Sustainable design

With the aid of National Environmental Agency (NEA), more hawker centres are sustainably designed and renovated to maximise natural ventilation and day light. This would not only conserve energy usage, hawker operators can also save on electricity bills. Some of the hawker centres with such sustainable design include Tanglin Halt Food centre in Commonwealth Drive, and Block 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Hawker centre.

Tanglin Halt Food centre

(Source: http://www.soshiok.com/article/6543)

Importance of sustainable design

I am sure many will not dispute the claim that one of Singaporeans’ favourite activities is eating. Indeed, Singapore’s obsession with eating has led to the sprouting of many 24 hours hawker centres and eateries. Unfortunately, our favorite activity has also led to an increase in food waste, water usage, energy consumption. Such environmental sustainable design serves to reduce the environmental impact of Singaporeans’ favourite activity.

Suggestions

One – Hawkers could use more environmental friendly takeaway containers instead of Styrofoam or plastic boxes which cannot be decomposed easily. Two – The hawkers could make more greener technology choices like installing solar panels and energy saving light bulbs. However, the monetary cost of the above suggestions may deter some hawkers. Perhaps, government grants and subsidies could overcome the monetary barrier.