Mid Sem-2 Planning Green Cities

Cities are becoming more crowded, hotter and noisier and heatwave due to climate change strains human health, infrastructure, productivity and urban amenity. This often result in an expensive solution of air conditioning, that creates more pollution, noise and hotter outdoor spaces. Green infrastructure including green roofs, green walls, vegetated surfaces and street trees is an obvious solution that has been increasingly implemented in several cities all over the world. The Australian government has recognized and placed an agenda for it as part of Clean Air and Urban Landscape hub in National Environmental Science Program to green cities.

Hard surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete and stone that is common in cities, increase urban temperatures due to heat absorption and radiation back into the air. This can be solved by green infrastructure that regulates ambient air temperatures better. Street trees can lower surrounding temperatures up to 6℃ or 20℃ over roads. Additionally, foliage creates local cooling by evapostranspiration, in which the plants release water vapour into the surrounding air.

Green roofs and walls can cool buildings naturally, essentially decreasing air conditioning. Green infrastructure can improve storm water management and urban aesthetics, and provide habitat for wildlife and recreational activities for people. They also provide shade, take in carbon dioxide and decrease noise levels.

Although there are multiple benefits of urban greening, the Urban Developer's research shows that the planners are very cautious. The planners cautioned about uncertainty in delivering the technology The biggest obstacle was the inexperienced planning department in dealing with green infrastructure. They usually avoid it since it is not traditionally part of planning agendas and can create economic, environmental, institutional, legal and social issues.

It is further explained that it is hard to choose appropriate forms of vegetation based on drainage capacity, prevailing climatic conditions and species growth patterns. The root systems could damage underground utility networks and buildings, the trees might damage houses in a storm and the roofs needs to be strong enough to support rooftop gardens, which means external experts' advice is required. The socio-political barrier includes governance concerns, for example the political context of planning decision-making. Furthermore, management problems were of government's commitments to budget for green infrastructure delivery and management. Lastly, "public sentiment about green infrastructure can be influenced by perceptions of modified access, changed use or loss."

It is urgent to bring in the urban green infrastructure into the cities as they are getting hotter due to climate change. The research indicates that green infrastructure should be mandatory as an urban feature so the planners should collaborate with other government departments, residents and utility companies. They also need to manage stakeholder's expectations and ensure sharing cost where needed. Innovative solutions are needed for economic, environmental, legal and social challenges. As the planners increasingly provide green cities, they need to know its value and be prepared to lead and learn from new problems and solutions encountered for the habitability and urban comfort of urban residents.

Resources
http://www.theurbandeveloper.com/green-cities-urban-greening/

Mid Sem-1 Global Footprint Network

There are many Ecological Footprint calculators on the web but the ones that follow the international Ecological Footprint standards are more credible and consistent. The standards state that Ecological Footprint calculates the amount of biologically productive area (land and sea) is needed to produce the resources for human population and to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, using calculators with transparent information on methodology and created by Global Footprint Network partner, which means it complies with Ecological Footprint standards is important.

According to the Global Footprint Network, a person can't live in a country with the means of resources from one planet because of services or societal impacts. They include government, healthcare, entertainment, legal services, military, real estate, restaurants and roads and infrastructure that everyone living in the country contributes to. Therefore, being more sustainable is not just changing one's lifestyle but also influencing their governments.

I agree that influencing the government is one of the key solutions. As shown in the lecture, the area where the country makes the most money and people have less say in is where the largest Ecological Footprint comes from. Also, people's lifestyles are strongly dependant on life cycle of products, operation of government and public services and design of national infrastructure. Global Footprint Network states that "governments need to dramatically improve the efficiency of the built environment and invest in renewable energy and smart land-use planning."

Because currently it will take 1.6 planets to sustain the world's population, which means we are turning resources into waste faster than they can be replenished, searching for alternative solutions is important too because we humans are good at it and it is very hard to ask people to change. No matter how hard, spreading correct knowledge about sustainability is the first step to create a ripple of changes for a more sustainable future.

Resources
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/footprint_calculator_frequently_asked_questions/

Week 4-2 Solar Energy in Australia

As someone who lived in Myanmar and Hong Kong, I was surprised by Australians' initiative to sustainable energy when I first arrived in Sydney. My first project in architectural degree was assessing a friend's house, which not only had solar panels but also a rainwater collection. Australia continues to get more sun as more colours were incorporated into heat maps while the solar systems' prices continually drop.

Approximately 5% of households had solar thermal water system and/or rooftop solar photovoltaic system. By 2014, there was about 4 times increase; 19% of households had solar systems and 90% of Australian households were considering to shift to solar power. Out of the 19%, it was primarily solar photovoltaic (15%) and the leftover 5% was solar water heaters. By states and territories, 24% of South Australian households used solar electricity, followed by 20% of Queensland, 16% of Western Australia, 10% of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, 7% of Tasmania and lastly, 6% of Northern Territory.

The statics are pretty amazing since according to the trend, almost every house in Australia will have a solar system in a few years. I admire Australian's initiative in making use of the energy that they have access to. Therefore, it is important and easiest for a country to adapt to appropriate resources available to them in the area for its sustainable approach to have an eventual widespread implementation.

Resources
http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/australia-show-the-way-1-in-5-households-solar-system.html

Week 4-1 Crowne Plaza Hotel

Hotels typically consume a lot of energy but there are ways to make them energy efficient. Crowne Plaza, Copenhagen Towers is the top green hotel in the world and it is the first of its kind for conserving resources in Denmark. High quality environmental and social sustainability initiates played vital role. The initiatives include:

1. Largest solar photovoltaics on facade: reduction of more than half the energy consumption compared to conventional hotels
2. Groundwater cooling and heating system: recycles energy to provide heating & cooling to all 366 hotel rooms (saves up to 90% of energy used for thermal comfort)
3. Low-energy light sources: LED flat screens & electronically controlled electric equipments (ensures minimal energy consumption of vacant rooms)
4. Energy generating exercise bikes: earn points for free meal in restaurant to encourage guests' participation
5. Many more - social and environmentally aware staff, interior design & organic decomposing toilet

The hotel saves almost 1,400 tons of CO2 emissions every year and received the golden nail for the most innovative environmentally friendly construction. The green concept is beneficial for the hotel, staff and employees. It allows the guests to take away socio-eco-friendly concepts home. Other hotels, especially the new ones should go green for a more sustainable future.

Resources

http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities/all-cases/buildings/copenhagen-no1-green-hotel-in-the-world/

Week 3-2 Backcasting Smart Cities

Smart Cities lecture had me question how we can predict the future and what is most needed to make this change. The cities all over the world had set greenhouse emission targets for complete carbon neutrality by 2040 or 2050. The local governments adopt smart city tactics and designate test areas to evaluate. The objectives are to increase energy and resource efficiency, control excessive demand for mobility and support sharing of spaces, tools, vehicles and other resources.

The stakeholders, including construction, energy, infrastructure, real estate and retail industry need to coorporate for a long term, as well as the citizens. However, due to excessive uncertainty of the future and stakeholders possibly having different interests, change can be positive for some and negative for others.

Other than forecasting from now to the future, backcasting from future goal to now can be a more useful tool as it can try to eliminate undesirable outcomes. This involves identifying steps needed to reach the goal, potential obstacles and stakeholders' contribution needed. Because the it is impossible to predict exactly, different pathways are explored. Identification of critical variables that would affect the world in upcoming decades and extrapolating them will show a 2 or more versatile scenarios. The stakeholders can then broaden their horizons on how to reach the goal.

The aim is to decrease 40% of emissions by 2040 with a higher quality of life than present. 3 societal drivers are present in the 3 scenarios:
1. Nations reach a global consensus, which basically change global economy and individual societies.
2. Rapid increase in disruptive technologies (inexpensive automated vehicles, energy storage, solar panels etc.), which overthrows the old solutions in the market.
3. Sudden global energy crisis disrupts the market, being forced to find alternatives for basic needs.

This helped the cities find direction for the pilot test. New partners to provide smart urban services can be identified. Partner cities try new shared logistics services, pop up shops and experiment new smart home solutions with real estate owners. New solutions whether successful or not would be wide spread due to digitalisation. It is important for when partnership between big corporations, city and real estate owners cannot dictate the area any more.

It is increasingly important to share economic solutions for sustainability. The scenarios, followed by cities, corporations and startups partnerships enabled sharing economy startups and smart solution developers to digest the wider importance of their actions leading towards sustainable cities.

References

http://cityminded.org/backcasting-smart-city-futures-15093

Week 3-1 Walk Score Reliability

Walk Score is a website that can provide data on ease of transport in a specified place with information on different modes of transport and nearby services. It has been so revolutionary that it used by researchers and analysts for government, finance, public health, real estate and urban planning.

Walk Score claims that "transit score measures how well a location is served by public transit based on the distance and type of nearby transit lines." I recently found on the website that Sydney Fish Market got a transit score of 89, meaning it is convenient for most trips. However, it is a bit far from truth in a sense that the buses are not very frequently served so the waiting time is long and it also takes a long time to walk to the stop. For example, travelling to the city by bus would take approximately the same amount of time as walking.

Robert Steuteville, a blogger found other problems with Walk Score. Federal Way, Washington, a suburban area had a walk score of 87, meaning most errands can be accomplished on foot. The reality is that average block size of 14 acres with homes far apart is too large for walking and pedestrians would have to pass through monotonous spaces. Another issue was that the closest "school" had no students and was perhaps just an educational office. The actual ones were half a mile to a mile away.

Therefore, Walk Score has some serious flaws so it should consider for instance, the frequency of public transport and distance to the stops for Transit Score and conditions of the area and more precise service identification for Walk Score. If not, the next competition might just take over the job and become the reliable data source for smart cities. Additionally, users should be very critical in using these kind of resources and even visit the site if necessary.

References:

http://bettercities.net/news-opinion/blogs/robert-steuteville/21738/problem-walk-score
https://www.walkscore.com/score/sydney-fish-market

Week 2-2 Anzac Parade Trees

After hearing about the urban form of buildings, I recalled placing a light rail to UNSW was the solution to fixing the transportation problems as I also remembered the protest for cutting down trees along the Anzac Parade when I came back to Sydney after the summer break.

There are several issues in removing the trees. First of all, scientists predict 2016 will be the hottest year on records so they are needed more than ever. Secondly, these perfectly healthy trees provide vital shade, habitat for native birds and other animals and clean air as they take in more carbon dioxide than younger trees. Lastly, some of the trees are of historical importance, planted in 1927 in honour of the Anzacs, soldiers that had fought bravely on Australian’s behalf.

I also believe Sydney should be proud of a transport system that goes around trees, not through them. State Opposition Leader Luke Foley proposed to the government an alternative route without removing trees but had no response. In addition, the protesters even chained themselves to the trees but were unsuccessful.

Premier Baird claimed that the Government had done all it could to minimise removal of trees for the light rail and significantly more trees would be planted to replace them (small tress = 2 trees, medium trees = 4 trees, large trees = 8 trees). Annie Haque, local resident and campaigner responded it is not adequate for the loss as it would take another 100 years to get back what we had.

This is definitely a ‘wicked’ problem with many issues that would bring in removing the trees so I feel that the government should be more transparent that they have been listening to the citizens and find a better way to solve the environmental issues that would bring or if they haven’t been listening, they definitely should.

References:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-27/100-yr-old-sydney-trees-to-be-felled-to-commemorate-anzacs/7116608

http://www.tec.org.au/urban-sustainability.html

Week 2-1 My College's Sustainability

My college accommodates UNSW students from different backgrounds. I will be assessing its sustainability based on personal experience through triple bottom line and give suggestions on where it could be improved.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT
1. Reminders beside the mirrors in the communal washrooms to close the tap while brushing teeth works well. I have not seen running water without someone using it.
2. However, reminders to close the lights when the washroom is not used beside the light switch does not really work. During night times, the lights are often on without anyone using it but people who do use at this time are less alert. I think it would be better to place sensors so the lights only turn on when it is being used like in many of UNSW buildings. The same solution applies to the lights in the hallways that are always on at night.
3. Meals are served by kitchen staff, which in my case results in wastage of food because I can't eat a lot and I am a bit picky. Also, even when I ask for less, they are always generous. Self-serving could be a possible solution but the unfairness could be seen that some residents who pay the same amount eat a lot more and other possible hygienic issues. However, there has been some efforts put in for less wastage, which is asking residents' opinions on what food we prefer and other suggestions to improve the service.
4. Central communal garden with a pond is not only pleasant for residents to sit around on not rainy or cold days, but it also gives back a small healthy ecosystem. Gardening activities are rarely carried out by residents but involvement could be improved by better advertising.
5. Donation area for clothes, free stuff area for other residents and reselling of unwanted items at cheaper prices decrease a lot of wastage.
6. There is unfortunately only paper recycling bins on each floor, which is used quite well so it would be better to have at least communal recycling bins on ground floor for other recyclables.
7. Bike storage encourages students to use bikes more as car-parking is not available.

SOCIAL ASPECT
Communal rooms including reading rooms, kitchens, computer room, gym, sports room, TV room, dining hall and laundry encourages more interaction and togetherness among the residents.

ECONOMICAL ASPECT
There is a minimal staff of 2, the master and administrator, 5 kitchen staffs and 3 cleaners. The rest is ran by senior residents, who pays half the accommodation as other residents. Therefore, it is undeniably the most affordable accommodation on campus for what it provides.

I would conclude that my college is quite sustainable and as there are improvements that could be made as I mentioned, the college tries hard in improving.