Critical Reflection

1. Module learning

My goals for this module were to improve in public speaking and also strive to craft reports skilfully in terms of language and literacy. I can proudly say that I am satisfied with myself for improving on my public speaking skills and reporting writing. Back in polytechnic, I was extremely nervous for presentations but in SIT, my professor has taught me to be calm and collected and I have also learnt the correct methods to make a presentation flow smoothly from one member to another. Report writing is extremely important not only in university but out in the workforce. This module has made my report writing skills improve drastically with proper in-text citation and referencing. I have learnt how to paraphrase properly from research articles and also ensure sentences are formed correctly. To further improve my communication skills, I plan to do the same for subsequent reports and presentations and gather feedback from peers.

2. Project learning

This project was the main bulk of the entire module and it was tough to begin with. My team and I had to sit down and discuss on the topic we were going to work on and it was hard to agree on a topic. On top of that, each of us have different strengths and weaknesses in communication skills. One challenge was researching on relevant and credible articles for our reports and paraphrasing them. My team and I took up the most time researching on articles for our report and support it with our own words. Teamwork is the utmost important when it comes to group project and I can safely say that my group cooperated very well with each other to make this project an easy one to accomplish. The team had difficulty with the presentation as majority of us were not comfortable presenting in front of the class but we stepped out of our comfort zone and did a good job in the presentation. The last yet toughest challenge was to make sure that the team’s report was perfect in every aspect and minimize on the small grammatical mistakes. We had to make sure that our in-text citation and referencing was done correctly as our professor was very particular about that part.

3. The Presentation Showcase

The group which I think did the best was Bricknology. Their presentation was good as their visual aids really helped the audience understand what they were presenting. On top of that, each member’s voice projection was excellent and I could hear each of them very clearly. The members were confident and clear about their own proposal. The videos included in the presentation gave a clear understanding behind their proposed solution which was implementing mycellium bricks. That caught my eye and understood the strength behind the solution. The team did not present their proposal like how they wrote their report which was perfect as they were trying to sell their solution and not give a normal presentation. In my opinion, they could add more visual aids and videos to make the presentation more interesting and also be more engaging with the audience. With that, the audience would be bored with their presentation.

Annotated Summary

In the article “How Does Saving Energy Help The Environment” (SaveOnEnergy, 2019), the website stated about preventing climate change, reducing of greenhouse gas emissions to protect the air and the harmful impacts of greenhouse gas emissions to our environment.

In order to generate electricity, power plants burn coal, crude oil or other fossil fuels. Consuming more energy and power means more burning of fossil fuels and this would result in more carbon emissions and harm the environment. On top of that, the effects of greenhouse gas emissions include rising air temperatures, heat waves, rising sea levels, smog, acid rain and even increased intensity in natural disasters.

Reducing energy usage is the most evident way to preventing climate change and reduce carbon emissions. In addition, it helps to conserve limited natural resources and save the ecosystem and animals. The website stated that oil spills, which often occur during the transportation of fossil fuels, impact underwater species the most and throw of the chemical balance of the oceans. This would result in endangering underwater animals and making it dangerous for humans to swim.

The article expressed the great impacts of greenhouse gas emissions due to high energy usage. This is directly related to our project research as high energy usage would affect the environment we live in. However, the article could be more specific on the examples given and it could have included statistics for better understanding.

Reference:

SaveOnEnergy. (2019). How Does Saving Energy Help The Environment? Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.saveonenergy.com/learning-center/energy-saving-tips/how-does-saving-energy-help-the-environment/

Draft #3: Technical Report

1. Background 

This report responds to a call for proposals to recommend solutions to specific problems in a particular area of focus. The team decided to work on reducing energy consumption in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), focusing on building automation of the lighting and air-conditioning systems. 

Today, global warming is one of the main concerns around the world. Scientists around the world are confident that the earth’s temperature will continue to rise for decades to come, with a prediction of -16 to -12 degrees Celsius (°C)  by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, mainly due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities (Jackson, 2019). This has resulted in many catastrophic natural disasters globally. Southeast Asia (SEA) region being “One of the most vulnerable regions to climate change is witnessing the world’s biggest jump in greenhouse gas emissions” (Prakash, 2018). The same author emphasizes that SEA must adapt to climate change, which is mainly caused by its fast-growing economies, and make better adjustments in developing strategies that are heavily supplying greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. 

 

Singapore, being the only first world country in SEA (World Population Review, 2019), should set a perfect example to lead SEA in tackling global warming. The National Environment Agency (NEA) reports that since the commercial sector is the largest energy consumer in Singapore, there is a significant potential for energy savings through improved and sustained energy management (NEA, 2019). According to Energy Market Authority (EMA, 2017), statistics in 2017 show 55.1% of total energy consumption in Singapore was used by commercial buildings, taking up more than half of Singapore’s energy consumption that year. This leads to the inauguration of the ‘Green Mark Scheme’ policy by Building and Construction Authority (BCA), which promotes sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers (BCA, 2019).

 

Polytechnic schools in Singapore are slowly transforming into green buildings in an attempt to reduce energy wastage to help tackle global warming. Singapore Polytechnic Workshop 5A and Temasek Polytechnic Sports and Arts Centre (Blk 26A) are amongst the few polytechnics to be awarded the BCA Green Mark Award this year (BCA, 2019). From the team’s observations, students are told not to lower the air-conditioning temperature below 25-degree Celsius and the last person who leaves the classroom must switch off the lights and air-conditioning. Despite the recommendations, some students forget or decide to be lazy and leave the classroom without turning off any lights and/or air-conditioning. Worse still, some students adjust the temperature to their desired comfort level because the weather is too hot outside, only to put on their jackets awhile later.

1.1 Current Observations at Ngee Ann Polytechnic

 

Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) has undergone major changes over the past few years; new buildings have been constructed to facilitate study areas, classrooms, and recreational activities within the campus. The newer buildings including Block 51 Makan Place (BCA, 2013), Block 58 (BCA, 2013) and Block 22 have all been Greenmark certified due to their building design for energy efficiency (BCA, 2013; BCA, 2015). This shows that NP is actively improving its campus towards sustainability. 

However, the same cannot be said for Block 40, which is commonly used as classrooms for full-time students. The team has observed that the hallway lights are always on from 7 am till 12 midnight, while classroom lights can be controlled but students may forget to turn off the lights after using the classrooms. The team has also conducted a survey and 65% of the students stated that the lights and ACMV are switched on throughout the day (see Appendix A). Motion sensors can be found in toilets, which helps to conserve electricity when the toilets are not in use. 

Furthermore, the team noticed that the Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) system in Block 40 is a centralized system, which means that the room temperature cannot be manually adjusted. The ACMV would only turn on according to the booking timing of the classrooms. However, since the room temperature is not adjustable, during monsoon seasons temperature would be too cold even though the temperature could be reduced. 

Singapore typically experiences 2 monsoons, the Southwest Monsoon Season between June to September and the Northwest Monsoon Season between December to March. The average temperature of Singapore is between the range of 25°C to 31°C, with April being the warmest month and January being the coldest month (Hawksford, 2019). The periods of August, September, October 2019, Singapore is experiencing an average maximum temperature of 31.4 °C and an average minimum temperature of 24.8 °C, which are both the average coldest and warmest temperatures on average (Meteorological Service Singapore, 2019).

Ideally in any building on campus, lights could be dimmed or turned off when not in use to reduce energy wastage and ACMV temperatures could be adjusted according to the outside temperature. These improvements are possible with the use of ‘Smart’ technology such as sensors, as the retrofit existing buildings to be more sustainable and cost-efficient.  

1.2 Problem Statement

However, 10 out of 45 buildings in NP are not Green Mark certified. From the 10 energy inefficient buildings in NP,  Block 40 is one of them in areas such as its lighting and Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) systems especially in the hallways and classrooms when not in use. 

By retrofitting the lighting control system and ACMV systems, the Facilities Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic could achieve Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development’s (IMCSD) target of 80% Green Mark Certification (MND, 2011) for Block 40 at Ngee Ann Polytechnic to attain zero energy wastage. 

The Facilities Department should implement building automation in Block 40 at NP which would cut electricity and air-conditioning when not in use, thus, reducing energy consumption.

1.3 Purpose Statement 

The aim of this report is to propose to the Facility Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic to improve on the energy wastage in Block 40 using sensors and automation control of lighting and Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) through a building automation system (BAS).

2. Proposed Solutions

In the survey conducted, the team realised that 70% of the students do not turn off the lights and ACMV after using the class rooms (see Appendix B). In another survey, 45.5% of students indicated that they did not give much thoughts on energy saving within schools (see Appendix C) and this might be a reason for energy wastage on campus. 

The team inferred from the BCA Green Mark Scheme on commercial buildings and came up with 2 solutions to reduce energy usage in Ngee Ann Polytechnic for the Facility Department to consider. Among the 2 solutions, the team recommends solution 2.2 to be selected. 

2.1 Replace current lighting and ACMV systems with energy efficient systems

2.1.1  Replace light fittings with Light-Emitting Diode(LED) bulbs

Lighting systems in Block 40 plays a big part in energy wastage especially when it is not in use. The ideal situation is to replace the current light fittings in Block 40 to LED bulbs as they are the most energy efficient bulbs and environmentally friendly because it does not contain mercury or lead (Sirena, R. 2011). In addition, it has the longest lifespan of up to 40 or 50 years which can save cost on replacing the bulbs frequently. LED lights are 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights (Alex, C. 2013). In the same article, 95% of the energy in LED bulbs are converted to light and only 5% is wasted as heat. This is compared to fluorescent lights which converts 95% of energy to heat and only 5% as light.

2.1.2 Allow occupants to manually adjust the temperature of the air-conditioning system 

The current ACMV system is a centralised unit in Block 40 does not allow occupants to adjust the temperature manually. This means that students studying in the block are unable to adjust the temperature to their desired comfort level and therefore, creating an unproductive environment.

To allow manual adjustment of the ACMV temperature, replacement works need to be carried out to change the centralised to a decentralised unit.

2.2 Retrofit Block 40 in Ngee Ann Polytechnic

2.2.1 Install photosensors in Block 40 for the lighting systems

Lighting systems in Block 40 plays a big part in energy wastage especially when it is not in use. During the day, most of the lights within rooms and even in the hallways are wasted as at times, natural light is able to provide sufficient lighting to the room or hallway and thus, wasting energy from the lighting systems. Photosensors respond to changes in light (Pacific Gas and Electric Company, 1997). For example, when the surrounding light level falls below a preset level, the sensor detects the fall and will switch on the corresponding lights to brighten up the area. With this, NP is able to reduce energy wastage by switching off lights during unnecessary conditions. 

2.2.2 Install microprocessor-based centralized load programmers

Microprocessor-based centralized load programmers work by programming the lighting or ACMV system to switch on and off at selected times throughout the day (Pacific Gas and Electric Company, 1997). For example in office buildings, the lights would typically be programmed to switch off after workers have left for the day. By installing these programmers, the Facility Department of NP is able to program the lighting and air-conditioning systems themselves based on the school’s schedule and further requests by the lecturers or students. This would result in saving more energy and reducing wastage.  

3. Benefits of Recommended Solution

After careful consideration, the team has concluded to recommend solution 2.2 to the Facility Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. These are the reasons to implement the recommended solution: 

3.1 Increase savings in energy cost

Installing sensors and specialized programmers for both lighting and air-conditioning can prevent energy wastage as these systems will be switched off according to the room occupancy and surrounding temperature. This causes the least amount of energy used throughout the day and results in an increase in savings for energy consumption. 

3.2 Decrease carbon emissions into the environment

The most notable way to reduce carbon emissions is to reduce energy consumption (Saveonenergy, 2019). In the same article, carbon emissions come from power plants that are used to generate electricity by burning fossil fuels. Thus, reducing energy consumption reduces the amount of electricity that power plants are needed to produce and subsequently reducing carbon emissions. An example given by the article states that “if every American household traded in just one incandescent light bulb for an energy efficient light bulb, the reduction in pollution would be equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road”.

4. Limitations of Recommended Solution 

Despite the benefits of the recommended solution, it is bound to have limitations in relation to the implementation of it. These are the limitations of the recommended solution:

4.1 High initial and maintenance cost 

Installing a new BAS certainly has a benefit to it. It allows the user to invest in the most advanced technologies and offers choices in the quotations since it is not fixated into one company’s offerings. Companies that want the latest and most advanced technologies means that those technologies can be costlier than the older ones. The market price of BAS in 2018 was ranging from USD $2.50 to USD $7.50 per square foot (MACC, 2018).

After installing BAS, the job does not end there. The subsequent job is to maintain and upgrade BAS to ensure it operates smoothly. BAS consists of both hardware and software (HSC, 2018), the maintenance or upgrade of such integrated system requires the assistance of specialised consultants, which involves money too. Depending on how frequently maintenance need to be carried out, the cost would vary. 

4.2 Complex network system 

Installing a new building automation system (BAS) may look easy but it is complicated. In the article, (Michael, 2017), “it’s complicated mechanical and electrical systems, is still more important than understanding how to set up and manage a basic network.”. This shows that even though it will reduce the energy cost and decrease in carbon emissions, the system does not operate as easy as it seems. Further training needs to be given to existing facilities personnel to operate BAS. 

With reference to the same article, “Smart building networks need to be “managed” and this brings us to an important difference between devices on a building automation LAN and the LAN that is used for standard computer networks.” Every device in the network has a dynamic IP address, with each user login a new IP address is created and assigned to the user. This would pose a challenge for BAS, since it is more difficult for a device to find another device if the IP address is changing frequently (Michael, 2017). 

5. Evaluation for Recommended Solution

Despite the limitations for the recommended solution, the team strongly believe by investing a huge sum into the initial cost of implementation and upgrading of a new lighting and ACMV system, there will definitely be a vast difference in energy consumption in the long run as compared to the current system NP is using. The team has decided not to recommend the other solution as changing the entire ACMV system to a decentralised system would take a much longer time to complete as compared to installing sensors and programmers in Block 40. It takes a longer time to complete the installation which would also mean closing down the entire block for the process which leaves NP a block less for teaching purposes. 

6. Methods & Procedure

6.1 Primary Research

The teams’ primary research includes site visits to NP, made observations of block 40 based on past experiences studying in NP and block 40. The team has also conducted surveys so as to make our source and findings more reliable. 

6.2 Secondary Research

The team made use of BCA’s website, SIT OneSearch and Google Scholar to find relevant articles and reports about energy wastage and methods to reduce energy consumption. 

7. Conclusion

The team have concluded that reducing energy wastage and consumption can benefit companies, institutions and homes. Energy wastage also means burning unnecessary fossil fuels and coals which contributes to global warming and air pollution. Thus, NP should adhere to BCA’s Green Mark Scheme to achieve minimal energy wastage by implementing our solution. Not only can it be done to Block 40 but the remaining blocks in NP that are not Green Mark certified. 

 

8. References 

Ambi Climate. (2018). Your Air Conditioning Myths, Debunked. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.ambiclimate.com/en/blog/2014/05/12/your-air-conditioning-myths-debunked/ 

BCA. (2010). What is zero energy building? Retrieved 2019, October 28 from https://www.bca.gov.sg/zeb/whatiszeb.html

BCA. (2013). Green Mark 2013-BCA. Retrieved 2019, October 28  from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenMark/others/gm2013.pdf

BCA. (2015). BCA Green Mark Awards 2015. Retrieved 2019, October 28 from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/others/gm2015.pdf

BCA. (2019). BCA Green Mark Awards 2015. Retrieved 2019, November 4 from https://www.bca.gov.sg/GreenMark/others/gm2019.pdf

Hawksford. (2019). Weather and Climate in Singapore. Retrieved 2019, November 4 from https://www.guidemesingapore.com/business-guides/immigration/get-to-know-singapore/weather-and-climate-in-singapore 

Hughes Systique Corp. (2018, October 22). Benefits and Loopholes in Building Automation Control Systems. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://hsc.com/Blog/Benefits-and-Loopholes-in-Building-Automation-Control-Systems

Jackson, R. (2019). The effects of climate change. Climate Change:Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved 2019, October 28 from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

Mid-Atlantic Controls Corp. (2018, September 6). How Much Does A Building Automation System Cost? Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://info.midatlanticcontrols.com/blog/how-much-does-a-building-automation-system-cost

Michael, P. (2017). Understanding networks in modern building automation systems. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.hpac.com/managing-facilities/understanding-networks-modern-building-automation-systems.

Meteorological Service Singapore (2019,19 August). Monsoon Update.  Retrieved 2019, November 4 from  http://www.weather.gov.sg/weather-forecast-monsoon-update/

NEA. (2019). Energy Efficient Singapore. Retrieved 2019, October 28  from https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency/industrial-sector

PG&E. (1997). Automated On/Off Controls for Lighting. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.lightingassociates.org/i/u/2127806/f/tech_sheets/Automated_on_off_lighting_controls.pdf

 

Prakash. (2018, September). Boiling Point. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2018/09/southeast-asia-climate-change-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions-prakash.htm

 

Sirena, R. (2010). Which Light Bulbs are the Most Energy-Efficient?  Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.networx.com/article/which-light-bulbs-are-the-most-energy-ef

 

SaveOnEnergy. (2019). How Does Saving Energy Help The Environment? Retrieved 2019, October 31 from

https://www.saveonenergy.com/learning-center/energy-saving-tips/how-does-saving-energy-help-the-environment/

 

SEPCO. (2013). The Advantages of LED Lights for the Environment. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.sepco-solarlighting.com/blog/bid/145611/the-advantages-of-led-lights-for-the-environment

 

World Population Review. (2019, October 25). First World Countries Populations. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/first-world-countries

 

Appendices

 

Q1: Do you notice that the lights and ACMV system in Block 40 are switched on throughout the day?

Appendix A

Q2: Do you turn off the lights and ACMV after using the classroom?

Appendix B

 

Q3: How much thought do you give in saving energy at school? 

Appendix C

Draft #2 Technical Report

1. Background 

This report responds to a call for proposals to recommend solutions to specific problems in a particular area of focus. The team decided to work on reducing energy consumption in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, focusing on building automation of the lighting and air-conditioning systems. 

Today, global warming is one of the main concerns around the world. Scientists around the world are confident that the earth’s temperature will continue to rise for decades to come, with a prediction of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, mainly due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities (Jackson, 2019). This has resulted in many catastrophic natural disasters globally. Southeast Asia (SEA) region being “One of the most vulnerable regions to climate change is witnessing the world’s biggest jump in greenhouse gas emissions” (Prakash, 2018). The same author emphasizes that SEA must adapt to climate change, which is mainly caused by its fast-growing economies, and make better adjustments in developing strategies that are heavily supplying greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. 

Singapore, being the only first world country in SEA (worldpopulationreview, 2019), it should set a perfect example to lead the SEA in tackling global warming. The National Environment Agency (NEA) reports that since the commercial sector is the largest energy consumer in Singapore, there is a significant potential for energy savings through improved and sustained energy management (NEA, 2019). According to Energy Market Authority (EMA, 2017), statistics in 2017 depicts 55.1% of total energy consumption in Singapore was used by commercial buildings, taking up more than half of Singapore’s energy consumption that year. This leads to the ‘Green Mark Scheme’ policy by Building and Construction Authority (BCA), which promotes sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers (BCA, 2019).

Schools in Singapore are slowly transforming into green building in an attempt to reduce energy wastage to help tackle global warming. Students are told not to lower the air-conditioning temperature below 25-degree Celsius and the last person who leaves the classroom must switch off the lights and air-conditioning. Despite the teaching, some students forget or decide to be lazy and leave the classroom without turning off any lights and/or air-conditioning. Worse still, some students adjust the temperature to their desired degree celsius because the weather is too hot outside, only to find them putting on their jackets awhile later. Therefore, schools have decided to adopt BAS to resolve such problems to prevent energy wastage. 

1.1 Current Observations at Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Ngee Ann Polytechnic has undergone major changes over the past few years, new buildings have been constructed to facilitate study areas, classrooms, and recreational activities within the campus. The newer buildings such as Block 51 Makan Place (BCA 2013), Block 58 (BCA 2013) and Block 22 (BCA 2015), have all been Greenmark certified due to their building design for energy efficiency. This shows that Ngee Ann Polytechnic is actively improving its campus towards sustainability. 

However, the same cannot be said for existing buildings, such as Block 50 which is commonly used as classrooms for full-time students in the day and part-time students at night. The team has observed that the hallway lights are always on from 7 am till 12 midnight, while classroom lights can be controlled but students may forget to turn off the lights after using the classrooms. Motion sensors can be found in toilets, which helps to conserve electricity when the toilets are not in use. 

Furthermore, the team noticed that the Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) system in Block 50 is a centralized system, which meant that the room temperature cannot be manually adjusted. The ACMV would only turn on according to the booking timing of the classrooms. However since the room temperature not adjustable, during monsoon seasons temperature would be too cold even though the temperature could be reduced.  

Ideally, lights could be dimmed or turned off when not in use to reduce energy wastage and ACMV temperatures could be adjusted according to the outside temperature. These improvements are possible with the use of sensors and ‘Smart’ technology, to retrofit existing buildings to be more sustainable and cost-efficient.  

1.2 Problem Statement

Block 50 of Ngee Ann Polytechnic is not energy efficient in areas such as its lighting and Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) systems in the hallways and classrooms when not in use. By retrofitting the lighting control system and ACMV systems, the Facilities Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic could achieve Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development’s (IMCSD) target of 80% Green Mark Certification (MND 2011) for Block 51 at Ngee Ann Polytechnic to attain zero energy wastage. 

The Facilities Department should implement building automation in Block 50 at Ngee Ann Polytechnic which would cut electricity and air-conditioning when not in use, thus, reducing energy consumption.

1.3 Purpose Statement 

The aim of this report is to propose to the Facility Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic to improve on the energy wastage in Block 50 using sensors and automation control of lighting and Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) through a building automation system (BAS).

2. Proposed Solutions

The team inferred from the BCA Green Mark Scheme on commercial buildings and came up with 2 solutions to reduce energy usage in Ngee Ann Polytechnic for the Facility Department to consider. Among the 2 solutions, the team recommends solution 2.2 to be selected. 

2.1 Replace current lighting and ACMV systems with energy efficient systems

2.1.1  Replace light fittings with Light-Emitting Diode(LED) bulbs

Lighting systems in Block 50 plays a big part in energy wastage especially when it is not in use. The ideal situation is to replace the current light fittings in Block 50 to LED bulbs as they are the most energy efficient bulbs and environmentally friendly because it does not contain mercury or lead (Sirena, R. 2011). In addition, it has the longest lifespan of up to 40 or 50 years which can save cost on replacing the bulbs frequently. LED lights are 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights (Alex, C. 2013). In the same article, 95% of the energy in LED bulbs are converted to light and only 5% is wasted as heat. This is compared to fluorescent lights which converts 95% of energy to heat and only 5% as light.

2.1.2 Allow occupants to manually adjust the temperature of the air-conditioning system 

The current ACMV system is a centralised unit in Block 50 does not allow occupants to adjust the temperature manually. The team has conducted another survey and 90% of the respondents indicated that they are unable to adjust the temperature when the air-conditioning is too cold or hot (see Appendix B).

To allow manual adjustment of the ACMV temperature, replacement works need to be carried out to change the centralised to a decentralised unit.

2.2 Retrofit Block 50 in Ngee Ann Polytechnic

2.2.1 Install photosensors in Block 50 for the lighting systems

Lighting systems in Block 50 plays a big part in energy wastage especially when it is not in use. During the day, most of the lights within rooms and even in the hallways are wasted as at times, natural light is able to provide sufficient lighting to the room or hallway and thus, wasting energy from the lighting systems. Photosensors respond to changes in light (Lighting Handbook of Utilities, 2000). For example, when the surrounding light level falls below a preset level, the sensor detects the fall and will switch on the corresponding lights to brighten up the area. With this, Ngee Ann Polytechnic is able to reduce energy wastage by switching off lights during unnecessary conditions. 

2.2.2 Install microprocessor-based centralized load programmers

Microprocessor-based centralized load programmers work by programming the lighting or ACMV system to switch on and off at selected times throughout the day (Lighting Handbook of Utilities, 2000). For example in office buildings, the lights would typically be programmed to switch off after workers have left for the day. By installing these programmers, the Facility Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic is able to program the lighting and air-conditioning systems themselves based on the school’s schedule and further requests by the lecturers or students. This would result in saving more energy and reducing wastage.  

3. Benefits of Recommended Solution

After careful consideration, the team has concluded to recommend solution 2.2 to the Facility Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. These are the reasons to implement the recommended solution: 

3.1 Increase savings in energy cost

Installing sensors and specialized programmers for both lighting and air-conditioning can prevent energy wastage as these systems will be switched off according to the room occupancy and surrounding temperature. This causes the least amount of energy used throughout the day and results in an increase in savings for energy consumption. 

3.2 Decrease carbon emissions into the environment

The most notable way to reduce carbon emissions is to reduce energy consumption (Saveonenergy, 2019). In the same article, carbon emissions come from power plants that are used to generate electricity by burning fossil fuels. Thus, reducing energy consumption reduces the amount of electricity that power plants are needed to produce and subsequently reducing carbon emissions. An example given by the article states that “if every American household traded in just one incandescent light bulb for an efficient CFL, the reduction in pollution would be equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road”.

4. Limitations of Recommended Solution 

4.1 High initial and maintenance cost 

Installing a new BAS certainly has a benefit to it. It allows the user to invest in the most advanced technologies and offers choices in the quotations since it is not fixated into one company’s offerings. Companies that want the latest and most advanced technologies means that those technologies can be costlier than the older ones. The market price of BAS in 2018 was ranging from USD $2.50 to USD $7.50 per square foot (MACC, 2018).

After installing BAS, the job does not end there. The subsequent job is to maintain and upgrade BAS to ensure it operates smoothly. BAS consists of both hardware and software (HSC, 2018), the maintenance or upgrade of such integrated system requires the assistance of specialised consultants, which involves money too. Depending on how frequently maintenance need to be carried out, the cost would vary. 

4.2 Complex network system 

Installing a new building automation system (BAS) may look easy but it is complicated. In the article, (Michael, 2017), “it’s complicated mechanical and electrical systems, is still more important than understanding how to set up and manage a basic network.”. This shows that even though it will reduce the energy cost and decrease in carbon emissions, the system does not operate as easy as it seems. Further training needs to be given to existing facilities personnel to operate BAS. 

With reference to the same article, “Smart building networks need to be “managed” and this brings us to an important difference between devices on a building automation LAN and the LAN that is used for standard computer networks.” Every device in the network has a dynamic IP address, with each user login a new IP address is created and assigned to the user. This would pose a challenge for BAS, since it is more difficult for a device to find another device if the IP address is changing frequently (Michael, 2017). 

 

5. Conclusion for Recommended Solution

Despite the limitations for the recommended solution, the team strongly believe by investing a huge sum into the initial cost of implementation and upgrading of a new lighting and ACMV system, there will definitely be a vast difference in energy consumption in the long run as compared to the current system Ngee Ann Polytechnic is using. The team has decided not to recommend the other solution as changing the entire ACMV system to a decentralised system would be a very tedious task to complete. Comparing it to installing sensors and programmers in Block 50, the process is much simpler and less time-consuming to complete. 

References 

Ambi Climate. (2018). Your Air Conditioning Myths, Debunked. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.ambiclimate.com/en/blog/2014/05/12/your-air-conditioning-myths-debunked/ 

BCA. (2010). What is zero energy building? Retrieved 2019, October 28 from https://www.bca.gov.sg/zeb/whatiszeb.html

BCA. (2013). Green Mark 2013-BCA. Retrieved 2019, October 28  from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenMark/others/gm2013.pdf

BCA. (2015). BCA Green Mark Awards 2015. Retrieved 2019, October 28 from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/others/gm2015.pdf

Hughes Systique Corp. (2018, October 22). Benefits and Loopholes in Building Automation Control Systems. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://hsc.com/Blog/Benefits-and-Loopholes-in-Building-Automation-Control-Systems

Jackson, R. (2019). The effects of climate change. Climate Change:Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved 2019, October 28 from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

Mid-Atlantic Controls Corp. (2018, September 6). How Much Does A Building Automation System Cost? Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://info.midatlanticcontrols.com/blog/how-much-does-a-building-automation-system-cost

Michael, P. (2017). Understanding networks in modern building automation systems. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.hpac.com/managing-facilities/understanding-networks-modern-building-automation-systems.

NEA. (2019). Energy Efficient Singapore. Retrieved 2019, October 28  from https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency/industrial-sector

PG&E. (2019). Automated On/Off Controls for Lighting. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.lightingassociates.org/i/u/2127806/f/tech_sheets/Automated_on_off_lighting_controls.pdf

Prakash. (2018, September). Boiling Point. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2018/09/southeast-asia-climate-change-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions-prakash.htm

Sirena, R. (2010). Which Light Bulbs are the Most Energy-Efficient?  Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.networx.com/article/which-light-bulbs-are-the-most-energy-ef

SaveOnEnergy. (2019). How Does Saving Energy Help The Environment? Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.saveonenergy.com/learning-center/energy-saving-tips/how-does-saving-energy-help-the-environment/

SEPCO. (2013). The Advantages of LED Lights for the Environment. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from https://www.sepco-solarlighting.com/blog/bid/145611/the-advantages-of-led-lights-for-the-environment

World Population Review. (2019, October 25). First World Countries Populations. Retrieved 2019, October 31 from http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/first-world-countries/

 

Draft #1: Technical Report

1. Background 

This report is to propose a solution to tackle a specific problem in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The team decided to work on energy usage in Block 51 of Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Global warming has always been the topic around the world, due to its impacts on earth. Scientists around the world have confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which consists of more than 1,300 scientists from the United States and other countries, predicted a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century (NASA, 2019).

The IPCC predicts that the increase in global mean temperature of less than 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 3 degrees Celsius) above 1990 levels will produce beneficial impacts in some regions and harmful ones in others. Net annual costs will increase over time as global temperatures increase (NASA, 2019). Therefore, global warming is slowly affecting the whole world with the temperature and climate changes causing many environmental systems to  change.

The ASEAN Member States approved during the 36th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Singapore that the regional goal to minimise energy intensity by 20% in 2020 was attained in 2018. Their next objective is to hit 30% in 2025. This urged ASEAN to enhance energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) measures which is responsible for the coordination of ASEAN’s collective efforts on energy efficiency towards its objective of decrease in energy intensity. The policy is so effective that some ASEAN Member States are transforming the EE&C regulations into legislation to further enhance on the policy. EE&C also help to save cost and assets, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and drive green economy (ASEANEnergy, 2019).

Air-conditioning alone contributes to 50% of a building’s energy usage. Hence, this is one of the areas that should be looked out for energy saving. ASEAN are adapting green buildings to tackle such problem. Some examples of energy-saving features are a double-skin façade to reduce heat, the wind scoop to get cooler and cleaner air, painting white paint on the exterior to reflect radiation from the sun, and etc can help to reduce energy usage in a building. Such green buildings are expected to emerge in ASEAN, with the help of the guideline of EE&C to help transit to clean energy (ASEANEnergy , 2019).

With the commercial sector being the largest energy consumer in Singapore as reported by the National Environment Agency (NEA), there is significant potential for energy savings through improved and sustained energy management (NEA, 2019). According to Energy Market Authority (EMA), statistics in 2017 depicts 55.1% of total energy consumption in Singapore was used by commercial buildings, taking up more than half of Singapore’s energy consumption that year (EMA, 2017). Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) efforts in reducing energy waste in Singapore led to the ‘Green Mark Scheme’, which promotes sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers. Its primary goal is to facilitate a reduction in energy, water and material resource usage (BCA, 2019). 

In addition, the Energy Conservation Act (ECA) was enacted on June 2012, along with the Energy Conservation (Energy Management Practices) Regulations that came into force in April 2013. The ECA aims to focus attention on proper energy management, as well as to level up slow-paced companies that manage energy inefficiently (NEA, 2019).

1.1 Current Observations at Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Ngee Ann Polytechnic has undergone major changes over the past few years, new buildings have been constructed to facilitate study areas, classrooms, and recreational activities within the campus. The newer buildings such as Block 51 Makan Place (BCA 2013), Block 58 (BCA 2013) and Block 22 (BCA 2015), have all been Greenmark certified due to their building design for energy efficiency. This shows that Ngee Ann Polytechnic is actively improving its campus towards sustainability. 

However, the same cannot be said for existing buildings, such as Block 51 which is commonly used as classrooms for full-time students in the day and part-time students at night. The team has observed that the hallway lights are always on from 7 am till 12 midnight, while classroom lights can be controlled but students may forget to turn off the lights after using the classrooms. Motion sensors can be found in toilets, which helps to conserve electricity when the toilets are not in use. 

Furthermore, the team noticed that the Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) system in Block 51 is a centralized system, which meant that the room temperature cannot be manually adjusted. The ACMV would only turn on according to the booking timing of the classrooms. However since the room temperature not adjustable, during monsoon seasons temperature would be too cold even though the temperature could be reduced.  

Ideally, lights could be dimmed or turned off when not in use to reduce energy wastage and ACMV temperatures could be adjusted according to the outside temperature. These improvements are possible with the use of sensors and ‘Smart’ technology, to retrofit existing buildings to be more sustainable and cost-efficient.  

1.2 Problem Statement

Block 51 of Ngee Ann Polytechnic is not energy efficient in areas such as its lighting and Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) systems in the hallways and classrooms when not in use. By retrofitting the lighting control system and ACMV systems, the Facilities Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic could achieve IMCSD’s target of 80% Green Mark Certification (MND 2011)  for Block 51 at Ngee Ann Polytechnic to attain zero energy wastage. 

The Facilities Department should implement building automation in Block 51 at Ngee Ann Polytechnic which would cut electricity and air-conditioning when not in use, thus, reducing energy consumption.

1.3 Purpose Statement 

The aim of this report is to propose to the Facility Department of Ngee Ann Polytechnic to improve on the energy wastage in Block 51 using sensors and automation control of lighting and Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) through a building automation system (BAS)

References 

ASEAN Centre for Energy. (2019). How do ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation efforts progress in the first quarter of 2019? Retrieved October 28, 2019, from http://www.aseanenergy.org/blog/energy-insight/how-do-asean-energy-efficiency-and-conservation-efforts-progress-in-the-first-quarter-of-2019/

BCA. (2010). What is zero energy building? Retrieved October 28, 2019, from https://www.bca.gov.sg/zeb/whatiszeb.html

BCA. (2013). Green Mark 2013-BCA. Retrieved October 28, 2019, from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenMark/others/gm2013.pdf

BCA. (2015). BCA Green Mark Awards 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2019, from https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/others/gm2015.pdf

NEA. (2019). Energy Efficient Singapore. Retrieved October 28, 2019, from https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency/industrial-sector

Jackson, R. (2019). The effects of climate change. Climate Change:Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved October 28, 2019, from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

DRAFT #3 SUMMARY_READER RESPONSE: DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW CITIES

In the article “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”, Cho (2014) explained how the guidelines of the Envision Sustainability Rating System can improve the sustainability of infrastructures in urban cities that face rapid growth. Given the rising importance of developing sustainable infrastructure due to urban challenges such as floods and climate changes, the rating system was introduced to evaluate new developments in terms of imperishability, adjustability, and serviceability. Cho further elaborated her aim to provide an Envision evaluation on a planned project in King Abdullah Economic City(KAEC) which is strategically located in an area that would potentially boost the economy and provide residences in 2020. Expecting a high growth rate, KAEC is advised to implement a booming strategy for sustainable development. With the implemented system, “Nuevo Necaxa-Avila Camacho Highway” in Mexico and “Highways Vias Nuevas De Lima” in Peru were evaluated and awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award by incorporating sustainable techniques. Cho hoped that working towards a sustainable future would help influence the ongoing investment strategies for KAEC and cities across the world.

The article addressed the need to develop sustainable infrastructure in new cities and the benefits of a sustainable city. However, Cho failed to give examples on the plans of developing and transforming KAEC into a sustainable city and to elaborate on the examples that were awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award.

First of all, the author should have included the different phases of development within KAEC. Based on a report written in June 2014 by Doherty, there were multiple phases on the development in KAEC at that point of time. However, Cho did not mention in her article that was written in December 2014 which was hard to comprehend the plans for KAEC. Doherty (2014) reported that phase one of the development was completed in the fall of 2013 where it produced a modern shipping port to help enhance the transportation of goods from North America and Europe to and from the Middle East. In phase two, a high-speed rail link to Dubai from KAEC was drafted for construction. This would help change the mobility of shipping and logistics throughout the region. 

Secondly, Cho should have given examples on how the “Impact KAEC Fellowship”  would develop a plan that benefits KAEC’s major infrastructure development in a sustainable way. With reference to a research article written in October 2014, it wrote about the urban environmental sustainability plans of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. Manghnani and Bajaj (2014) included the planning and design of ‘The Sustainable City’, the various initiatives towards a sustainable infrastructure for example energy management, solar panels, water management, waste management, transportation, supply chain and material recycling centre. Statistics were also included where it stated that “Masdar City and its contractors are diverting up to 96% of construction waste from landfills and using it in the build of the city”. These are the examples and statistics that Cho needed to include in her article to give the readers more information about how the “Impact KAEC Fellowship” can craft a plan to transform KAEC into a sustainable development. With such faint illustrations, it is unclear how KAEC would be revamped in the near future.  

Lastly, the writer should have elaborated more on the examples that were awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award. In relevance to an article published in 2019, Tan and Quek (2019) described about the Cheonggyecheon water reclamation project in Seoul, where the reclamation allowed more spaces for green initiatives and eased traffic flow, resulting in economic boost through tourism and redevelopment of the surrounding area. Land values also benefited and it increased post restoration around 20 to 50 percent. The authors also added another example about Singapore’s “Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park”. The park is part of the “Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Programme (ABC Waters)” initiated by the Public Utilities Board (PUB). ABC Waters is a continuing initiative that was launched in 2006 to remodel Singapore’s water bodies beyond their functions of drainage and water supply. An article by National Library of Singapore (2019), explained the benefits of the ABC Waters programme where it can “slow down and treat surface runoff, thus reducing flood risk and making water cleaner before entering waterways”. With in depth explanations on the examples given, the reader is able to comprehend the benefits of implementing sustainable infrastructure in new cities.  

In conclusion, Cho did not elaborate on the examples she gave and the future development plans for KAEC which is confusing for the readers. In addition, she failed to present the main point of the article. With such, the need for examples and explanations would paint a better picture for the readers to understand the author’s intention of the article. 

 

Cho, H. (Dec 17, 2014) Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities. Retrieved from https://newcities.org/evaluating-sustainable-infrastructure-development-new-cities/

Doherty, P. (June 4, 2014) Smart Cities: A New Dynamic For Middle East. Retrieved from https://www.ditchley.com/sites/default/files/2018-12/MHFIGI%20Smart%20Cities%20Middle%20East_0.pdf

Lorecentral. (2018) Advantages and Disadvantages Of Sustainable Development. Retreived from https://www.lorecentral.org/2018/07/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-sustainable-development.html 

National Library of Singapore (2019) Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme, Centre for Liveable Cities. Retrieved from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2019-08-21_203240.html

Nikhil & Kapil (Oct 2014) Masdar City : A Model of Urban Environmental Sustainability.  Journal of Engineering Research and Applications ISSN : 2248-9622, Vol. 4, Issue 10( Part – 4), October 2014, pp.38-42. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/25523393.pdf

Tan, S. & Quek, E.P. (2019) Sustainable Infrastructure for Emerging Asia. Retrieved from https://www.infrastructureasia.org/en/Insights/Thought-Leadership—Sustainable-Infrastructure

 

Draft #2 Summary_Reader Response: Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities

In the article “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”, Cho (2014) explained how the guidelines of the Envision Sustainability Rating System can improve the sustainability of infrastructures in urban cities that face rapid growth. Given the rising importance of developing sustainable infrastructure due to urban challenges such as floods and climate changes, the rating system was introduced to evaluate new developments in terms of imperishability, adjustability, and serviceability. Cho further elaborated her aim to provide an Envision evaluation on a planned project in King Abdullah Economic City(KAEC) which is strategically located in an area that would potentially boost the economy and provide residences in 2020. Expecting a high growth rate, KAEC is advised to implement a booming strategy for sustainable development. With the implemented system, “Nuevo Necaxa-Avila Camacho Highway” in Mexico and “Highways Vias Nuevas De Lima” in Peru were evaluated and awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award by incorporating sustainable techniques. Cho hoped that working towards a sustainable future would help influence the ongoing investment strategies for KAEC and cities across the world.

The article addressed the need to develop sustainable infrastructure in new cities and the benefits of a sustainable city. However, Cho failed to give examples on the plans of developing and transforming KAEC into a sustainable city and elaborating on the examples that were awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award.

First of all, the author should have included the different phases of development within KAEC. Based on a report written in June 2014 by Doherty, there were multiple phases on the development in KAEC at that point of time. However, Cho did not mention in her article that was written in December 2014 which was hard to comprehend the plans for KAEC. Doherty (2014) reported that phase one of the development was completed in the fall of 2013 where it produced a modern shipping port to help enhance the transportation of goods from North America and Europe to and from the Middle East. In phase two, a high-speed rail link to Dubai from KAEC was drafted for construction. This would help change the mobility of shipping and logistics throughout the region. 

Secondly, Cho should have given examples on how the “Impact KAEC Fellowship”  develops plan that would benefit KAEC’s major infrastructure development in a sustainable way. With reference to a research article written in October 2014, it wrote about the urban environmental sustainability plans of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. Manghnani and Bajaj (2014) included the planning and design of ‘The Sustainable City’, the various initiatives towards a sustainable infrastructure for example energy management, solar panels, water management, waste management, transportation, supply chain and material recycling centre. Statistics were also included where it stated that “Masdar City and its contractors are diverting up to 96% of construction waste from landfills and using it in the build of the city”. These are the examples and statistics that Cho needed to include in her article to give the readers more information about how the “Impact KAEC Fellowship” can craft up a plan to transform KAEC into a sustainable development. With such faint illustrations, it is unclear how KAEC would become.  

Lastly, the writer should have elaborated more on the examples that were awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award. In relevance to an article published in 2019, Tan and Quek (2019) described about the Cheonggyecheon water reclamation project in Seoul, where the reclamation allowed more spaces for green initiatives and eased traffic flow. Thus, resulting in economic boost through tourism and redevelopment of the surrounding area. Land values also benefited and correspondingly, increasing around 20 to 50 percent post restoration. The authors also added another example about Singapore’s “Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park”. The park is part of the “Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Programme (ABC Waters)” initiated by the Public Utilities Board (PUB). ABC Waters is a continuing initiative that was launched in 2006 to remodel Singapore’s water bodies beyond their functions of drainage and water supply. An article by National Library of Singapore (2019), explained the benefits of the ABC Waters programme where it can “slow down and treat surface runoff, thus reducing flood risk and making water cleaner before entering waterways”. With in depth explanations on the examples given, the reader is able to comprehend the benefits of implementing sustainable infrastructure in new cities.  

In conclusion, developing a sustainable city is key to enhance a city’s economy and also improve the standard of living. As stated in an article from Lorecentral (2018), one of the key benefits is to lower environmental impact by reducing the emission of gases in view of using alternative and clean energy. This would result in a cleaner and healthier environment for people to live in and thus, creating an eco city. 

References:

Cho, H. (Dec 17, 2014) Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities. Retrieved from https://newcities.org/evaluating-sustainable-infrastructure-development-new-cities/

Doherty, P. (June 4, 2014) Smart Cities: A New Dynamic For Middle East. Retrieved from https://www.ditchley.com/sites/default/files/2018-12/MHFIGI%20Smart%20Cities%20Middle%20East_0.pdf

Manghnani & Bajaj (Oct 2014) Masdar City : A Model of Urban Environmental Sustainability. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/25523393.pdf

Tan, S. & Quek, E.P. (2019) Sustainable Infrastructure for Emerging Asia. Retrieved from https://www.infrastructureasia.org/en/Insights/Thought-Leadership—Sustainable-Infrastructure

Lorecentral (2018) Advantages and Disadvantages Of Sustainable Development. Retreived from https://www.lorecentral.org/2018/07/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-sustainable-development.html 

National Library of Singapore (2019) Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme. Retrieved from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2019-08-21_203240.html

Draft #1 Summary Reader Response: “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”

In the article “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”, Cho (2014) explained how the guidelines of the Envision Sustainability Rating System can improve the sustainability of infrastructures in urban cities that face rapid growth. Given the rising importance of developing sustainable infrastructure due to urban challenges such as floods and climate changes, the rating system was introduced to evaluate new developments in terms of imperishability, adjustability, and serviceability. Cho further elaborated her aim to provide an Envision evaluation on a planned project in King Abdullah Economic City(KAEC) which is strategically located in an area that would potentially boost the economy and provide residences in 2020. Expecting a high growth rate, KAEC is advised to implement a booming strategy for sustainable development. With the implemented system, “Nuevo Necaxa-Avila Camacho Highway” in Mexico and “Highways Vias Nuevas De Lima” in Peru were evaluated and awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award by incorporating sustainable techniques. Cho hoped that working towards a sustainable future would help influence the ongoing investment strategies for KAEC and cities across the world.  The article addressed the need to develop sustainable infrastructure in new cities and the benefits of a sustainable city. However, the lack of examples and statistics on how KAEC will turn into a sustainable city makes the article very vague and brief.

First of all, the author should have included the different phases of development within KAEC. Based on a report written in June 2014 by Paul Doherty, there were multiple phases on the development in KAEC at that point of time. However, Cho did not mention in her article that was written in December 2014 which was hard to comprehend the plans for KAEC. Doherty (2014) reported that phase one of the development was completed in the fall of 2013 where it produced a modern shipping port to help enhance the transportation of goods from North America and Europe to and from the Middle East. In phase two, a high-speed rail link to Dubai from KAEC was drafted for construction. This would help change the mobility of shipping and logistics throughout the region. 

Secondly, Cho should have given examples on how the “Impact KAEC Fellowship”  develops plan that would benefit KAEC’s major infrastructure development in sustainable way. With reference to a research article written in October 2014, it wrote about the urban environmental sustainability plans of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. Manghnani and Bajaj (2014) included the planning and design of ‘The Sustainable City’, the various initiatives towards a sustainable infrastructure for example energy management, solar panels, water management, waste management, transportation, supply chain and material recycling centre. Statistics were also included where it stated that “Masdar City and its contractors are diverting up to 96% of construction waste from landfills and using it in the build of the city”. These are the examples and statistics that Cho needed to include in her article to give the readers more information about how the “Impact KAEC Fellowship” can craft up a plan to help make KAEC a sustainable development. With such faint illustrations, it is unclear how KAEC would become.  

Heidi, C. (Dec 17, 2014) Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities. Retrieved from https://newcities.org/evaluating-sustainable-infrastructure-development-new-cities/

Paul Doherty (June 4, 2014) Smart Cities: A New Dynamic For Middle East. Retrieved from https://www.ditchley.com/sites/default/files/2018-12/MHFIGI%20Smart%20Cities%20Middle%20East_0.pdf

Manghnani & Bajaj (Oct 2014) Masdar City : A Model of Urban Environmental Sustainability. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/25523393.pdf

 

Summary of “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities” Draft #2

In the article “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”, Cho (2014), explained how the guidelines of the Envision Sustainability Rating System can improve the sustainability of infrastructures in urban cities that face rapid growth. Given the rising importance of developing sustainable infrastructure due to urban challenges such as floods and climate changes, the rating system was introduced to evaluate new developments in terms of imperishability, adjustability, and serviceability. Cho further elaborated her aim to provide an Envision evaluation on a planned project in King Abdullah Economic City(KAEC) where it is strategically located in an area that will potentially boost the economy and provide residences in 2020. Expecting a high growth rate, it is advised to implement a booming strategy for sustainable development. With the implemented system, “Nuevo Necaxa-Avila Camacho Highway” in Mexico and “Highways Vias Nuevas De Lima” in Peru were awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award by incorporating sustainable techniques. Cho hopes that working towards a sustainable future will help influence the ongoing investment strategies for KAEC and cities across the world.  The article addresses the need to develop sustainable infrastructure in new cities and also the benefits of them. However, the lack of examples on how the Envision review develops sustainable infrastructure makes the article very vague and brief.

Source: Heidi, C. (Dec 17, 2014) Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities. Retrieved from https://newcities.org/evaluating-sustainable-infrastructure-development-new-cities/

Summary of “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities” Draft #1

In the article “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”, Cho (Dec 17, 2014), explained how the guidelines of the Envision Sustainability Rating System can improve the sustainability of infrastructures in urban cities that faces rapid growth. Given the rising importance of developing sustainable infrastructure due to urban challenges such as floods and climate changes, the rating system was introduced to evaluate new developments in terms of imperishability, adjustability, and serviceability. Cho further elaborated her aim to provide an Envision evaluation on a planned project in King Abdullah Economic City(KAEC) where it is strategically located in an area that will potentially boost the economy and provide residences in 2020. Expecting a high growth rate, it is advised to implement a booming strategy for sustainable development. With the implemented system, “Nuevo Necaxa-Avila Camacho Highway” in Mexico and “Highways Vias Nuevas De Lima” in Peru were awarded the “Infrastructure 360” award by incorporating sustainable techniques. Cho hopes that working towards a sustainable future will help influence the ongoing investment strategies for KAEC and cities across the world.