Green Technology

Definition of "Green"

- Conserve the environment
- Reduce negative impacts to the environment
- Sustainable development

Scenario:
Green Technology in Chinatown and how it can be incorporated into the surroundings, stalls and environment.

Observation:
- Not much energy (light energy) used in DAY
- Most Green tech --> Lower efficiency
- People’s mindset --> NOT want to sacrifice efficiency for Green tech
- Method must be realistic --> applied by the public

Possible Green technologies:
1) Energy conservation/ green energy
- Solar Panels
- Energy saving light bulbs & appliances

2) Reducing waste
- Biodegradable and recyclable disposable utensils
- Placing of recycling bins at strategic locations

Solar Panels:
- Solar panels generate electricity using light energy
- Works on the principles of the Photovoltaic effect
- Uses semiconductors to absorb solar energy, knocking out electrons in the silicon atoms
- Current technology only has up to 20% efficiency
- Can convert 20% of the light energy into electrical energy

Usage of Solar Panels (advantages) :
- Renewable energy --> Eco Friendly
- Abundance of Solar energy in day

Limitations:
- Roofs in Chinatown do not face the sun
- Solar panels need direct sunlight to function
- Roadside stalls do not need lighting in the day
~ Most of the stalls in Chinatown are roadside stalls
~ Do not need much electricity in the day
- Expensive
~ Takes around $480, 000 to build a 50 Kilo watt hour system
- Around 10 years to breakeven
- URA allows solar panels to be placed only on the rear roof
~ Decrease of area available for solar panels

Therefore:
1) Solar panels are not practical

2) Electricity generated and not used would be wasted
Can be channelled to the power grid for cash
However in the night more money is needed to draw the same amount of electricity
Batteries cannot be used to store energy due to their low capacity and short lifespan

Energy Saving Lights:
- Energy saving lights are called Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)
- Produce energy by running an electrical current through argon gas.
- Five times more efficient than incandescent light bulbs
~ Incandescent lights produce light by running a current through a metallic filament
~ However it is inefficient as energy is also being converted into heat energy

Usage of Energy Saving Lights :
-Reduces energy uptake
-Widely available
-Additional costs
~ Shop owners might not be willing to invest

Viability of Energy saving light bulbs:
- Advantages outweigh disadvantages
- Short breakeven point
~ The breakeven point of an appliance is the period of time it takes for it to save an amount of money equal to its additional cost.
~ It takes 50 hours for a CFL to breakeven
~ Eco-friendly

Biodegradable and Recyclable Disposable Utensils:
- Roadside food stalls use disposable cutlery
- Most disposable utensils are harmful to the environment
~ Non-biodegradable
~ Styrofoam plates are poisonous
- Biodegradable and recyclable utensils would reduce negative impacts to the environment

Limitations to Recyclable Disposable Utensils:
- Added cost
- Not widely available

An example of a Recyclable Disposable Utensil --> Corn Starch Disposable Cutlery
- Uses the polymer like structure of corn starch to make disposable cutlery
- Heat resistant up to 220 degrees F
- Takes around 120 days to decompose instead of 100s of years for conventional disposable cutlery

Recycling Bins:
- Recycling bins promote recycling
- Makes it more convenient
~ Sorts out trash beforehand
- Easy to install
- However locations have to be picked wisely to maximize capabilities

Conclusion:
Each method must has its own advantages and disadvantages, more importantly we should start with ourselves and do a part for OUR earth and OUR home, facing global warming and severe pollution as the saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure!"