Sphere
#35
2014
20
Cities of the Future
>>
Domestic users will need more complex
solutions to enable information to be
gathered and analysed to decide how to
alter energy distribution and delivery. HK
Electric has a number of infrastructure
proof-of-concept evaluations that seek
to overcome the challenge of collecting
masses of data.
EFFICIENCY: ENERGISE!
Mr TC Yee, General Manager (Corporate
Development) of HK Electric, explained,
“With the ability to increase energy
efficiency and savings, the ability to
manage commercial customer loading,
the ability to integrate alternative energy
sources and an increased ability to manage
consumption. The future is smart grid
technology — 100 per cent.”
Smart grid technology can be built into
a new development from the beginning.
Challenges lie in improving old systems to
incorporate modern smart grid technology.
In the words of TC, “Unless you build from
scratch, you need to make a seamless
migration to a more modern system, which
takes time.” More specifically, it will be the IT
hardware, software and applications solutions
behind the primary equipment which will
pose the greatest obstacle to migration.
His colleague, Alex, called it ‘a long journey’
— but one that HK Electric has started.
CLEANING UP AFTER YOURSELF
A cleaner environment is one of the biggest
aspirations of modern communities.
Energy efficiency is an important part of
the puzzle. So is managing the mountains
of waste that threaten to engulf modern
cities without 21st century plans and waste
management providers. EnviroWaste
Services Limited in New Zealand is one of
those modern providers.
Proper waste management is now
considered a sign of an enlightened
society. It is a growing global issue and
rightfully so. Due to rapid urbanisation,
many cities are facing an uphill battle in
determining where to put all their rubbish.
ENVIROWASTE TO THE RESCUE
Enter EnviroWaste of New Zealand.
EnviroWaste is currently leading the charge
by providing practical waste management
solutions to everyday life by making it
easy – and cost-effective – for customers
to live a ‘green’ lifestyle. EnviroWaste
works in partnership with its customers
to implement cost-effective, sustainable
waste management solutions that relieve
pressure on our landfills and move us
closer to a greener tomorrow.
WHAT IT TAKES
Sphere
caught up with Mr Gary Saunders,
Hong Kong’s energy supply —
vital in a city that has more
buildings over a height of 100
metres than the next four ‘tall’
cities (New York, Tokyo, Dubai
and Shanghai) combined.
Managing Director of EnviroWaste
to get his take on the future of waste
management. Despite the negative press
the lack of proper waste management has
garnered in many jurisdictions around the
world, he believes there are numerous
positives to look forward to in the
immediate future. Gary said, “The biggest
short-term advances on the household
level will come by increased waste
diversion, a reduction in raw materials,
and most importantly, by getting as much
reuse and recycling as possible.”
Gary also explained the ideal conditions
for a city to implement forward waste
management solutions, “The real change
in waste management will come with
critical mass economies of scale … shifting
towards industrial waste programmes
while being able to extract energy from the
waste management process.”
Households are one sector EnviroWaste is
targeting. Listening to customer demands,
the company has devised a new system of
waste sorting. Customers are now provided
with four disposal bins — one for general
waste, a green waste bin, an organics bin
and an 80 litre refuse collector. The sorting
system allows customers to easily sort
waste into appropriate bins which in turn
allows EnviroWaste to dispose of it in the
most efficient and practical manner while
helping to reduce the amount of waste sent
to landfills.
There are many futures that could come
to pass. Ideally we will get the best one
as long as Hutchison Whampoa works
in, and with, the communities they are
a part of to answer their needs. From
Gibson’s always-on connectivity to
heritage preservation, to clean, green
infrastructure, HWL’s business units are
answering the needs of people as they
seek to improve their local urbiculture in
the cities of the future.
Cities of the F ture
