Climate change is probably the world’s biggest nemesis today. Its wrath is beyond every nation’s controls, and no single country is spared from its devastation. But gradually, with countries’ small steps towards sustainable living, we can tame the world’s archenemy.
Singapore is one of the victims of the long-term effects of climate change. It is why Singapore vowed to reduce its Emission Intensity by 36% by 2030. It will require cooperative and collaborative efforts from the government, private and business sectors and its citizens.
One of the steps Singapore has made to achieve this goal is building eco residential homes. The country is committed to creating a sustainable urban design by starting with an eco-town in Singapore. Continue reading to learn more about the eco residential homes here.
An Introduction to the Eco-Town in Singapore
Climate Change and Sustainable Living
Climate change impacts each country in its unique ways, and unfortunately, the least developed countries are the most heavily affected.
As the earth continues to increase its temperature, hitting the planet’s second warmest year in 2020, several thick ice sheets and glaciers in the Arctic and northern hemisphere are slowly melting. This massive thawing of polar ice caps significantly affects the sea level. Singapore, as a low-lying island, is a direct victim of the rising sea level.
The warming ocean temperature creates stronger and numerous tropical storms. Frequent drought also endangers Singapore’s freshwater resources, as well as the biodiversity and lush greenery in the country.
As a response, Singapore started its sustainable living by creating a greener urban design through eco residential homes. This eco-town in Singapore aims to reduce carbon emission through several ways, including a much sustainable cooling system, smart technology, pedestrian and cyclists-friendly road networks and urban and nature integration.
What is an eco-town?
An eco-town or eco-city is an environmentally efficient and sustainable urban planning and setting. Eco residential homes and cities aim to meet the economic needs of the society without compromising the environment. Thus, eco-based system management is needed to accomplish a successfuleco-town in Singapore.
Many countries have started building their eco-towns by incorporating sustainable efforts, such as building recycling-oriented communities and zero-carbon urban developments.
Aneco-town in Singapore aims to establish Eco residential homes that rely on sustainable energy such as solar power, cleaner transport system and smart waste management.
What is the purpose of eco-town in Singapore?
One of the purposes of eco residential homes in Singapore is to reduce carbon emission. An eco-town in Singapore strives to be the cornerstone of carbon-free communities in the country.
The eco-town in Singapore promotes community involvement in mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change in the country. Adaptation and mitigation mean living in an environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient means.
The eco residential homes should be able to provide greener and sustainable choices and alternatives to the old and wasteful systems such as transportation, power and other fundamental utilities. This effort requires the cooperation of the government and the citizens.
Many European cities have been living in a more eco-conscious way, like Zurich in Switzerland, Stockholm in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark. Singapore is now joining the list with its eco residential homes.
Who are eligible to live in eco residential homes?
Everyone is eligible in the eco-town in Singapore. In fact, everyone is encouraged to have an eco-conscious mindset and practice sustainable living even if you are not settling in eco residential homes.
You can build an eco-town in an existing city in Singapore. The transformation of the non-eco-friendly area is a long process; however, through the persistent efforts of the government and people, the town re-births into a sustainable city.
Building an Eco-Town in Singapore
Building an eco-town is a complex process that requires tons of studies. Several factors need to be considered, improved and changed to achieve a fully sustainableeco-town in Singapore.
Vital areas of fundamental living and lifestyle like housing, goods production, transportation may need a major revamp to adapt to the environmentally sustainable community.
Here are the several areas that need to be considered:
Housing and infrastructure
Housing and infrastructure consume lots of energy and natural resources, from the erection down to the maintenance. The construction alone needs natural resources from concrete, steel, power and so on.
One of the things that an eco-town in Singapore must achieve is to provide or resource sustainable materials to build housings and skyscrapers.
Today, there are lots of construction supplies that are made from recycled materials. Plastic-based building blocks have been alternatives to hollow blocks. The industry for second-hand lumber is now growing as well. Some companies today process cement and concrete rubbles to make asphalt.
Sustainable architectural design plays a role in maintaining eco residential homes and infrastructures in Singapore. These architectural designs maximise the natural light or create a unique design to improve the natural home ventilation system. Others incorporate architectural designs that ease the collection and storage of rainwater.
Energy
One of the most vital parts of aneco-town in Singapore is electricity. The burning of fossil fuel is the most prevalent way to generate electricity. This activity is one of the major contributors to global warming. On the other hand, several countries have reduced or shut down nuclear power plants attempting to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Eco residential homes advocate using renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energies. Fortunately, initiatives to switch to renewable energy are now prevailing, seeing its cost-effective benefits in a household. However, these renewable sources should be efficient enough to meet the power demand.
Electricity consumption also plays a role in an eco-town in Singapore, apart from the renewable power source. The overall power consumption of a country contributes to its greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, more than a third of the energy consumption in a Singaporean households are accounted for by air conditioning. Thus, creating a sustainable cooling system is essential in eco residential homesto reduce power consumption.
Transportation
Transportation, per se, is one of the causes of air pollution in major cities in the world. The smoke coming from the vehicle has negative impacts on health. Many respiratory problems are linked to air pollution as well.
The eco-town in Singapore eliminates this problem by creating a pedestrian and cyclists-friendly road network. It is to encourage people to walk or use a bicycle for transportation. It also minimises the need for car ownership in Singapore.
Apart from having safer walk and bicycle paths, eco residential homes lean towards vehicles that are solar or electrical powered, thus, eliminating cars run by fuel. The renewable-powered mass transport system is ideal as well.
There are also proposed solutions to eradicate the need for cars. Strategically placing the workplaces and services within the walking and cycling distance of eco residential homesallow citizens to access basic needs by foot.
Food Production
Agriculture is one of the industries that contributes the highest amount of greenhouse gas in the world. Deforestation caused by agriculture mitigates the capability of the planet to absorb and filter carbon dioxide. The fertilisers and chemicals used in farming generate greenhouse gases as well. As the demand for food continues to increase globally, the eco-town in Singapore must meet the demand sustainably.
Although Singapore is not an agricultural country, it can make a significant difference by sustaining its own demand through urban and organic farming. An eco-town in Singapore is very capable of urban farming.
Many cities around the world have started urban gardening and farming. Depending on organic fertilisers lessen the carbon emissions as well.
Change in diet could also curb the demand for meat and dairy products, same as consuming locally produced and seasonal food.
Waste Management
Waste management also plays a vital role in a sustainable eco-town in Singapore. Each household belonging to eco residential homes must be able to reduce waste, including food and electronics.
Eliminating single-use items and encouraging the reuse and repurpose of materials will significantly reduce the waste of an eco-town in Singapore.
On the other hand, facilities for the recycling of organic and non-organic waste should also be accessible to the community.
Benefits of Living in an Eco-town in Singapore
Living in an eco-town in Singapore is beneficial not only for its residents but for the country as well. The countries’ efforts to establish eco residential homes, cities and towns only show that they value the welfare of the future generation.
Creating an eco-town is not a fight of Singapore alone but must be a collective effort of each country to benefit the human race.
Here are the benefits of living in an eco-town in Singapore:
Life Expectancy
Air and water pollution have been linked to many chronic diseases. Many people have suffered and died from respiratory illnesses. One of the ideas of eco residential homes is eliminating the main source of pollutants in the cities– transportation and industrialisation.
The eco-town in Singapore has a futuristic mindset by creating road networks that accommodate electrical-powered and solar-powered vehicles. The beauty of these futuristic vehicles is that it eliminates burning fuels to make an automobile run.
Renewable energy is an alternative to the traditional energy source, such as fossil fuel and nuclear energy.
Moreover, creating pedestrian-friendly and cyclists-friendly roads and paths encourage eco-town residents in Singapore to take a more sustainable way of transportation– walking and cycling. Apart from being eco-friendly, these modes of transport also promote physical activity and exercise.
Organic farming and locally produced shopping boost a cleaner and healthier diet for eco-town residents in Singapore.
Healthier Environment
Lessening the local pollution is only the initial effect of eco-residential homes and cities. The world will drastically reduce its temperature in a short time if this sustainable effort is adopted and replicated by other countries. Many natural and devastating disasters have been linked to the rising temperature of the planet.
The thawing of polar ice caps and glaciers causes the sea level to rise, making the low lying island of Singapore vulnerable. Warmer oceans create more devastating tropical storms in history. The constant drought and massive heat wave cause scarcity of freshwater resources and ignite large bushfires. Many lives have been taken due to these devastating natural disasters.
Sustainable lifestyle in eco residential homes in Singapore also benefits the wildlife. The slow melting of the Arctic glaciers affects the population of penguins and polar bears– a vulnerable species. The frequent bush and forest fires also destroy the natural habitats of endangered animals, such as the koala bears, the vulnerable victims of the Australian bushfire in 2019.
Eco-residential homespromote a healthier co-existence of humans and wildlife on the planet.
Conservation and Enrichment of Natural Resources
The eco-town in Singapore promotes recycling, renewable energies and other ways that help conserve natural resources.
Using engineered and plastic-based (processes plastic wastes) construction material curbs the demand for cement and other stones mined from mountains. Solar energy farms that power electric vehicles, machines and other systems lessen the need for fuel.
Eco residential homesleaning on urban farming and gardening can also create a small impact on deforestation. Effective waste management and recycling eliminate the need for extra space for landfills.
Cooling the earth’s temperature also helps bring the balance back in the ecosystem; therefore, improving the survival of endangered wildlife species and increasing the population.
Cost-effective Living
Being sustainable also means you don’t have to depend on external supplies. Having everything you need to be produced and supplied to you locally saves shipping costs. It also helps the livelihood of local farmers.
Recycling and reusing projects of eco residential homes and communities minimise the expense of unnecessary goods and services.
People save their transport allowance by walking or cycling to work or school.
Utility bills like electricity are much lower for a solar-powered community. Additionally, the practical use of resources like rainwater also saves money.
It is time to take part in the efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change in Singapore.
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