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”. “Supertrees” are tree-like
structures, fitted with technologies that mimic the ecological function of
trees. These “Supertrees” can also function as storage for the exhaust air.
GBTB have
put in much effort to maintain a sustainable ecosystem. With these systems and
technologies to produce naturally treated water, reduce pollution and conserve
energy, GBTB has proven 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 chooses 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. The effectiveness of 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 for the conservatories by using the
specially selected glass as the main material 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 the Garden’s “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 without creating
pollution or resulting in global warming. The environmental technologies of the
“Supertrees” also allow collection of rainwater for use in the conservatories’
cooling system and irrigation system. This reduces GBTB’s demand on ground
water as well as the impact on the environment. With “Supertrees”, GBTB
attempts to protect the sustainability of the natural resources and the environment.
This further proves that GBTB upholds the environmental sustainability concept.
To sum it
up, GBTB follows closely to the environmental sustainability principles. GBTB’s
systems and technologies help to maintain a sustainable ecosystem by reducing
pollution and producing naturally treated water using the lake system, conserving
energy with the conservatories and photovoltaic cells, as well as conserving
water using “Supertrees”. Although it is difficult to measure the effectiveness
of these 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 from http://www.environmentalscience.org/sustainability
R. (n.d.).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Rainwater
Harvesting - Conserve Energy Future. Retrieved November 21, 2016, from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Advantages_Disadvantages_Rainwater_Harvesting.php
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, fromhttps://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
Hey Thanks for sharing this blog its very helpful to implement in our work
ReplyDeleteRegards
Landscaping