According to the article “Sustainability in the
gardens” taken from the Garden by the Bay website, it mentions the effort done
in ensuring that it is environmentally sustainable in terms of water
and energy. The author talks about the implementation in Dragonfly lake
and Kingfisher lake, how it acts as a natural filtration system as well as a
provider of aquatic habitats for the diversity of biological life
living within them. Mentioning about it being naturally cleanse before
discharged into the reservoir for irrigation in the Gardens. Claiming that it
will raise awareness of the value that aquatic plants play in
nature and also highlighting the significance of clean
water in a sustaining biodiversity. By incorporating different methods in
achieving the results, in which the author describes. The author also
brought up that with the use of technologies, it raises the energy-efficiency
in cooling by at least 30% savings in energy consumption. Describing how the
conservatives’ uses shade to lower the heat while reducing the need of cooling.
How in return the waste heat produced by the electricity could be reused
for dehumidifying. The author mentioned about the use of photovoltaic
cells through the use of harvested supertrees which will be
used for lightnings while others act as air exhaust containment
units.
I believe that Gardens by the Bay adopts an eco-friendly approach through sustainable and efficient energy use. Therefore, I agree that the adoption of energy efficient and sustainable methods has enabled Gardens by the Bay to have sustainable conservatories.
Firstly, the main features of Gardens by the Bay are its two main conservatories which exhibit the use of energy efficient and sustainable technology infrastructure. This was done through the use of specially selected glass which allows for the ideal amount of sunlight for plants in the dome, while drastically reducing the high amounts of heat that present in the dome. Moreover the roof is also fitted with sensor operated retractable sails that opens automatically to provide shade to the plants when temperatures get too hot (Gardens by the Bay, Energetics of the Conservatories).
Secondly, the method of cooling was only adopted in the lower levels of the conservatories through the use of thermal stratification, as a means to reduce the overall amount of air that required cooling within the domes (Gardens by the Bay, Energetics of the Conservatories).
Thirdly, in an effort to lower the levels of
energy required, a process of dehumidification of air before cooling was
carried out. This is done by using a drying agent called liquid desiccant
which can be obtained from the recycling of waste heat through the burning of
biomass (Atelier ten (2012) Gardens by The Bay, Singapore).
Lastly, in an effort to power the chillers that
help in the cooling of the Conservatories, electricity is produced on-site. At the same time, waste heat is captured in the process to
regenerate the liquid desiccant. This co-generation of energy is achieved by
the use of a Combined Heat Power (CHP) steam turbine that is fed by
horticultural waste from the Gardens and other parks around Singapore.
Therefore this decreases their reliance on the electrical grid (Gardens
by the Bay, Energetics of the Conservatories).
In conclusion, I agree with the authors view that the
various aspects and methods brought forth by Gardens by the Bay was effective
in creating ecofriendly and sustainable conservatories, that helped raise
international awareness on the importance of adopting eco-friendly and sustainable
energy designs.
References:
Atelier ten (2012) Gardens
by The Bay, Singapore. Retrieved from: http://www.atelierten.com/2012/projects/gardens-by-the-bay/
