Supertrees are Superheros!

Hello! Today I will be discussing about an iconic landmark that is well known by most Singaporeans. Not only glamorous but also eco-friendly to our nation, it is the Gardens by the Bay.

The infamous Supertrees have attracted over 50 million visitors in a timeframe of 6 years. [1] The beautiful gardens has even been featured in the romantic comedy film, Crazy Rich Asians due to its bewitching  nature.  [1] Not only are the gardens mesmerising and Instagram worthy, they also play an active role in reducing fossil fuel consumption and saving water.

In 2018, I visited the annual Christmas Wonderland event held by Gardens by the Bay. There were beautiful displays of lights all around the festive location. The main attraction was a light display as tall as a building. There were spectacular light shows that flashed different coloured lights to the beats of popular Christmas songs. The lovely event was blindingly bright and magnificent but I had an itching question in the back of my mind amidst the whole event. I wonder how much energy is used to light up this beautiful area? Aside from Christmas Wonderland, the Flower Dome and Cloud Dome were cooled conservatories equipped with high tech gadgets such as LED boards and irrigation systems. It must be a jaw dropping amount. Or so I thought.

On the top of the looming Supertrees that range from 25-50 metres [2], there are solar panels installed that are used to balance out the energy used to light up the events. [3]This reduces the amount of fossil fuels burnt and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, horticulture waste from all parts of Singapore are combusted to generate electricity [3] to run the widely visited Flower Dome and Cloud Dome. Heat is also generated for the dehumidifier [3] found in the two conservatories. Thus these schemes lead to a more sustainable energy consumption in the gardens. The lakes in the Gardens are not only used for aesthetically pleasing purposes, but also practical uses such as to supply the irrigation system in the Garden. [3]

Singapore is a small island with no natural water resource. Our water security is largely dependent on imports from  Malaysia. [4] I believe that water and energy are scarce resources that should be conserved so ensure supply for future generations. The Gardens practicing sustainable measures that should be highly praised. Numerous people take the clean flowing water that runs through our taps for granted as they believe it’s a given – but how long will that continue? I believe that even the smallest details matter, switching off the lights and fans when not in use or using a cup to brush our teeth will come a long way in becoming a more sustainable country.

References –

[1]Raudhah Hirschmann, 2 March 2020, Visitor numbers to Gardens by the Bay Singapore 2012-2018. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1025475/singapore-gardens-by-the-bay-visitor-numbers/

[2]Gardens by the bay, 2020, Supertree Grove. Retrieved from https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/attractions/supertree-grove-observatory-ocbc-skyway/facts-and-figures.html

[3]Gardens by the bay, 2020, Sustainability Efforts. Retrieved from https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/sustainability-efforts.html#:~:text=Sustainability%20in%20the%20Gardens,water%20throughout%20Bay%20South%20Garden.

[4]Cecilia Tortajada, 22 January 2007, Water Management in Singapore. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07900620600691944