Page 145 - Shaping A Sustainable Future

Eco-Solution 2: Electricity Reduction Eco- Solution 4: Synthetic Chemical
Reduction
Island Landscape Nursery informed us that deployment
of LED lighting and the use of Solar electricity generation Island Landscape operations require the use of fertilizers
are in the trial stages, in an attempt by the company to and pesticides. The company investigates the potential
supplement their electricity usage with 10% renewable to reduce carbon footprint and the damaging ecological
Green Energy. This initiative translates to a carbon aspects of synthetic chemicals. One such example is
footprint reduction of the same amount. anti-mosquito agents, which, approved by government

agencies, can also be toxic to unintended insects such as
Eco-Solution 3: Fuel Reduction bees. A typical chemical, temephos, commonly found in
anti-mosquito sand granules, is highly toxic to bees and
The robust Hyundai R220LC-9S excavator used on-site is accumulates in aquatic organisms. Aquatic life, when
acclaimed to be a fuel-efficient workhorse. It is powered consumed by birds, then magnifies this toxicity.
by a Hyundai HM 5.9-litre diesel engine, power rated at
107 kW @ 1950 RPM, with average fuel consumption Another area for consideration is reducing the use of
of 15 litres per hour in economy mode, 16.62 litres manufactured fertilizers as these chemicals inevitably
per hour in standard mode and 18.17 litres per hour in leak into ground soil and the environment. Thus, a
power mode. Thus, the fuel usage information provided switch to natural organic fertilizers will bring about
by Landscape Nursery indicates that their excavator is positive environmental sustainability and ecological
operating at an efficient level. balance. Island Landscape Nursery has provided the
quantity of synthesized pest control chemicals and
There are currently no plans to explore hybrid-powered fertilizers to promote the possible substitution of
equipment due to the prohibitive costs associated. natural products. They currently use about 7,500 kg of
However, saving on fuel is still possible by the staff’s synthesized chemicals annually and are willing to explore
effort to reduce unnecessary engine idling of the other natural products as fertilizer. Product trials can
equipment and lessen operating times. Operation be carried out to determine the positive benefits, and
downtime can also be reduced by practising regular a target of 50 % reduction in the usage of synthesized
equipment maintenance to ensure fuel efficiency and chemicals is proposed.
service life. A target to reduce overall fuel usage by 5 %
is thus proposed to explore all other avenues to reduce
the carbon footprint within company operations.

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