Critical Reflection

The effective communication module started off with every student in the class setting a goal to be achieved by the end of the course. I was hoping that I could grow and develop to be more active, as well as expanding my vocabulary range. It has been an arduous yet gratifying journey of 13 weeks, and I do believe that I have attained said objectives to a rather large extent, especially with the help of our lecturer Prof Brad together with my fellow class and group mates. Working together in different pairs every week has allowed me to get accustomed to working with others and understand how we can help each other with our strengths and weaknesses. The various tasks assigned to us, such as the draft reports and mock presentations, has further supplemented our learning as we received construction critiques and comments as a group. I would want to work together with other classmates that I might not have had the chance to work with during this course. I believe that I still have more to learn from my fellow classmates as everyone has their own area of expertise in terms of presentation. 

Our team's final presentation has been a rather significant moment that I have learnt a lot from. We had to break down and restructure the flow on our presentation, keeping the presentation slides simple yet informative, and ensuring it generates enough interest so that the viewers do not lose their attention. This was how our team had to unlearn the style of presentation we were used to doing during polytechnic and we had to watch and review the various videos and resources available in the instructional units to better facilitate a fluid presentation. As both Hairi and I studied in polytechnic, we were accustomed to presentations, so we were able to assist Darryl during preparation such as learning to stay calm. Darryl on the other hand was able to provide guidance as to how we can better carry out the presentation with better terminologies used. This has showed me how building off each other's strengths and weaknesses and be an extremely effective way of learning.  

The presentation showcase has been nothing short of amazing. I felt that I have been able to maintain calm during the presentation and this has allowed for a more concise and fluid delivery. I also do believe that the usage of hand gestures (which I have not seen much being used by the other teams) has helped to draw in more attention and portrays a more active image of my presentation. The simple yet concise graphics has definitely aided by keeping the audience interested and alert. After observing presentations from the other teams, I noticed that some teams have more energy and enthusiasm packed in their presentation which our team may have been lacking. Having varying levels of tone in voice as well as having more confidence to walk around projects a more dynamic presentation. 

Reflections on the Mapletree Forum on 20th March 2019

The Mapletree Challenge Forum has given me a very insightful viewpoint from an entrepreneur's perspective. The main topic of the forum generally revolves around the subject of sustainability, but there were some key takeaways from Ms Nancy Ling which I felt were rather essential and important: understanding your customers and having the commitment to strive for success.

Ms Nancy Ling is the co-founder of the company eco-u, and has aims to transform human generated waste into biodegradable forms so that it is more beneficial to the environment and sustainable as well. She has noticed that almost all hawker vendors in Singapore have been using plastic bags and wraps for packaging of styrofoam boxes, which are typically used for takeaways . These plastic bags are usually disposed of after use. This sparked the idea of creating biodegradable bags for the storage of styrofoam boxes but however, she soon realized that Singaporeans have been accustomed to the usage of plastic and are reluctant to change. She understood that this business can only be customer-driven and therefore she tried to share her thoughts to hawkers on how sustainability is a growing need for the environment and everyone will eventually be taking this path. The only question she had for the hawkers was "In this path to sustainability, would you like to be a leader, or a follower?" This shows how having a great understanding of your consumers allows for a better plan execution. 

Ms Ling has also mentioned that entrepreneurship might not be cut out everyone, especially if you do not have that "fire in your belly". I do believe that having a strong passion in the work we are researching on allows for more depths of understanding and would therefore allow us to be more resourceful and confident in our work. Having a strong passion can provide a huge motivational push for us when we may be in times of need, such as when the ideas start to grow stagnant. 

In general, it has been an extremely riveting session listening to the speakers talk about how they faced their challenges and how they managed to overcome it, and has also given me a new look on how entrepreneurship works in all. 

Technical Report Draft 1b : Mitigating Floods with Sustainable Porous Asphalt on Expressways

1. Introduction

1.1. Background Information
Flash floods are considered to be of major inconvenience to motorists, exacerbated by the limited land we have in Singapore. Singapore, being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, has seen a growing transport demand among individual road users, logistic firms and public transportation agencies in the city. These users “expect reliable and safe road infrastructure for traveling from one location to another and transporting goods and people” (Hartmann & Ling, 2016, p. 29). However, due to the city’s tropical climate, Singapore receives abundant rainfall, which has been steadily rising over the years (Meteorological Service Singapore, 2018 (Fig 1.2)). This increase in frequency and intensity of rain, in conjunction with the increase in the car population in Singapore, is a catalyst for road accidents as wet road conditions reduces the friction car tyres have against the road surface. This in turn leads to higher chances of causing human casualties, property damage, and traffic disruption due to road flooding, landslides, or fallen trees from storms (Chow, Cheong & Ho, 2016).

According to media archives retrieved in a study led by Chow, Cheong and Ho (2016b), there was a total of 212 flood events reported in Singapore from 1965 to 2015, with only seven years that were absent of recorded newsworthy flood events. The data listed in The Straits Times categorized and defined 30.2% of the historical extent of flooding during the fifty-year period as flash floods (Fig 1).

These floods have led to the development of alternative techniques to increase the drainage capability of surfaces, such as the use of porous asphalt. Porous asphalt is a type of asphalt that allows water to permeate through its surface into a collection pond below the pavement. Water-permeable asphalt is made possible by controlling and/or changing the amount of materials used in conventional asphalt mixes, such as the fine and coarse aggregates, along with some variations in construction methods to produce the desired outcome of reducing surface runoff. Porous asphalt has the capacity to conserve water, reduce runoff and promote infiltration which cleanses stormwater, all of which are acquired from the relatively high porosity and permeability of the porous pavement layers (Fwa, Lim, Tan, 2015). According to Hesami, Ameri, Goli and Akbari (2013), several completed or ongoing studies on warm-mix asphalt and steel slag asphalt mixtures have been conducted all over the world.

Exemplifying the advantages porous asphalt would contribute toward sustainability, such as introducing recycled by-products in the production process such as steel slag. Non-potable use for the water collected from the asphalt after rain (Hammes, Thives & Ghisi 2018), together with recycled steel slag, are sustainable aspects of porous asphalt that can serve to urge the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to consider porous asphalt as an alternative to the conventional road mix.

1.2. Problem Statement
Flash floods have always been of major inconvenience to motorists in Singapore. With the aim of being a sustainable city, porous asphalt should be implemented on the roads of Singapore not only to mitigate the occurrence of floods, but also as a sustainable measure by introducing recycled by-products in the production process as well as providing non-potable use for the water collected from the asphalt.

1.3. Purpose Statement
The purpose of this report is to propose the implementation of porous asphalt on busy roads to reduce the occurrence of floods in areas that has lack of drainage system such as the Expressways. The proposed methodologies and application of porous asphalt roads would demonstrate to LTA that porous asphalt not only mitigates the occurrence of floods, it can also be presented as a sustainable approach to mitigate road flooding.  


2. Proposed Solution

2.1. Porous Asphalt Roads
The team’s proposed solution to mitigate the occurrence of flood is the implementation of porous asphalt on roads especially on areas where there is lack of drainage system such as the expressways. Incorporating porous asphalt is a strategic stormwater management with its unique functional benefits of having the capacity to conserve water, reduce runoff and promote infiltration with cleanses stormwater, all of which are acquired from the relatively high porosity and permeability of the porous pavement layers (Fwa, Lim, Tan, 2015).

2.1.1. Application
• A proposal to LTA will be made to have a pilot study on a small section of road.

• Instead of using a traditional asphalt mix, our proposed porous asphalt mix can be used during the maintenance of roads

• After studies and research on the small section of road is conducted, if it is sustainable, the porous asphalt can be applied to more roads other than our pilot road

• Substituting crushed stone aggregates with steel furnace slag. According to Ahmedzade & Sengoz (2009b), steel slag used as coarse aggregate improved the mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures as the results of different tests conducted with steel slag indicated that steel slag mixtures have excellent engineering properties. Currently, steel slag is supplied by NatSteel Asia, the only steel mill in Singapore, as a by-product of reinforcement bar production. It is treated by NSL Chemicals Ltd (formerly known as NatSteel Envirotech Pte Ltd).


3. Benefits of Proposed Solution

3.1. Reducing impact of floods and ponding
The higher void content of porous asphalt as compared to the conventional asphalt mix, will allow the seepage of rainwater through the road surface, thus maintaining a relatively dry surface. Reduced ponding on the road surface allows for a safer and pleasant driving experience as the car tyres do not lose friction against a wet road surface.

3.2. Stormwater management
The collection of stormwater from under porous asphalt roads can be collected for non-potable use in buildings, such as “flushing urinals and toilets”, in a building, which led to savings of 53 to 54% of potable water (Hammes, G., Thives, L., & Ghisi, E., 2018). This would make porous asphalt roads dual-purpose and hence sustainable (preventing floods and recycling water simultaneously).

3.3. Recycled by-product: Steel Slag
According to Chen and Wei (2016), the use of steel slag as a coarse aggregate substitute could improve the engineering properties of asphalt mixtures with higher durability, higher skid resistance and has longer road lifespan resulting in lesser carbon emissions. Also, steel slag have angular and rough textured particles that would improve the interlocking mechanism and provide good mechanical properties.


4. Proposal Evaluation

4.1. Case Study
According to Takahashi (2013), the number of traffic accidents on wet surface conditions in Japan since 1998 has decreased drastically because of the spread of porous asphalt used widely across the expressways (refer to Figure 4). Due to the wet surface caused by rain, the loss of vehicle control at high-speed travel was one of the main reasons for these traffic accidents. At that time, with the growing economy and with the unexpected increase in the number of vehicles, many surfaces of expressways in Japan were severely damaged.

4.2. Challenges
Porous asphalt may seem to be highly efficient and sustainable to the environment, but there are certain traits to be forgone in exchange for such benefits.

Strength
The large amount of pore size in the porous asphalt mix, allows water seepage through the surface, but significantly reduces the strength of the road surface as well (Mo, Huurman, Woldekidan, Wu, Molenaar, 2010). This suggests that porous asphalt mix might not be feasible on roads with high occurrences of heavy traffic such as roads junctions. The sheer amount of vehicles at rest at road junctions will generate relatively large amounts of static forces which may not be suitable for porous asphalt to withstand.

To overcome this challenge, the team has suggested for the porous asphalt mix to be implemented on highway roads instead. The reduced congestion in traffic and a swifter road flow, as compared to road junctions, will be a good fit for the use of porous asphalt.


5. Methodology and Procedure

5.1. Primary Research
According to an interview done on March 6, 2019 with Teo Yong Boon, the Laboratory Manager for Samwoh Corporation Pte Ltd, porous asphalt is not currently being implemented on expressways on a large enough scale, and therefore consider proposing the implementation of porous asphalt on expressways.

5.2. Secondary Research
Sources of secondary research include research articles and online journals which are relevant sources that support the contents of this technical report. An example of an article is by Fwa, T. F., Lim, E., & Tan, K. H. (2015) which discussed the characteristics of porous asphalt and pervious concrete pavement materials. Another relevant source is by Hesami, S., Ameri, M., Goli, H., & Akbari, A. (2015), where it talks about the warm-mix asphalt mixtures containing steel slag aggregates. The figures as listed in the appendices were sourced from Meteorological Service Singapore (2018) and several academic articles.


6. Conclusion
The upward trend of increasing annual rainfall that is expected in Singapore due to changes in the global climate will be a major cause of flooding and ponding on roads in the future. There is a compelling need to prevent flooding and ponding and hence accidents from occuring on expressways where vehicles travel at a fast speed, which can also pose health and safety hazards to road users and pedestrians along such roads. While our proposed porous asphalt solution could mitigate floods and reduce ponding on expressways, it is also sustainable approach to solving our problem. Sustainable aspects include the potential of stormwater collection and its various non-potable uses in buildings and the usage of recycled steel-slag aggregates in place of traditional aggregates.

Technical Report Draft 1a : Flood Reduction with Sustainable Porous Asphalt

1. Introduction

1.1. Background Information

Porous asphalt is a type of asphalt that allows water to permeate through its surface into a collection pond underlying soil below the pavement. This is made possible by controlling and/or changing the amount of materials used in conventional asphalt mixes, such as the fine and coarse aggregates, along with some variations in construction methods to produce the desired outcome of reducing surface runoff. Porous asphalt has the capacity to conserve water, reduce runoff and promote infiltration which cleanses stormwater, all of which are acquired from the relatively high porosity and permeability of the porous pavement layers. Due to its unique functional benefits, porous asphalt has thus been used for many years worldwide as an effective means of stormwater management.

1.2. Problem Statement

The rainfall recorded in Singapore has been steadily rising over the years (Fig 1.) (Meteorological Service Singapore, 2018). This increase in frequency and intensity of rain, in conjunction with the increase in the car population in Singapore, is a catalyst for road accidents as wet road conditions reduces the friction car tyres have against the road surface. This in turn leads to higher chances of skidding and accidents as motorists lose control of their vehicles. When the road surface allows for water seepage, it reduces ponding and will therefore provide motorists a safer and pleasant driving experience. However, there is a relatively large initial cost and work required to replace existing asphalt surfaces with its porous variant (Fig 2). Highlighting the advantages porous asphalt would contribute toward sustainability, such as introducing recycled by-products in the production process as well as providing non-potable use for the water collected from the asphalt, might greatly encourage transport engineers to consider porous asphalt as an alternative to the conventional road mix.

1.3. Purpose Statement

The purpose of this report is to propose the implementation of porous asphalt on busy roads to reduce the occurrence of floods in areas such as the Central Business District. The proposed methodologies and application of porous asphalt roads would demonstrate to Land Transport Authority (LTA) that porous asphalt not only mitigates the occurrence of floods, it can also be presented as a sustainable approach to mitigate road flooding.

Annotated Summary

Chen, M.J., & Wong, Y.D. (2013). Porous asphalt mixture with 100% recycled concrete aggregate. Road Materials and Pavement Design, 14:4, 921-932. DOI: 10.1080/14680629.2013.837839

This article focuses on the application of recycled debris in porous asphalt mixtures. Porous asphalt mixture contains high percentages of air voids, which will allow excess water on the road surface to seep through. The article compares the strength and durability of the augmented mix against requirements set by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore. According to Chen & Wong (2013), this is a sustainable procedure in waste disposal as "reusing construction debris can reduce the demand on quarrying as well as decrease the intensity of waste disposal". The article also reports that although recycled debris may be weaker than regular coarse aggregate, the end product created by the former is still suitable for use in pathways and pavements. With the addition of chemical additives, the asphalt can then be strengthened for use on roads with lower traffic volumes. This article includes various statistics such as the composition of aggregates in the different types of porous asphalt mix used for testing as well as their respective strength, density and void content to facilitate their functionality. This aids in our research project on the usage of porous asphalt to prevent flooding as it provides thorough information on porous asphalt, from manufacturing to the application of the end-product. It also provides some insight as to how engineers can do their part in sustainability through the means of recycling. 

Summary_Reader Response Draft #3

In the article “Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future” by MacKenzie (2017),  he reports that Singapore's continuous growth has redefined utilitarian designs of green buildings, adding weight to its contribution in tackling climate change. Being densely populated, Singapore generates high power consumption. The Building Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) has planned to overcome the issue by targeting to certify 80 percent of buildings with the Green Mark by 2030, as well as raising awareness about climate change. Many planners are also starting to enforce eco-friendly systems and materials into buildings. As mentioned in the article, contrary to popular belief, it is not hefty to integrate environmental elements to building’s design. The integration would serve as cost-efficient investments that are beneficial in the long run. It involves using light colors, maximising natural light, leveraging technology, installing suitable elements that promote sustainability and working with stakeholders. In working towards a greener future, making prudent decisions on a building’s design is critical, as it would be a pivotal weapon in Singapore’s fight against climate change.

The article by MacKenzie (2017) has offered various suggestions on improving the energy efficiency of buildings. However, in my opinion, there is a lack of information regarding how the Green Mark can aid in: 1. reducing power usage (economically) as well as 2. other health benefits it can offer (socially). These points will further emphasize the suitability on how the Green Mark and eco-friendly systems can aid in sustainability.

There is an absence of information regarding how the Green Mark can provide health benefits. Social benefits portray the scheme as not just sustainable in terms of material usage, but for establishing sustainable living conditions as well.  The Green Mark Scheme was introduced in 2015 by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore with an intention of creating a more desirable living space and/or working environment for the people. In the study "Occupants of Green Mark buildings are healthier" by Siau (2017), it was reported that occupants were "less likely to experience symptoms of 'sick building syndrome' such as unusual fatigue, headaches" as well as how "occupants of Green Mark buildings were about 60 per cent less likely to get a headache than those in other buildings". These points highlight the beneficial effect of the Green Mark on the social health of the people and would therefore garner strong support for 80 percent of the buildings to be certified by 2030. 

The original article is also lacking in providing data showing the reduction of costs in power usage influenced by the Green Mark.  Economical benefits provide a deeper insight on the common misconception people tend to have towards the price of going green. It has been reported to provide benefits such as expediting the reduction in resource usage, reducing potential environmental impact, improving indoor environmental quality for better health and well-being as well as to provide a clearer direction for continual improvement (BCA, 2019). In the article "Green Mark Awards and property prices" by Fesselmeyer (2018), although property prices have "increased by 2.7 percent on average", the electricity and water savings "amount to approximately $156 per month". This shows that the scheme is rather sustainable in the long run. Ultimately, it projects the buildings in a more efficacious image and will further encourage more people to do their part in saving the environment.

All in all, I feel that the original article has been rather thorough in displaying how green designs and systems aid in going eco-friendly. Climate change is a significant issue that can be addressed with the growth of sustainability and green buildings. The two benefits mentioned above will help to provide more insight on the Green Mark Scheme and therefore raise awareness regarding sustainability.

References:

Building and Construction Authority. (2019, Feb 7). About BCA Green Mark Scheme

Retrieved from: https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/green_mark_buildings.html

Fesselmeyer, E. (2018, Jan 10). Green Mark Awards and property prices

Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/green-mark-awards-and-property-prices

MacKenzie, D. (2017, Sep 5). Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future

Retrieved from:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-green-buildings-singapore-s-natural-ally-for-a-9183380

Siau, M. E. (2017, Sep 12). Occupants of Green Mark buildings are healthier: Study

Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/occupants-green-buildings-less-prone-sick-building-syndrome-study

Summary_Reader Response Draft #2

In the article “Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future” by MacKenzie (2017), Singapore's continuous growth has redefined utilitarian designs of green buildings, adding weight to its contribution in tackling climate change. Being densely populated, Singapore generates high power consumption. The Building Construction Authority of Singapore has planned to overcome the issue by targeting to certify 80 percent of buildings with the Green Mark by 2030, as well as raising awareness about climate change. Many planners are also starting to enforce eco-friendly systems and materials into buildings. Contrary to popular belief, it is not hefty to integrate environmental elements to building’s design. The integration would serve as cost-efficient investments that are beneficial in the long run. It involves using light colors, maximising natural light, leveraging technology, installing suitable elements that promote sustainability and working with stakeholders. In working towards a greener future, making prudent decisions on a building’s design is critical, as it would be a pivotal weapon in Singapore’s fight against climate change.

The article by MacKenzie (2017) has offered various suggestions on improving the energy efficiency of buildings. However, in my opinion, there is a lack of information regarding how the certification can aid in reducing power usage (economically) as well as other health benefits it can offer (socially). These points will further emphasize the suitability on how the Green Mark and eco-friendly systems can aid in sustainability.

Social benefits portray the scheme as not just sustainable in terms of material usage, but for establishing sustainable living conditions as well.  The Green Mark Scheme was introduced in 2015 by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore with an intention of creating a more desirable living space and/or working environment for the people. In the study "Occupants of Green Mark buildings are healthier" by Siau (2017), it was reported that occupants were "less likely to experience symptoms of 'sick building syndrome' such as unusual fatigue, headaches" as well as how "occupants of Green Mark buildings were about 60 per cent less likely to get a headache than those in other buildings". These points highlight the beneficial effect of the Green Mark on the social health of the people and would therefore garner strong support for 80 percent of the buildings to be certified by 2030. 

Economical benefits provide a deeper insight on the common misconception people tend to have towards the price of going green. It has been reported to provide benefits such as expediting the reduction in resource usage, reducing potential environmental impact, improving indoor environmental quality for better health and well-being as well as to provide a clearer direction for continual improvement (BCA, 2019). In the article "Green Mark Awards and property prices" by Fesselmeyer (2018), although property prices have "increased by 2.7 percent on average", the electricity and water savings "amount to approximately $156 per month". This shows that the scheme is rather sustainable in the long run. Ultimately, it projects the buildings in a more efficacious image and will further encourage more people to do their part in saving the environment.

All in all, I feel that the original article has been rather thorough in displaying how green designs and systems aid in going eco-friendly. The two benefits mentioned above will help to provide more insight on the Green Mark Scheme and therefore raise awareness regarding sustainability.

References:

Building and Construction Authority (2019, Feb). About BCA Green Mark Scheme

Retrieved from: https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/green_mark_buildings.html

Derek MacKenzie. (2017). Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future
Retrieved from:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-green-buildings-singapore-s-natural-ally-for-a-9183380

Fesselmeyer (2018, Jan). Green Mark Awards and property prices

Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/green-mark-awards-and-property-prices

Siau (2017, Sep). Occupants of Green Mark buildings are healthier: Study

Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/occupants-green-buildings-less-prone-sick-building-syndrome-study

Summary_Reader Response Draft #1

In the article “Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future” by MacKenzie (2017), Singapore's continuous growth has redefined utilitarian designs of green buildings, adding weight to its contribution in tackling climate change. Being densely populated, Singapore generates high power consumption. The Building Construction Authority of Singapore has planned to overcome the issue by targeting to certify 80 percent of buildings with the Green Mark by 2030, as well as raising awareness about climate change. Many planners are also starting to enforce eco-friendly systems and materials into buildings. Contrary to popular belief, it is not hefty to integrate environmental elements to building’s design. The integration would serve as cost-efficient investments that are beneficial in the long run. It involves using light colors, maximising natural light, leveraging technology, installing suitable elements that promote sustainability and working with stakeholders. In working towards a greener future, making prudent decisions on a building’s design is critical, as it would be a pivotal weapon in Singapore’s fight against climate change.

---

The article offers various suggestions on improving the energy efficiency of buildings. However, there is a lack of information regarding the requirements of obtaining the Green Mark for buildings as well as how the certification can aid in reducing power usage. These points will further emphasize the suitability on how it can aid in sustainability.

The Green Mark Scheme was introduced in 2015 by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore to push the industry towards more environmentally friendly buildings. Buildings to undergo the certification process are required to meet certain criteria for the efficiency on the usage of resources, green features and many more. Having 80 percent of buildings to be certified with the mark will greatly benefit the eco-system as each criterion is to be viewed with high importance.

The scheme aims to create opportunities to allow contractors to do their part in being environmentally friendly. It has been reported to provide benefits such as expediting the reduction in energy, water and material resource usage, reducing potential environmental impact, improving indoor environmental quality for better health and well being as well as to provide a clearer direction for continual improvement. Ultimately, it projects the buildings in a more efficacious image and will further encourage more people to do their part in saving the environment.

Derek MacKenzie. (2017). Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future.

Retrieved from:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-green-buildings-singapore-s-natural-ally-for-a-9183380

BCA. (2018). Green Mark for Non-Residential Buildings NRB: 2015
Retrieved from:
https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/others/Green_Mark_NRB_2015_Criteria.pdf

BCA. (2019). Green mark buildings.

Retrieved from:

https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/green_mark_buildings.html

Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future (Reader Response Draft 1)

In the article “Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future” by MacKenzie (2017), Singapore's continuous growth has redefined utilitarian designs of green buildings, adding weight to its contribution in tackling climate change.

Being densely populated, Singapore generates high power consumption. The Building Construction Authority  of Singapore has planned to overcome the issue by targeting to certify 80 percent of buildings with the Green Mark by 2030, as well as raising awareness about climate change. Many planners are also starting to enforce eco-friendly systems and materials into buildings.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not hefty to integrate environmental elements to building’s design. The integration would serve as cost-efficient investments that are beneficial in the long run. It involves using light colors, maximising natural light, leveraging technology, installing suitable elements that promote sustainability and working with stakeholders. In working towards a greener future, making prudent decisions on a building’s design is critical, as it would be a pivotal weapon in Singapore’s fight against climate change.

Derek MacKenzie. (2017). Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future.

Retrieved from:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-green-buildings-singapore-s-natural-ally-for-a-9183380

The article offers various suggestions on improving the energy efficiency of buildings. However, there is a lack of information regarding the requirements of obtaining the Green Mark for buildings as well as how the certification can aid in reducing power usage. These points will further emphasize the suitability on how it can aid in sustainability.

Green Mark requirements

Buildings to be screened for the Green Mark scheme are graded under various categories such as climatic responsive design, building energy performance, advanced green efforts, resource stewardship and smart and healthy building.

BCA. (2018). Green Mark for Non-Residential Buildings NRB: 2015
Retrieved from:
https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/others/Green_Mark_NRB_2015_Criteria.pdf

Effectiveness of Green Mark

• Facilitate reduction in energy, water and material resource usage
• Reduce potential environmental impact
• Improve indoor environmental quality for better health and well being and
• Provide clearer direction for continual improvement

BCA. (2019). Green mark buildings.

Retrieved from:

https://www.bca.gov.sg/greenmark/green_mark_buildings.html

Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future (Summary Draft 1)

In the article “Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future” by MacKenzie (2017), Singapore's continuous growth has redefined utilitarian designs of green buildings, adding weight to its contribution in tackling climate change.

Being densely populated, Singapore generates high power consumption. The Building Construction Authority  of Singapore has planned to overcome the issue by targeting to certify 80 percent of buildings with the Green Mark by 2030, as well as raising awareness about climate change. Many planners are also starting to enforce eco-friendly systems and materials into buildings.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not hefty to integrate environmental elements to building’s design. The integration would serve as cost-efficient investments that are beneficial in the long run. It involves using light colors, maximising natural light, leveraging technology, installing suitable elements that promote sustainability and working with stakeholders. In working towards a greener future, making prudent decisions on a building’s design is critical, as it would be a pivotal weapon in Singapore’s fight against climate change.

Derek MacKenzie. (2017). Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future.

Retrieved from:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-green-buildings-singapore-s-natural-ally-for-a-9183380

The article offers various suggestions on improving the energy efficiency of buildings. However, there is a lack of information regarding the requirements of obtaining the Green Mark for buildings as well as how the certification can aid in reducing power usage.

Reported Speech for Problem Senario

During the previous effective communication session, we were tasked to share a problem we were facing and how it had affected the people around us. 

Steven shared with me his issue regarding punctuality and how adversely it had affected his friends. As he has always been a laid-back, easy-going person, he believed that there was of not much importance and urgency in rushing for occasions. For example, plans would have been made for Steven and his friends to meet up the day before, and yet he would still turn up about 30 minutes to an hour late on the actual day. 

He claimed that the problem stems from his laziness and has observed that it had created a barrier of distrust between him and his friends. His friends started to anticipate his late-coming and therefore started to arrive late as well, to prevent time wasted waiting for Steven. As a result, their plans would be shortened with the reduced amount of time they have. 

Steven has been very aware on the wasted amount of time and has been actively trying to kick off the bad habit by introducing time management into his lifestyle and planning schedules to follow strictly.

Edited on 18/1/19, 2.45 pm

Self-Introduction Letter

Dear Prof Blackstone,

My name is Ling Wei Jie and I am writing this letter to help you get to know me better. I am currently a first year student studying civil engineering in the Singapore Institute of Technology.

I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in civil engineering with business in the year 2016. Construction works piqued my interest as it was always fascinating to see buildings of bizarre shapes and sizes, such as The Interlace in Bukit Merah, being built. It has been nothing short of amazing to learn about how engineers create newer and more efficient work processes.

I have a passion for music and have been playing the trumpet for 15 years. Picking up the instrument has given the shy and passive me numerous chances and opportunities to express myself. Performing in huge crowds and concert halls helped me to build up my confidence and allowed me to get accustomed and feel less nervous when I am required to speak up.

A communication weakness that I have would be that I am very passive. I tend to be very laid back and non-assertive due to my introverted nature. Over the course of this module, I hope to learn to be more active in presentation, as well as to improve my grammar and vocabulary use.

Looking forward to working together with you!

Best regards,
Ling Wei Jie

Edited on 21/1/19, 1.37 pm

Welcome :)

This blog has been created with the purpose to document my journey in the Effective Communication module. Feel free to leave any comments or feedback!