According to the “Sustainability
Efforts” (n.d.) webpage taken from Gardens
by the Bay (GBTB) website, heavy emphasis has been placed
on designing GBTB’s systems and technologies to achieve 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.
Environmental sustainability can also be achieved by conserving energy. GBTB
uses specially chosen glass for their two conservatories to minimize heat gain,
along with thermal stratification to reduce the volume
of air that needs to be cooled. GBTB also generates their own energy with the “Combined
Heat Power (CHP) steam turbine” and solar cells on the “Supertrees”. With these
systems and technologies to reduce pollution and conserve energy, GBTB has proved
that they are indeed upholding 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, GBTB choose to
use reed beds and aquatic plants for the water cleaning process. Using reed bed
in the lake system is environmentally friendly and requires minimal energy
input (“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 has
proven GBTB’s 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 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
convert the energy into usable electricity. 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. This further proves that GBTB upholds the environmental
sustainability concept.
To
sum it up, GBTB follows closely to the environmental sustainability principles
by ensuring that their systems and technologies help to reduce pollution and
conserve energy. Although it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of those
systems and technologies, GBTB has proven to put in a commendable amount of
effort in protecting our ecosystems and environment.
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
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