategy solutions for optimum energy saving.
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Model predictive control
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This is a local invention, it is able to deliver consistent comfort environment by controlling the building systems in anticipation of the change in external and internal conditions.
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- This innovation saves energy consumption compares to conventional reactive based BMS control.
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Thermal Break of the façade frame
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This technology breaks the heat transmission through the metal façade frames
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Thermal breaks in the façade frames save cooling energy
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Results of the tested technologies can be found on this poster.
For more details, please contact us at BCA_SkyLab@bca.gov.sg.