Reader Response : Draft 2

In the article "Why The Climate Fight Needs Engineers", Shah (2015) stresses on the important role engineers play in climate fight. As climate change is due to urbanization and rapid population growth, Singapore Sustainable Blueprint (SSB) aims to turn residential area into “eco-smart” town and making Singapore a "zero-waste nation". Hence, proficiency of energy related technology and development of efficient engineering systems are required. Khew, deputy president of Institute of Engineers, highlights that expertise and innovation from various fields are the “frontline role to fight climate changes”. Furthermore, Kuttan, director and country manager of the Clean Technology Centre, believes engineers that understands energy in sustainability apart from their own field are essential to reduce emission for climate changes. As a result, “Engineers Progression Pathway programme” is launched to help engineers to further develop their skills. While I agree with Shah's article that engineers play an important role in the climate fight, I feel that the article can be more specific in explaining the reason why and how engineers should contribute, particularly in the energy sector.

The first reason that Shah's article is not specific is despite pointing out that the energy sector is important, the article does not specifically mention the reason why energy sector should be focus on. Research shows that the energy sector contributes to more than half of the global greenhouse gases (GHG) emission of 64.5% while waste contributes to only 3.2%. Thus, with these explanations, it can give the reader more idea and convince them on why energy sector should be largely focused on for this climate fight.

Furthermore, the author’s article vaguely mentions that renewable energy is one of the areas to look into. However, it does not explain what kind of renewable energy to be focused on for Singapore’s context. Due to limited land space, renewable energy sources like wind power is not practical in Singapore. Currently, Singapore still relies on burning fossil fuels for energy (Mokhtar, 2015). Research on feasibility of solar PV energy and is done. Calculating the payback period and electricity power the solar photovoltaic generates, further potentials of solar photovoltaic power are to be looked into such as “copper-based thin film cells” that can help maximise energy efficiency (King & Wettergen, 2011).

In conclusion, the author can be more detailed in explaining why and how is energy sector important for engineers to work on for climate fight. Majority of the greenhouse gases are produced from the energy sector, therefore it is an area where attention needs to be directed to. The energy sector is indeed an important and the main factor to look into the climate fight as majority of greenhouse gases is produced from this sector. Lastly, research shows that engineers could focus on contributing to energy sector specifically the solar energy as it is renewable and it will give out lesser GHG.


References
King, S. & Wettergren, P. (2011). Feasibility Study of Renewable Energy in Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:444754/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Shah, V. (2015). Why the climate fight needs engineers. Retrieved June 8, 2008, from http://www.eco-business.com/news/why-the-climate-fight-needs-engineers/
World Resources Institute. (2005). GLOBAL ANTHROPOGENIC GHG EMISSIONS BY SECTOR. Retrieved from http://www.c2es.org/facts-figures/international-emissions/sector

Mokatar, F. (2015). Challenging for Singapore to find alternate energy sources: Shanmugam. Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/challenging-for-singapore/1969810.html

~Edited 2/10/15 9.51am

Reader Response : Draft1

In the article "Why The Climate Fight Needs Engineers", Shah (2005) stresses on the important role engineers play in climate fight. The aim of Singapore Sustainable Blueprint (SSB) to turn residential area into “eco-smart” town and making Singapore a zero-waste nation requires mastery of energy related technology and development of efficient engineering system.  Khew, deputy president in Institute of Engineers, highlighted that expertise and innovation from various field are the “frontline role to fight climate changes”. Adding on, Kuttan, director and country manager of the Clean Technology Centre, believes that engineers that understands energy in sustainability apart from their own field is essential to reduce emission for climate changes. Raising standards for engineers, “Engineers Progression Pathway program” is launched to help engineers to further develop their skills. In Shah’s article, I agree that engineers that not only excel in their field but also think as a whole of green sector plays an essential role to fight and curb climate changes.

Firstly, Shah’s argument is valid because the article discuss the different reasons and areas engineers has to play in the climate fight. The article also states the various aims and goals to be achieved. The design, construction and operation of the city has a huge impact on emissions and global warming. Taking in high aspiration ideas will help innovative cities eventually to stay in lead to decrease cost of energy and reduce emissions. Streets and buildings can be smart too by the use of technology to moderate energy usage. (Doherty, 2015). Similarly, these points are also mentioned in Shah’s article.

Furthermore, in Shah’s article, Kuttan, director and country manager of the Clean Technology Centre, also mentioned that to fight climate changes and reduce emissions, energy sector is important focused on. While research shows that 78% of greenhouse gases comes from industry, the production of cements and steels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Roughly around half of global warming contributions comes from burning fossil fuels for energy. In order to stop global warming, emissions need to reduce 70% by 2050. (Biello, 2014). Renewable energy is taking over fossil fuels starting from 2013. According to International Energy Agency, solar energy, although not as popular now in the electricity market, could probably be the biggest source by 2050 (Randall, 2015).

In conclusion, Shah’s article provides valid point that engineers are important for climate fight and they have to work together and think as a whole in sustainability to reduce global warming.

References:

Peter Doherty. (2015). We need a smart urban revolution, and Asia is just the place to do it. Retrieved from http://www.eco-business.com/opinion/we-need-a-smart-urban-revolution-and-asia-is-just-the-place-to-do-it/

David Biello. (2014). How to Solve Global Warming: It's the Energy Supply. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-solve-global-warming-its-the-energy-supply/

Tom Randall. (2015). Fossil Fuels Just Lost the Race Against Renewables. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-14/fossil-fuels-just-lost-the-race-against-renewables

Summary: Why climate fight needs engineers

In the article "Why The Climate Fight Needs Engineers", Shah (2015) stresses on the important role engineers play in climate fight. As climate change is due to urbanization and rapid population growth, Singapore Sustainable Blueprint (SSB) aims to turn residential area into “eco-smart” town and making Singapore a "zero-waste nation". Hence, mastery of energy related technology and development of efficient engineering systems are required. Khew, deputy president in Institute of Engineers, highlights that expertise and innovation from various fields are the “frontline role to fight climate changes”. Adding on, Kuttan, director and country manager of the Clean Technology Centre, believes that engineers that understands energy in sustainability apart from their own field are essential to reduce emissions for climate changes. Raising standards for engineers, “Engineers Progression Pathway programme” is launched to help engineers to further develop their skills.


~edited on 27/9/15

My English Language Learning Journey

I start learning English when I am in kindergarden. Despite learning English early, I grew up in a Chinese-speaking environment where I usually conversed in Chinese to my friends and family, so English is not my forte. I do not like English since young. Partly it was also because of the experience I had with English. I remembered that being weak in English I always had to stay back in school for remedial lessons during my primary school days.
I remember that being weak in English I always had to stay back in school for remedial lessons.

My secondary friends and I even tried to set a rule that we should start conversing in English instead so that we could help each other to improve our English before our Olevel. However, after a while we subconsciously switched back to Chinese again. I failed English in my Olevel exam too. That resulted in me not being able to enter business courses in Polytechnics. Thus, I ended up in engineering course in the Green sector which I surprisingly found new interest in.

Making multi-racial friends and reading more English materials in polytechnic helped me in English too. My group of friends converse in English so that everyone can understand each other, in order not to let anyone feel left out. It allows me converse in English regularly making my speech flow better. Furthermore, this group of friends would often help to correct my English when I used it incorrectly. Seeing myself improve and being more confident to converse in English as compared to the past is fun. I hope to further improve my English as it is important for communications,writing reports and for my future.

~edited 11/9/15
~edited 4/12/15