Sustainability Momentum Sdn Bhd

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.

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.

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.

Watch the Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept car video at https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2014/01/02/let-the-sun-in--ford-c-max-solar-energi-concept-goes-off-the-gri.html

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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.

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’.

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.