Report - Eco Towns for Asia

A Technical Talk was organised by the Chemical Engineering Technical Division (CETD) entitled “Ecotowns for Asia” on 24th Nov 2009 at C&S Lecture Room, 2nd Floor of Wisma IEM. The talk was conducted by Mr Joe Eades, the Vice Chairman for the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE - Singapore Branch). Twenty-three (23) IEM members and 1 non-member attended the workshop.

The talk started at 5.30 pm. The talk began identifying what are the key issues facing us today for sustainable development, then proposing a solution in the form of a sustainable town development that combines green build techniques with an integrated decentralized infrastructure system. This would lead to a reduction net electrical consumption for a town by 80%, a net reduction in potable water consumption by 60%, then by integrating energy from waste technology, can reduce the landfill significantly as well as reduce the carbon footprint. On top of this closing the loops also become a net generator of food. This can be done economically using currently available and proven technology. This radical new approach when applied will provide power, water and food security for this region which soon will be facing huge challenges from population growth, urban migration as well as the potential loss in arable land due to global warming over the next 40 years.

The workshop concluded at 6.45 pm.

Reported by,
Engr Assoc Prof Dr Dominic C. Y. Foo