Wednesday 21 September 2016

Summary & Reader Response: Sustainability Efforts (Draft 1)

In the “Sustainability Efforts” (2016) article, it included three key designs used in Gardens by the Bay to achieve Environmental sustainability namely the lake system, conservatories and “Supertrees”.

The lake system mainly uses aquatic plants to filter and cleanse water naturally. The water is used in their irrigation system and to provide habitats with great air and water circulation for the fishes and dragonflies. Aquatic plants are able to improve water quality by absorbing nitrogen to help minimize the growth of algae. They also act as a control for problems like mosquito breeding. This system aims to promote the importance of clean water and how plants can play a significant role in our ecosystem.

The two conservatories, which replicate the cool-dry and cool-moist climate respectively, house huge varieties of uncommon plants. These conservatories could reduce energy consumption by 30% or more. The glass used for the conservatories allows plants to be exposed to light while keeping the heat level down, and the automated sails would shade the plants once the weather starts getting too hot. Thermal stratification is incorporated to cut down on the volume of air needed to be cooled. Along with the use of liquid desiccant, energy consumption would be greatly reduced. The “Combined Heat Power (CHP) steam turbine” uses agricultural waste to generate electricity on-site, allowing the gardens to be independent of the electrical grid.

Some of the “Supertrees” in Gardens by the Bay act as storage for the exhaust air while others have solar cells to collect the energy needed to light up those trees.

Global warming is one of the greatest issues the world faces therefore it is important to play a part in protecting our planet. The article shows that Gardens by the Bay followed closely to the environmental sustainability principle when designing their systems, allowing them to reduce pollution and energy consumption at the same time.



References:

Sustainability Efforts (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2016, from http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/aboutus/sustainability.html

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