Clean energy and visit to Temasek Poly

Clean energy = heat and electricity produced from renewable sources, generating little or no pollution or emissions 

e.g. wind energy, hydropower, solar electricity, biomass heating, organics-to-energy 

• Singapore’s key strategies in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions are to 1) switch to less carbon-intensive fuels (i.e. natural gas) and 2) to improve energy efficiency. 
• 60% of greenhouse gas emission comes from industry. 
• Energy Efficiency Promotion Centre provides industrial energy efficiency related resources 
• Legislation: understand mandatory energy management practices 
• incentives and grants 
• Energy Efficiency National Partnership that offers training programmes and workshops on energy efficiency and energy management 
• 7.6% of the total greenhouse gas emitted comes from household sector 
• 10% Energy Challenge launched in 2008 challenges households to reduce energy usage by 10% or more by practicing energy-saving habits such as switching off electrical appliances when not in use 
• Voluntary Agreement with retailers and suppliers to promote energy efficient air-conditioners, refrigerators and dryers 
• Mandatory Energy Labelling: registrable goods have to be labelled according to the Energy Conservation Act i.e. the more ticks, the more efficient the appliance is 
• roadshows, media publicity, brochures to raise public awareness on energy efficiency 

Green buildings in Singapore 

• Singapore Green Building Council: advocate green building design, practices and technology 
• Building and Construction Authority: BCA Green Mark helps facilitate reduction in water and energy usage, improve indoor environment quality, provide clear direction for continual improvement 

Temasek Polytechnic green features: 

• green roof 
• stack ventilation shaft creates convection current within the building 
• light shaft 
• design of windows to complement monsoon winds, aiding natural ventilation 
• membrane filtration system 
• monitoring devices at wind chimneys for raising sustainability awareness and educational purposes 
• vertical green 
• solar panels: converts 18% of 1kw from sun per 1m^2, install glass panels to reflect sunlight back onto panels
  —> solar panels on sea surface to maximise area

Fuel cell:

H atom separated into electron and proton, proton flows through membrane, electron flows through load (flow of electron opposite to current flow), recombines with oxygen —> water molecule (very little) 

No wastage —> clean energy 

Electrolytic cell: 

Electrolyse water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas (ratio 1:2) 

Electricity input > electricity output: no point, commercialised process does not use electricity to obtain hydrogen gas