We
have been taught by world leaders and stakeholders on how to be environmentally
friendly.
We
know the choices we can make.
We
know such sacrifices are for the future of mankind.
But
are we doing enough?
Our
world is littered with cities that ‘excels’ in energy and resource consumption.
These concrete jungles will forever more remain on our landscapes as either standing
structures or rubble (Fig. 1). Even with a green lifestyle, can mankind truly erase the
stigma of environmental degradation from our very homes?
Fig. 1 Modern concrete jungles (source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJGyclKVY2O9cf12f_lqCXZl3AH9Id7n-bATpYlZUgJbT8LSwODXzBcXLM8tNRntTmfDUpbrw20hIrkNkQgyyND3-L8yHMUjJld26pSqK7_C_klLAIGolue-ft1x07phv2o_O8NxWH0vZ/s1600/concrete+jungle.jpg)
There
is perhaps hope with the innovation of green homes (Fig. 2). A green home is designed to
be environmentally-friendly and sustainable as it provides better energy and
resource conservation while using materials derived with environmentally
friendly means (Roberts, 2003).
Fig. 2 Modern green homes
(sources: http://greentechadvocates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/margarido_ext3.jpg,
(sources: http://greentechadvocates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/margarido_ext3.jpg,
One
such green home stands out from the rest, and that is...
The Earthship!
Made by EarthshipBiotecture, this home is completely self-sufficient. It harnesses energy from the sun and wind. Water is mainly provided by rain and greywater. Food are also home-grown (Video 1) (Reynolds, 2014).
The Earthship!
Made by EarthshipBiotecture, this home is completely self-sufficient. It harnesses energy from the sun and wind. Water is mainly provided by rain and greywater. Food are also home-grown (Video 1) (Reynolds, 2014).
Video 1: Earthships
Recyclable materials are also used to make Earthships, like tyres and bottles. By using 15,000
tyres to make Earthships while the UK is burning 40 million old tyres per annum,
Earthship can provide an alternative to our saily disposal patterns by advocating recycling of usable materials.
Unfortunately,
this architecture is impossible for Singapore. With land constraints, we simply
cannot welcome Earthships. This is a
pretty sad, as Singapore is often a role model to the world
in more ways than one, and we have to accept the fact that Singapore cannot become one in this area.
However, while we may leave such fancy
developments to larger countries, Singapore can perhaps pursue development of
green buildings that are multi-storeyed to suit our needs. Like vertical farms!
If there’s a will, there will always be a way for everyone to play their part in sustainable living.
If there’s a will, there will always be a way for everyone to play their part in sustainable living.
And this is most probably my last post on Change-Up. With that, I hope that I have brought you on a short journey of enlightenment on sustainable living, and that you may now continue your part in preserving our future.
Godspeed everyone.
Literature Cited
Reynolds, M.
(2014, September 11). Earthship systems. Retrieved from Earthship
biotecture: http://earthship.com/Systems/
Roberts, J.
(2003). Good Green Homes. Layton, Utah, U.S.A.: Gibbs Smith.
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