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, the
Singapore Sustainable Blueprint (SSB) aims to turn residential area into
“eco-smart” towns and transform Singapore into a "zero-waste nation".
To achieve these goals, a greater proficiency of energy related technology and
the development of efficient engineering systems are required. In Shah’s
article, Khew, deputy president of Institute of Engineers, highlights that
expertise and innovation from various fields have the “frontline role to fight
climate changes”. Furthermore, the author also indicates that
Kuttan, director and country manager of the Clean Technology Centre,
believes engineers who understand energy in sustainability apart from their own
field are essential to reduce emission for climate changes. As a result,
“Engineers Progression Pathway programme” has been 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
could 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 that despite pointing out that the energy sector is important, the article does not specifically mention the reason why the energy sector should be focused on. Research shows that the energy sector contributes to more than half of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of 64.5% while the waste sector contributes to only 3.2% (World Resource Institute, 2005). With more than half of the GHG contributed from the energy sector, engineers should contribute by coming up with strategies or technologies to help reduce GHG emission in the sector. These explanations would give the reader more knowledge and convince them on why energy sector should be largely focused on for this climate fight.
Furthermore, Shah’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 focus on for Singapore’s context. Due to limited land space, renewable energy sources like wind power are not practical in Singapore. Currently, Singapore still relies on burning fossil fuels for energy (Mokhtar, 2015). Research on feasibility of solar PV energy have been done by students of KTH school of Industrial Engineering and Management. Based on a calculation of the return of investment duration and electric power that the solar photovoltaic cell generates, further potentials of solar photovoltaic power such as “copper-based thin film cells” should be looked into to help maximise energy efficiency (King & Wettergen, 2011). Thus, Engineers should contribute to the energy sector by exploring on the future potentials of solar PV.
In conclusion, Shah should be more detailed in explaining why and how engineers should contribute in the energy sector. The majority of the greenhouse gases are produced from the energy sector. Therefore, it is an area where attention needs to be directed to. Research shows that engineers could focus on contributing to energy sector specifically the solar energy sector 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
The first reason that Shah's article is not specific is that despite pointing out that the energy sector is important, the article does not specifically mention the reason why the energy sector should be focused on. Research shows that the energy sector contributes to more than half of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of 64.5% while the waste sector contributes to only 3.2% (World Resource Institute, 2005). With more than half of the GHG contributed from the energy sector, engineers should contribute by coming up with strategies or technologies to help reduce GHG emission in the sector. These explanations would give the reader more knowledge and convince them on why energy sector should be largely focused on for this climate fight.
Furthermore, Shah’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 focus on for Singapore’s context. Due to limited land space, renewable energy sources like wind power are not practical in Singapore. Currently, Singapore still relies on burning fossil fuels for energy (Mokhtar, 2015). Research on feasibility of solar PV energy have been done by students of KTH school of Industrial Engineering and Management. Based on a calculation of the return of investment duration and electric power that the solar photovoltaic cell generates, further potentials of solar photovoltaic power such as “copper-based thin film cells” should be looked into to help maximise energy efficiency (King & Wettergen, 2011). Thus, Engineers should contribute to the energy sector by exploring on the future potentials of solar PV.
In conclusion, Shah should be more detailed in explaining why and how engineers should contribute in the energy sector. The majority of the greenhouse gases are produced from the energy sector. Therefore, it is an area where attention needs to be directed to. Research shows that engineers could focus on contributing to energy sector specifically the solar energy sector 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
Mokatar, F. (2015,July 08). Challenging for Singapore to find
alternate energy sources: Shanmugam. Channel News Asia. Retrieved July
8, 2015, from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/challenging-for-singapore/1969810.html
Shah, V. (2015). Why the climate fight needs engineers. Eco-Business.
Retrieved June 8, 2008, from http://www.eco-business.com/news/why-the-climate-fight-needs-engineers/
World Resources Institute. (2005). C2ES. Global Anthropogenic GHG Emissions by Sector. Retrieved from http://www.c2es.org/facts-figures/international-emissions/sector
World Resources Institute. (2005). C2ES. Global Anthropogenic GHG Emissions by Sector. Retrieved from http://www.c2es.org/facts-figures/international-emissions/sector
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