The United Nations (UN) estimates that two out of three people will live in a city by 2030, with megacities of 10 million inhabitants or more located primarily in Asia.
Driven by rapid growth and urbanization, Asian megacities are lifting millions out of poverty. However, city planners face a whole host of challenges to make such large cities liveable. From modern infrastructure, sanitation, climate change, to environmental and social sustainability, it’s clear that cities today face a unique mandate.
URBANISATION’S DILEMMA
Globally, cities account for about 70 per cent of carbon emissions, and this poor environmental record is already taking its toll. Scientists caution that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, we will pass the threshold when global warming becomes catastrophic and irreversible.
Here in Singapore, our dependence on fuel imports for its economic survival means energy efficiency represents a crucial component of nation building.
With environmental pressures mounting, Singapore has adopted ambitious green goals, including this year’s plan for the public sector to cut electricity consumption by more than 15 per cent and water consumption by more than 5 per cent by 2020.
It is imperative for cities to be smarter in their approaches to energy water supply and waste water management, empowering communities and industries to be self-sufficient in a way that consumes the least resources. For many, this vision is based on creating “smart cities”, which means harnessing digital technology, Big Data, and intelligent products and networks to help cities distribute resources efficiently and solve large-scale environmental challenges.
This task cannot be done alone, but instead calls for the collaboration of businesses, citizens and governments.
Copenhagen is a great example of this approach, achieving the status of being the world’s most liveable city. It has done this by working with businesses and organisations to prepare for climate change such as building public spaces which include run-off areas for excess water, and implementing an innovative cooling system that saves 70 per cent of the energy compared to traditional air-conditioning. Copenhagen has reduced carbon emissions by 50 per cent since 1995.
Businesses can also work with the government to set standards and push for policy changes to adopt more sustainable approaches. For example, Grundfos has been actively working with the Singapore Green Building Council over the years to expand the use of intelligent and efficient pumps, and set industry certification standards such as the Green Mark for high efficiency.
TAKING THE PRESSURES OFF
The smart city vision has led industries such as the pump manufacturing industry to develop smart solutions to play a part towards building resilient cities. Pumps play a vital role in the transportation and treatment of water in cities today, especially with demand for clean and safe drinking water increasing all over the world.
With pumps responsible for a staggering 10 percent of global electricity consumption, the pump industry is an obvious target for reducing energy consumption through higher efficiency motors and built-in intelligence.
One such solution is a water distribution system driven by demand, an intelligent water management pumping solution which automatically adjusts to water flow through the use of remote sensors, and reduces excessive pressure in the water pipes. This in turn limits water leakages and losses, minimising cost and energy.
To date, this demand-driven distribution system has helped countless cities address this issue, such as tackling extensive leakage issues for a water authority in Malaysia while ensuring minimal disruption to citizens. It has also helped reduce water loss for the city of Ploiesti, Romania, by 150,000 cubic meters of water per year.
Solar power is another technology becoming more popular in cities; it is especially useful for remote area where electricity may not be available or is unstable for irrigation and drinking water pumps. More countries are now offering subsidies and provisions for consumers willing to invest in solar energy for their domestic needs.
SMART CITY VISION
Innovation and digitalisation are well underway in driving smart cities.
The smart city vision already matches the aspirations of the next generation who are looking to have an even more positive impact than the generations before them.
Collaboration with local institutions could include researching and test-bedding innovation solutions in smart water treatment and building energy efficiency fields.
As smart cities around the world become a reality, and Singapore gears up to become the world’s first Smart Nation, it is imperative for city leaders, businesses and universities to work in close collaboration in a race to provide for more with less, or risk being left behind.
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Source: The Business Times, 27 July 2017