WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING URBAN GREEN SPACES?

1. They reduce pollution

One of the most common problems in our cities is the increase in periods of pollution. Plants that are installed on roofs act as filters for some of the most harmful air pollutants. For example, one square metre of green space can retain small contaminating particles that are harmful to health.

1. Improves city water management.

Rainwater can be retained in cities and increase humidity. Green roofs can absorb rainwater, reducing runoff that could lead to the collapse of urban sewer systems.

1. They mitigate the effects of global warming.

The increase in temperatures, and heatwaves, and the spread of disease are some of the consequences of global warming in cities. The creation of a new urban green ecosystem mitigates these consequences, which directly affect the health and welfare of citizens.

1. Improves the thermal insulation of Buildings.

The installation of green roofs on the roofs of buildings and private homes provides greater insulation that results in cooler temperatures in the summer months and greater warmth in cooler months. Energy consumption can be reduced by up to 25% in summer and up to 10% in winter.

1. Greater climatic and Acoustic Comfort.

Heat Island is a thermal phenomenon created by a temperature increase in areas with lots of buildings, and it is caused by cars, lights, asphalt and cement. The presence of green spaces in urban planning and buildings help prevent this phenomenon, reducing the city’s temperatures by an average of one degree.

Also, roofs and green walls reduce the reflection of sound in cities by up to 3 decibels and the acoustic insulation of buildings by up to 8 decibels.

1. It Improves our Quality of LIFE!

Green presence in our urban environment fosters our connection with nature and consequently can lead us to better human well-being. Numerous studies show the beneficial effects of urban green on people such as reducing stress, decreasing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and improving concentration.

HOW MUCH GREEN COVER SHOULD WE HAVE?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every city is recommended to provide a minimum of 9 square meters of urban green space for each person provided that it should be accessible, safe and functional.

The spreading of green spaces contributes to the creation of a new layer of urban biodiversity. The presence of this new layer has a direct impact on the generation of wildlife corridors, which are essential for improving the quality of life and well-being in today’s cities.

A good transportation system is one of the solutions to many problems such as pollution and lack of urban spaces to name a few. The measures that the Felizian Government would take are:-

1. There would be a tax imposed on the Open Market Value of cars + the normal registration fee (such as the one imposed by Singapore). The tax would be 30% on petrol and diesel cars that currently run and 10% on the cars that are run by batteries. This would in one way ensure that the number of vehicles on the roads are minimised to an extent. The tax would be named as the Green tax and the entire revenue that the govt. generates through this Green tax would go in maintaining the pollution levels by maintaining the greenery and the well-connected and spread Public Transport

2. Traffic bans will also play a very crucial role in maintaining the pollution levels. In areas found to have a higher level of pollution, traffic bans will be imposed and the area will only be accessed by pedestrians and people using other sustainable ways of transportation such as cycles and e-bikes

3. After reducing the number of personal vehicles on the roads, it becomes really important to have a very well developed and well-spread Public Transportation System (PTS). The Transport System will be a master in Availability, Affordability Efficiency, Convenience, Sustainability. For this to happen, the following things will be taken care of:-

a) The no. of stops would be reduced. This would be done through a careful examination of the areas that wouldn't really need a specific stop. Rather, the one single station would be accessible from multiple points (talking about metro here). This would reduce the time and increase the efficiency of transportation.

b) There will be separate lanes for public transport and they will be given priority at the signals. This would be done through Active Transport Signal Priority. Here the vehicle sends a signal to the headquarter that keeps a watch on all the transportation and the signal might change keeping PTS as a priority. This would play a major role in reducing the costs and also making the customers happy.

c) Zero-emission buses will be used in Tierra Feliz this would further help to cut down on pollution levels. Increase service - more routes, increased frequency, and longer operating hours. Improved coordination among modes - buses, trains, ferries and airports would all lead to a well-synchronised transportation

d) Improved Stops and Stations, including shelter (enclosed waiting areas, with heating in winter and cooling in summer), seating, Wayfinding and other Navigation Tools, washrooms, refreshments, Internet services, and other convenience and comfort features. Universal Design of vehicles, stations and pedestrian facilities to accommodate people with disabilities and other special needs. Park & Ride facilities will encourage people to switch over to PTS.

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SOLAR ELECTRICITY SYSTEM:

1. Renewable Energy Source: Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy. Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.

2. Versatile installation: The ease and simplicity of the installation mean that it can be installed almost anywhere, taking advantage of both vertical and horizontal spaces with no specific use. This aspect, along with the modularity and flexibility of the system, facilitates the installation of small-scale solar projects with the added advantage that the installation can be expanded depending on the needs at any given time. But the most interesting advantage is the possibility of providing electricity in remote locations, where the cost of installing electrical distribution lines is too high or unfeasible.

3. Zero energy-production costs: As we mentioned before, solar energy doesn’t require any outside supply to work, so its maintenance and energy production costs are practically zero. The only cost associated with the use of solar energy is the manufacture and installation of the components. This means that despite the large initial investment, there are no additional costs associated with its use, so the installation is recovered quickly.

4. Economic savings: The production of clean energy from the sun significantly reduces costs, because it is an inexhaustible source of energy that isn’t subject to market fluctuations or the effects generated by speculation. As mentioned before, it requires a significant initial investment that is offset by the rapid amortisation of the investment. And most importantly, it is an unlimited and continuous source of energy that doesn’t require any additional maintenance or usage costs. Nevertheless, the latest technological advances point towards a significant drop in the prices of the components required to manufacture the panels, which will translate into more efficient and affordable solar cells. Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage. Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but there is also a possibility to receive payments for the surplus energy that you export back to the grid. If you generate more electricity than you use (considering that your solar panel system is connected to the grid).

5. Technology Development: Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and improvements will intensify in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and nanotechnology can potentially increase the effectiveness of solar panels and double, or even triple, the electrical input of the solar power systems.

6. Energy production coincides with the times of maximum demand: The periods with the highest energy demand are concentrated in the time slots between 11:00 and 16:00 and to a lesser extent, from 20:00 to 23:00. In systems based on the constant production of energy by power plants, the price of energy increases sharply during times of peak demand. With solar energy, on the other hand, energy production reaches its maximum during the period of the day when demand is highest. In fact, in electricity markets with large-scale solar energy production, the additional supply of energy during peak times may reduce electricity prices during the mid-day time periods to levels similar to those of the night-time hours.

7. Impact on the environment: The production of solar energy doesn’t generate noise pollution, which is an important aspect to take into account for installations in urban areas. It also doesn’t generate any waste because it doesn’t need maintenance and its lifetime is far longer than other energy-production systems. In fact, solar panels are designed to withstand the impact of the environment in extreme weather situations.

8. Economic impact: Lastly, most of the costs of the system come from the installation of the solar panels themselves, which promotes local job creation. The widespread use of these systems, therefore, promotes job creation and has a positive impact on the economy in the area.

Governments play a key role in achieving the development goals and targets through, for instance, setting and implementing water quality policy frameworks and standards, and regulating the discharge of pollutants into the environment, and wastewater management, recycling and reuse.

For the smooth functioning of the government, there will be a Green Government that will keep a check on the conventional government to ensure that the governmental goals and plans do not hamper with the sustainability of the city. One more important characteristic of this type of government will be that the Green Governments of other cities also will periodically come together to assess the sustainability of a larger piece of land. This would also help the local Green Government to look at any innovations that other cities are using. Also, this periodic meeting would help to make the governments understand if by any chance, any step taken by them is proving to be harmful to some other place or if any step taken by them is somehow polluting the other place.

This mutual understanding between governments can prove to be instrumental in achieving sustainability.

Composition of this Government: The green government will be composed of the interested residents of the city. Also, the people will be democratically elected, and there will be a ceiling to the age of people who can be a part of this government. Only people between the age of 25 to 55 can be a part of this government. This is done to ensure a regular flow of ideas and administrative innovation by young blood.

A good government can achieve any goal. Keeping this in mind, the green government apart from the already existing local government will be formed.

In the city of Tierra Feliz, universal access to medical infrastructure will be insured. However, this might lead to the following problems that can hamper with the sustainability of the entire city. Some of the problems include:- High energy consumption, Improper waste disposal, High water consumption, greenhouse emissions. We propose the following solutions for making the hospitals sustainable as well:-

1. Go local with food choices. Cafeterias in hospitals serve hundreds of people per day, and the source of their food can have a dramatic effect on a hospital’s environmental impact. By contracting with vendors that rely on locally grown fresh produce, hospitals can minimize gasoline consumption required to ship and refrigerate fruits and veggies from distant locations. Hospitals can also work with local composting companies to haul away food waste that can be used as fertilizer in sustainable farming.

2. Look into ways to conserve water. One hospital, Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, saved over 6 million gallons of water per year by replacing a linear accelerator (used in radiation therapy) with a better model; replacing washroom toilets, faucets and showers with water-efficient alternatives; and purchasing high-efficiency dishwashers. On a large scale, less water per flush or shower can make a big difference in water consumption.

3. Save energy. Reducing energy use and carbon output is particularly tricky for hospitals, but not impossible. Connecticut’s Greenwich Hospital saved over 1.7 million kWh and $303,000 of electricity per year and reduced its overall energy consumption by 35%. How? The hospital reprogrammed its heating and cooling plants, re-engineered its air handling systems and upgraded its light bulbs, among other changes. And this investment paid for itself – Greenwich Hospital made back its money within six months.

4. Change waste disposal protocols. Because hospitals produce so much waste, disposing of it in an environmentally friendly way can be challenging. For example, regulated medical waste has to be disinfected before going to the landfill. Disinfection methods like incineration are both energy-intensive and known to release noxious fumes. But processes like autoclaving, chemical treatment and microwaving can be more eco-friendly. Ask the company behind your disinfection process about its energy and chemical use, and consider switching if you can find a greener provider.

5. Practice chemical safety. Dozens of chemicals used in a hospital can be dangerous under the right conditions, but there are some surprising culprits. LCDs, fluorescent lamps, CRT monitors, flame-retardant mattresses, wheelchair cushions and even baby bottles can contain hazardous chemicals if you buy them from the wrong manufacturer. For your hospital, you can improve chemical safety by making conscious purchasing decisions and recycling toxic goods, like batteries, properly.

And the EPA has some tips hospitals can follow for a greener existence:

• Revamp your entire supply chain to be more sustainable. Work with vendors to ensure that all products your hospital purchases are as environmentally friendly as possible, from medical supplies to printer paper.

• Make renovations and upgrades greener. When making renovations or building new facilities, consider the following federal Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

• Change your landscaping techniques. Switching to green landscaping techniques using native plants can help your hospital better manage stormwater drainage, reducing waste. Also, incorporating more green space into your hospital’s campus is a sustainability practice that can also improve its appearance.

Sustainable economic growth means a rate of growth which can be maintained without creating other significant economic problems, especially for future generations. Therefore, it becomes important for us to look at ways of income that wouldn't come down with time. To make the growth in the city of Tierra Feliz sustainable, we have decided to take the following broad measures:-

(i) Technology:

Using appropriate technology is one which is locally adaptable, eco-friendly, resource-efficient and culturally suitable. It mostly involves local resources and local labour. Indigenous technologies are more useful, cost-effective and sustainable. Nature is often taken as a model, using the natural conditions of that region as its components. This concept is known as “design with nature”. The technology should use fewer resources and should produce minimum waste.

(ii) Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Approach:

The 3-R approach advocating minimization of resource use, using them again and again instead of passing it on to the waste stream and recycling the materials goes a long way in achieving the goals of sustainability. It reduces pressure on our resources as well as reduces waste generation and pollution.

(iii) Promoting Environmental Education and Awareness:

Making environmental education the centre of all learning process will greatly help in changing the thinking pattern and attitude of people towards our earth and the environment. Introducing subject right from the school stage will inculcate a feeling of belongingness to earth in small children. ‘Earth thinking’ will gradually get incorporated in our thinking and action which will greatly help in transforming our lifestyles to sustainable ones.

(iv) Resource Utilization as Per Carrying Capacity:

Any system can sustain a limited number of organisms on a long-term basis which is known as its carrying capacity. In the case of human beings, the carrying capacity concept becomes all the more complex. It is because unlike other animals, human beings, not only need food to live but need so many other things to maintain the quality of life. Sustainability of a system depends largely upon the carrying capacity of the system. If the carrying capacity of a system is crossed (say, by overexploitation of a resource), environmental degradation starts and continues till it reaches a point of no return.

Carrying capacity has two basic components:

i. Supporting capacity i.e. the capacity to regenerate

ii. Assimilative capacity i.e. the capacity to tolerate different stresses.

To attain sustainability it is very important to utilize the resources based upon the above two properties of the system. Consumption should not exceed regeneration and changes should not be allowed to occur beyond the tolerance capacity of the system.

(v) Improving Quality of Life Including Social, Cultural and Economic Dimensions:

Development should not focus just on the one-section of already affluent people. Rather it should include sharing of benefits between the rich and the poor. The tribal, ethnic people and their cultural heritage should also be conserved. Strong community participation should be there in policy and practice. Population growth should be stabilized.