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Literature Review Chapter 3

Methodology Chapter 4

Proposal: Product/Programme

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1. Brief background information/context of the ‘Y’

2. Reasons for the choice of topic (Y should be your topic).

3. The use of flashback to briefly discuss X

4. Explicitly state the lessons learnt from X (which can be seen in idea that addresses Y)

Important pointer: Background Y or X must be substantiated by relevant citations.

5. Spell out objectives of your project clearly to provide focus for your project.

Underline the indicators that are to be measured (seen in Methodology Template [Annex A])

Important pointers:

Your project’s objectives must reflect the key findings you intend to conduct in your project.

Every objective you state must be carried out and reflected in your Written Report.

6. List down specifically the areas that you need to conduct research in (particularly the specific knowledge your group needs to have in order to have a clearer understanding of the Y or the idea that your group is going to conceptualize.)

7. For Y, conduct a comprehensive research and attempt to answer these questions:

a. What has been done to address Y?

b. What existing measures are in place?

c. Why is there such a gap? Or what are the loopholes/limitations of the current measures?

d. How will your group’s idea address this gap and in the same time attempt to address Y?

8. List down the areas or indicators that your group needs to measure. ( which key words found in #5).

9. State the methods your group will adopt to collect data for areas or indicators stated in #8 (survey, observation, lab experiment, interview, focus group discussion, etc).

10. Write down the survey/interview questions or describe the experiment next to the each key area/indicator that your group intends to measure.

11. State the target group next to each key indicator (if different) for survey. Indicate who will your group interview for interview(s). State what variables you will use to conduct an lab experiment.

12. List down all the headings that your group expects to see in the Review/Findings section (Chapter 5) of the WR.

13. Details about your project idea ( product/programme)

a. Give a name/title to your project idea ( the product or programme)

b. Show the various parts of and label its functions clearly in the diagram of your product OR show all the key areas of your group’s programme, some details how these key areas work to address Y.

c. How do you think this product/programme effectively address Y ( to reduce/minimize/eliminate future risk-taking by inds/groups OR resolve future conflicts)?

d. Who is the target group?

e. Which organization does your group recommend to consider/take up this proposed product/programme?

14. Review of F, M and A of project idea

Evaluate (this should be the same you evaluate your PI’s idea. However, your evaluation in your GPP should be clearer since the project idea is beginning to take shape in your minds. Use the evaluation in the PI your group has chosen as a reference point)

� the feasibility of this project

� the manageability of this project

� the accessibility of information required ( if your group has already addressed this in #6 or #7, then don’t repeat it here again. Just evaluate obstacles of obtaining some of the info required in #6 - #8)

15. References List down all citations that appear in your GPP by using the APA format (download the APA booklet from LMS or use the citation machine or a citation tool that’s found in the Word doc)

A GPP Roadmap

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Sample of a Group Project Proposal (GPP)

Project Task: Conservation (2009) Topic: The VertiCa

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Complementing Chapter 1 (Introduction) of the Written Report Info group needs to include in GPP(similar to those found in the GPP Road Map)

Background of Y Global warming is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention and action by governments worldwide. From 1906 to 2005, global surface temperature has rose by 0.74 °C and it is predicted to further rise by between 1.1 °C and 6.4 °C by 2100. This could result in more frequent, intense and widespread heatwaves, flooding, drought, tropical storms and also surges in sea level. Moreover, this will affect food production and also cause many plant and animal species to be at an increased risk of extinction. Hence, Singapore should participate and take the lead in the global efforts to combat global warming by reducing energy consumption. Reasons for choosing Y By conserving electricity, this reduces the cost of electricity to consumers and also the demand for electricity, thus preventing further hikes in electricity tariffs in Singapore. So, we will come up with a product titled VertiCaso as to better achieve energy savings from air conditioning in Singapore. This is necessary because of the inherent weaknesses of the main existing measure which is the use of green roofs.

VertiCa was inspired by the conservation in Britain that aimed to provide a home on the rooftop for some of the many endangered species such as the Black Redstarts1 to nest and potentially breed. It has since successfully reconstructed the habitat for the Redstarts and other species to thrive (Room at the top, 2004).

1. Brief background

information/context of ‘Y’ 2. Reasons for the choice of topic (Y should be your topic) 3. Flashback to X (use a linguistic device to show relevance from Y to X) Egs of linking devices: …was inspired by… …based on… With reference to…

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Features of conservation Lessons learnt

Makes use of roofs to conserve biodiversity.

Utilize unused space such as rooftops for

conservation.

Sedums carefully chosen for planting because they are wind, frost and drought resistant and require little maintenance (http://livingroofs.org/livingpages/typeextensive.html).

Selection of relevant plant species for their

potential benefits.

Uses recycled crushed brick and concrete to be more environmental-friendly (Case Study - 1 Churchill Place, London. Barclays HQ, 2005).

Use of recycled building materials to save the

environment.

United Kingdom government has encouraged developers in installing brown roofs(Green roof solution to lost habitats, 2003).

Strong government

support is vital.

Hence, our product, VertiCa focuses how green roofs are used to reduce energy consumption of air conditioning, and how the disadvantages in having green roofs can aid us in developing strategies of how we can overcome these disadvantages in our new product. Our group will be focusing mainly on the first benefit of green roofs which is the reduction of energy consumption of air conditioners. We will then come up with a modified product so as to better achieve this benefit in Singapore. To begin with, we need to understand that a green roof not only acts as an insulation barrier, the

This is similar to… …considered by… 4. Explicitly state the lessons

learnt from X (which can be seen in idea that addresses Y)

Synthesing other ideas to

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combination of the plants’ processes (photosynthesis and evapo-transpiration) and soil processes (evapo-transmission) reduces the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof membrane. Thus, this leads to cooler temperature beneath the surface and less electricity is required for air conditioning. Moreover, to further make our new product to more effectively provide a cooling effect on the walls, we have merged another idea of reflective roofs into our product. Reflective roofs are basically roofs that are painted silver or other light colours to deliver high solar reflectance and to minimize heat gain. The benefits of reflective roofs are similar but less than that of green roofs. Both of them can result in greater energy savings and allow greater building protection. [Buildings in California and Florida with cool roofing have shown 20% to 70% reductions in cooling energy use.] Thus, the inner walls accommodating the plants and also the other areas of our product including the container in the rooftop are painted silver in colour. Objectives of Project

a. To compare the effectiveness of both vertical greening and reflective surfaces;

b. To determine the optimal leaf area of the plants for use in our product in reducing temperatures;

c. To draw up a detailed proposal and design a new and cost-effective product called The VertiCa to be installed in shopping malls;

d. To estimate the possible benefits and costs of The VertiCa;

e. To review and improve the design and effectiveness of The VertiCabased on interviews and surveys;

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make VertiCa innovative with combining some features from reflective roofs into group’s vertical greening’s idea. 5. Spell out objectives of

your project clearly to provide focus for your project.

The indicators to be measured are underlined [refer to Methodology Template (Annex A) on how to do a proper planning for measuring the underlined indicators]

Complementing Chapter 2 (Literature Review) of the Written Report

Background of green roofs technology Besides conserving biodiversity, green roofs also do provide many other benefits as listed below: 1) Energy savings: With green roofs, the room temperature of a floor directly below the green roof is decreased, resulting in significant air conditioning energy savings. 2) Improved air quality and carbon dioxide fixation: Green roofs consume trace amounts of harmful gases in the atmosphere such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Moreover, it also consumes

6. List down specifically the areas that you need to conduct research in (particularly the specific knowledge your group needs to have in order to have a clearer understanding of the Y or the idea that your group is going to conceptualize.)

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carbon dioxide during photosynthesis which mitigates the greenhouse effect. 3) Stormwater management: ……. 4) Sound insulation: ……. 5) Heat island mitigation: ……… 6) Health and wellness: …….. 7) Building protection: …….. 8) Educational purposes: …….. 9) Property value increase: …….. (http://www.g-sky.com/Benefits_StormwaterControl.aspx) (http://www.g-sky.com/Benefits_SoundInsulation.aspx) and many more references……. To begin with, we need to understand that a green roof not only acts as an insulation barrier, the combination of the plants’ processes (photosynthesis and evapo-transpiration) and soil processes (evapo-transmission) reduces the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof membrane. Thus, this leads to cooler temperature beneath the surface and less electricity is required for air conditioning. [In a report in BioScience, the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, it estimates that green roofs can reduce air-conditioning costs by 25 per cent.] (http://www.livingroofs.org/livingpages/benenergycons.html) (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2006-04-24-green-roofs_x.htm) and many more references……. It was also found that the soil moisture content is a great factor in reducing the energy consumption for air conditioning. When the surface of the soil is moist, a great deal of “Latent Heat” is reflected off of the surface of the vegetation, and thereby providing superior heat resistance and increasing its insulating efficiency. (http://www.greenrooftops.com/Benefits_EnergySavings_Detailed.aspx) Another factor contributing to the cooling effect of plants is the reflectivity of the plants. Plants reflect slightly different amounts of light depending on how waxy the leaves are. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/science/earth/20obcrops.html?_r=1)

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After having discussed how green roofs are used to reduce energy consumption of air conditioning, we will now analyze the disadvantages in having green roofs to develop strategies of how we can overcome these disadvantages in our new product, VertiCa Disadvantages of green roofs: Strategies developed to overcome the

disadvantages: 1) Implementation of green roofs can only reduce the temperature and energy consumption of air conditioning in the upper part of the building.

A) Vertical greening is suggested so that the entire building can reduce the energy consumption of air-conditioning more effectively. (NOTE: Vertical greening refers to growing plants on the sides of the walls of a building.)

2) Higher installation costs as compared to the traditional roof.

B) The long-term benefits of the vertical greening (energy savings and lowered greenhouse content) are predicted to be able to drastically outweigh the initial installation costs. (See Objective iv.)

3) High maintenance costs as plants grow all over the place.

C) Limit the growth of the selected plants within an enclosed area. (Use of panels to contain growth of plants.)

4) Plants inappropriate in windy places as plants are fragile and might be blown away.

D) Plants are held by acrylic to prevent them from being blown away.

5) Buildings may be unable to support the additional weight of the roof added to the building.

E) Use of acrylic as building material of product which is lighter as compared to glass. Calculations should also be made to ensure that the building can support the extra weight before installing the product.

6) May requires complex irrigation and drainage system.

F) Includes a simple irrigation system to water the plants. (See project outline for more details.)

7) May encourages breeding of insects such as mosquitoes on the plants which is not desirable.

G) Include mosquito nettings to prevent bugs and insects from entering the plants. (Mosquito nets are placed in uncovered areas of or product.)

(http://www.house-energy.com/Roof/Roof-green-costs.htm) (http://www.brownroofs.co.uk/brown-roof-buildup.php) (http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/sustainable_living/green_roofs.html)

7. For Y, conduct research and attempt to answer these questions:

a. What has been done to address Y?

b. What existing measures are in place?

c. Why is there such a gap? Or what are the loopholes/limitations of the current measures?

d. How will your group’s idea address this gap and in the same time attempt to address Y?

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Hence, the costs of setting up and maintaining a green roof can actually be set to a minimal through the strategies developed for our new product. Possible strategies to reduce energy consumption: 1) Radiant cooling system Radiant cooling systems use chilled water pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building and are able to reduce the peak-power usage of the air-conditioning system by 30 to 45% (http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/HVAC/hydronic-radiant-cooling). 2) Greening efforts i) Rooftop gardens When rooftop surfaces are shrouded in greenery, the plants act as an insulation barrier and together with the combination of the plants’ processes (photosynthesis and evapo-transpiration) and soil processes (evapo-transmission), this reduces the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof membrane. Using such a method, research has shown that temperatures can drop from 58 °C to 27 °C during a day. This significantly reduces the energy consumption of air conditioners in buildings as less energy is required to bring the temperature down to the desirable level.

Examples of green roofs in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building and the California Academy of

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Sciences respectively (http://www2.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/heat/english/greenproject/ryokuka6.htm) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_roofs).

ii) Strategically select and site plants Trees planted around the sides of a building can provide shading and this reduces cooling costs for low-rise buildings.

Example of shade trees used in the Simon Fraser University (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=15499915). 3) Reflective surfaces Reflective surfaces absorb infrared radiation from the sun at a slower rate than other surfaces, thus, resulting in lower surface temperature.

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Example of reflective surfaces used in an office building in Salford Quays(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=15499915). Complementing Chapter 3 (Methodology) of the Written Report

Refer to Methodology Template (Annex A ) Complementing Chapter 4 ( Proposal of VertiCa) of the Written Report

Proposal of The VertiCa

Introduction

i. Overview

The VertiCa is a vertical greenery system installed in shopping malls to reduce energy consumption of air conditioners effectively. ii. Design and implementation of The VertiCa The aesthetics of The VertiCa are also taken into account in its design so as to ensure the product’s marketability.

As for our product implementation, we propose that the building of The VertiCa in shopping malls to be spearheaded and overseen by Trifecta Construction Solutions. Trifecta Construction Solutionsis a company that aims to provide cost-effective and sustainable exterior greenery designs for buildings. Thus, this company is suitable in providing the services required for installing The VertiCa.

(This section responds to Objective iii )

13. Details about your project idea ( product/programme

a. Give a name/title to your project idea ( the product or programme)

b. Show the various parts of and label its functions clearly in the diagram of your product OR show all the key areas of your group’s programme, some

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Detailed design and features of The VertiCa a. Specifications and design

The figures below show the 3-dimensional computer model of

The VertiCa

dimensional computer model of The VertiCa. The design of the

c.

d.e.

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details how these key areas work to address Y.

c. How do you think this product/programme effectively address Y ( to reduce/minimize/eliminate future risk-taking by inds/groups OR resolve future conflicts)?

d. Who is the target group? e. Which organization does

your group recommend to consider/take up this proposed product/programme?

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panels and plant species are omitted for clearer illustration of the core product structure.

Rationale for material used

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Material

Acrylic sheets

Strong winds at higher altitudes might blow plants away, endangering shoppers on the streets. Acrylic, which is light yet durable, is selected as protection barriers against the winds (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-

acrylic.htm).

Low-carbon steel as metal poles and supporting platform for plant pots.

Used due to its relatively low-cost, hardness and strength

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_carbon_steel).

Aluminium panes as reflective surfaces Lightweight, affordable and easily available in Singapore.

These three construction materials as mentioned above in the table above are recyclable so as to incorporate one of the earlier lessons learnt in our initial conservation. This makes our product more environmental-friendly and thus does not compounds the problems of extracting raw materials and wasting resources.

b. Factors considered for The VertiCa

i. Plant species and leaf area per unit area of panel for vertical greening

Plants are carefully selected to fulfill the criteria of The VertiCa, which include the ability to thrive in tropical regions and the need for low maintenance.

Shade cast by other buildings can reduce the effectiveness of vertical greening. Having learnt from the initial conservation, selecting the right type and placement of plant species is crucial in order to reap maximum benefits. Sun-loving and shade-loving plants are carefully placed in sunny and shady areas of our product respectively, where they continue to grow optimally to cut down energy consumption. Positioning of the plants is customised, depending on how sunlight is cast on the product.

Also, the amount of plants grown in each panel of The VertiCa is such that the leaf area per unit area of panel is kept around the optimal value of 2.98. This can be ensured by the company in charge of manufacturing the panels.

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ii. Reflective Surfaces

Aluminum panes are used as reflective surfaces to further promblind shoppers approaching the mall, they are tilted at an upward angle instead.

iii. Irrigation

The VertiCamakes use of the simple sprinkler irrigation system (See Figure 3.10). We chose this system because it allows an even distribution of water for the plants. It can also be calibrated using a timer to water the plants at an every 12-hours interval. iv. Ventilation High humidity in the surroundings due to evapopedestrians (Nayak & Prajapati, 2006) and even the buildings in close proximity (NParks, NUS, 2002)and remove the moisture present in the surrounding VertiCa to allow effective air circulation and so that it is not in an awkward position that disallows easy maintenance of the product.

Aluminum panes are used as reflective surfaces to further promote cooling. Since these panels may blind shoppers approaching the mall, they are tilted at an upward angle instead.

makes use of the simple sprinkler irrigation system (See Figure 3.10). We chose this an even distribution of water for the plants. It can also be calibrated using a

hours interval.

High humidity in the surroundings due to evapo-transpiration by plants can cause discomfort among and even the accelerated deterioration of the exterior of other

buildings in close proximity (NParks, NUS, 2002). Thus, ventilation fans help to facilitate air movement and remove the moisture present in the surrounding air. Ventilation fans are placed at the top of The

to allow effective air circulation and so that it is not in an awkward position that disallows easy

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v. Maintenance

To ensure the healthy growth of plants, fertilisersThis is done through water-soluble fertilisers that areThus, this will eradicate problems arising from excessive usage of fertilisers, and the need to add fertilisers manually at time intervals.

There will also be regular inspections monthly by gardeners on the plants’ the mobile platform at the back of The VertiCa Feasbility of VertiCa:

� Vertical greening is useful for buildings in Singapore as many building use electricity for airconditioners. The specific target for the project idea

� There is a need for shopping centers to lower down as electricity costs are increasing steadily.

� ChannelsNewsAsia has reported that Singapore aims to be the leader of vertical greening in Asia Pacific. http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20050304/050324

fertilisers are added often but at little amounts (NParks, 2002). that are channelled to the plants along the water supply.

Thus, this will eradicate problems arising from excessive usage of fertilisers, and the need to add

There will also be regular inspections monthly by gardeners on the plants’ growth. This is done through The VertiCa .

Vertical greening is useful for buildings in Singapore as many building use electricity for air-conditioners. The specific target for the project idea are the shopping malls.

There is a need for shopping centers to lower down as electricity costs are increasing steadily.

ChannelsNewsAsia has reported that Singapore aims to be the leader of vertical greening in Asia http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20050304/050324-2.htm. This shows the feasibility of

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14. Review of F, M and A of project idea

Evaluate (this should be the same you evaluate your PI’s idea. However, your evaluation in your GPP should be clearer since the project idea is beginning to take shape in your minds. Use the evaluation in the PI your group has chosen as a reference point)

� the feasibility of this project

� the manageability of this project

� the accessibility of information required ( if

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the project idea in Singapore and aligned direction that the project is adopting.

� It is practical as it can lower down the electricity bills by cooling down the interior of the building so as to not use the air-conditioners as much.

� Cost benefit analysis is also a consideration to show whether the project idea is feasible to the shopping malls. This is important as shopping malls are very concerned about incurred costs of the project idea as the whole objective is to reduce costs.

Manageability of VertiCa (as our group project):

� Need to focused in terms of the scope of the project idea

� Need to focus on a design that will relay the project objectives

� Design need to accommodate different designs as shopping malls have different architecture.

� Design not only need to achieve project objectives but also needs to address safety issues – need to ensure that design does not pose any danger to shoppers and pedestrians,

� Choice of materials is a key consideration. Need to ensure research is done to see which materials are suitable for different designs.

� Foresee difficulties in getting information experts and the managers of different shopping establishments – solution: prepare many sources for eg. Many experts at hand and do not depend on only one resource person.

� Problems may be encountered in collecting information from the public for example, in the form of survey – need to consider location, survey questions, division of work.

Accessibility of Information for VertiCa:

A) Primary sources:

Resource persons for interviews have been identified:

i) Professor Wong Nyuk Hien, National University of Singapore is an established professor involved in design and engineering Resource expert due to his academic qualifications and expertise: Ph.D.(Building Performance and Diagnostics) CMU, MSc(Bldg Sc) BSc(Bldg)(Hons)NUS (Building Performance and Diagnostics)

Contact: (65) 6516 3423 E-mail: bdgwnh@nus.edu.sg

ii) Ms Kelly Chiang who is a plant biologist from NParks who possesses the expertise who can provide valuable information about plant types that is conducive for cooling down temperatures.

your group has already addressed this in #6 or #7, then don’t repeat it here again. Just evaluate obstacles of obtaining some of the info required in #6 - #8)

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Contact: (65) 6545 2333 email: Kelly_chiang@nparks.sg

iii. Surveys to be conducted:

A survey to gather feedback by shoppers about product idea and design needs to be conducted. Probable locations would be Bishan Junction 8, Yishun Northpoint, Centrepoint, Suntec City.

Different surveys from heartland shopping centres and shopping centres found in the city may generate different opinions. It is good to look at the variation in opinions about the project idea.

2) Secondary sources:

Websites cited earlier may not be enough as concrete data on current measures in Singapore shopping centres is required to show the need of the project Information on types of plants is required; may face difficulty in researching on suitable plant types that are suitable.

Solution: look at past successful projects in the US and see its compatibility.

Source: http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/green/greenwall. html - reference to a research project on the benefits on vertical greening. It is an established leading research organization will help in highlighting the benefits and problems that associated.

Point to note: Need to consider the climate differences in Singapore.

i) Building design and structure:

• Kibert , Charles J., Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery, 2nd Ed (2005) • Raeber, John, Building Design/Materials & Methods (2006)

References Case Study - 1 Churchill Place, London. Barclays HQ (2005). Living Roofs. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from http://www.livingroofs.org/livingpages/casebarclaysbank.html Energy consumption high: Culprit air-con (2006, January 10). The Straits Times, Home H3 Frances C. Moore (2008). Average Global Temperature, 1880-2007, with Projections to 2100. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/indicators/C51/ Global warming: latest evidence (2007). The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/global-warming-latest-evidence/2007/04/30/1177788024559.html

15. References List down all citations that appear in your GPP by using the APA format (download the APA booklet from LMS or use the citation machine or a citation tool that’s found in the Word doc)

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Green roof solution to lost habitats (2003). BBC News. Retrieved August 21, 2009, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3054706.stm J.K. Nayak & J.A. Prajapati (2006). Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings. India: Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, Government of India Liaw Wy Cin (2009, June 27). Electricity prices to go up. The Straits Times. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_395836.html Lee Hun Ching (2002, October 05). Green Piece. The Straits Times, Lifestyle L8 Mah Bow Tan (2007).Why we need 6.5 million people. Retrieved August 22, 2009, from http://www.pap.org.sg/articleview.php?folder=PT&id=1758 Michael T. Klare (2007). Global Warming: It’s All about Energy. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3998 Now everyone wants a garden (2002, October 05). The Straits Times, Lifestyle L9. NParks, NUS (2002). Handbook On Skyrise Greening In Singapore. Singapore: NParks, NUS Room at the top (2004, September 08). The Independent. Retrieved August 21, 2009, from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/room-at-the-top-542758.html Scientists urge limits on carbon dioxide emissions (2009). Canada.com. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from http://www.canada.com/technology/Scientists+urge+limits+dioxide+emissions/1685101/story.html Yearbook of Statistics Singapore 2009 (2009). Singapore: Department of Statistics, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Republic of Singapore

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8. List down the areas or indicators that your group needs to measure ( where the underlined key words are found in group’s project objectives)

9. State the methods your group will adopt to collect data for areas or indicators stated in (survey, observation, lab experiment, interview, focus group discussion, etc).

10. Write down the survey/interview questions or describe the experiment next to the each key area/indicator that your group intends to measure.

11. State the target group next to each key indicator (if different) for survey. Indicate who will your group interview for interview(s). State what variables you will use to conduct an lab experiment.

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12. List down all the headings that your group expects to see in the Review/Findings section (Chapter 5) of the WR.

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a. Effectiveness (of vertical greening compared to reflective surfaces)

[Refer to Objective i]

Interview 1. Does the density of the plant species affect the cooling effect derived from vertical greening? What should be the appropriate thickness of the plants used such that we can optimize the cooling effect derived from vertical greening?

2. How do you think about the

accuracy of the results (actual temperature drop in shopping malls) obtained from this experiment? What are some of the suggestions that you suggest to improve on our experiment.

3. Do you think that the reflective surfaces would further optimize the effect of lowered temperatures in the building?

Professor Wong Nyuk Hien, Professor at National University of Singapore in Design and Engineering �

Effectiveness of vertical greening and reflective surfaces ( This heading was placed under the Preliminary Investigation/Lit Review Chapter)�

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b. optimal leaf area of the plants for use (in VertiCa) [Refer to Objective ii]

Interview a. What are some of the criteria involved when choosing plant species that are appropriate for use in our product? b. What recommended species of plants do you recommend us in our experiment and also our product? c. How do you comment on our experiment to determine the optimal leaf area to be used in our product?

Ms Kelly Chiang, Plant biologist from NParks� Plant species and leaf area per

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c. benefits and costs [Refer to Objective iv]

Interview i. Given that the entire implementation of our product is around $150 000, do you think that your shopping centre is likely to purchase our product if it is manufactured in a large scale and sold commercially? Why?

Mr Chee Wah, Manager of Junction 8 Shopping Centre

Cost of VertiCa

d.design and effectiveness

[Refer to Objective v)

Interview i. Do you think that our product will be effective in reducing the energy consumption of air conditioners? If no, why?

ii. Do you find our product appealing in its design? Why?

iii. Do you think that the installation of our product is simple enough to be easily implemented in the shopping mall? If no, why?

Mr Chee Wah, Manager of Junction 8 Shopping Centre�

Design and Effectiveness of VertiCa

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Survey i. Do you think that our product will be effective in reducing the energy consumption of air conditioners?

ii. Do you find our product appealing in its design?

iii. Do you think that the installation of our product is simple enough to be easily implemented in the shopping mall?

Shoppers in Malls