Statement of the problem

How to make a an open space sustainable?

How to make a building sustainable?

Utilizing Limited Spaces to do more

Open spaces such as parks, gardens, streets, and other public spaces can do much
more than their primary purpose. But, we need to plan things out with that very objective
– preserving open spaces for sustainability. With adequate planning, we can maximize
space efficiency and design newer structures within these open spaces with a more
sustainable approach, while also ensuring the greater community also benefits. After all,
the whole premise of ‘open spaces for sustainability’ must also have tangible worth for
the community at large. We observe the same principle working wonders in those
Parklets of San Francisco where underutilised space on streets was converted into public
spaces, complete with extended sidewalks, room for benches, space for art display,
improvements in landscaping, and additional space for bike parking.
Taking a Multi-Functional Approach to Devices
Many think a garden as a space that has really limited utility. Don’t get us wrong, we all
love the whole concept of gardens, and they’re wonderful value-additions to an urban
landscape. Regardless, it still can’t be denied that they have limited scope in terms of
utility. But, the same can’t be said of ‘Rain gardens’, which is perhaps the prime
endorsement of ‘open spaces for sustainability’. Not only do rain gardens work as an
aesthetic enhancement, but they also work to capture rainwater and direct them to
storm drains. In the process, we limit erosion and we curb water pollution while ensuring
that we have a lush, green open space in the middle of a big city. Oregon’s rain garden
in Portland is a prime example of rain gardens’ success story.
Using Good Design to Inspire Sustainability
Commercial spaces such as parking lots, driveways, and walkways, while qualifying as
‘open spaces’, are rendered useless beyond their primary function, a bit like gardens.
This is a question that we asked ourselves too.
The answer lies in our “Smart Canopy” creation. The Canopy is not just designed well and
adds aesthetic value to the surroundings but also has added functionality. If you look
closely at its design, you can practically see rainwater drip through the central mast.
This rainwater is collected and harvested. Also, when the sun sets, you would notice
how the Canopy illuminates its surroundings through the solar energy it collects, all this
 without an external source of energy. Our smart canopy simply allows people to see
sustainability in action.
Furnish the site with recycled materials - Instead of using wooden benches, parks should
have 100% recycled plastic benches or maybe even bio-plastics can be an option. These plastic
benches will not only offer high durability but also continue to look impressive and attractive for
many years.

 Develop a soil management system - During the construction process, officials should
ensure that parks have enough topsoil, which can withstand erosion or compaction. Before
bringing in new soil to parks, its quality must be checked. Check specifically for the soil’s
nutrients profile, alkalinity and acidity levels, and humus presence. Better the soil health,
lessen the need for fertilizers.
 Beautify with native plants - Choose plants that are highly adaptable to the local climate.
With no special requirements for soil, light, fertilizers, and water, these plants will
tremendously reduce the natural resource consumption and also the cost of maintenance.
 Use organic manure - Chemical fertilizers, if used inappropriately, can hamper plant
growth. Therefore, authorities should make use of organic manure. Even though organic
manure may be costlier than chemical fertilizers, it significantly reduces the need for any
additional supplements. Besides, during monsoon, the chemical fertilizers get washed
away, thereby degrading the waterways and threatening the aquatic life. Organic manure,
on the other hand, does not possess any threat to marine life, even if washed away by the
rainwater.
 Reduce greenhouse emissions - Private vehicles should be forbidden in and around
parks. Instead, people should either make use of public transportation or other cleaner
modes like bicycles.
 Optimize the use of water resources - One of the most valuable natural resources, water,
can be conserved when creating sustainable parks if we create green infrastructure for
stormwater management process. For example, rain gardens, floodplain restoration, or
permeable pavements are examples of methods that are highly cost-effective when
compared to man-made water collection systems. And Make good use of rainwater through
practices like rainwater harvesting. Accumulate rainwater, have inbuilt filtration method,
and make the water potable.
 Install solar panels - By installing solar panels, parks can harvest the solar energy and
store it in batteries. The accumulated solar energy can then be used to offer renewable LED
lighting at night, thereby reducing power consumption and cost.
 Ways to make your home
sustainable
 Insulate walls, ceiling and under floor to aid heating and save on energy costs.
 Install double-glazed windows, or thermal-backed curtains if double-glazing is too expensive.
Curtain Bank - Sustainability Trust
 Utilise the sun. Orientate a new house for maximum sunshine, install solar water-heating, and consider
passive heating options. Talk to your architect for further ideas.
 Select appliances with high energy-efficiency ratings. Swap regular light bulbs for eco bulbs. Design for
maximum natural light to reduce artificial lighting.
 Choose non-toxic building materials. Look for the Environmental Choice tick of approval. Source
materials locally, to reduce the environmental impact of transporting them.
Environmental Choice NZ
 Install a rainwater collection tank. Choose water-efficient appliances and low-flow sanitary fittings.
 Minimise waste and recycle where possible, especially when demolishing and building.
 Use renewable electricity sources where possible, by generating onsite (for example, by installing a
small-scale wind turbine or micro-hydro system) or by choosing a power company that generates from
renewable sources.
 Build with comfort and the future in mind, particularly if this is the house you plan to grow old in when
good indoor / outdoor access will be a key requirement.
 Choose native and local plantlife for gardens and landscaping.

Use Sustainable Materials

From the frame of your home to the flooring inside it, sustainable building materials can
reduce the impact of your construction on the environment. Wood is a renewable
resource when you choose a supplier who follows sustainable planting practices.
Flooring is one area where new products that are environmentally friendly and great for
home insulation ratings and climate control efficiency are flourishing. Modern flooring of
this sort includes bamboo, cork and linoleum, which is made of natural, renewable
materials. More consumers, designers and builders are choosing linoleum as
 environmentally friendly flooring with a long lifespan — 25 to 40 years – and the ability
to be completely recycled at the end of life.

“Energize” Windows in your Green Home

Energy Star windows are relatively new players in the window market, but they’ve
quickly become rock stars. These aptly-named windows are government-rated as
Energy Star products, and are much more energy-efficient windows than even the
newer, double-pane models. Energy Star windows also greatly reduce sound transfer
between outside and inside. The result? Heating and cooling costs drop and home
values rise.

Sustainable strategies used for commercial buildings range

from energy-saving to the holistic approach addressing wider
environmental issues such as water use, selecting
sustainable materials and carefully managing waste.

 Renewable energy
Renewable energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide. Examples of
renewable energy include solar photovoltaics (PV) and small wind-power technologies.
 Green roofs
Roof-top planting lowers greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide, helps reduce and treat
stormwater run-off, and provides an attractive environment for the occupiers.
 Rainwater collection
Collected rainwater can be used to flush toilets or water landscaped areas. Using rainwater minimises
mains water use, reduces flood risks, and saves on energy costs required to pump water up into the
building.
 Passive heating and cooling
Insulate using materials with good thermal mass properties to reduce energy used for heating and
cooling.
 Lighting
Ensure maximum daylight use and install energy-efficient light bulbs and sensors regulating the
brightness as required.
 Electronic technology
Controls for heating and cooling bring significant savings. User interfaces, such as screens showing
occupants how much energy the building is using, can raise awareness and influence positive behaviour.
 Fine tuning
Make sure that building systems work efficiently so that water and energy is not wasted.
 Construction waste
Use an environmental management system to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, and to control
stormwater and sediment run-off.
For large-scale developments, sustainability should be
addressed from the beginning of the design process. Tell the
design team what is required before they begin work. Many
decisions are made about a project in the first 10 minutes of
the first meeting.

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 a day ago

 4 min

How Singapore built a culture of sustainable outdoor spaces

From a disorganized township to a sustainable city, Singapore has indeed come a very long
way. Increasing pollution, lack of sanitation methods, and high unemployment rates made
 the 1960s Singapore a typical developing country in East Asia. It was against such a
backdrop that Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew felt the dire need for a cleaner, more
sustainable environment. According to him, “a blighted urban jungle of concrete destroys the
human spirit” and so “we need the greenery of nature to lift our spirits.” So, on 11th May
1967, PM introduced the vision of ‘Garden City’ - the first big step towards the goal of
sustainability in Singapore.
Today, almost half of Singapore’s land is under green cover as it stands first in Asia, and
second globally, when it comes to sustainability.
Sustainability in Singapore: the blueprint
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was sustainability in Singapore. Singapore’s
continuous efforts to build a culture of sustainability always tied back to one of the
following outcomes:
 a competitive economy that invites investment and offers jobs
 a sustainable environment, even with limited natural resources
 a high quality of life for the citizens of Singapore
 Singapore’s approach to achieving the above outcomes was founded in new and innovative
technologies, dynamic governance, and integrated planning and development.
Sustainability in Singapore: the journey explained
Garden City Program
The ‘Garden City Programme’ initiated in the year 1967 by the PM, not only had the aim
to transform Singapore into a green and lively city, but also make the city a tourist
destination. Embarking on the pursuit of sustainability, the PM planted the first tree
himself in the year 1967. And by the end of the year 1970, the city had 55,000 new trees.
Later in the year 1971, the tree plantation program was introduced back so that the
residents do not forget the big picture. Soon, the Parks and Trees Act, imposed in the year
1975, mandated constructors to reserve some space for trees prior to constructing homes,
roads, and parking lots. As a result, Singapore saw a significant rise in the number of trees,
from 158,600 in 1974 to 1.4 million by June 2014.
Keep Singapore Clean Campaign
The month-long program named, Keep Singapore Clean, was initiated in the year 1968. The
prime aim was to make Singaporeans understand the importance of having a clean city.
Several measures were taken to tackle the problem of inconsiderate litterings, such as
imposing a fine when someone was found trashing publicly. By the time the program
ended, “first-time litter-bugs were fined up to 500 Singapore dollars, while repeat offenders
were fined up to 2,000 Singapore dollars.”
The civic authorities shifted the street hawkers, local industries, and other pollution-
causing sources to someplace else. Various mass media platforms, such as radio, TV, and
magazines were utilized for popularizing the aim of the campaign. Posters reading the
slogan ‘Keep Singapore Clean’ were set up in different parts of the city.
Furthermore, there were educational training for citizens, organized by the health
authorities. Regular inspections were conducted by the authorities to check the overall
impact of the campaign. Besides, competitions were organized to find the cleanest shops,
offices, hotels, government offices, and other such public places. The announcement of the
winner was made publicly to encourage Singaporeans to keep their city tidy. Pictures of
those caught littering were taken and put up on mass media platforms to endorse the
seriousness of the campaign and the repercussions of not supporting it.

Another important initiative undertaken for sustainability in Singapore was cleaning up the
Singapore river. This endeavor took a decade, but 250 tons of waste was removed
from the river. Today, the Singapore river is perfect for aquatic life to thrive and is also a
vibrant tourist attraction.
Clean Air Act
This act was sanctioned by the parliament in 1971. The Act aimed to make Singapore
pollution-free while the city was in its early phase of industrialization. After a thorough
survey, a set of anti-pollution guidelines were published. The report included “setting up an
air pollution control unit, requirements for monitoring efforts, air pollution legislation, future
consultancy work as well as general public education.”
Pollutant-causing factories were scrutinized. Stringent laws were imposed to ensure
factories installed air pollution control units. Fines were imposed on industries that didn’t
follow the laws. The 1972 announcement, which stated that there was no instant danger
of smog in Singapore clearly indicated that the campaign was a great success!
Strong leadership and strong legislation in the 1960s set Singapore down the path to
become a sustainable city. In addition to that, the citizens were constantly educated.
Following the set policy portfolios, Singapore pursued its long-term goals of making the
city-state a hub of economic growth while maintaining the ecological sustainability.
Such efforts set the foundation for Singapore to become a sustainable city, and initiatives,
like Housing and Development Board powering homes with renewable energy, continue to
ensure the city has a low carbon footprint. In fact, the Housing and Development has set an
ambitious goal of powering 5,500 blocks with solar by 2020 and further meeting 25% of
HDB blocks’ energy needs through solar power by 2025. As Priya Choksi (Co-Founder,
ThinkPhi) described during an interview with Channel News Asia, apart from reducing the
reliance on fossil fuels, it is also critical for Singapore to focus on energy efficiency
initiatives and green building design to reduce overall energy consumption.
Taking inspiration from the success stories of sustainable Singapore, countries across the
world, that aspire to become sustainable can carry out similar campaigns, given their
disposition.
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How can we make our parks more sustainable?
Building a Smart Sustainable city for tomorrow
 What will car parking shades look like in 2020?

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 Feb 21

 3 min

Building a Smart Sustainable city for tomorrow

Can you imagine a smart sustainable city for tomorrow? The cities of the future are more
than just about autonomous electric cars, smart sensors, solar panels on your roof. A smart
sustainable city deploys technology and innovation to improve the quality of life for its
inhabitants. While at the same time, the city also ensures the optimum utilization of its
natural resources.
Building a smart sustainable city is no easy task - but if we want to live in such cities in the
future, we need to take action and make cities sustainable in terms of the resource
consumption and waste generation by the city.
The strategy to build a smart sustainable city
Interconnecting citizens, technologies, and the existing infrastructure will pave the way for
countries to achieve financial gains, social inclusiveness, and most importantly, ecological
stability. Building a smart sustainable city that makes all of this possible requires a robust
strategy for:
 Smart waste management - To better manage waste disposal, there needs to be a strategy
which introduces transparency and accountability in the utilization of resources. This calls
for an infrastructure that can track a product right from its creation to its waste conversion.
Smart sustainable cities would have complete knowledge of how much waste is generated
and from where. Inconsiderate generation of trash can be tracked this way.
Educational programs that generate awareness on how to alter raw materials usage
patterns, lessen thoughtless littering, and reuse products must be run for the residents.
 Furthermore, the government should create a compelling regulatory framework to change
the domestic waste generation and disposal patterns.
 Natural resource management - A smart city should be able to utilize the natural
resources around it. In the United States, 63% of electricity generation comes from fossil
fuels. A smart city should be reliant on generating power for sustainable sources. For
example, many cities in Sweden burn trash to produce electricity, so much so that the
country imports 800,000 tons of trash annually.
Smart cities of tomorrow will find innovative ways to use the natural resources around to
meet their needs without creating new waste and lowering their carbon footprint.
 Healthy living conditions - Smart but simple sustainable practices can help countries
meet citizens’ growing lifestyle demands while not disturbing the ecological balance. In a
smart sustainable city, healthy living conditions will not be supplied, they’ll be created by
the inhabitants themselves. Green covers and vertical farming in and around our future
homes will create a healthy environment for us and our loved ones. Citizens have got to
play a more proactive role when building a smart sustainable city. Make the right use of, for
instance, terraces in apartments and put it to alternative uses like urban farming.

For example, So Cal urban farms in San Diego, California, and TowerGarden are an
innovative way of combining farms in urban areas and giving people control of choosing
what they eat. Fresh food, good air, and no chemicals around will have a positive impact on
the health of the environment and the city dwellers both. Reduced pollution levels are
known to have a positive bearing on the mental and physical health of humans.
Incorporating sustainable elements in a smart city is essential for the well-being of its
people and the ecosystem as a whole. The amalgamation of innovative yet simple
sustainable practices and smart technologies will go a long way in resource optimization
while paying heed to the creation of inclusive, smart, and green infrastructure for a better
future.
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How can we make our parks more sustainable?

What will car parking shades look like in 2020?

How Singapore built a culture of sustainable outdoor spaces

 How can we make our parks more sustainable?

What will car parking shades look like in 2020?

How Singapore built a culture of sustainable outdoor spaces

How can we make our parks more sustainable?

What will car parking shades look like in 2020?

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https://www.thinkphi.com/blog/

https://www.thinkphi.com/blog/building-a-smart-sustainable-city-for-tomorrow

https://wellington.govt.nz/services/environment-and-waste/sustainability/homes/make-your-home-
more-sustainable

https://blog.lotnetwork.com/10-top-green-home-building-ideas/

https://wellington.govt.nz/services/environment-and-waste/sustainability/businesses/make-a-
commercial-building-more-sustainable