Summary Reader Response Draft #4

According to the Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova programme, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial role in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable. HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing a 540-megawatt peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national agencies: the Singapore Monetary Authority, the Ministry of Education, the People's Association, the Singapore Polytechnic, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. According to the Housing Development Board (2022), encouraging the use of solar energy is also a key initiative in the HDB Green Transportation Plan that will achieve net-zero energy consumption in Singapore's HDB heartlands. Solar panel installation would take place in lots and be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will act by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. This reduces the use of fossil fuels in the production of electricity. 

The webpage also postulated that this initiative promotes and aggregates demand solar PV among government entities to get economies of scale and propel Singapore's solar sector forward. With ASEAN developing as one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets, the region has embarked on several solar power initiatives, including the SolarNova programme in Singapore (EDB, 2022). From my perspective, the economic benefits and environmental benefits of using solar PV systems will make a positive influence on people's lives.

One economic benefit of installing solar panels would be that it would allow a household to reduce their electricity bills. The most recent tender also saw the installation of additional solar panels in the heartlands, illustrating the effectiveness of prior tenders in increasing the residents' quality of life. According to Lee (2022), one such person is Mr Arun Murthy, who installed 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah. He saved $830 by spending $370 on electricity charges instead of $1200 on electricity bills before installing the solar panel. Besides meeting the energy needs of the home, the solar panels generate excess electricity throughout the day, which is sold back to SP Group and then managed and paid for by them (Lee, 2022). This is because solar panels draw energy from a free energy source, the sun. When the panels are linked to an electrical wire, the electricity generated by the panels is used by the house instead of the utility's electricity.

Furthermore, one positive view of the environmental benefits is that the use of solar energy is a suitable alternative to fossil fuels, thereby reducing one’s carbon footprint. 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from imported natural gas (Andres, 2023). It's one of the cleanest fossil fuels available; burning natural gas produces half the carbon footprint of coal (Teh, 2021). With that, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact in comparison with fossil fuels and not rely on neighbouring countries for a continuous supply of imported gas. Singapore relies on neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate electricity. Due to the steep inflation of LNG (Tan, 2022), solar panels are increasingly installed islandwide.  

Apart from that, the SolarNova program also has drawbacks. Singapore usually has a tropical climate, but cloudiness is a problem. This means that on cloudy days less sunlight reaches the solar panels, and therefore less solar energy is produced (Meteorological Services Singapore, n.d.). Furthermore, consistently high temperatures reduce the efficiency of solar cells (Andrews-Speed, 2021). Moreover, according to the Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (2019), Singapore is a small and land-scarce country, so the use of solar energy can occupy a vast area. Although installing solar panels on roofs can make up for the lack of space for solar panels, there are still challenges. According to Gorman & Bandera (2022), one such challenge is competition for space. This is because installing solar panels can lead to deployments as they compete for rooftop space with other critical uses such as water storage tanks, elevator shafts, air conditioning, tenant parking lots, and recreational areas. Thus, although Singapore is not entirely dependent on renewable energy sources such as solar power, its solar capacity has increased more than nine times since 2015 (Lim, 2019).

To sum up, the SolarNova programme is a successful programme run by EDB and HDB. The programme has enabled Singapore to gain a greater sense of energy independence and security while minimising environmental impact. Although the programme has limitations, some of which are beyond human control, it is correct to say that it has been performing well and is on track to meet its objectives. 

References:

Andres, G. (2023, February 7). CNA Explains: Singapore's energy sources and the future of its electricity supply. Channel NewsAsia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-electricity-sources-natural-gas-renewable-solar-energy-import-3252076#:~:text=About%2095%20per%20cent%20of,it%20releases%20into%20the%20atmosphere.

Andrews-Speed, A. (2021, May 4). Commentary: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? Channel NewsAsia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/solar-energy-singapore-panels-cloudy-unpredictable-electricity-1882996  

Cheah, M. (2022, February 25). HDB launches 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks and 99 government sites. The Business Times.  https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites 

Gorman, M. & Bandera, M. (2022, July 4). Commentary: Why is sunny Singapore not covered with rooftop solar panels? Channel NewsAsia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-renewable-energy-rooftop-buildings-solar-electricity-costs-2782796

Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Housing Development Board.  https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy 

Housing Development Board (n.d.). SolarNova. Housing Development Board. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/solarnova-page  

Lee, L. (2022, May 19). The Big Read in short: Amid higher in electricity bills, going green means saving money too. TODAY.  https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-amid-higher-electricity-bills-going-green-means-saving-money-too-1898036  

Lim, Y. (2022, May 23). Solar City: The surprising places you will find solar panels in Singapore. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2022/05/singapore-solar-power-panels/index.html?shell 

Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. (2019, December 30). Why don’t we use 100% renewable energy in Singapore? Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2019-12-30-newsletter-why-dont-we-use-100%25-renewable-energy-in-singapore/  

Meteorological Services Singapore. (n.d.). Climate of Singapore. Meteorological Services Singapore. http://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-climate-of-singapore/  

Tan, A. (2022, February 7).  Singapore to tap more green energy with JTC’s solar push. JTC Corporation. https://www.jtc.gov.sg/about-jtc/news-and-stories/feature-stories/singapore-to-tap-more-green-energy-with-jtc-solar-push  

Tan, E. (2022, October 6). Spot prices for liquefied natural gas double between January and August. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spot-prices-for-liquefied-natural-gas-double-between-january-and-august  

Teh, S. (2021, September 5). Energy from sun viable source of green energy. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/energy-from-sun-viable-source-of-green-power  

Critical Reflection

At the beginning of this module, I aimed to improve my public speaking abilities after receiving feedback before entering into SIT that I talk too quickly when I am frightened and I aimed to also enhance my technical writing abilities.

I've learned, forgotten, and re-learned a few things throughout the module, but I'm still improving on my oral presentation skills, critical thinking, and the importance of teamwork. As such, I learned to use a tone that was confident, persuasive, and targeted. I learnt to reduce the use of filler words like "like". Too much repetition can frustrate your audience and disrupt the flow of your presentation. I relearned how to use rhetorical questions in my presentations to connect with my audience. I found that if I spoke too long, the audience would lose sight of me. Professor Brad pointed out that I used the wrong terminology such as “dive into” when handing over the next speaker of my group, Lokes. This needs to be improved so that the presentation smoothly transitions to the next speaker.

The Paul Elder Framework allowed me to objectively analyse arguments and concepts by using unbiased information and eliminating distractions that cloud your judgment. Part of this framework specifies expertise, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Knowledge is defined as the ability to understand important facts. Understanding a topic or topic question means being able to understand what the topic is. The ability to analyse and relate information is the ability to apply thought processes.

The 7 C's of communication also helped me work on group projects. It helped make sure the team was on the right track. Learning how to cite APA style took time, but was very important to avoid problems. The reports are very specific about what the elements do, but you should learn to abuse overly general remarks.

Through this process, I learned to be more open-minded. When I listened to your team instead of arguing for myself, I get a lot of new ideas. To progress through this module, I needed to be open to criticism and ideas not only from my teammates but from those with more expertise. Constructive feedback helps improve your writing and presentation skills.

When writing a technical report to test my writing skills, I needed to ensure that the citations and information I produced were valid, reliable, and actionable; ensuring the points or information were linked. I like the balance of group work. For example, one person may have extensive knowledge and ideas on a particular topic, while another person may have excellent writing skills without grammatical errors. Writing technical reports is key to building a great team.

I also learned in this module how to give a presentation with confidence, how to understand what you are going to say and how to always think before you speak. In the future, I would like to further improve my presentation and writing skills. As I gain more experience and take on the task, I can continue to improve my writing and also critical thinking skills such as research, planning and outlining, editing, revision, and structure.

Overall, I found this module very engaging and helpful. I feel that my communication in class has improved and I know how to write a technical report properly. This module has allowed me to improve in many aspects, giving me a general idea of where I stand and how much I need to improve. I hope that the skills I gained from this module will assist me with my future endeavours.

UCS Tech Report (Contributions)

 Overview of Sustainability in Singapore

In recent years, sustainability has become increasingly important in the construction industry. Governments worldwide have been trying to achieve the ‘Net Zero Ambition’ set by the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The Green Mark certification program, according to the Prime Minister's Office (2022), was established by the Singaporean government to further encourage building owners or developers to design and build greener and more sustainable buildings, helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve sustainability in the city-state.

Through this system, building owners or developers will receive incentives (BCA, n.d.). However, we must need much more easily accessible and user-friendly ways to help civil engineers and building owners evaluate the sustainability of their projects better. In this tech report, we will be exploring an app that helps with the importance of sustainability in the construction industry, its features, and the benefits it offers.

Because of its advancements and activities, Singapore is well-known around the world as one of the most sustainable cities (Chan, 2022). In Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has developed the Green Mark Certification Program to promote sustainable building standards. It provides building owners and developers with a proper framework for evaluating the sustainability of new and existing structures based on a variety of factors such as environmental protection, energy efficiency, and water efficiency (BCA, n.d.). Notwithstanding these measures, tracking and monitoring the sustainability performance of civil engineering projects in Singapore remains difficult.

1.1.2  BCA Green Mark Scheme

To motivate, empower, and involve industry stakeholders in adopting sustainability, the BCA Green Mark Scheme was first introduced. The building industry eventually started to embrace the concept of sustainable buildings, which is evidence that the plan is successful.

According to the Building Construction Authority (2021), the following criteria are used to rate businesses under the current Green Mark program: performance-based energy modelling, energy consumption-based, uses energy use intensity (EUI), compliance with prescriptive performance standards, and uses fixed metrics. A clearer picture of how businesses are rated can be found in the following graph.

Figure 1

BCA Green Mark 2021 Certification Scheme

Note. The table above shows the criteria for various certification tiers. Sourced from BCA, n.d. 

The Green Mark 2021 provides a robust and leading method to assess and verify buildings for their environmental performance, assisting project teams and building owners to deliver and demonstrate high-performing, sustainable buildings. It is also built for the analysis of large building performance data sets. With that, it provides a national and globally recognized green building performance rating (BCA, n.d.).

1.2 Problem Statement

There is a lack of easily accessible and comprehensive tools to help stakeholders in the construction industry to monitor and improve the sustainability aspects of their projects. The app will allow companies to have real-time monitoring at their convenience, anytime. It will also eliminate the use of paper and errors compared to manually tracking sustainability performance.

1.3 Purpose Statement

The purpose of this technical report is to propose to the BCA that it develop a mobile app that provides a comprehensive sustainability assessment tool specifically designed for the construction industry in Singapore. This would allow the building owners and developers to be more efficient and accurate in tracking and monitoring the building's overall performance.

Summary Reader Response Draft #3

According to the Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova programme, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial role in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable. HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national agencies: the Singapore Monetary Authority, the Ministry of Education, the People's Association, the Singapore Polytechnic, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. According to the Housing Development Board (2022), encouraging the use of solar energy is also a key initiative in the HDB Green Transportation Plan that will achieve net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands. Solar panel installation would take place in lots and be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. This reduces the use of fossil fuels in the production of electricity. 

The webpage also postulated that this initiative promotes and aggregates demand for solar PV among government entities to get economies of scale and propel Singapore's solar sector forward. With ASEAN developing as one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets, the region has embarked on several solar power initiatives, including the SolarNova programme in Singapore (EDB, 2022). From my perspective, the economic benefits and some environmental benefits of using solar PV systems are evident. 

One economic benefit of installing solar panels would be that it would allow a household to reduce their electricity bills. The most recent tender has also seen additional solar panels installed in the heartlands, demonstrating the effectiveness of previous tenders in improving the inhabitants' quality of life. One such person is Mr Arun Murthy, who installed 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah. He saved $830 by spending $370 on electricity charges instead of $1200 on electricity bills before installing the solar panels. Besides meeting the energy needs of the home, the solar panels generate excess electricity throughout the day, which is sold back to SP Group and then managed and paid for by them (Lee, 2022). This is because solar panels draw energy from a free energy source, the sun. The panels generate electricity, which, when connected to electrical wiring, is used by the house instead of the utility's electricity.

Furthermore, one positive view of the environmental benefits is that the use of solar energy is a suitable alternative to fossil fuels. 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from imported natural gas. It's one of the cleanest fossil fuels available; burning natural gas produces half the carbon footprint of coal (Teh, 2021). With that, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact in comparison with fossil fuels and not rely on neighbouring countries for a continuous supply of imported gas. Singapore relies on neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate electricity. Due to the steep inflation of LNG (Tan, 2022), solar panels are increasingly installed islandwide. 

With that being said, there are downsides to the SolarNova program. Despite typically having a tropical climate, cloud cover is a problem. This means that on days when there is high cloud coverage, the amount of solar energy produced lessens as the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels decreases. In addition, the constant high temperature reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell (Andrews-Speed, 2021). Also, Singapore is a small country that lacks land, so using solar energy can take up huge amounts of land. As such, Singapore does not fully rely on renewable energy sources such as solar energy.

To sum up, the SolarNova programme is a successful programme run by EDB and HDB. The programme has enabled Singapore to gain a greater sense of energy independence and security while minimising environmental impact. Although the programme has limitations, some of which are beyond human control, it is correct to say that it has been performing well and is on track to meet its objectives.

References

Andrews-Speed, A. (2021, May 4). Commentary: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? Channel NewsAsia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/solar-energy-singapore-panels-cloudy-unpredictable-electricity-1882996 

Cheah, M. (2022, February 25). HDB launches 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks and 99 government sites. The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites

Cheong, D. (2022, March 16). How has HDB’s SolarNova programme fared, and why it is important? 99.co. https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/solar-nova-hdb/ 

EDB Singapore. (2022, October 12). ASEAN set to play key role in global solar supply chain. Economic Development Board Singapore. https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/business-insights/insights/asean-set-to-play-key-role-in-global-solar-supply-chain.html 

Eigen Energy. (2022, April 19). How reliable are Solar Panels in Singapore. Eigen Energy. https://www.eigen.energy/articles/solar-reliability-in-singapore 

Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Housing Development Board.  https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy

Housing Development Board (n.d.). SolarNova. Housing Development Board. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/solarnova-page 

Lee, L. (2022, May 19). The Big Read in short: Amid higher in electricity bills, going green means saving money too. TODAY.  https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-amid-higher-electricity-bills-going-green-means-saving-money-too-1898036 

Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. (2019, December 30). Why don’t we use 100% renewable energy in Singapore? Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2019-12-30-newsletter-why-dont-we-use-100%25-renewable-energy-in-singapore/ 

Meteorological Services Singapore. (n.d.). Climate of Singapore. Meteorological Services Singapore. http://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-climate-of-singapore/ 

NCCS Singapore. (n.d.). Power Generation. The National Climate Change Secretariat. https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/power-generation/#:~:text=Singapore's%20carbon%20footprint.-,Natural%20Gas.,scale%20up%20our%20other%20switches. 

Tan, A. (2022, February 7).  Singapore to tap more green energy with JTC’s solar push. JTC Corporation. https://www.jtc.gov.sg/about-jtc/news-and-stories/feature-stories/singapore-to-tap-more-green-energy-with-jtc-solar-push 

Tan, E. (2022, October 6). Spot prices for liquefied natural gas double between January and August. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spot-prices-for-liquefied-natural-gas-double-between-january-and-august 

Teh, S. (2021, September 5). Energy from sun viable source of green energy. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/energy-from-sun-viable-source-of-green-power 

Summary Reader Response Draft #2

According to Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova programme, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial part in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable. HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national organisations: Singapore Monetary Authority, Ministry of Education, People's Association, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. Making solar energy a key initiative in the HDB GTP, net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands would be achieved (Tan, 2022, as cited in Housing Development Board, 2022). Solar panel installation would take place gradually in lots and be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. This reduces the usage of fossil fuels when generating electricity.

The webpage also postulated that this initiative promotes and aggregates demand for solar PV among government entities to obtain economies of scale and propel Singapore's solar sector forward. With ASEAN developing as one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets, the region has embarked on several solar power initiatives, including the SolarNova programme in Singapore (EDB, 2022). From my perspective, the economic benefits of this program and some environmental benefits have been overlooked. Highlighting these beneficial elements would have emphasised the results even more and prompted more solar panel installations (Chua, 2015).

The most recent tender will see more solar panels in the heartlands, demonstrating the effectiveness of prior tenders in improving inhabitants' quality of life. As a result, the adoption of solar panels has resulted in economic benefits such as lower power bills. One such person is Mr Arun Murthy, who installed 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah. He saved $830 by spending $370 on electricity charges instead of $1200 on electricity bills before installing the solar panels. In addition to meeting the energy needs of the home, the solar panels generate excess electricity throughout the day, which is sold back to SP Group and then managed and paid for by them (Lee, 2022). This is due to the fact that solar panels draw energy from a free energy source, the sun. The panels generate electricity, which, when connected to electrical wiring, is used by the house instead of the utility's electricity.

A positive view of the environmental benefits would be that the use of solar energy is a suitable alternative to fossil fuels. 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from imported natural gas. It's one of the cleanest fossil fuels available-burning natural gas produces half the carbon footprint of coal (Teh, 2021). With that, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact in comparison with fossil fuels and not rely on neighbouring countries for a continuous supply of imported gas. Singapore relies on neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate electricity. Due to the steep inflation of LNG (Tan, 2022), solar panels are increasingly installed islandwide.

With that being said, there are downsides to the SolarNova programme. Despite being geographically located in the tropical region, north of the Equator, cloud cover is an issue. This means that on days when there is high cloud coverage, the amount of solar energy produced lessens. In addition, the constant high temperature reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell (Andrews-Speed, 2021). Also, Singapore is a small country which lacks land in which the use of solar energy can take up huge amounts of land. As such, Singapore does not fully rely on renewable energy such as solar energy.

To summarise, the SolarNova programme is a successful programme, run by EDB and HDB. The programme has enabled Singapore to gain a greater sense of energy independence and security while minimizing environmental impact. Although the programme has limitations, with some being beyond human control, to say that the programme has been faring well and is on track to achieve its target is accurate.

References

Andrews-Speed, A. (2021, May 4). Commentary: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/solar-energy-singapore-panels-cloudy-unpredictable-electricity-1882996 

Cheah, M. (2022, February 25). HDB launches 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks and 99 government sites. The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites

Cheong, D. (2022, March 16). How has HDB’s SolarNova programme fared, and why it is important? 99.co. https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/solar-nova-hdb/ 

EDB Singapore. (2022, October 12). ASEAN set to play key role in global solar supply chain. Economic Development Board Singapore. https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/business-insights/insights/asean-set-to-play-key-role-in-global-solar-supply-chain.html 

Eigen Energy. (2022, April 19). How reliable are Solar Panels in Singapore. Eigen Energy. https://www.eigen.energy/articles/solar-reliability-in-singapore 

Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Housing Development Board.  https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy

Housing Development Board (n.d.). SolarNova. Housing Development Board. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/solarnova-page 

Lee, L. (2022, May 19). The Big Read in short: Amid higher in electricity bills, going green means saving money too. TODAY.  https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-amid-higher-electricity-bills-going-green-means-saving-money-too-1898036 

Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. (2019, December 30). Why don’t we use 100% renewable energy in Singapore? Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2019-12-30-newsletter-why-dont-we-use-100%25-renewable-energy-in-singapore/ 

Meteorological Services Singapore. (n.d.). Climate of Singapore. Meteorological Services Singapore. http://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-climate-of-singapore/ 

NCCS Singapore. (n.d.). Power Generation. The National Climate Change Secretariat. https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/power-generation/#:~:text=Singapore's%20carbon%20footprint.-,Natural%20Gas.,scale%20up%20our%20other%20switches. 

Tan, A., The Strait Times. (2022, February 7).  Singapore to tap more green energy with JTC’s solar push. JTC. https://www.jtc.gov.sg/about-jtc/news-and-stories/feature-stories/singapore-to-tap-more-green-energy-with-jtc-solar-push 

Tan, E. (2022, October 6). Spot prices for liquefied natural gas double between January and August. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spot-prices-for-liquefied-natural-gas-double-between-january-and-august 

Teh, S. (2021, September 5). Energy from sun viable source of green energy. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/energy-from-sun-viable-source-of-green-power 

Summary Reader Response Draft #1

According to Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova programme, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial part in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable. HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national organisations: Singapore Monetary Authority, Ministry of Education, People's Association, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. Making solar energy a key initiative in the HDB GTP, net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands would be achieved (Tan, 2022, as cited in Housing Development Board, 2022). Solar panel installation would take place gradually in lots, and it would be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. This reduces the usage of fossil fuels when generating electricity.

The webpage also postulated that this initiative promotes and aggregates demand for solar PV among government entities to obtain economies of scale and propel Singapore's solar sector forward. With ASEAN developing as one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets, the region has embarked on several solar power initiatives, including the SolarNova programme in Singapore (EDB, 2022). From my perspective, the economic benefits of this program and some environmental benefits have been overlooked. Highlighting these beneficial elements would have emphasised the results even more and prompted more solar panel installations (Chua, 2015).

The most recent tender will see more solar panels in the heartlands, demonstrating the effectiveness of prior tenders in improving inhabitants' quality of life. As a result, the adoption of solar panels has resulted in economic benefits such as lower power bills. Mr Arun Murthy, who erected 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah, is one such individual. He saved roughly $830 by spending $370 on his electricity expenses. In addition to providing for the home's energy needs, the solar panels generate excess electricity throughout the day that is sold back to Singapore's power grid system, which is run by SP Group and paid for by them (Lee, 2022). This is because solar panels draw energy from a free energy source, the sun. The panels generate electricity and, when connected to electrical wiring, the house uses that electricity instead of the electricity supplied by the utility.

Another positive view on the environmental benefits would be that the use of solar energy is a suitable alternative to fossil fuels. 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from imported natural gas. It's one of the cleanest fossil fuels available-burning natural gas produces half the carbon footprint of coal (Teh, 2021). With that, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact in comparison with fossil fuels and not rely on neighbouring countries for a continuous supply of imported gas. Singapore relies on neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate electricity. Due to the steep inflation of LNG (Tan, 2022), solar panels can be seen be increasingly installed islandwide.

With that being said, there are downsides to the SolarNova programme. Despite being geographically located in the tropical region, north of the Equator, cloud cover is an issue. This means that on days when there is high cloud coverage, the amount of solar energy produced lessens. In addition, the constant high temperature reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell (Andrews-Speed, 2021). Also, Singapore is a small country which lacks land in which the use of solar energy can take up huge amounts of land. As such, Singapore does not fully rely on renewable energy such as solar energy.

To summarise, the SolarNova programme is a successful programme, run by EDB and HDB. The programme has allowed Singapore to develop a greater sense of energy independence and security without making even further impacts on the environment. Although the programme has limitations, with some being beyond human control, to say that the programme has been faring well and is on track to achieve its target is accurate.

References

Andrews-Speed, A. (2021, May 4). Commentary: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/solar-energy-singapore-panels-cloudy-unpredictable-electricity-1882996 

Cheah, M. (2022, February 25). HDB launches 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks and 99 government sites. The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites

Cheong, D. (2022, March 16). How has HDB’s SolarNova programme fared, and why it is important? 99.co. https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/solar-nova-hdb/ 

EDB Singapore. (2022, October 12). ASEAN set to play key role in global solar supply chain. Economic Development Board Singapore. https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/business-insights/insights/asean-set-to-play-key-role-in-global-solar-supply-chain.html 

Eigen Energy. (2022, April 19). How reliable are Solar Panels in Singapore. Eigen Energy. https://www.eigen.energy/articles/solar-reliability-in-singapore 

Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Housing Development Board.  https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy

Housing Development Board (n.d.). SolarNova. Housing Development Board. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/solarnova-page 

Lee, L. (2022, May 19). The Big Read in short: Amid higher in electricity bills, going green means saving money too. TODAY.  https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-amid-higher-electricity-bills-going-green-means-saving-money-too-1898036 

Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. (2019, December 30). Why don’t we use 100% renewable energy in Singapore? Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2019-12-30-newsletter-why-dont-we-use-100%25-renewable-energy-in-singapore/ 

Meteorological Services Singapore. (n.d.). Climate of Singapore. Meteorological Services Singapore. http://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-climate-of-singapore/ 

NCCS Singapore. (n.d.). Power Generation. The National Climate Change Secretariat. https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/power-generation/#:~:text=Singapore's%20carbon%20footprint.-,Natural%20Gas.,scale%20up%20our%20other%20switches. 

Tan, A., The Strait Times. (2022, February 7).  Singapore to tap more green energy with JTC’s solar push. JTC. https://www.jtc.gov.sg/about-jtc/news-and-stories/feature-stories/singapore-to-tap-more-green-energy-with-jtc-solar-push 

Tan, E. (2022, October 6). Spot prices for liquefied natural gas double between January and August. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spot-prices-for-liquefied-natural-gas-double-between-january-and-august 

Teh, S. (2021, September 5). Energy from sun viable source of green energy. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/energy-from-sun-viable-source-of-green-power 

Summary Draft #2

According to Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova initiative, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial part in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable.

HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national organisations: Singapore Monetary Authority, Ministry of Education, People's Association, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. Making the usage of solar energy a key initiative in the HDB GTP, net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands would be achieved (Tan, 2022, as cited in Housing Development Board, 2022). 

Solar panel installation would take place gradually in lots, and it would be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. Hence, it reduces the usage of fossil fuels when generating electricity.

[Edited on 6 February 2023]

References:

Cheah, M. (2022, February 25), HDB launches. 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks. and 99 government sites. Retrieved on January 26, 2023, from https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites

Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Retrieved on January 26, 2023, from https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy

Summary Draft #1

The SolarNova initiative, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial part in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable.

HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national organisations: Singapore Monetary Authority, Ministry of Education, People's Association, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. Making the usage of solar energy a key initiative in the HDB GTP, net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands would be achieved (Tan, 2022, as cited in Housing Development Board, 2022). 

Solar panel installation would take place gradually in lots, and it would be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. 

References:

Cheah, M. (2022, February 25), HDB launches. 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks. and 99 government sites. Retrieved on January 26, 2023, from https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites

Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Retrieved on January 26, 2023, from https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy

Descriptive Reflection: Formal Introductory Letter

Dear Professor Brad,

I am Stephanie, and I want to introduce myself via this letter. I am a civil engineering student at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

My interest in civil engineering grew after receiving a diploma in civil engineering with business from Singapore Polytechnic. As technology evolved, I grew more interested in the digital revolution of the construction business. I had previously considered pursuing my studies in finance after gaining experience in the financial industry as a temporary employee before starting university. However, my curiosity about the construction industry's digital transformation persisted, influencing my decision to pursue a civil engineering degree. I am an excellent listener, which is one of my communication strengths. Instead of immediately drawing conclusions and challenging the speaker, I approach a conversation with an open mind by hearing and comprehending the other person's perspective. One area for improvement would be that I sometimes struggled to organize my ideas when I wanted to make a point, which led to me not always having a clear and succinct response. I want to complete two significant objectives before the conclusion of this module. First and foremost, I aim to improve my public speaking abilities after receiving feedback that I talk too quickly when I am frightened. Second, I aim to enhance my technical writing abilities and perfect my grammar, since I still need to work on articulating my views grammatically and in an organized manner, particularly in report writing and reflections. I'm excited to learn more about effective communication and critical thinking from you and challenge myself in the upcoming lessons.

Yours sincerely,

Stephanie

[Edited on 6 February 2023]

Blogs commented on:

- Chiu Pin
- Anthony

- Kiran

The Importance of communication skills for engineers

“While all engineers should have good communication skills, global engineers face additional challenges, making effective communication an imperative.” Debra Kraft, Careers Content Writer, Demand Media (2016).

According to the quotation above, I do feel that having communication skills is vital as an engineer. This is because the profession would require communication not only just with other engineers but also people of other disciplines such as Architects, Project Managers to name a few... 

Engineers do not just sit at their desks all day with their eyes fixated on their computer screens, they are also required to plan and coordinate with their colleagues and fellow engineers, people of other disciplines and even their clients as well.

But what does it take to be a global engineer? One would then be required to take on a range of international settings and work environments. To prevent miscommunications with colleagues be they in the same discipline or not and clients who are of different countries or origins, one would not only need to be highly proficient in English, but one would also need to have good communication skills and personal qualities to work with them.