Summary Reader Response Draft 3

According to the webpage, (CCC)(2019), “Green technology makes buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable.” Low-energy houses, self-powered buildings and the use of smart appliances are contributing to achieve zero-energy levels in homes and buildings. The solar power in buildings reduces usage of electricity through absorption of sun’s radiation. In contrast, cool roofs and electrochromic smart glass block and reflect sunlight away. The use of biodegradable materials, green insulation, sustainable resource sourcing and rammed earth brick are about using materials in homes and buildings that are less harmful and damaging to the Earth’s environment. To effectively decrease water wastage, water efficiency technologies utilize the implementation of “efficient water supply systems”. Sustainable indoor environment technologies ensure that the well-being of ‘’building occupants’’ is taken care of.  I believe that implementing these sustainable technologies will help in eliminating the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat and cooling for buildings as well as reducing the amount of waste products to the Earth's environment.

Firstly, the use of solar power will help in reducing the need for fossil fuels to power the cooling and heating systems in buildings and homes. Pratt (2015) states that “most heating and cooling systems burn some type of fossil fuel for energy”. The fossil fuels used in those systems emit carbon emissions which will allow greenhouse gases to trap heat in our atmosphere thus increasing the Earth’s temperature causing global warming. The use of solar power reduces the need for non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels. Solar power also reduces the usage of gas and electricity through absorption of Sun’s radiation. Tan(2019) states that Singapore government is planning to use more solar panel to supply electricity demands to Singaporean households in tackling climate change caused by fossil fuels. As a result, using solar power will help in the reduction of carbon footprints due to it being a renewable energy source.

Secondly, self-powered buildings focus on the importance of zero-energy construction for energy consumption in homes and buildings by eliminating the use of fossil fuels which contribute to carbon footprints. CCC mentions that self-powered buildings are constructed such that they can supply their own power to support its energy usage, and direct excess energy back to the power grid through the installation of renewable energy resources. According to Metrofocus(2012), solar panels and wind turbines convert sunlight and wind into electricity, and then transmit the electrical energy back to the power grid, “contributing to the whole area’s grid system as a small independent power plant”. This shows that self-powered buildings can supply their own energy needs without the use of non-renewable resources, reducing the need for burning fossil fuels to provide electricity and gas which contributes to more carbon footprints.

Thirdly, CCC(2019) implies that “biodegradable materials is an eco-friendly method of making construction sustainable”. This is because most traditional construction methods lead to the accumulation of waste products and toxic chemicals, which contribute to carbon footprints. One biodegradable material is organic paint in buildings and homes, which helps in reducing harmful emissions to the environment as organic paint can be “easily breakdown without releasing of toxins” unlike the conventional paint that gives out volatile organic compounds, which are harmful to the environment. Superpages (n.d.) claims that organic paint is made from materials naturally found in nature like water, chalk and clay. These are non-harmful chemicals that are present in organic paint and provides a healthier alternative for building occupants and the environment. Using biodegradable materials will reduce the usage of traditional construction methods that contribute to more carbon footprints to the environment.

In conclusion, these sustainable technologies help in eliminating the use of fossil fuels for energy consumption in building and homes. In addition to this, biodegradable materials will reduce the amount of waste products and toxic chemicals to the environment. These would eventually lead to lesser carbon footprints to the Earth’s environment.

(641 words)

Revised as of 27/11/2020 1145 hours

References

Construction Climate Challenge. (2019, February 19). Top sustainable technologies in green construction. https://constructionclimatechallenge.com/2019/02/19/top-sustainable-technologies-in-green-construction/

Pratt, J. (2015, December 29). The Facts About HVAC Systems and Greenhouse Gases. ACS Air Conditioning Systems. https://www.acsystemsinc.com/blog/hvac-system/the-facts-about-hvac-systems-and-greenhouse-gases/

Tan, A. (2019, December 30). Singapore to ramp up solar energy production to power 350,000 homes by 2030. Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/solar-energy-to-meet-4-of-singapores-energy-demand-by-2030-up-from-less-than-1

Thirteen. (2012, July 23). City’s First Self Powered Building Unveiled: How does it work? Metrofocus. https://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2012/07/citys-first-self-powered-building-unveiled-how-does-it-work/

What is Organic Paint? (n.d.). Superpages. https://www.superpages.com/em/organic-paint/