Making living in Punggol a breeze

Source : Straits Times – 16 Dec 2009

RESEARCHERS from the National University of Singapore will attempt to map out where the hottest and windiest parts of Punggol are so that urban developers can plan where to locate future developments to make the town energy-efficient.

The study, a collaboration between the Housing Board and NUS’ School of Design and Environment, is the first climatic study of an entire neighbourhood. Punggol was chosen because it is the newest town in Singapore.

The findings from the year-long project will be applied to both upcoming and existing developments in Punggol Town.

The $960,000 study, funded by the Ministry of National Development, HDB and NUS, will study three aspects of the area’s climate using on-site measurements, computer simulations and a wind tunnel:

Hot and cool spots:The mapping of such spots can help developers see where they should put in place cooling measures such as by planting greenery on a wall or on a roof.

Wind conditions: The wind flow between and through buildings affects ventilation and will help builders decide where to put void decks and other ventilation-improving measures.

Patterns of sun and shadow: These will help planners track cool, shady spots and the sunniest sites, where solar panels could be placed to harness clean energy.The study is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

In the next four to five years, its findings may be translated into development or design changes, said Mr Alan Tan, deputy managing director for environmental sustainability research at HDB’s Building Research Institute.

‘Punggol is a new town, and there are a lot of opportunities to test new technologies in this town so as to achieve a sustainable living environment in future,’ he said.

He said it was too early to tell which design measures would be implemented and how these would affect the cost of flats, adding that affordability was the ultimate goal.

A previous, smaller study of wind patterns and ventilation was done for the upcoming Treelodge@Punggol eco-precinct. Planners aligned the blocks so that they had the best ventilation.

Since 1998, 27,000 flats have been launched in Punggol, of which 17,300 have been completed.

NUS and multiple government agencies are also conducting a three-year study of sustainable development in Singapore, which began in September.

It includes a climatic map of Marina Bay.

Such climatic maps of temperature, shade and wind patterns can help in the design of sustainable towns, said Dr Malone-Lee Lai Choo, director of NUS’ Centre for Sustainable Asian Cities at its School of Design and Environment.

‘We often design to cut out the natural elements. But what we’re trying to do now is to say, this is where natural ventilation comes in. We’re trying to work with the climate.’