it has been quite some time since i have updated my blog..and also i cant seem to remember the last post that i have posted on the environment. This semester i have a module named environmental science, pei xuan and sean took it before. In my whole poly course, i am now in love with this module, though there are some dry facts that doesn't seem be keyed into my brain computer system.

So here i am, going to blabber all about the facts. It might be a bit dry, but i will try my best to make it more wet, by adding some water. Take note, below are not plain blabbering on fake soft craps but real hard facts. Get yourself comfortable as it will be a long way.

Lets start with a few pieces of good news, followed by a bit of bad news, and a few ugly sides of some corporates.

Firstly, allow me congrats



On 21 October 2008, Senoko Power received the President’s Award for the Environment 2008, the nation’s most prestigious award for its commitment to the environment as well as its success in involving the community in environmental conservation. Senoko Power is one of the 13 founding members of Climate Neutral Network, launched in Feb 2008. PUB, the national water agency, bestowed Watermark Award to Senoko Power in August 2008. They had also achieved the Power plant of the year at 2005, and acheiving the environmental plant of the year in both 2005 and 2006. They had themselves involved in the National Weather Study Project. Similar to Singapore Polytechnic, they are also certify as ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS). With the various awards gained, they have indeed been above of their competitors. I do hope, they not only do it for a one time thing so as to boost corporate image, but also to sustain these awards. In a few years time, I do hope to see Senoko Power achieving the sustainable environment company.

Source: http://www.senokopower.com.sg/

Enough of Senoko Power, don't be surprise if one day you saw me working there. Smiles!

Let me now touch on the various projects that are ongoing in Singapore, a small dot on the map, doing its part. With reference to 24/10/2008 The Straits Time, Home Section. "Convenient Chutes Promote Recycling" It is launch by SembEnviro, the testbed is situated at Choa Chu Kang Ave 2 block 297C. *claps* to SembEnviro, they have indeed make recycling near the residents. I have to say that many Singaporeans are lazy. Even though the recycling bins are down at the void decks still they are simply lazy to bring it down, separate the recyclables from the non recyclables. But now, it is brought up to every level. It is more convenient to go green now. But I believe a large sum of money is pump in to reform this whole concepts. Glad they have embark on this project, but I would like to give more suggestion on ahving compost bins. On top of that, they should not only target the residents living at HDB flats, but also private housing estates.

The next projects I would like to touch on is Solar Energy. There is a proud project of having city square mall having solar powered eco roofs. With that they are targeting of having 70% of roofs to install solar panels. Solar power indeed sound so hot, but the amount of money pumping in, into these projects are indeed not cheap and easy as abc. It ranges from $100, 000 to a few millions dollars. But the great thing is, it is able to supply 2.8 million people cravings of energy power. In the same article, it had Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics which has work with Singapore Polytechnic to develop low cost solar cells so as to make it affordable for a home owner in Singapore, the fact that no average family is willing to pump in $100,000 just to have solar cells. Thus, making it affordable is very important, at the same time, I do hope the quality is good too.

One problem that i realize was, if Singapore is to launch 70% of the roofs to have solar powered cells, then what about garden roofs? It seems to be a trend to place things on our head. If garden roofs is going to occupy 30% of the roofs, is that sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide level generated? My main question here is Solar energy VS Garden roofs. Which is more important? Meeting the people's needs for energy? or Having greenery around?

All the nice beautiful projects, lets talk about 1 company who claim, to go green. But had waste a great lot of water. Starbucks a known coffee house. Starbucks had wasted millions of litres of water in its coffee shops every day, it contradicted much-boasted green credentials. How serious can it be, it is this serious: a single Starbucks tap left running for just over three minutes wastes the amount of water one African needs to survive for a day in drought conditions.

They were not defenseless, claiming to say they kept the tap running so as to clean the pipes to prevent any bacterial growth and for hygiene purposes. Ridiculous is the only word I can best describe them. Claiming all the green projects they have organized, but back in their operations they are wasting water, before you claim any credits in green, please take a look in your operations, how can you reduced your operation's un eco-ness. I feel utterly disgusted on how companies are fighting for the green corporate image but never really do what they claim.

Next 2 companies are famous oil refineries companies, exxon mobile and shell. Heard of they, they are home based name. Let me dig up their un eco part and talk more about it.

Exxon mobile, back in 1989, where some of us, including myself were not born yet, exxon Valdez crash and spilled 2 million gallon on Alaska shoreline, killing million of marines and spoiling the whole beach. Due to this massive spillage, cleaning up wasn't that easy. They had steam clean the area, but if you were to lift the stones up, you would have realise there are lingering oil on the shoreline:

let the pictures speak it all:



Source: http://eco-beat.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/06-26-valdez2.jpg
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/oilymess/media/oily_links_240.jpg
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/photos/close-up-of-the-oil-still-pres

Currently now, most of us know that ExxonMobile are trying to atone for this sin, this mess they had created, by supporting green projects. But I am disappointed to say, this case of oil spill have not been fully resolved. There is not much life in Alaska Shoreline. Most of us are willing to forgive it, if they are willing to clean up it up, most of us understand it is an accident. Just like, you have an accident on the road, causing a big traffic jam, we forgive and forget as we believe you did not want it to happen, but other than saying sorry, don't you think you should have remove the accident car instead of leaving it making the area still in traffic jam. Pretending this never did happen? So all I am saying is, before we atone for the mistake we do, we must admit there is a mistake, we resolve the mistake, and atone for it.

That is ExxonMobile, shell isn't great than exxonmobile, they have claimed to say that they are green, but they have since sold the solar division away. I believe it wasn't as profitable as it thought it would be.

Many corporates have been using "going green" as an image as many customers are not more conscientious about the environment. But I do hope these companies do what they claimed, and also to look within themselves to minimize the wastage instead of only pumping in money into green projects and claiming to be green.

Everyone play a different role in saving the environment, but there is some things we can do in common. No matter who you are, to go green, start within yourself. That is my last sentence of today's post, I hope you eyes are not tired. =D

6:57 PM sHaRiLyN LiM