Textbook _ training notes recycle programme
March 22, 2011 by sohbengchoo
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ITE Recycling Craft Workshop
iDigix 2010
iDigix 2010
ECO-IT Competition
This competition empowers secondary school students as active contributors to show case their ECO-IT project, with aim in the reduction of emissions from their schools and homes.
Guidelines for ECO-IT Project Submission
1. This competition is open to Secondary schools.
2. ECO-IT project submitted should be an existing project that school has completed.
3. ECO-IT project must include elements of Electronics, IT, multimedia and other any technology.
4. ECO-IT project can be in the form of hardware, software or video clips.
5. Participating schools are required to do a simple write up, photos or videos of the project for selection and register on the ECO Portal http://ecocityzone.net before 22nd October 2010.
6. Each school may submit up to two entries.
7. Shortlisted ECO-IT projects will be notified to participate in the final competition at the iDigix 2010 event by 26th October 2010.
8. ECO-IT project will be judged based on the following criteria :
Criteria Weightage
Relevancy to theme 20%
Creativity 20%
Originality 15%
Viability 10%
Voting 30%
. *Voting will take place at the iDigix 2010 event.
9. ITE recognizes that the copyright of all entries shall remain with the entrants. However, as the competition organizer, ITE reserves the right to use the winning entries as well as other suitable ones, with full acknowledgement to the copyright owners, in the promotion of good ECO-IT project, display panels, magazines, and publicity for future competitions etc.
10. ITE reserves the right to change or replace prizes with another of equal or greater value should the featured prize(s) become unavailable. Prizes are not exchangeable for cash.
11. All winners will be announced on the day of the event. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence shall be entertained.
12. Winning Projects will be featured on the ECO Portal.
13. For enquiries, please email to CE_ECO@ITE.EDU.SG
14. Submission of entries signifies the acceptance of the rules and regulations of this competition.
Submit your entry online here …
Singapore Sustainability Awards 2010
Singapore Sustainability Awards 2010
Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation
Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP)
News Release :
National Environment Agency Launches A New Voluntary Partnership Programme To Promote Energy Efficiency In Industry
Singapore, 30 October 2009 – In its drive towards an Energy Efficient Singapore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will be introducing a new industry-focused Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) programme. EENP is a voluntary programme that seeks to help companies improve their energy efficiency by encouraging them to put in place energy efficiency programmes at the organisational level to reduce energy wastage and improve energy efficiency. This in turn will enhance their long-term business competitiveness and reduce their carbon footprint.
In Singapore, the industry sector accounts for almost 60% of total energy consumption with the more energy intensive sub-sector like the petroleum refining, petrochemical, electronics and pharmaceutical industries. This sector has substantial scope for adopting cost-effective energy efficiency solutions, which can contribute to maintaining the overall economic competitiveness.
Launched by Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong at the Clean and Green Singapore 2010 on 30 October 2009, the EENP seeks to foster a culture of sustained energy efficiency improvement in industries and encourage continuous investments in energy efficiency over the long term.
It will augment NEA’s current basket of energy efficiency-related schemes for industries amounting to $40.5 million such as the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe), Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET), Design-for-Efficiency (DfE) Scheme and the Singapore Certified Energy Manager (SCEM) training grant.
Details of Energy Efficiency National Partnership Programme
Under the EENP, companies will be encouraged to closely work with NEA to form project teams on energy management within their organisations to undertake and implement energy efficiency improvement projects. A framework will also be provided by NEA to train the energy management teams to raise their knowledge, capability and competency in energy efficiency.
NEA will also provide a platform for sharing energy efficiency best practices and according recognition to companies and corporate energy management teams for their efforts in improving energy efficiency.
The three main components of EENP programme are:
a) EENP learning network
The learning network allows companies to learn and share energy efficiency ideas, strategies, technologies, best practices, standards and case studies. This will be achieved through activities such as senior management forums, conferences, technical workshops, energy efficiency benchmarking studies and learning journeys.
b) EENP recognition scheme
An awards ceremony will be held annually by NEA to accord recognition to (1) companies that have introduced excellent energy management practices and demonstrated tangible results, and (2) employees and corporate teams that have implemented good energy efficiency projects.
c) High-Level Committee on EE Partnerships
NEA will form a high-level 3P Steering Committee chaired by SPS Amy Khor, comprising industry reps, experts and policy makers to spearhead the EE partnership and EE awards. The committee will be assisted by a resource panel comprising experts in various fields of EE. (More details will be provided at a later date.)
‘Companies know their own operations best. NEA wants to work with companies to promote greater awareness of energy efficiency and adoption of energy efficiency practices through better sharing of best practices within and across industry sectors. With this programme, we hope to help industry reduce their energy consumption, achieve better savings and improve their competitiveness, thus demonstrating the value of sustainable development,” said Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive Officer, National Environment Agency.
Additional Info
Singapore has committed to achieve a 35% reduction in energy intensity (consumption per dollar GDP) in 2030 from 2005 levels under the Sustainable Development Blueprint.
In order to achieve these targets, the government is implementing long-term measures to improve energy efficiency and cut energy waste. For the household sector, NEA has implemented mandatory energy labelling for major energy consuming home appliances and is studying the introduction of minimum energy efficiency requirements for air-conditioners and refrigerators in order to minimise the life-cycle costs of ownership. In the building sector, the BCA has introduced minimum energy performance requirements for new and retrofitted buildings under the Green Mark Scheme and is considering measures to make the existing building stock more energy efficient. LTA is focusing on energy efficient public transport as the preferred mode of travel and is investing in rail and bus infrastructure to shift the passenger transport mode from private cars to public transport.
In order to foster continuous investments in energy efficiency over the long term, NEA maintains a close working relationship with industry. As the industry sector is diverse, NEA must reach out and understand each company’s unique attributes as these have a strong influence on how it considers and makes its investment decisions.
The EENP would help in NEA’s efforts to engage companies at all levels from senior management to the rank and file. The idea of setting up such a partnership was mooted by the Industry Subcommittee of the National Climate Change Committee chaired by SPS/MEWR with the intent of encouraging more energy efficiency projects in industry.
For more information, please contact
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
Pros and Cons Of Residential Solar Energy System
Harnessing the power of the sun’s ray to create energy to power our house is very appealing. But the question is, “Is everything about solar energy good?”
Looking at the current price of fossil fuel-based electricity, it is quite impractical to convert into solar energy system. However, with the growing concern on the state of the earth, there is really a need to find other means of energy aside from what power plants are using right now. Where do you place yourself?
Whether you are an advocate of clean energy or simply care about where your finances go, looking at the pros and cons of residential solar energy system will help you decide on whether to convert or not.
Pros
Solar energy is free. Did you know that the earth absorbs 174 pettawatts of solar radiation? This means that we have more than enough source of free energy to power every house in the world. Unfortunately, most of our energy is still drawn from oil, gas and coal. But in recent years, there is a steady increase of demand for alternative and renewable energy like solar power. It is estimated that the demand for alternative sources of energy will increase by 53% between 1999 and 2020.
Solar energy is clean, renewable and sustainable. Because the energy created from the sun’s rays does not produce byproducts like those from fossil fuel power plants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury or carbon dioxide), it does not contribute to pollution. Accordingly, the increase in the use of solar energy and other alternative forms of energy will decrease the demand for greenhouse gases-producing power plants.
The price of photovoltaic cells is steadily decreasing. The demand for solar panels has risen by 57% in the United States in 2007 and is steadily increasing on a monthly basis. The increase in demand results to the improvement of solar technology as a whole. The prices of photovoltaic cells have declined on the average of 4% every year over the past 15 years.
Solar panels can be installed on most rooftops, eliminating the problem of finding a suitable place for installation. Solar panels require little or no maintenance. The original photovoltaic cells technology is used for most satellites orbiting our earth today which are not maintained at all. Many solar panel manufacturers give 25 to 40 years warranty on their products.
Because most areas of the country receive a substantial amount of sunlight throughout the year, solar panels can be installed anywhere.
Many states in the country give tax credits and rebates to households who want to install solar energy system. Check with your state government the cost of these incentives.
Cons
While the prices of PV cells are in constant decline, the cost of installation is substantially high compared to the current electric cost. But the good thing is, after your initial cash out, you don’t have to pay every month on electric bills for the rest of your life.
On areas cities and areas with heavy pollution problem, solar energy may not work as fine. Weather can also affect the efficiency of solar energy. If it is raining, overcast weather or if there is a hurricane, the solar panels’ efficiency is decreased.
You are only producing energy during day time.
These are general pros and cons you might encounter when considering the conversion to solar energy system. It would be best if your decision is based on location, cost, budget, rebates, tax credits and practicality.
Is Biomass A Green Energy Source?
Is biomass a green energy source? According to experts, yes it is. In fact, it is one of the three main areas of bioenergy.
But what is bioenergy? Well, it is a process by which organic material such as animal waste, plants and wood are used to generate electricity, produce heat and also aid in the production of biofuels.
In the case of biomass, hot air or water is generated to produce electricity. This is done through direct combustion and is considered the simplest and most common method of generating energy from biomass.
Aside from generating electricity, biomass can be used for hot air production so you can keep a place warm. For this to work, biomass has to be combusted in a furnace where it heats either water or air. Speaking of water, this enables you to have warm water so you can take a shower. In short, biomass in itself can also be used in a small scale as a heating system.
Since you can generate electricity and heat, some people have been able to combine the two which is known as combined heat and power or CHP. Something that many consider to be good as you use one energy source for two purposes.
If you are able to compare the amount of electricity generated between biomass and let’s say solar energy, you will notice that biomass produces more because the energy in plants is already captured and stored.
You don’t have to collect it first which is what happens with solar or even wind energy since this is manufactured technology. It is readily available unlike the other two which is totally dependent on the weather.
Another is the fact that you can even use organic waste to product electricity. No other green energy source can do that and by using this extensively, any government can save money because you don’t have to spend money to dispose of the waste and you will no longer depend on foreign oil that much to power your plants.
The downside to biomass is that because you have to burn waste and other organic materials to product power, you add to the pollution which is already in the atmosphere. But this can be offset of course by planting more crops which we know helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
You will also have to shell out a lot of money initially for the costs of labor, the transport of these fuels and how these should be stored.
Biomass uses renewable natural resources which is why it is considered a green energy source. This means that we have an endless supply of it around just like the power of the sun or the wind which flows from the ocean. The challenge is to find suitable land that has a sufficient water supply so these will be able to grow.
This means that in areas where water is not that abundant, you cannot rely on biomass technology to generate power. When that happens, you use other means and one good example given the right geographical location is wave energy which is the process of generating power from the water.
There is a way to generate power without causing harm to the environment. We have the technology and the green energy sources. We just need to muster the willingness to make it happen.
Solar Energy Is A Form Of Green Energy Source
Solar energy is a green energy source because it is a renewable and it does not cause any harm to the environment. This is achieved by converting the sun’s rays into electricity with the help of solar cells.
There are three basic approaches how we can use this form of green energy source namely passive, active and by using photovoltaic cells.
When we refer to passive solar energy, nothing is converted. What happens is the building’s design helps avoid heat loss and gets the most out of day lighting.
Such a technique can also be used in homes because studies have shown that this can reduce the heating requirements by as much as 80% with minimal cost. This means you don’t have to turn on the air condition or heater that often and if everyone does that, we don’t consume that much electricity which we get from non-renewable resources.
The second approach which is active solar energy is the first way of converting sunlight into heat. You should know that there are certain limits to this one and all it can do is make sure you have hot water.
The third approach is the big scale version and it can power an office or an entire home. This is done with the help of solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The smallest ones around can be seen in calculators and watches with large ones planted over huge acres of land.
The only limitation to this green energy source is the fact that it can only generate power when the weather is good and the sun is out. Should it rain, then nothing is collected and converted. When this happens, the auxiliary system is turned on until the weather improves.
Despite that, scientists and students themselves have made solar powered cars. NASA or the National Aeronautical Space Administration has sent satellites into space that are powered by solar panels. A fully functional airport can function on its own thanks to solar power even if it is situated in the middle of the frozen desert.
So people can see the awesome power of solar energy, did you know a kilowatt of solar energy can produce 5.5 hours of electricity per day. If you have more solar cells in place, naturally you will be able to produce enough power to last several days.
Solar energy is just one form of green energy source around. Through the years, we have learned to tap other resources and these examples include wind power, geothermal energy, hydroelectricity and biogas. These are all safe and by using these more often, we don’t need to depend on oil which is a nonrenewable resource.
To make this happen, we have to persuade our law makers to promote the use of such resources. Although you hear speeches left and right about their concern for the environment, it is all talk and not that much action. It is something that has to change.
Two countries that have increased solar usage happen to be Germany and Japan. Spain, France, Italy and South Korea are next in the list and where is the United States? Well, one thing is for certain and that it is not in the top 10 despite the fact that it is an industrialized nation.
Eco Friendly Driving Style
In U.S., more than two-thirds of the total oil consumption goes to transportation – mainly in the form of gasoline. An average American consumes 500 gallons of gas annually. And with the unpredictable cost of fuel and the growing concern for the environment, saving energy by becoming a better driver and keeping your car properly maintained becomes a must. Consider the following tips to increase fuel efficiency and therefore, save energy…
Proper Driving
Lighten up. Remove unnecessary things from your car. Extra weight consumes fuel.
Avoid idling. Driving 0 miles per hour doesn’t mean that you don’t consume fuel. A car engine that is running consumes fuel whether it is moving or not. Do not waste fuel by idling to preheat your engine. Once you start your engine, drive.
Turn off your engine if you are stuck on traffic. This makes hybrid cars so fuel efficient. Hybrid cars automatically shut off its engine when at full stop, eliminating the fuel consumption caused by idling.
Park, turn off your engine and eat inside the restaurant instead of going to a drive thru.
If your vehicle has cruise control feature, turn it on. Cruise control helps you maintain a constant speed and save on gas.
Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, abrupt acceleration, speeding and hard braking lower your fuel efficiency by as much as 33% in the highway and 5% in the city.
Avoid high speeds. Fuel efficiency drops when you drive more than 60 mph.
If you are driving a car with manual transmission, shift to the highest drivable gear. High gear at low speed requires less pressure on the gas pedal compared to low gear at high revolution.
Calculate your breaking distance. Do not accelerate if you know that you have to slow down or go into full stop right away. Excessive breaking is the result of excessive acceleration. Avoid them both. Car air-conditioning system increases fuel consumption by as much as 15%. Turn it off whenever possible. Avoid using the roof rack. Instead, utilize the space of your trunk or the back of your car. Items on your rack produce drag and reduce fuel economy by as much as 5%. Maintain the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.
If you can afford the cost, switch to hybrid cars. They have higher fuel economy than regular gasoline-engine vehicles. Also, hybrid cars have no- or low-emission rating which helps reduce carbon dioxide emission. Electric cars and other vehicles that run on alternative energy are better choices if you want to save on fuel and help the environment.
Fuel efficiency is maximized if the car is light, aerodynamic and has a small engine. So when you are considering buying a new car, you can take into account these 3 elements, which can be found on small cars and not on the gas-guzzling SUVs.
Car Maintenance
Replace or clean your air filters regularly. Clogged filters prevent air to enter the cylinder which results to poor car performance and more fuel consumption.
Keep your wheels properly aligned.
Subject your car to regular tune up, change oil and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems caused by dragging brakes, transmission problems, low transmission fluids or worn spark plug.
Try carpooling, telecommuting or public transit to reduce fuel consumption and maintenance cost.
Use the right type of oil for your car.
Saving energy begins at home and extends on the road. Make these things a habit to save cash, help the environment and extend the service of your car.
Saving Energy With Proper House Insulation
Why is efficient home insulation good for saving energy?
Almost half of your electric bill goes to regulating the temperature of your home. Thus if you want to save on your electric bills, the best place to start is your home’s insulation system.
Insulation is important to minimize or eliminate the heat exchange/loss inside your house. Good insulation keeps the interior warm during winter and cold during hot summer days. A well-insulated house allows your heating and cooling systems to effectively work as needed. Proper insulation can save as much as 10% of your monthly electric bill.
Meanwhile, if your house has leaks or if it has insufficient insulation, air will pass through; and heat exchange will occur on areas where insulation is inadequate. This results to heat loss. And because a house with leaks and insufficient insulation requires more power to regulate its temperature, energy consumption will likely increase.
Where to insulate?
Areas of the house including the switches, power outlets, plumbing fixtures, walls, windows, doors, ceilings, floors, basement, crawl spaces and attic should be properly insulated.
Insulation Tips
Make sure that you consider factors such as building design, budget and climate when selecting the R-values of the insulation materials. Use the proper R-values insulating materials for particular parts of the house.
Consider parts of your house such as the attic, floors, kitchen, bathroom, windows, walls, door and other parts where heat loss are more likely to happen. Use the required insulation materials on these parts to effectively control the temperature.
Sunk-lights can be a source of heat loss but you need to be careful on how close you place the insulation next to these fixtures. Check with your local building codes for reference.
When constructing a home, check on some construction materials that provide both structural support and good insulation.
Follow the product instruction when installing the insulation. Product instructions are the best source of information on how to maximize the use the products.
More Energy Saving Tips
Reduce your light consumption. Some lights produce heat that affects the temperature of the house.
Keep your temperature sensor away from hot materials like stove, oven, lights and other appliances that emit heat to get accurate temperature reading for effective heat regulation.
If the temperature outside is comfortably warm or cold, turn off your heating or cooling system. During heat season, open the drapes of the south-facing windows to allow natural light to enter your home. Close it at night to prevent cool winds from coming in. During winter, keep the drapes and shades closed to help reduce heat loss.
Buy energy-efficient products that will help minimize heat loss and reduce power consumption. Find a reputable contractor and ask advice on good heating and cooling equipment to buy.
During winter, adjust your thermostat at the lowest comfortable level; during summer, highest comfortable level.
Minimize the use of heat generating appliances to reduce the use of cooling system and save on electric bill.
A well-insulated house is like a well-sealed refrigerator. Lesser heat loss means lesser power consumption; and more heat loss means the motor will work harder to maintain the desired interior temperature and thus more energy consumed.
Saving energy means saving money. Make sure that you routinely check your house for leaks and holes and replace or repair leaking parts as soon as you discover them.
