According to the “Sustainability Efforts” (n.d.) webpage
taken from Gardens
by the Bay (GBTB) website, heavy emphasis has been placed on achieving environmental
sustainability. Firstly, GBTB uses their lake system to filter water
naturally with aquatic plants. This system aims to promote the importance of
clean water and how plants can play a significant role in our ecosystem. Also, the web page further explained the two conservatories which consume lesser energy due to the specially
chosen glass, along with the incorporation of thermal stratification and “Combined
Heat Power (CHP) steam turbine”. Some “Supertrees” in GBTB act as the exhaust
air storage while others have solar cells to collect solar energy. I
acknowledge the effort GBTB put in to reduce pollution and energy and agree
that they followed closely to the environmental sustainability concept.
Environmental
sustainability defines how we should be protecting our ecosystems and the
sustainability of our natural resources (Mason, n.d.). Protecting our
environment from any potential damage will be the key to this sustainability.
In my opinion, the
lake system makes efficient use of the natural ecological processes. Instead of
using other sophisticated technologies, they choose to use reed beds and
aquatic plants for the water cleaning process. By using reed beds in the lake
system, it requires minimal energy input and is also environmentally friendly
(“Reed-Beds,”n.d.). In addition, the lake system provides the benefit of
nutrients and pollution absorption by incorporating aquatic plants and reed
beds. Nutrient pollution occurs when there is excess nitrogen and phosphorus in
air and water (US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2016). Too much of
these two nutrients can lead to algal bloom, affecting the water quality. It
may even cause serious impact on humans and the environment. This system of
GBTB has proven their attempt to protect our ecosystem, following their main
concept of environmental sustainability.
GBTB also came up
with an energy-efficient solution by using the specially selected glass as the
main material of the conservatories to reduce the heat, and uses horticultural
waste to generate electricity on-site for the cooling system. This reduces
their dependency on natural resources, such as fossil fuels. Using CHP requires
lesser fuel to produce energy, which will result in the decrease of greenhouse
gases emissions other possible air pollution (EPA, 2016). Greenhouse gas is one
of the main causes of global warming and the change in climate. Therefore, it
is essential to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. By doing so, GBTB has
shown efforts in environmental sustainability.
Furthermore, the photovoltaic
cells on “Supertrees” absorb radiation from the sun and converts the energy
into usable electricity to light themselves up. The world’s natural resources
are depleting, but solar energy will last as long as the sun rises. This makes
it a good alternative to generate electricity. Furthermore, this way of
creating electricity does not create pollution or result in global warming.
With the “Supertrees”, GBTB attempts to protect the sustainability of the
natural resources and our environment as well.
To sum it up, GBTB proved
that their systems and technologies were indeed upholding the environmental
sustainability concept.
References:
Mason, M. (n.d.). What Is
Sustainability and Why Is It Important?. Retrieved
September 24, 2016, from http://www.environmentalscience.org/sustainability
Shahan, Z. (2013). Advantages & Disadvantages Of Solar
Power. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from https://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/08/advantages-disadvantages-solar-power/
Sustainability
Efforts (n.d.). Retrieved September 19,
2016, from http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/about-us/sustainability.html
US Environmental Protection Agency.
(2016). Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Partnership Share. Retrieved
September 24, 2016, from https://www.epa.gov/chp/chp-benefits
US Environmental Protection Agency.
(2016). Nutrient Pollution. Retrieved
September 24, 2016, from https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution
Wall, A. (n.d.). Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy. Retrieved September
24, 2016, from http://www.processindustryforum.com/hottopics/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-solar-energy
What are the
advantages of using a reed-bed system? (n.d.). Retrieved
September 24, 2016, from http://www.reedbeds.co.uk/page/what-are-the-advantages-of-using-a-reed-bed-system.php
Hi Derrick! You have done a good job in highlighting the key concepts use by GBTB achieve environmental sustainability. You then make a clear transition of your view on the article to the response by explaining in details the concepts taken by GBTB to ensure sustainability. To sum it up, great effort man!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Derrick, for this well researched and generally fluent summary + reader response. As my comments below explain, there are some areas that need amended/revised, with those being mainly in terms of the cohesiveness of the ideas in the summary and the nature of your thesis, but overall this work has good potential.
ReplyDelete1) ...heavy emphasis has been placed on achieving environmental sustainability. >>> This part of your intro statement could be elaborated a bit.
2) The ideas of your summary seem to be rather disconnected. You need a bit more detail that shows how the 'systems' described on the webpage are linked.
3) I acknowledge the effort GBTB put in to reduce pollution and energy and agree that they followed closely to the environmental sustainability concept. >>> Is this really a thesis? What is contentious about your statement? Please review the suggested website on thesis statements.
4) By using reed beds in the lake system, it requires minimal energy input and is also environmentally friendly (“Reed-Beds,”n.d.).
>>>
(sentence structure)
5) This system of GBTB has proven their attempt to protect our ecosystem.... >>> Who is 'their'?
6) ...the photovoltaic cells on “Supertrees” absorb radiation from the sun and converts... >>> (inconsistent verb agreement)
7) GBTB proved that their systems and technologies were indeed upholding the environmental sustainability concept. >>> This may be a better thesis. Just finesse it by adding that through the three major components of the Gardens, sustainability has been propagated.
Let's work on this.
Hi Brad,
DeleteI am glad you think that my work has good potential. I will work on the points you mentioned. Thank you!