Letter of Transmittal - Technical Report

Blk 53 Tampines Ave 1

The Tropica

#10-04, Singapore 529772

15 October 2015

                                                                                                                               

Brad Franklin Blackstone

Senior Lecturer

SIT@Dover

10 Dover Drive

Singapore 138683

Dear Mr Blackstone,

Re: Proposal for implementation of solar thermal water heaters in SIT @ Dover

We are pleased to be able to present the following proposal as per your request on the 30^th of September, 2015. This report has been constructed with the intention of aiding SIT to become a model and leading institution of green technology by using solar thermal water heaters to reduce electricity consumption and to achieve green mark certification.

The report consists of in depth research, providing concrete details of problems and solutions pertaining to our current energy systems in SIT @ Dover. In addition, the methods and benefits of utilizing solar heat harvesting technology will be revealed.

We would like to thank you for spending the time to read our proposal. We hope that you would kindly consider our proposal in implementing solar heat harvesting technology in SIT @ Dover to expand our potential in harvesting free and clean energy.

Thank you

Yours Sincerely,

Soh En Zhi Nathaniel                                                                                                               

[Signature]

On behalf of Green Global Group:

Mr. Marcus Neo

Ms. Oh Yan Yan

Personal Statement - Technical Report

During my studies, I have observed that many students leave school at night due to their club activities. It has come to my understanding that SIT can provide better facilities to cater to the needs of their students. I have a vision to improve the quality of life of students in SIT, and inculcate green thinking within them. I also believe that sustainable systems are required for Singapore and the implementation of solar thermal water heaters will collectively help with our current global warming issues.

Executive Summary - Technical Report

Currently in Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), the showering facilities are powered by conventional water heater. Conventional water heater is an old technology, and it is not efficient. As such, the team is interested in sourcing for a better alternative in place for the conventional water heater. Solar thermal water heater is the better alternative. The group did extensive research regarding this technology, and calculated the potential savings SIT could benefit from by implementing this system into the school. Hence, we propose the implementation of solar thermal water heater in SIT, so that SIT could be able to reduce its electrical bill, and the students from SIT will be able to appreciate a ‘clean and green’ technology in their school.

Critical Reflection - My thoughts on the Effective Communication module - Edited

The module "Effective Communication" has moulded me into a more knowledgeable person. However, I was skeptical about another language module as I had a few similar modules during my study in Temasek Polytechnic. I vividly recall the first lesson where I did not understand the meaning of paraphrase. I knew then, that I needed to broaden my command of English speaking and writing. My motivation was my goal to score an ‘A’ grade for all my modules. I was taught by my parents that my attitude would determine my altitude, thus I developed a passion for learning. Furthermore, my passion of learning was enhanced through my experience in the "Effective Communication" module.

In the module, I went through a transition of being passive to being spontaneous. The lessons the lessons conducted were very engaging. Brad was constantly urging us to share our knowledge and experience with the class. With that said, we were required to create a blog where our assignments and reflections would be posted at. Brad had created an open channel for all of his students to share information. Through the blog post, I had the opportunity to provide constructive feedback to my peers. In addition, this provides another perspective towards one’s work.

I was comfortable providing and receiving feedback to my peers, and I would not have taken the initiative to provide feedback if not for the blog. I feel that blogging is a great way to learn English, and I had the opportunity to practice my analytical skills in providing constructive feedback. As a result, I feel compelled to mention that this method definitely aided me in improving my analytical skills. I applied what I have learnt to help my peers by providing constructive feedback. In addition to providing feedback, this has urged me to understand the different writing styles which helped me to broaden my knowledge.

However, at times, it worried me that I provided poor feedback to my peers as my command in English is not good.

As a student who is currently aiming to become a professional engineer, I would be able to use my analytical skills in determining the best course of action for my team. Furthermore, effective communication is essential in providing clear and concise information. I have to hand it to Brad for providing me and my project team extremely helpful feedback. I love this course but unfortunately, there isn’t an “Effective Communication 2” module. Therefore, as English is widely used in the marketplace, I believe that having more classes would be better for students.

Critical Reflection - My thoughts on the Effective Communication module

The module "Effective Communication" has molded me into a more knowledgeable person. However, I was skeptical about another language module as I had a few similar modules during my study in Temasek Polytechnic (TP). I vividly recall the first lesson where I did not understand the meaning of paraphrase. I knew then, that I needed to broaden my command of English speaking and writing. My motivation was my goal to score an ‘A’ grade for all my modules. I was taught by my parents that my attitude would determine my altitude, thus I developed a passion for learning. Furthermore, my passion of learning was enhanced through my experience in the "Effective Communication" module. Overall, there are three reasons as to why my learning experience from the "Effective Communication" module has prompted me to write this review.

Firstly, I feel that students providing feedback to their peers’ assignments are a great way to learn English. By doing so, the students would be able to practice their analytical skills in providing constructive feedback, and provide another person’s perspective towards one’s work. With that said, I feel compelled to mention that this method definitely aided me in improving my analytical skills. I applied what I have learnt to help my peers by providing constructive feedback. In addition to providing feedback, this has urged me in understanding the different styles of writing which helped me to broaden my knowledge.

Secondly, the lessons conducted were very engaging. Brad was constantly urging us to share our knowledge and experience with the class. In a way, this trained my cognitive process and boosted my confidence when speaking to the class.

Lastly, all the students were required to create a blog where assignments and reflections would be posted at. Brad had created an open channel for all of his students to share information. In addition, this provided me the opportunity to provide feedback for my classmates.

To wrap it up, the "Effective Communication" is an extremely helpful module and I would like to thank the faculty for bringing this module forward to Year 1 Semester 1. I strongly encourage all students to participate in this module as it is able to guide oneself to broaden one’s knowledge of word use, boost confidence, etc. (The list goes on and on…). I have to hand it to Brad for providing me and my project team extremely helpful feedback. He guided us throughout the weeks and we have definitely constructed a much better report after we sought for his advice. I love this course but unfortunately, there isn’t an “Effective Communication 2” module. Therefore, as English is widely used in the marketplace, I believe that having more classes would be better for students.

Reader Response Draft 4

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for all types of infrastructure projects. Envision is the brainchild of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and the Zonfnass program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Nelson mentioned that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach, which focuses on people, profit and the planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase, which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, projects are graded based on these 5 aspects: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW).

I believe that organizations should consider Envision for their existing or new infrastructure projects as the benefits of using the triple bottom line approach far outweigh the potentially high initial costs in terms of sustainability.

As mentioned above, projects that incorporate Envision in the design phase enjoys triple benefits i.e., people, profit and planet.  For the “people” benefit, it provides a safe environment for workers and helps to create jobs as engineers are required to run and manage the system.  “Profit” can be measured by the costs savings through reduction in resource usage, e.g. energy.  As for the “planet”, it promotes a better and sustainable environment.

The first reason to use Envision is the people factor. The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery (WJHSFH) designed their project to improve visitors’ safety which could enhance their learning experience (William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 2015). Jobs were created which also helped to improve the quality of life for people. Another project that used Envision was the construction of the Nuevo Necaxa-Ávila Camacho Highway in Mexico. This project had detailed safety measures taken, such as signs indicating the maximum speed for vehicles, evacuation routes and (other?) precautionary measures (Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico, 2015, pp. 36-39). Moreover, vaccine shots were given to the workers to ensure that they were healthy for work. These measures taken created a safe environment for the workers, thus enhancing productivity (Haberman, 2013). Therefore, with Envision focusing on the people factor, organizations and workers will be able to benefit greatly.

Secondly, Envision helps organizations to save cost by using sustainable designs. The WJHSFH used sustainable designs for water re-circulation. They achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water was required to be heated. This helped to reduce water usage thus reducing cost (HDR, Inc., 2013; William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 2015). Furthermore, with the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours were minimized. Additionally, the Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway project saved cost by prohibiting night activity and used solar panels to power the detour signs (Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico, 2015, pp. 36-, 39). With this in mind, Envision aids organizations to optimize the available resources whilst saving cost.

Lastly, Envision helps organization to tackle environmental issues and promotes ways for a healthier and more sustainable environment. The brownfield site which WJHSFH was built on was restored without contaminating a river, Ship Creek, and damage to any cultural artifacts was prevented (Storm, 2013). Another project that benefitted from using Envision was the South L.A. Wetland Park. It was stated that the project used solar lighting to reduce energy consumption by 77%. Furthermore this wetland project was converted from its original brownfield state into a current urban park whose upland plants contribute in restoring species biodiversity (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2015). Consequently, using Envision helps to restore greenery and promote nature diversity.

In conclusion, Nelson (2015) was accurate when she mentioned that “The Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure is the new international reference for best practices for all types of infrastructure”. I believe that Envision is a good tool for new projects as it aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. In addition, by focusing on using the triple bottom line approach, organizations would be able to benefit much more over the high initial cost in terms of sustainability.

References

Haberman, M. (2013, December 19). A safe environment is a productive environment: Ensuring workplace safety and security. Omega hr Solutions, Inc.. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

HDR, Inc.. (2013). First-ever Envision Project award, HDR-designed William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTuueSJvZTg

Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. (2015). South L.A. Wetland Park Receives Envision® Platinum Award. Retrieved 21 October 2015, from https://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/news/wetland_award_013014.cfm

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing sustainable infrastructure with Envision. Civil + Structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico. (2015) (pp. 36, 39). Retrieved from http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=38832852

Storm, J. (2013). The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery – A marvel of modern science and art. Alaska Business Monthly. Retrieved from http://www.akbizmag.com/Alaska-Business-Monthly/October-2013/The-William-Jack-Hernandez-Sport-Fish-Hatchery/

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (2015). [PDF] Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Presentation reflection

I feel that my presentation on the 5th of November was good but not perfect. I was brimming with confidence during my presentation, and I also enjoyed being the center of attention. However, there were a few critical mistakes which I made.

Firstly, I could have stood at a different spot where I would be facing the audience without turning my head too often. This is the first step to a good presentation, standing at the correct spot! I also feel that because of my bad position, Diyannah and Nurul could not hear me clearly.

Secondly, the most important mistake is the lack of selling the idea. I feel that my team and I could have prepared a richer content for the audience. I initially assumed that we were selling the idea, but I was naive to think so.

Thirdly, I did not provide enough eye contact towards my audience. As mentioned by two of my friends, I only glanced and did not focus on individuals from time to time. By using this style of presentation, I could have a more persuasive persona.

Lastly, as a group, we could have answered the audience immediately even if we did not know how to answer. What we could have said was 'We will get back to you on this.'. I felt like a sitting duck when we could not provide a proper reply towards the audience.

As the presentation content is similar to the technical report, I have to put in more effort in constructing a report that will entice the reader to read on and consider our solutions. A major content change would be needed to refine the technical report.

Looking at my comments from my classmates, I have a long way to go to achieve perfection. I have so many regrets, but I will learn from my mistakes and move on. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped my team reflect and grow by providing construction criticism.

Peace!

Reader Response Draft 3

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for all types of infrastructure. Envision is the brainchild of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and the Zonfnass program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Nelson mentioned that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach, which focuses on people, profit and the planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase, which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, projects are graded based on these 5 aspects: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW).

I believe that organizations should consider Envision for their existing or new infrastructure projects as the benefits of using the triple bottom line approach far outweigh the potentially high initial costs in terms of sustainability.

As mentioned above, projects that incorporate Envision in the design phase enjoys triple benefits i.e., people, profit and planet.  For the “people” benefit, it provides a safe environment for workers and helps to create jobs as engineers are required to run and manage the system.  “Profit” can be measured by the costs savings through reduction in resource usage e.g. energy.  As for “planet”, it promotes a better and sustainable environment.

The first reason to use Envision is the people factor. The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery (WJHSFH) designed their project to improve visitors’ safety which enhances their learning experience (William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 2015). Jobs were created which also helped to improve the quality of life for people. Another project that used Envision was the construction of the Nuevo Necaxa-Ávila Camacho Highway.  This project had detailed safety measures taken, such as signs indicating the maximum speed for vehicles, evacuation routes and precautionary measures (Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico, 2015, pp. 36, 39). Moreover, vaccine shots were given to the workers to ensure that they were healthy for work. These measures taken created a safe environment for the workers, thus enhancing productivity (Haberman, 2013). Therefore, with Envision focusing on the people factor, organizations and workers will be able to benefit greatly.

Secondly, Envision helps organizations to save cost by using sustainable designs. The WJHSFH used sustainable designs for water re-circulation. They achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water was required to be heated. This helped to reduce water usage thus reducing cost (HDR, Inc., 2013; William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 2015). Furthermore, with the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours were minimized. Additionally, the Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway project saved cost by prohibiting night activity and used solar panels to power the detour signs (Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico, 2015, pp. 36, 39). With this in mind, Envision aids organizations to optimize the available resources whilst saving cost.

Lastly, Envision helps organization to tackle environmental issues and promotes ways for a healthier and more sustainable environment. The brownfield site which WJHSFH was built on, was restored without contaminating river Ship Creek and damage to any cultural artifacts was prevented (Storm, 2013). Another project that benefitted from using Envision was the South L.A. Wetland Park. It was stated that the project used solar lighting to reduce energy consumption by 77%. Furthermore this wetland project was converted from its original brownfield state into a current urban park which upland plants contribute in restoring species biodiversity (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2015). Consequently, using Envision helps to restore greenery and promote nature diversity.

In conclusion, Nelson (2015) was accurate when she mentioned that “The Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure is the new international reference for best practices for all types of infrastructure”. I believe that Envision is a good tool for new projects as it aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. In addition, by focusing on using the triple bottom line approach, organizations would be able to benefit much more over the high initial cost in terms of sustainability.

References

Haberman, M. (2013, December 19). A safe environment is a productive environment: Ensuring workplace safety and security. Omega hr Solutions, Inc.. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

HDR, Inc.. (2013). First-ever Envision Project award, HDR-designed William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTuueSJvZTg

Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. (2015). South L.A. Wetland Park Receives Envision® Platinum Award. Retrieved 21 October 2015, from https://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/news/wetland_award_013014.cfm

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing sustainable infrastructure with Envision. Civil + Structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico. (2015) (pp. 36, 39). Retrieved from http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=38832852

Storm, J. (2013). The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery – A marvel of modern science and art. Alaska Business Monthly. Retrieved from http://www.akbizmag.com/Alaska-Business-Monthly/October-2013/The-William-Jack-Hernandez-Sport-Fish-Hatchery/

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (2015). [PDF] Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Inspire to be inspired

Hi everyone, thank you for coming to my blog. Prepare to be inspired by how I was inspired!

Allow me to shed a little light about my past. As a teenager, I was an adolescent child trapped in a man’s body. Because my parents loved me so much, they provided everything for me. I was grateful and thankful, but sometimes I took their provision for granted.

I remembered that at times, my attitude towards people were cold and insensitive. I did not care much about the people around me and that made me selfish. The word “I” began to revolve around me and I would always think of myself before others.

However, in the 4^th quarter of 2014, I joined Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) and had a great revelation. The pastor, Reverent Daniel Khong, spoke about life. He preached about what life is and he challenged all who were present to have a vision. I recalled hearing this quote from the bible “he will never leave you nor forsake you”.  “He” representing the almighty God. This quote gave me security, wisdom, strength and all that I could have possibly asked for.

I am extremely grateful to Rev. Daniel Khong for his words of wisdom as what he said changed my life, a 180 degrees. Now, I strive to have a passion for life instead of my previous selfish ambitions. I want to change and grow to fulfill my purpose in life. I was given life and I will make full use of it.

To end it off, I would like to challenge all you readers to find your purpose in life and your vision. What do you want to accomplish?

Reader's Response No.2 - Edited

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for all types of infrastructure. Envision is the brainchild of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and the Zonfnass program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Nelson mentioned that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach which are people, profit and planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, projects are graded based on these 5 aspects, Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW).

Much has been said about the benefits of Envision which is effective for new infrastructure projects as it helps to drive down costs and improve efficiency in the long term. Organizations should consider Envision for new infrastructure projects to gain the long term benefits. However Envision is unable to fully support the retrofitting of existing infrastructure as the processes are structured for new projects (Fast Fast Forward, n.d.).

Adding on to the benefits of incorporating Envision in projects, Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using sustainable designs and not merely focus on the initial costs as such an approach would benefit the company economically over the long term which in my opinion, makes economical sense.

The first company to use Envision is the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. It is stated in their brochure that due to the sustainable designs of water re-circulation, they achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water is required to be heated. In addition, their operation cost was reduced through consumption of less energy and resources. By using the Envision program, they were also able to achieve a reduction in reactive maintenance hours as the system provides a stringent process of monitoring the health of the equipment. With the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours are minimized. In addition, by creating a safe environment, workers’ productivity and visitors’ learning experience are enhanced. This demonstrates the effectiveness of adopting the Envision rating system in the project phase. For their effort, they were awarded the Envision Gold award.

However, there are limitations to what Envision can offer. According to Bishop, (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) organizations need to find ways to manage retrofitting their systems, reconfiguring structures and adopt best practices for deconstructing. If such cannot be achieved through Envision, organizations need to find ways to manage around these limitations so that they can continue to reduce operation and maintenance costs and improve sustainability.

To conclude, Envision is a good tool for new projects as it aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. As mentioned above, projects that incorporate Envision in the design phase enjoys triple benefits i.e., people, profit and planet.  For the “people” benefit, it helps to create jobs as engineers are required to run and manage the system.  “Profit” can be measured by the costs savings through reduction in resource usage e.g. energy.  As for “planet”, it promotes a better and sustainable environment.

On a side note, how can organizations and individuals contribute to make sustainability a way of life for consumers and for themselves?  It is now time for responsible stewardship which organizations and individuals can play a part.  Some companies have started to source for raw materials that are obtained via sustainable sources and individuals can help by supporting these companies.

References

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision. Civil + structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Hardin, W. (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Fast Fast Forward.  (n.d.). Envisioning Sustainable Infrastructure: An Interview with Tim Psomas. Retrieved from http://xlgroup.com/fast-fast-forward/articles/envisioning-sustainable-infrastructure-an-interview-with-tim-psomas

Additional Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/rating/

Our strategy for sustainable business. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/our-strategy/

Haberman, M. (2013, December 19). A Safe Environment Is a Productive Environment: Ensuring Workplace Safety and Security. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

Reader's Response Draft No.2

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for every form of infrastructure. Nelson further stated that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach which are people, profit and planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, Envision focuses on 5 aspects which are Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW). These 5 aspects are used as benchmark to grade each project. However, while Envision is able to provide comprehensive approaches towards sustainability, there are limitations to what the Envision rating system can offer. Therefore, organizations should be aware of the limitations of incorporating Envision.

The following is a case study of a project awarded with Envision, Gold. The first company to achieve an Envision award was the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery brochure states that due to the sustainable designs, they achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water is required to be heated. Therefore, by using Envision, William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery reduced their operation cost through consumption of less energy and resources.  The brochure further states that by using Envision, the company helps to contribute to the economy as more jobs are created.  The safety features of their facilities are enhanced. There is also the reduction in reactive maintenance as the system provides a stringent process of monitoring the health of the equipment.

With the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours would be minimized. In addition, by ensuring a safe environment, there would be an increase in workers’ productivity and visitors’ learning experience would be enhanced (Haberman, 2013).

Furthermore, organizations have looked towards Envision for economic advantages. Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using sustainable designs and not merely focus on the initial costs as such approach would benefit the company economically over the long term. Hence, organizations ought to start using sustainable designs to reap the benefits and they will reap cost savings in the long run.

However, there are limitations to what Envision can offer. In the design phase of every project, there are many considerations such as climate change, physical constraints, maintenance, etc. According to Nicholas Bishop (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015), Envision would need to find ways to manage retrofitting systems, reconfiguring structures and find the best practices for deconstructing. This would enable projects to further reduce operation and maintenance costs and improve sustainability.

In conclusion, I believe that Envision is a reliable tool which aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. Moreover, projects that incorporate Envision in their designs help to improve sustainability which benefits the environment and aid the economy by creating jobs. However, it has its limitations as well and companies should look into separate processes where Envision is lacking, for example, retrofitting, to ensure efficiency to their operations.

On a side note, how can organisations and individuals contribute to make sustainability a way of life for consumers and for themselves?  It is now time for responsible stewardship which organisations and individuals can play a part.  Some companies have started to source for raw materials that are obtained via sustainable sources and individuals can help by supporting these companies. i.e. Unilever

References

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision. Civil + structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Hardin, W. (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Haberman, M. (2013). A Safe Environment Is a Productive Environment: Ensuring Workplace Safety and Security. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

Additional Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.ord/rating/

Our strategy for sustainable business. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/our-strategy/

Reader’s Response Draft No. 1

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shares that Envision is a global rating system for every form of infrastructure. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase. The writer further describes that Envision has 5 general aspects and encompasses a 60 credit system with 4 award levels where 6 projects have received awards and completed third-party verifications. Furthermore, the writer noted that attaining memberships and ENV SP credentials can done through the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). While I agree that sustainability is important and Envision caters much in that area, we as individuals will need the right attitude and vision to commit ourselves to build and maintain a sustainable environment.

I believe that Envision is an extremely reliant tool which aids engineers in designing a sustainable environment for civilization. Envision focuses on 5 aspects: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW). Grading on these 5 aspects will encourage flexible designs to meet the needs of the population. The first company to achieve an Envision award was the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. As stated in the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery brochure, there was a 95% reduction in water usage and only 5% of energy is used for water heating. This is due to the sustainable designs in place. 

Furthermore, incorporating Envision has not only increased cost efficiency but improved the public’s quality of life by creating economic benefits, improving safety features and building design.

Adding on, organizations have looked towards Envision for economic advantages. Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using a sustainable design and not only the costs. Therefore, projects using a sustainable approach would be able to cover the extra cost over the long run.

However, in the design phase of every project, there are many constraints to think about such as physical constraints, maintenance, climate change, etc. According to Nicholas Bishop (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015), Envision would need to find ways to manage retrofitting systems, reconfiguring structures and find the best practices for deconstructing. This would enable projects to further reduce operation and maintenance cost and improve conservation to the environment.

In conclusion, Envision is an extremely reliable system. Projects should incorporate Envision systems in their designs to improve sustainability. The benefits of applying a sustainable design using the Envision rating system would benefit both the environment and our economy. That being said, it takes two hands to clap and we as individuals will need to play our part in providing responsible stewardship towards planet Earth.

References

Winn Hardin (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved September 24, 2015 from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf



Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2015 from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.ord/rating/

Mechanics Questions with Solutions

Hey guys!

I want to share something I found online. I believe its a treasure to most of us now.

Below is the link containing a plethora of  Mechanics questions with solutions!
Enjoy practicing and learning!

TIP: As I have forgotten where I downloaded the file from, please feel free to contact me if the link is down.

Hurrah!

Mechanics Questions Link

Summary - Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shares that Envision is a global rating system for every form of infrastructure. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase. The writer further describes that Envision has 5 general aspects, encompassing a 60 credit system with 4 award levels where 6 projects have received awards and completed third-party verifications. Furthermore, the writer noted that attaining memberships and ENV SP credentials can done through the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). While I agree that sustainability is important and Envision caters much in that area, we as individuals will need the right attitude and vision to commit ourselves to build and maintain a sustainable environment. 

My English Language Learning Journey

Learning English is like an exploration that never ends. In my journey, I am constantly aided by the use of the dictionary and thesaurus and my common language at home was English. During my preschool, my parents enrolled me in phonics classes. Through phonics, I learnt how to pronounce difficult words with ease. However, words like 'rendezvous' still intrigue me.

As a child, I loved reading books written by ‘Dr. Seuss’ and ‘Roald Dahl’, and I found their books inspiring. This nurtured my passion for learning English and with continuous motivation and encouragement from my parents, I started reading the dictionary. It opened my mind to a plethora of words and I am still in awe of the richness of what the English language holds.
However, I was addicted to computer gaming during my time in primary school. This passion for learning was made secondary. I was overconfident as I thought that I had amassed enough grammar and vocabulary knowledge. I neglected the time to explore the English language anymore. This naivety was my Achilles Heel and my grades declined.
Looking back, I have wasted valuable time which I could have put to good use to acquire knowledge. Now that I am older and wiser, my resolution is to learn more and improve on my written and verbal communication skills. I believe the ‘Effective Communication’ module will greatly benefit me in my quest to master the English language. As the saying goes, “My attitude determines my altitude”! I am determined to give my best to excel.
Nate – Knowledge is Power