Sustainability Momentum Sdn Bhd


Electric Bus Hits the Streets of Melaka

                                                    melaka-electric-bus
                                                                           Photo Credit: rasmelaka.blogspot.com


Melaka’s first electric bus will commence operations this week as part of a trial service for three months. The bus will operate along tourist attractions and take passengers through the historical areas of Bandar Hilir. Currently, the bus service is free for users as the results from the trial will determine suitable routes and appropriate fares. The electric bus is operated by a State Government subsidiary, Panorama Melaka Sdn Bhd, and utilises technology from China. Each bus costs RM1.35 million and can accommodate up to 60 passengers at any time. It is said to be able to travel as far as 300km in one charge.

Link: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/newsindex.php?id=1005451

Date and Source: 6 January 2014, Bernama

Philips Releases Pancake-Shaped, Flattened LED Light Bulb

                                                     Phillips-SlimStyle-Bulb-e1388752523648
                                                                                             Photo credit: Philips


Just in time for the incandescent bulb phase-out in the US, Philips has unveiled their SlimStyle LED bulb, a new innovative flat pancake-shaped bulb which is more affordable than LED and CFL bulbs currently on the market. By flattening its bulb, Philips has eliminated the need of a heavy (and expensive) metal heat sink. A heat sink was previously required to draw away heat from overheating bulbs due to the close arrangements of LED diodes. Arranging the LED diodes in this new horseshoe shape design also allows the diodes to radiate heat outward, across the bulb in an arc, further reducing heat generation. The new SlimStyle bulbs are selling at US homeware stores (Home Depot) for US$9.97.

Link: http://inhabitat.com/philips-unveils-slimstyle-a-10-pancake-shaped-light-bulb/

Date and Source: 3 January 2014, Inhabitat.com

Ford Debuts its First Solar Powered Car

                                                        Ford Solar Car C-MAXSolarEnergi
                                                                                             Photo credit: Ford


Ford recently showcased their C-MAX Solar Energi Concept car at the Las Vegas 2014 International CES Show. In addition to plug-in capabilities, this car has 1.5 square metres of solar panels on its roof which can generate solar energy to run it. Fully charged, the car will have a 620-mile range and can run 100 miles per gallon. In order to minimise charging time, Ford has partnered with Georgia Tech researchers to develop a solar concentrator that uses Fresnel lens which concentrates the sun’s power (by eight times), acting like a magnifying glass and directing the rays on to the panels of the car. However, this concentrator which is essentially a canopy that sits above the car comes as a separate infrastructure and may make the whole concept harder to market.
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/ford-experiments-with-solar-powered-hybrid-car/

Date and Source: 1 January 2013, Smart Planet

SkyCycle: A Cycling Network Above London

                                                         SkyCycle
                                                                                   Photo Credit: Foster + Partners


Foster + Partners and Space Syntax have come together to propose a new cycling network which will be constructed above London’s trains, following the suburban railway corridors. The proposed design provides over 220 kilometres of safe, car free cycle routes and can be accessed at over 200 entrance points. Each route will be able to accommodate 12,000 cyclists per hour and improve journey times by up to 29 minutes. The firms also claim that using the existing unused corridors above railway infrastructure provides capacity at a much lower cost than building new roads and tunnels. In addition, there are development opportunities for businesses along the routes.

Link: http://www.fosterandpartners.com/news/skycycle-proposals-to-create-safe-new-cycle-routes-throughout-london/

Date: 29 December 2013, Foster + Partners

Hong Kong Polluted by Ship Emissions

                                                               ships
                                                                                           Picture Credit: Seanews


CNN reports that ship emissions caused half of the air pollution in Hong Kong and were linked to sulphur dioxide related deaths in the region. Along the busy trade routes, ship emissions could also cause ocean acidification, which could harm the coastal ecology. Despite these harmful impacts, there are no legislations requiring shipping companies to use cleaner fuel.

Link: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/12/23/ship-emissions-pollute-hong-kong-air/

Date and Source: Environmental Leader – December 24, 2013

13 Billion USD Energy Savings From Phasing Out Incandescent Light Bulbs

                                                                        bulb
                                                                                Picture Credit: Amazing World of Stuffs


Incandescent light bulbs will not be sold or manufactured in the US from January 1, 2014. This phase out is the effect of The Energy Independence and National Security Act in 2007. The phasing out transition is expected to save Americans 13 billion USD on their annual energy bills.

Link: http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/46818

Date and Source: Environmental News Network, December 23, 2013

Natural Fibres as Car Parts Lead to Better Fuel Consumption

Cellulose Reinforced Polypropylene (CRPs) are tree harvested natural fibres. These fibres are lighter and more eco-friendly than their fibreglass counterparts. Weyerhaeuser has created the CRP fibre for the development of a specific car part in the Lincoln MKX 2014 car model. By scaling up the CRP fibre usage as car parts, the overall car’s weight would be reduced and thus lead to better fuel consumption.

Link: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/12/23/new-life-for-christmas-trees-as-car-parts/

Date and Source: Environmental Leader – December 23, 2013

GISR Moving Forward On Sustainability Ratings

                                                     gisr
                                                                                  Picture Credit: Ratesustainability


Global Initiative for Sustainability Ratings (GISR) has announced their 12 core principles to accredit sustainability ratings worldwide. It encompasses three components, namely principles, issues and indicators. GISR’s aim is to expand the global market for high quality sustainability ratings, ranking and indices. GISR currently focuses on accrediting sustainability ratings, rankings or indices that meet certain standards of excellence for accessing corporate sustainability performance.

Link: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/12/20/sustainability-ratings-standard-moves-forward/

Date and Source: Environmental Leader – December 20, 2013



New Pygmy Tapir Species is Biggest Discovery of the Century

                                                           tapir
                                                                                     Photo credit:
Cozzuol et al.


Scientists have recently found a new species of tapir in Brazil and Columbia. The new mammal is unknown to science but recognised by local indigenous tribes and is as possibly the smallest living tapir to date. As reported in the Journal of Mammology, scientists have named the new tapir Tapirus kabomani after the local tribe’s name for a tapir. This small tapir is the first tapir to be discovered since 1865, and more significantly, the largest land mammal to be discovered in decades. It lives in open grasslands and forests of the southwest Amazon and is most similar to the Brazilian tapir but has darker hair and is significantly smaller. Given its scarcity and smaller habitat compared to other tapirs, this Kabomani tapir will inevitably be listed as a species ‘Threatened with Extinction’.

Link: http://news.mongabay.com/2013/1216-hance-new-tapir-kabomani.html?fbfnpg and http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1644/12-MAMM-A-169.1

Date and Source: 18 December 2013, Mongabay and Journal of Mammology

NYC’s Innovative Recycling Facility Built from Recycled Materials

                                                       facility
                                                                         Photo credit:
Sims Municipal Recycling


The Sunset Park Material Recycling Facility has recently commenced operations, serving as New York City’s main facility for its curbside recycling program. The facility is located on the Brooklyn waterfront and will be serviced by barges – eliminating the need for over 150,000 annual truck trips. The facility was also designed to adapt to climate change, taking into consideration rising sea levels and storm surges. It was built almost entirely from recycled steel, while its rooftop houses a 600kW solar photovoltaic installation. The project also aims to promote marine conservation by creating new reefs off the pier. Its Recycling Education Centre will be opened to the public and school groups in 2014.

Link: http://www.simsmunicipal.com/NYC/Sunset-Park-MRF and http://inhabitat.com/nyc/nycs-new-state-of-the-art-recycling-facility-to-eliminate-150000-annual-truck-trips/

Date and Source: 17 December, 2013, Sims Municipal Recycling and Inhabitat