Title: Transforming infrastructure provision into a low carbon city

objective: To encourage and promote the concept of low carbon cities and townships

Proposed Implementation:

Divided all infrastructure provision that are feasible in three main categories namely building, transportation and land use.

 

        I.            Building

a)      Living walls (Green Walls)

- help to reduce local wind speeds, traffic noise, and localized temperature extremes

- help to improve air quality by reducing dust and particulates

- help to reduce the amount of heat lost from a home solar panel

- used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications

 

b)      Glass building 

-          instead of using cement/bricks to build the house, glass panels are used for the wall, ceiling and floor with steel beams for its rigidity

-          no need for lamps and artificial lights as the sunlight itself act as the best source of light, therefore less energy is consumed

-          have unique design and can be easily identified, people can easily interact with each other (ideal for laboratories, lecture hall, etc.)  

c)      Natural ventilation

- process of supplying and removing air through an indoor space without using mechanical systems

- refers to the flow of external air to an indoor space as a result of pressure or temperatures differences

- so no need air conditioner, save energy

 

d)      Sun and wind orientation

- by building the houses block stretching from east to west, therefore minimum house area are expose to the sunlight and this will make the major area of the house are shadowed

- by placing the frequent used rooms on the sunny side (living room, kitchen etc.) and the bedroom away from the sun
- to prevent very strong wind hit the house, build the houses which have rows of trees and shrubs that are perpendicular to the wind direction

 

e)      Energy-saving bulb

-          a little bit expensive but allows long term saving in cost and energy

 

 

f)       Roof-skylight

- open up can also provide ventilation in rooms that may not be well ventilated

- increase in natural light can help decrease overall energy costs  

    

g)       Green consumption

- green purchasing of all construction materials and goods

- all material must have certified eco-labels which are environmental friendly products that do not posed any environmental impacts to the surroundings

                       

h)      Introducing Green Building Index (GBI) ~  applicable only in Malaysia

-          act as a standard guidelines to set out green rating tool

           

i)        Roof-top gardening

-          planting trees on top of the roof for better cooling system

 

     II.            Transportation

 

a)      Bicycle

- instead of using fossil fuel, large reduce the carbon consuming bus with NGV engine

- natural gas can make a significant contribution towards improved air quality in the transportation industry

 

b)      Alternative routes

- shorter route for walking distances instead of usual existence road

- use of GIS application to find better route from time by time to prevent traffic jam. As traffic jam will cause more fuels be burnt.

 

c)      Catalytic converter

- is an exhaust emission control device which converts toxic chemicals in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine into less noxious substances  

 

   III.            Land use

a)      Bicycle track

- can promote students and also staff using bicycle so can reduce carbon emission

 

b)      Tree planting

- can reduce carbon dioxide park

- reduce carbon dioxide and produce beautiful scenery

 

Methodology:

1.      To prepare a rough environmental building check-list in both buildings

2.      To meet and approach the administrative officers in both buildings to get to know about the building structure

3.      Conduct site-visit to the both buildings

4.      Estimate the total carbon footprint for the both building for the pre-existing condition

5.      Propose suitable implementation of alternative infrastructure provision into the both buildings

6.      Re-estimate the overall carbon footprint after the implementation of green infrastructure provision

Photo credit : www.adjacentgovernment.co.uk