Kawasaki from the air

T&A: Nikkei’s Tech-On published a feature story on Japan’s Kawasaki city and how, through anti-pollution technologies, the city has managed to see Mt. Fuji through clearer skies from a once heavily polluted, dark sky industrial city in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the city’s recently ended International ECO-Tech Fair 2009 (17-18 February 2009), several anti-pollution measures and technologies were unveiled, including a bicycle that uses pedalling energy and a filter to convert muddy water into drinkable water, and an electric car that can go up to 370km per hour (2015 is the targeted go-commercial year).

It is quite apparent that many Asian cities, including those HWM is based in, are now looking at how Kawasaki did it and taking lessons learned from the fair to bring home and study.

We’ve polled our various regional editors based in the various industrialized cities in this region to find out if there are any new recycling and anti-pollution technologies introduced that could help keep our skies cleaner. (Editor opinions: 3)

Terence Ang, Supervising Editor, HWM

Terence (HWM SG): According to the National Environment Agency in Singapore, PM2.5, or fine particulate matter finer than 2.5 microns in size, is a growing concern when it comes to monitoring the ambient air quality in the city (it is also linked to higher incidences of respiratory and heart diseases). The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) set the PM2.5 standard at a level of 15 (ug/m3), of which Singapore was far behind at an average level of 19 (ug/m3) in 2003.

Since then, one of the initiatives implemented in the country was an alternative fuel source called CNG, or compressed natural gas. CNG has been implemented on public transport like buses and cabs, and is now increasingly used in light transport vehicles. The rational is that while its combustion does create greenhouse gases, CNG is more friendly to the environment and much safer in the event of a spill compared to gasoline or diesel. The best part is that it doesn’t emit as much PM2.5 pollutants, unlike diesel or gasoline.

To date, and if what I’ve read is true, there are three known CNG refuelling stations in Singapore - mainly located in the western part of the country, with some planned for the north. While the incentives are great - up to 40% discount on the open-market value of the newly-registered green passenger vehicle (called a Green Vehicle Rebate), several critics have lamented (and focused their reports) on the inefficiencies inherent in driving a CNG-based hybrid car, such as the boot space required to house a CNG tank, or the lack of a refuelling station in the east (because the pipeline is located mainly in the west). Most are urging the government to shift their focus away from a fossil-fuel solution to an electric one (specifically lithium-based solutions).

While the rebate plan and the phasing out of older diesel-based public transport vehicles to more fuel-efficient vehicles (Euro IV diesel standard vehicles and CNG vehicles) seem to have worked, many have taken these developments for granted (especially when they take a cab or bus to work everyday). I cannot possibly imagine what the air in Singapore would have been like if this plan hadn’t been implemented and our public transports today are still running on Euro II diesel standards.

Vijay Anand, Editor, HardwareZone.com

Vijay (HardwareZone.com): Here in Singapore, the effects of the country’s efforts in recycling campaigns and use of smart technology and materials has long been inculcated and been progressively phased in.

There are some really forward-looking condominium designs and architecture here that are cleverly automated to harness the natural sunlight to its full potential such as the National Environment Agency (NEA) Building and the Airport’s Terminal 3.

Many other new buildings are making sure rooftops are well utilized by converting them into mini gardens and parks to both serve as a green space within the building and reduce the heat load off buildings. A similar initiative by the government is a grant for energy efficient technologies (GREET), which is an incentive scheme to help companies achieve energy savings over five years.

Another example is the government’s recent Foldable Bike Scheme announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) where areas within certain trains and buses are designed to accomodate foldable bikes. However, I foresee several downsides though, because the scheme only allows one foldable bike on a bus at any one time, the scheme not active from 4:00pm to 8:00pm except on weekends/public hols, and these special buses are few and far between. Oh did I also mention that foldable bikes are more expensive than traditional bikes?

Navin Danapal, Technical Editor, HWM Malaysia

Navin (HWM MY): For Malaysia, there are quite a few initiatives which I’ll list down in detail here.

The ZEO Building

The Malaysia Energy Centre is a Zero Energy Office Building, which follows the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry Low Energy Office Building.

The ZEO building is an attempt to showcase how sustainable buildings can be designed which are energy efficient, as it uses solar panels (photovoltaic) and is part of a program to promote BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) in the country, by encouraging other buildings to follow suit.

Zeo Building

To spur this program, Tenaga Nasional will buy excess electricity generated by BIPV. This has been an ongoing promotion in the papers to encourage building owners who are capable of installing solar panels to do so, knowing they can sell excess power to Tenaga.

The ZEO building is a project under the EC-ASEAN Energy Facility (EAEF), a cooperation with the European Community. Malaysia has 9 projects under this program, with the ZEO building being one of them. Some of the elements used in the ZEO building to achieve its status includes using sunlight for illumination and LED lights for desks. It also uses collected rainwater and sells excess power back to the national grid. It generates 101 Gigawatt hours of power annually via its solar panels.

Recycling bins at Ikano Power Center in Damansara

Consumer Recycling

In terms of recycling awareness directly to consumers, the malls here have slowly begun doing their part by utilising seperate bins for paper, plastic and metal, to encourage shoppers to seperate their rubbish instead of dumping them all into a single bin. Malls like Ikano Power Center in Damansara have been doing this.

The Subang Jaya Carrefour mall has a recycling centre where shoppers can drop off their unwanted old paper to be recycled, and there are some community centres established at playgrounds in residential neighbourhoods which offer the same as well. Of course, the local Paper Lama (old newspaper) lorry has been doing this for years already.

Gas Vehicles

Proton Gen2 EVE Hybrid Car

The NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) project has been an ongoing alternative supported by many Petronas stations where users can top their gas tanks and more workshops have begun to offer installation services. Unlike in the past, today’s NGV vehicle can switch between petrol and gas, allowing you to have the freedom to turn to petrol should your gas run out with no station in sight.

To spur this movement further, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur has converted all the 150 City Hall vehicles into NGV, including his own car. Proton plans to roll out cars with equipped NGV tanks next year. Proton also has a prototype Gen2 EVE hybrid car that was on display at last year’s Geneva Motor Show which utilises a combined electric and petrol engine which they plan to introduce into the market when it’s ready.

A turbine wind generator located in Perhentian Island, Malaysia.

Green Island

Perhentian Island is an experimental concept where the island is powered by two 11KV 100KW wind turbines (with a 3rd being built) to generate electricity for its needs. Water is provided by its springs and there’s also a 100KW solar farm installed.

A battery stores up to 480KW/H of power for excess energy. The island has inspired Bayer Co (M) Sdn Bhd to form the Bayer Young Environmental Envoys to visit the island to understand more about environmental awareness under a UNEP program.