Cigarette butts are the most littered item worldwide. Over 4.5 trillion cigarette butts pollute our environment every year. They do not easily biodegrade and are full of chemicals that are toxic to the wildlife that may ingest them. They are small individually, but they add up to a big problem. A waste management company in Bratislava, Slovakia, has found a new way of recycling cigarette butts, and that is by transforming cigarette butts into asphalt.
The environmental effect of cigarettes
More than 6 trillion cigarettes are smoked yearly around the world. You are probably familiar with how cigarettes cause air pollution due to the burning of tobacco, which releases harmful chemicals into the air. But did you know the butts from cigarettes are the most common form of personal litter in the world?
In the world total, cigarette butts make up more than one-third of litter. While cigarette butts may look like cotton, they are made of plastic fibers which are tightly packed together. And because they are made from man-made materials, they won’t organically break down into the environment.
Moreover, because cigarette butts are made of toxic chemicals when they are disposed of improperly, these chemicals (such as nicotine, lead, cadmium, and arsenic) will leach into the environment. The toxic chemicals can find their way into rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming aquatic life and contaminating water sources. There is also a risk of wildlife mistaking cigarette butts for food, accidentally injesting them.
Transforming cigarette butts into asphalt
A municipal waste management company in Bratislava, Slovakia, is pioneering a new way of recycling cigarette butts. At the end of 2023, the company trialed special containers designed to collect standard cigarette filters and those found in modern heated tobacco devices like vapes. And placed them around the city.
In collaboration with companies SPAK-EKO and EcoButt, the Bratislava City Council will be recycling cigarette butts to use the discarded materials to create asphalt for roads. Once the filters have been collected from the specialized bins, they will undergo a cleaning process to remove toxins and any residual tobacco. The cleaned filters are composed of cellulose acetate from the filters, which are then transformed into fine fibers. The fibers are mixed with traditional asphalt materials, which help with the asphalt’s durability and longevity.
The final product can be used just like conventional asphalt for creating new roads or repairing existing ones.
This isn’t the first time Slovakia is recycling cigarette butts into asphalt to be used on their roads. Their first cigarette filter road is located in Ziar and Hronom and was the first in the world.
With this program, cities in Slovakia can encourage people not only to stop throwing their cigarette butts on the ground, where they will do harm to the environment. But this project can also show people how they can participate in sustainable urban development.
Recycling cigarette butts into asphalt can also help reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. The production of asphalt involves heating and mixing aggregates with bitumen, a petroleum-based binder. This process releases greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, contributing to air quality issues and climate change.
Rainwater runoff from asphalt surfaces can carry pollutants, such as oil, heavy metals, and chemicals from vehicle exhaust, into waterways, potentially contaminating aquatic ecosystems. Recycling cigarette butts in the asphalt may help absorb and reduce many of these environmental harms and could change how we construct our roads.
Cigarettes might not be disappearing in the very near future, but we can find ways to make them less damaging to our planet and help cities be a little cleaner. Providing users with these specialized cigarette butt bins is one way to keep cigarette butts off the ground and out of our waters. And repurposing these butts is one way we can support a circular model and reuse and repurpose our resources.
Slovakia has a very innovative plan, and we hope it catches on around the world.
Aloe vera is a succulent plant from the genus Aloe and is grown in various tropical, semi-tropical, and arid regions around the world. China, the U.S.A., Mexico, Australia and some Latin American countries are the major producers and exporters of aloe products. Aloes produce two substances: the gel, which is the clear, jelly-like substance found in the inner part and the aloe latex, which comes from just under the plant’s skin and is yellow in colour.
Because of these properties, aloe vera has been used for a variety of reasons, including treating wounds and skin problems or promoting healthy digestion. It’s known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, which make it useful for treating burns, sunburns, and minor abrasions. Aloe vera gel can also help soothe and moisturize the skin. Aloe vera is also a common ingredient in skin care products, shampoos and conditioners.
While the inner parts of the aloe vera plant are in high demand, the peels are thrown away as agricultural waste. It is said that millions of tons of aloe vera peels get thrown away every year. The agricultural waste is used in the creation of biomass, which can improve the soil quality at aloe farms. While it is good that they are not being thrown into the landfill, agricultural waste does have some environmental consequences. For example, after some time, it can release methane and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.
Scientists from the American Chemical Society have found another alternative for the aloe vera peels, which can act as a more sustainable solution. They have found that the peels can ward off bugs and can act as a natural insecticide for crops. The aloe vera insect repellant discovery was made at an aloe vera production centre, where they noticed that insects were leaving the aloe vera plants alone but attacking other plant varieties, they had discovered natural aloe vera insect repellants.
To analyze how and why aloe vera insect repellants work, the team from the American Chemical Society dried out the peels in the dark at room temperature by blowing air over them. They then produced various extracts from the peels. The researchers found that in the hexane extract (used to extract edible oils from seeds and vegetables) contained octacosane. Octacosane is a compound with known mosquitocidal properties.
The researchers identified that there were over 20 compounds in aloe vera insect repellants that had antibacterial, antifungal or other potential health benefits. Additionally, they found six compounds within the peels that are known to have insecticidal properties. Best of all, they also concluded that the compounds were not toxic, meaning there are no safety concerns in using aloe-peel-based insecticides in crops.
The researchers still have to test how these aloe peel insecticides could work against agricultural pests. They hope that developing a natural pesticide could help farmers in areas where insects can be a major threat, including regions of Africa, the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, and the maize and millet fields in India. The researchers are also testing to see if the aloe vera peels also have anti-mosquito and anti-tick properties, which could eventually be used to develop a natural aloe vera insect repellant for consumer use.
This is an important discovery to help make aloe vera production and even other crop production more sustainable. If the researchers can develop this into a natural insecticide, it could help us move away from harmful pesticides and make farming less harmful to the environment. Furthermore, this might also be the beginning of what we can do with other plant peels and waste and how we can utilize them for other purposes instead of throwing them away.
ePlant Tree Tag is an AI tree health monitor technology that monitors the health and productivity of trees. It is a small, lightweight device that is attached to the trunk of a tree.
The device collects data on a tree’s environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture. It also collects data on the tree’s health, such as its growth rate and leaf water potential.
It is a new application of AI to monitor and protect the health of our ever-diminishing wild places. In the case of forests, not only do they store huge amounts of carbon, but they also provide a habitat for a diverse range of plants and animals. They also regulate the temperature of the planet and change the soil structure below the canopy, increasing water availability.
Simple Technology, New Application
Beyond the commercialized product being sold by ePlant Tree Tag, other types of AI tree health monitors will soon be available. Using common technology that is already available, more advanced versions of AI tree health monitors are being developed. Some of the technologies that will be used are simple, and some more complex, but the key is to have them be durable and long-lasting to allow longevity in the field with little maintenance.
For example, temperature sensors will use a thermistor, a type of resistor that changes its resistance depending on its temperature. The thermistor is placed in the tree’s environment, and its resistance is measured. The resistance is then converted to a temperature reading.
The humidity sensor would be a capacitive sensor, which is a type of sensor that changes its capacitance depending on the humidity of its environment. The sensor is placed in the tree’s environment, and its capacitance is measured. The capacitance is then converted to a humidity reading.
The soil moisture sensor is also a capacitance sensor but is instead placed in the soil around the tree. The sensor’s capacitance changes depending on the moisture content of the soil. This change in capacitance is then converted to a soil moisture reading.
The leaf water potential sensor is a pressure sensor that is placed in the leaves of the tree. The sensor measures the pressure of the water inside the leaves. This pressure is then converted to a leaf water potential reading.
The growth sensor is a laser sensor that measures the distance between the sensor and the tree’s trunk. The sensor is placed on the tree’s trunk, and its distance from the trunk is measured over time. This change in distance is then converted to a growth rate reading.
The data collected by an AI tree health monitor is transmitted to the cloud, where it can be accessed by users such as scientists, foresters or other parties interested in the long-term health of the forest. They can use this data to track the health and productivity of the forest. They can also use the data to identify potential problems with their trees and to take corrective action.
When deployed on a large scale in forests that may be suffering from the effects of climate change, an AI tree health monitor system would be able to provide scientists with big data that could then be used in an ai model to help plan mitigation strategies to cope with drought, increased local temperatures or other conditions that may affect the health of the forest such as forest fires.
Fire Risk
An AI tree health monitor would detect changes in the environment that could indicate a fire risk. For example, the monitor can detect changes in temperature, humidity, and soil moisture. This information can be used to predict the likelihood of a fire and to take preventive measures.
Because the tag can detect changes in the temperature and humidity of the air around the tree, in case of a fire, the unit would show a sudden increase in local temperature and then cease to function, indicating the precise location of a fire and early detection. This information can be used to track the progress of the fire and to identify areas where it has spread, but most importantly, provide early detection of a fire allowing firefighters to move in and extinguish it before it grows.
It can be used to recommend fire suppression strategies because it can detect changes in the environment that could indicate the effectiveness of different fire suppression strategies. This information can be used to choose the most effective strategy for suppressing a fire in a specific location or weather conditions.
The ePlant Tree Tag could be used to reduce the risk of fire in the first place. In a forest with a history of wildfires, an AI tree health monitor could be used to monitor the health of trees in high-risk areas. If the tags detect changes in the tree’s environment that suggest that a fire is imminent, firefighters could be dispatched to the area to take preventive measures.
In a forest that is prone to lightning strikes, for example, AI tree health monitors could be used to monitor the weather in specific locations and to alert authorities if there is a risk of a lightning strike. This information could be used to evacuate people and clear the area of flammable materials.
In a forest located near a residential area, AI tree health monitors could be used to monitor the movement of people and vehicles. If the tags detect an increase in activity in a high-risk area, this could be a sign that a fire is starting. This information could alert authorities and evacuate people from the area.
The ePlant Tree Tag and other AI tree health monitors like it are valuable tools for scientists, arborists, farmers, and other individuals who are responsible for the care of trees. It can help them to ensure that their trees are healthy, productive and safe.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Underwater World: Mapping Coral Reefs with AI
Understanding coral reefs’ intricate structure and biodiversity is paramount to their conservation and restoration. Traditional methods of mapping coral reefs can be laborious and limited by the challenges of underwater habitats. Enter machine learning, the cutting-edge technology that can revolutionize coral reef mapping.
Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from diverse sources such as satellite imagery, underwater cameras, and environmental sensors to create high-resolution maps of coral reefs with unprecedented accuracy and detail. These maps provide valuable insights into coral reefs’ health, distribution, and vulnerability, empowering marine scientists, policymakers, and conservation organizations to make informed decisions and prioritize conservation efforts.
Using AI to Protect Coral Reefs: Early Detection and Rapid Response
AI can also play a pivotal role in early detection and rapid response to environmental threats faced by coral reefs. Climate change can cause coral bleaching, disease outbreaks, and species composition shifts; detecting these threats early and responding promptly is critical for effective management.
Real-time data analysis using machine learning algorithms can detect environmental changes that may indicate the onset of stress or bleaching events. For instance, machine learning models can analyze sea surface temperature data, water quality parameters, and other environmental variables to identify areas where corals are at high risk of bleaching. This early warning system enables scientists and managers to take timely action, such as implementing restoration measures, reducing local stressors, or implementing temporary fishing bans to safeguard vulnerable coral populations.
AI can also predict the spread and impact of coral diseases, which can spread rapidly and devastate entire coral reef ecosystems. By analyzing patterns in disease outbreaks, machine learning algorithms can identify potential disease vectors, environmental factors that may promote disease transmission, and the genetic makeup of coral populations that may affect their susceptibility to diseases. This information can aid in developing effective disease management strategies, preventing the further spread of diseases on coral reefs.
Using AI to Help Restore Coral Reefs
Restoring degraded coral reefs is complex and daunting, but machine learning offers innovative and efficient solutions for effective strategies.
One promising application of machine learning in coral reef restoration is the development of predictive models for coral survival and growth. These models can analyze a wide range of factors, such as the type of coral, water quality, temperature, light, and nutrient levels, to predict the optimal conditions for coral survival and growth. This knowledge can inform restoration efforts, such as selecting suitable sites for coral planting, optimizing coral nurseries, and implementing targeted interventions to maximize the success of restoration projects.
Machine learning can also aid in developing sustainable coral reef management strategies. By analyzing data on fishing practices, tourism activities, and other human impacts on coral reefs, it can provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop effective conservation and management plans that ensure the long-term health and resilience of coral reef ecosystems.
The potential of machine learning in enhancing coral reef protection and restoration efforts is immense. From mapping coral reefs with unprecedented accuracy to early detection and rapid response to environmental threats, and from predicting coral survival and growth to informing sustainable management strategies, machine learning is a game-changer in the field of coral reef conservation. As we continue to harness the power of AI and machine learning, we can strive toward a brighter future for these invaluable and highly biodiverse parts of our planet.
Apple has unveiled plans to increase the use of recycled materials in its products, with a new target of using 100% recycled cobalt in all Apple-designed batteries by 2025.
The tech giant will also aim to use entirely recycled rare earth elements in magnets for its devices and 100% recycled tin soldering and gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards by the same year.
“Every day, Apple is innovating to make technology that enriches people’s lives, while protecting the planet we all share,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “From the recycled materials in our products, to the clean energy that powers our operations, our environmental work is integral to everything we make and to who we are. So we’ll keep pressing forward in the belief that great technology should be great for our users, and for the environment.”
Reducing Apple’s carbon footprint
The announcement is part of Apple’s broader efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly.
In 2022, the company significantly expanded its use of recycled metals, with over two-thirds of all aluminium, nearly three-quarters of all rare earth materials, and more than 95% of all tungsten in Apple products sourced from 100% recycled material.
Apple’s rapid progress in this area brings the company closer to its ultimate goal of making all products with only recycled and renewable materials and advances its aim to achieve carbon neutrality for every product by 2030.
“Our ambition to one day use 100% recycled and renewable materials in our products works hand in hand with Apple 2030: our goal to achieve carbon neutral products by 2030,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “We’re working toward both goals with urgency and advancing innovation across our entire industry in the process.”
If Apple is able to achieve this goal, it will show major steps towards achieving a more sustainable future for the company.
Though ridding the atmosphere of carbon dioxide is one of the main battles in the fight against climate change, one Italian start-up has found a way to turn CO₂ into a weapon against global warming.
On Wednesday, Energy Dome launched its first CO₂ battery facility in Sardinia and entered the commercial scaling phase.
The company has been developing an emission-free storage method that stores power generated from the sun and wind. CO₂ plays a useful role in the process as it has properties that can help to store electricity from renewable energy sources when it is converted from gas to liquid.
The storage technology could prove to be a game changer in the way solar and wind power are used, as they are variable energies that are only generated when there is sunshine or wind.
“The issue with renewable energy is that those sources of energy are very clean, but they are also intermittent and cannot be dispatched,” Energy Dome founder and CEO Claudio Spadacini told Euronews Next.
“The missing technology to make renewable energy dispatchable 24/7 is a technology which is able to store solar when the sun shines and when the wind blows and can deliver (energy) back to the grid when the sun doesn’t shine”.
How does it work?
This method, which has never been used before, stores energy using pressure and heat.
The process begins by storing CO₂ gas, secured from commercial vendors, in a big sealed dome. When energy is fed into the system, it pushes the gas through a compressor to condense it into liquid, while the heat from this compression is captured and stored to be used again later.
When it is time to discharge the energy, the heat that was stored is used to evaporate the liquid CO₂ again, and its expansion – as it turns into gas and returns to the dome – drives a turbine that generates energy.
Though it sounds complicated, the method only requires steel, CO₂ and water, and the closed-loop system generates no emissions.
“Ironically, we use CO₂ to make our system work. It is just the fuel which we use to make our technology work,” Spadacini said, adding that it’s only needed to kick-start the system, which is designed to last around 30 years.
“Our system is fully closed, we have no emissions in the atmosphere. It’s just a black box which is able to charge with the surplus electricity when there is an abundance [of it]”.
To generate and dispatch electricity in times of demand, the same liquid CO₂ is heated up and converted back into a gas that powers a turbine, which generates power in a closed thermodynamic system.
“The CO₂ battery is fully sustainable and fully recyclable,” Spadacini said.
“We just use steel to produce the CO₂ battery and we use water only once to fill our water tank. We do not use water during the operation of the CO₂ battery and we just use a small amount of CO₂ to charge the battery at the beginning without any consumption of CO₂ during the operation”.
No rare minerals required
The other advantage of this technology is that it does not rely on lithium-ion batteries, which are often used for energy storage. The process also does not use any rare earth minerals such as cobalt.
“To be independent of minerals and rare material is a big advantage also from the point of view of energy security, but also in terms of geopolitical stability,” said Spadacini.
“Ironically, we use CO₂ to make our system work,” said Energy Dome’s CEO.Mignogna Andrea/Mignogna Andrea, Energy Dome
The founder said Energy Dome’s first full-scale storage plants should cost just under $200 (€180) per kilowatt-hour, which is also about half the price of a lithium-ion energy storage system.
The island of Sardinia is the perfect home for the 20MW-200MWh plant with an abundance of sunshine and wind. The facility also juxtaposes two coal-fired power plants on the island, which are being phased out.
“The demonstration of solar power storage in a sustainable way in that place can [allow] Sardinia to be the first fully green island in Europe,” said Spadacini.
The company is now getting ready to deploy its first full-scale plant by the end of next year.
In his May Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke about the impact of soaring energy prices on Singapore and its people
The increase in electricity prices is due to a confluence of factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Singapore’s lack of alternatives for electricity, and rising demand for electricity as the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic
With electricity costs expected to continue rising for at least a year, Singapore’s move towards greener energy sources has become more important than ever, some experts said
Solar panel sellers said they have seen an increase in enquiries as households look to generate their own electricity instead
Given the limitations on tapping solar energy especially among HDB dwellers, what are other ways for households to not only do their part for the environment but also go easy on their wallets?
SINGAPORE — Whenever the sun is blazing, Mr Arun Murthy gets excited, as a mobile application on his phone would show that his house is generating more electricity than it is using.
In mid-March, he installed 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah.
Since then, the family’s monthly electricity bill has dropped from about S$1,200 to about S$370. Apart from meeting some of the house’s energy needs, the solar panels also generate excess electricity during the day that is sold back to Singapore’s power grid system operated by SP Group.
“Every month, we get a cheque from SP Group for selling our excess electricity, which we can use to offset our electricity bill from a private retailer… We have reduced our dependency on the grid by about 70 per cent,” said the 54-year-old chief executive officer of cybersecurity firm Invisiron.
As the family does not have a battery system to store excess electricity generated, the solar panels only fuel the house’s electricity needs when the sun is out in the day. On rainy days and at night, the home then relies on the national energy grid.
While installing the solar panels has meant lower electricity bills for the family, Mr Murthy said that the “primary reason” for doing so was to do his part for the environment.
Installing the S$54,000 solar panels on his roof also means less reliance on natural gas — regarded as the cleanest form of fossil fuel and is used to generate 95 per cent of Singapore’s electricity supply, but whose prices have skyrocketed recently amid a global energy crunch.
Since Mr Arun Murthy installed solar panels on the roof of his home, the family’s monthly electricity bill has dropped from about S$1,200 to about S$370.
Singapore’s electricity tariffs for April 1 to June 30 increased from the preceding quarter by around 9.8 per cent to S$0.27 per kWh, excluding Goods and Services Tax.
Earlier this month, in his May Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke about the soaring energy prices, which will set the country back by about S$8 billion a year, as he warned that Singapore must be prepared for more economic challenges ahead.
The increase in electricity prices is due to a confluence of factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Singapore’s lack of alternatives for electricity and rising demand for electricity as the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, experts told TODAY.
And with electricity costs expected to continue rising for at least a year, Singapore’s move towards greener energy sources has become more important than ever, some of the experts added.
Indeed, by reducing electricity consumption or turning to renewable energy, households now can not only do their part to save the Earth — but also go easy on their wallets
The increase in electricity costs during the past few months is a good opportunity for the Government to accelerate the adoption of green energy.
Dr Chua Yeow Hwee from the Nanyang Technological University’s economics division
Factors driving the surge in electricity prices
One reason for the rising electricity tariffs for the past two years is that 95 percent of electricity in Singapore is generated by natural gas, a byproduct of crude oil, said Associate Professor Chang Young Ho, head of the business and management minor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Because it is a byproduct, the price of natural gas is indexed to the price of crude oil. Hence, recent spikes in oil prices have caused energy prices to similarly jump.
He also noted that while the cost breakdown of generating electricity is not publicly available, industry experts have estimated that 60 to 70 percent of the total cost is related to fuel costs.
By reducing electricity consumption or turning to renewable energy, households now can not only do their part to save the Earth — but also go easy on their wallets.
“The recovery from Covid-19 has increased demand for oil, such as for use by industries, commercial and transport, so the price of oil increased,” said Assoc Prof Chang.
“The Ukraine-Russia war affected production and supply of oil (so) it also increased oil prices… As long as the war continues, the price is expected to increase,” he added.
Dr David Broadstock, a senior research fellow and the head of the Energy Economics Division at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Energy Studies Institute, said the decision by Europe and other countries to stop purchasing natural gas from Russia has forced them to search for new gas suppliers.
“At the same time, there are limits to how much gas supply chains can scale up without major new infrastructure development, which would also take some years to provide.
“This is a perfect recipe for natural price increases for natural gas, as those countries which are willing and able to pay higher prices may choose to do so to ensure a secure energy supply,” said Dr Broadstock.
He also noted that China’s demand for natural gas has been consistently growing as it searches for a cleaner fuel option as compared to coal. This is especially so during the winter season, which has created long-term pressure on markets.
While all these have resulted in the rise of oil and energy prices, Dr Broadstock said that key energy commodity prices have, to some extent, stabilised.
He added that the Energy Market Authority (EMA) had implemented mechanisms following local power market disruptions in 2021, which will help Singapore reach stable prices faster.
This would take about a year, other experts including Assoc Prof Chang estimated.
On April 4, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng spoke in Parliament about these mechanisms, which include a standby liquefied natural gas facility and requirements imposed on power generation companies to “bolster existing stockpiles and provide additional layers of fuel security to cope with the short-term shocks to global gas supply”.
They were introduced after “upstream production issues in Indonesia’s West Natuna gas field and gas pressure issues from South Sumatra in the fourth quarter of 2021 caused disruptions to our piped natural gas supplies,” said Dr Tan, who is also Manpower Minister.
“As a result, some companies had to purchase more liquefied natural gas at elevated global gas prices to make up for the drop in piped natural gas supplies.”
EMA has also modified market rules, allowing the agency to direct power generation companies to use gas from its standby facility, allowing the authority to manage the cost impact on consumers.
“These measures have ensured that we have sufficient fuel and electricity supply and stabilised the uniform Singapore energy price,” said Dr Tan.
However, experts said that the prices and impact on supply reinforce the need for Singapore to diversify its energy sources and improve its local production — which currently makes up just 5 per cent of the country’s energy supply.
Dr Chua Yeow Hwee from the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) economics division said: “The increase in electricity costs during the past few months is a good opportunity for the Government to accelerate the adoption of green energy.”
Dr Broadstock added: “The more power that can be produced locally, the more secure and predictable energy costs will become.
“However, there are limits to just how much solar energy can be deployed in Singapore. While more investment into solar will be very welcome, Singapore will inevitably need to explore additional energy resources.”
Dr Broadstock referred to recommendations made by a committee commissioned by EMA on March 22, which include importing renewable energy from verified resources — such as wind, large-scale solar and hydropower — which are abundant in other countries.
Viability of solar energy for households
Some households looking to cut their electricity bills without changing too much of their lifestyles can turn to generate their own electricity via solar power, which is the main renewable energy option here.
Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, executive director of NTU’s Energy Research Institute, noted that solar panel technology has advanced over the years, reaching efficiencies of between 20 to 22 percent. This efficiency refers to the amount of electricity generated from solar energy that falls on the panel.
“Efficiencies used to be around 15 percent a decade ago, and we have seen a 30 percent improvement… it definitely makes sense from both sustainability and cost perspectives,” said Prof Mhaisalkar.
He noted that a barrier to getting these panels installed is the upfront cost, but solar leasing and favorable financing options have made installation a compelling value proposition.
Under solar leasing, a company pays for and installs a solar system from which homeowners can buy electricity.
Solar panel installation companies told TODAY that they have seen increased interest in their services this year, with more homes looking to do their part for the environment while saving money.
Mr Satish Prasath, founder and director of PMCE (Global), said his company used to receive about one inquiry a day for its residential services when it first started in December 2017, but that has increased to three queries daily this year.
The company has since outfitted 300 residential homes with solar panels. On average, households spend between S$18,000 and S$22,000, and the average home installs 30 panels. This would equate to about S$300 to S$400 saved a month, Mr Prasath estimated.
“We’ve installed panels in about 50 homes (so far) this year… people are concerned about the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war so they are looking for long-term solutions,” he said. His company had put up panels in about 95 homes for the whole of last year.
The panels have a warranty of 25 to 30 years, so homeowners stand to profit from installing them, he added.
The (solar) energy generated is often more than the household consumption, so when they sell to the grid, some of our customers even get negative utility bills each month because they’re owed money.
Mr Benedict Goh, chief investment officer of renewable energy firm UTICA
Mr Benedict Goh, a chief investment officer of UTICA, said another draw of solar panels today is the increased efficiency and return on investment.
“When we started selling goods related to solar panels in 2004, costs were much higher and the return on investment was around 10 to 15 years… people purchased to show off new technology, or because they wanted to go green,” he said.
“But now, it’s more efficient and costs (for the solar panels) have dropped by half of what they were in early 2010.”
Mr Goh said his company has done “hundreds” of installations, and inquiries for landed properties have increased by 30 percent in the past two to three years.
Solar panel installation companies told TODAY that they have seen increased interest in their services this year, with more homes looking to do their part for the environment while saving money.
“The energy generated is often more than the household consumption, so when they sell to the grid, some of our customers even get negative utility bills each month because they’re owed money,” he said, adding it can save customers between 40 and 80 percent of their monthly consumption bills.
Mr Christophe Inglin, co-founder and managing director of Energetix, added that residents stand to get a return on investment within four to six years, although that time frame is likely to be shorter as electricity prices increase.
Energetix focuses on installing solar panels for commercial projects, with residential installations making up less than 5 percent of its volume of sales. However, the company has also seen a spike in enquiries from homeowners.
While it would typically receive around two queries a month two years ago, the company now gets around six a week — mostly through referrals.
Mr Inglin declined to share the average number of panels installed but estimates a terrace house generates 10 to 15 kilowatt peak (kWp) a day, 15 to 25 kWp for semi-detached homes, and 20 to 60 kWp for bungalows.
However, while solar energy may provide future cost-savings, it has its own limitations.
For one, households still need to rely on electricity from natural gas as solar panels generate electricity only during the day. Dr Broadstock noted that many households’ demand for electricity increases at night — when people are back from work.
And while they can combine solar power with chargeable batteries, Dr Broadstock said battery technologies can be unsafe, which makes their use in residential and high-density urban environments like Singapore “challenging”.
The installation of solar panels is also subject to a building’s structural limitations, be it for a landed property or a HDB flat.
According to the Building Construction Authority’s (BCA) handbook for solar photovoltaic systems, there are constraints whereby standard development control guidelines apply — for example, if solar panels are to be installed on the rooftop of an attic, attic guidelines would apply.
Apart from possibly requiring an electrical installation license, BCA said in its handbook that existing buildings may require a professional structural engineer to carry out an inspection of the roof structure and calculate the structural loading.
“If the roof is unable to withstand the loading of the solar photovoltaic system, structural plans will need to be submitted to BCA for approval before a building permit can be issued for commencement of installation works,” the authority said.
It also noted that the solar panels are exposed to the threat of lightning strikes and hence, require proper lightning protection.
The installation of solar panels is also subject to a building’s structural limitations, be it for a landed property or a HDB flat.
LANDED PROPERTIES
For landed properties, the existing roof’s material and the angle it is it can make it expensive, unsafe and inefficient to install solar panels.
Mr Prasath said: “About 30 to 40 percent of homes that enquire are unable to install the panels.
“Some roofs have tiles that are glued directly to it, so it can become unsafe for us to clear up some tiles and place our brackets for solar panels on top. It may compromise the roof’s integrity.”
He added that roofs which are at a 45 degree angle or have protruding windows would not be suitable for solar panels.
CONDOMINIUMS
For condominiums, homeowners seeking to install solar panels will need to get approval from their management committees — commonly known as Management Corporation Strata Title, or MCSTs — and the authorities, and the green light is given on a case-by-case basis depending on various factors.
Both Mr Prasath and Mr Goh said that their companies have received inquiries from condominium homeowners interested in installing solar panels, but faced difficulties in getting the necessary approvals.
Condominium homeowners interviewed said that even if they manage to get the green light from their MCSTs to install solar panels,they are unsure if authorities require additional approvals.
Approvals aside, cost savings for condominium owners are also limited because they are ineligible to sell excess electricity to the national grid.
Their apartments also need to be on the top floors with roof access belonging to them, and where there is enough sunlight to generate electricity.
Mr Prasath added that another obstacle is that condominiums often use submeters, which allows condominium homeowners to track their individual consumption.
“Solar panel systems require testing and commissioning by SP Group before they can be connected to the grid, which (SP Group) only does for buildings connected to master meters such as (landed homes) and private-owned industrial buildings,” he said.
SP Group did not reply to TODAY’s queries.
HDB FLATS
For HDB flat homeowners, their options are further limited as solar panels not only take up space, but also require direct sunlight to generate a significant amount of electricity for home usage.
In 2020, a HDB resident made the news when he put up solar panels — reportedly weighing 10kg to 20kg — on top of a clothes-drying rack and an air-conditioner.
HDB told the media then that said such installations outside flats are not allowed as they may affect the structural integrity of the building, and can pose a risk to the public. It also reiterated that installations outside of a flat are prohibited unless approved by the town council.
Dr Chua from NTU’s division of economics noted that households on high floors can still tap solar energy in a limited fashion, such as hanging small solar panels at their windows and using them to power their mobile phones or laptops.
Smaller solar power generators are also readily available in the market. Such generators can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.
Mr Goh from UTICA, which sells such products, said they are commonly bought by hikers and campers looking to tap solar energy while outdoors. Some residents have also bought these generators to place in their balconies to power their mobility devices and other gadgets at home.
As part of a Government initiative to harness solar energy, HDB has to date installed solar panels on about 2,700 blocks and plans to reach 8,400 blocks in the next “two to three years”. In total, this will produce enough electricity to power 95,000 four-room flats.
On how these panels will benefit residents, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said in a written parliamentary reply on Jan 10 that the energy generated is “first used to power common services in HDB estates, such as lifts and lights”, and any excess solar energy will be channeled to the national grid.
“Town Councils managing these HDB blocks will enter into a service agreement with the solar vendor to pay for the solar energy consumed, at a preferential rate not higher than the retail electricity tariff rate,” MND added. “This may help the Town Councils in mitigating the rising cost of energy.”
How to save on electricity bills
For now, there remain significant limitations as to how individual households can turn to renewable energy as an alternative power source.
Nevertheless, consumers can still take matters into their own hands, in terms of reducing their electricity consumption.
For example, Ms Valerie Khoo, a 27-year-old wealth management consultant, said she does not use a fan or air-conditioner on cooler days but instead, leaves her windows open at night while she sleeps.
“With the (electricity) price increase, we’ve been a bit more conscious and my mom nags at us more about not using the air conditioner unless its really too hot,” she said.
Her family of four spends about S$120 a month on electricity for their five-room flat. Apart from ensuring they turn off the lights when not in use, they also chose a two-tick refrigerator — the highest energy rating available for her nearly 650 litre fridge when it was bought in 2018.
Apart from her parents and younger brother, Ms Khoo lives with the family’s two dogs. The food for her dogs takes up half the space in the freezer, she said.
The ticks system by the National Environment Agency (NEA) rates the energy efficiency of household appliances, with five ticks being the most efficient, and one tick being the least efficient. This is displayed on the energy label, which also shows consumers the annual energy cost of the appliance.
Ms Valerie Khoo does not use a fan or air-conditioner on cooler days but instead, leaves her windows open at night while she sleeps.
Ms Khoo said that while the family is keen to save electricity, the cost of big-ticket items has to justify the long-term savings, and be within their means, before they decide to buy a pricier appliance with a higher energy saving rating.
Like some other consumers whom TODAY spoke to, Ms Khoo said her electricity-saving habits have been shaped over the years, motivated by a desire to not just reduce her electricity bill but also to reduce her carbon footprint.
By using energy-efficient appliances and adopting good energy consumption habits, households will enjoy lower utility bills whilst contributing towards climate action.
National Environment Agency
Responding to TODAY’s queries, NEA noted that small habits can help reduce electricity costs — for example, simply using a fan instead of an air-conditioner can save households around S$384 a year based on electricity tariffs of S$0.26 per kWh.
“Based on an earlier household energy consumption survey conducted by NEA, cost-savings is the key motivating factor that households consider when deciding on the purchase of more energy-efficient appliances,” the agency said.
“By using energy-efficient appliances and adopting good energy consumption habits, households will enjoy lower utility bills whilst contributing towards climate action.”
To help inform consumers’ purchasing decisions, NEA said they can use its online Life Cycle Cost Calculator to check yearly energy costs and compare these with upfront costs for electrical appliances.
NEA also said its “enforcement checks” at retail outlets have shown that there are appliances with higher ticks that are not more expensive than those with lower ticks.
“With rising electricity prices, the higher cost of a more energy-efficient appliance can be quickly recouped and the owner saves even more over the appliance’s lifespan,” it said.
Under the government’s Climate Friendly Households Programme, one-, two- and three-room HDB households can register for S$225 worth of e-vouchers to offset the purchase price of resource-efficient appliances.
For example, households may get a S$150 e-voucher for the purchase of an energy-efficient refrigerator, or a S$25 e-voucher for LED lights.
Nevertheless, consumers can do more beyond opting for appliances that are more energy-efficient, experts said.
Mr Tan Tsiat Siong, lecturer at SUSS’ School of Business, said households should not just replace damaged appliances with more energy-efficient ones but do so with their older appliances as well.
Amid higher electricity prices, energy-efficient appliances can bring about long-term savings, Mr Tan reiterated.
He added that the simple actions of turning off switches when not in use, not leaving chargers on when devices are fully charged, and unplugging cords when not in use, can help reduce electricity consumption.
Likewise, Prof Mhaisalkar from NTU’s Energy Research Institute said homeowners can minimise energy losses through simple steps such as by ensuring their windows are sealed well when using an air conditioner or relying on natural ventilation instead.
Dr Broadstock from NUS’ Energy Studies Institute suggested setting the timer on appliances such as water heaters to help eliminate unnecessary energy consumption.
Households should also watch out for appliances with standby modes, which he dubs as “electricity vampires”.
“These constantly ‘suck’ a little energy from the socket even when on standby, hence the name ‘vampire’. Turning these off when they are not being used will help to reduce some power consumption,” he said.
He added that when it comes to saving electricity, a “reasonable guiding principle” is to look for options to reduce energy consumption without reducing quality of life and even gaining “co-benefits” in ideal situations.
“For example… take an extra 15 minutes to walk around your community after dinner, reducing the energy used at home while getting health co-benefits,” said Dr Broadstock.
Sir David Attenborough has been named a Champion of the Earth by the UN’s Environment Programme.
The prestigious award recognises the 95-year-old’s commitment to telling stories about the natural world and climate change.
Accepting the award, Sir David said the world must take action now to protect nature and the planet.
His celebrated documentaries include The Green Planet and A Plastic Ocean.
Sir David said that environmental success stories should give us hope that change is possible.
“Fifty years ago, whales were on the very edge of extinction worldwide. Then people got together and now there are more whales in the sea than any living human being has ever seen,” he suggested.
“We know what the problems are and we know how to solve them. All we lack is unified action.”
UNEP Executive Director Inger Anderson said that the UN chose to recognise Sir David because of his devotion to broadcasting the natural world.
“If we stand a chance of averting climate and biodiversity breakdowns and cleaning up polluted ecosystems, it’s because millions of us fell in love with the planet that he captured on film and writing, in his voice,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director.
Sir David began working on natural history programmes in the 1950s, and his programmes filmed in far-flung parts of the world became immensely popular. In the past four years, his warnings about the damage that climate change is causing the planet and humans have become more stark.
Sir David is particularly popular with children and teenagers worried about climate change. Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has said that meeting the broadcaster was “indescribable” and that everyone should strive to be like him.
Asked about Sir David, children visiting the London aquarium told BBC News they love watching him on TV and even have books about him.
“He does loads of things to support our planet and the animals. On his show, he tells us the natural world might be in danger if we don’t make a difference,” explains 10-year-old Raya.
She worries about the planet, saying she’s learned that “we need to stop using plastic, start using more electric cars, and we should plant more trees instead of cutting them down.”
Benjamin, 13, said watching Sir David’s programmes has inspired him to become a marine biologist. But they’ve also taught him about the danger we face from climate change and biodiversity loss.
“I want to be able to have a family and I want them to live a nice world. But if we start trying very hard, we can save the natural world,” he explained.
Sir David’s emphasis on success stories like bringing back whales from the point of extinction is important, Prof Rick Stafford, marine biologist at Bournemouth university, told BBC News.
“He really brought climate change and biodiversity loss to the forefront. Optimism is important but the major problems to be solved are not scientific – they are economic and political,” he explained.
Gardens by the Bay is the first destination in Singapore to be included in the EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations Programme, which is accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), said EarthCheck and Gardens by the Bay in a joint statement on Wednesday (April 13).
The programme, which started in 2003, works with tourism destinations to facilitate and foster responsible environmental and social planning and management practices.
A total of 27 destinations are included in the programme, among which are Glasgow, Nuuk in Greenland, and two places in Australia: the Whitsunday Region near the Great Barrier Reef and Rottnest Island.
EarthCheck was created in 1987 as a scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.
The programme provides operators with a holistic framework to benchmark and certify their environmental and social performance, in an effort to address some of the challenges facing the planet such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
Another similar benchmarking programme is by Green Destinations, a non-profit organisation for sustainable destination development and recognition based in the Netherlands supporting more than 200 destinations.
The Green Destinations Certification Committee supervises certification and benchmark awards based on the GSTC-recognised Green Destinations standard and other standards.
It helps destination managers and stakeholders enhance the destination’s sustainability and tourism quality.
“As we mark the 10th anniversary of Gardens by the Bay this year, we are renewing our commitment to being part of Singapore’s sustainability story. We aim to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism by benchmarking against GSTC-recognised international standards through the EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations Programme,” said Mr Felix Loh, chief executive officer of Gardens by the Bay.
The EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations Programme is in line with Gardens by the Bay’s sustainability road map, which was recently developed based on the ESG (environment, social and corporate governance) model to drive the destination’s sustainability efforts in the future.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) is stepping up a gear to nudge people to speed up their recycling pace, working with public waste collectors to distribute a recycling bin to each household in 2022.
The hope is that “these bins will make it more convenient for Singaporeans to store recyclables in their homes before bringing them down to the recycling bins in their areas”, said Mr Desmond Tan, Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, on Friday (Jan 14).
A community wall mural at the launch of the Recycle Right 2022 campaign on Jan 14, 2022. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
According to 2020’s national recycling data from NEA , the domestic recycling rate stands at 13 per cent – a 10-year low – though the latest survey by the agency in 2021 found that three in five Singaporean households recycle.
The domestic recycling rate is the amount of household waste recycled as a proportion of total household waste.
The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint has set the goal of arriving at a 30 per cent domestic recycling rate by 2030.
Contamination remains the greatest contributor to the country’s low domestic recycling rate.
About 40 per cent of all items placed in the recycling bins cannot be repurposed due to food and waste leakage or they are simply non-recyclable.
Common misconceptions still rule, with half of all Singaporeans thinking that objects like soft toys and styrofoam are suitable for recycling.
Also, Singaporeans frequently do not wash their recyclables before placing them into the bin. This contaminates the other items inside and makes them unsuitable for repurposing.
To better educate the public on the objects that can be placed in the bins, NEA launched the Recycle Right 2022 campaign on Friday.
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and NEA have placed refreshed labels on all blue recycling bins and chutes to remind households to check the items before disposing of them.
The campaign aims to raise awareness by providing educational material through schools, and introducing a mascot called Bloobin, which can be viewed with an augmented reality filter made by @cleanandgreensg on Instagram.
In addition to NEA’s campaign, Mr Tan hopes that the recycling bins – scheduled to arrive in households later this year – will “give Singaporeans a place to organise their recyclables, clean them properly, before they bring them down to be binned”.
Madam Irene Soh, 65, a human resource executive, supports the initiative, saying that it will “definitely make me more conscious about recycling and I will do it more when I can”.
