Reader Response Draft 4

The article “Review of energy efficiency in controlled environment agriculture” (Engler & Krarti, 2021) described controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) application and their relationship with HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. HVAC systems are the technology used in indoor farming to control the environment for growing crops. This system has played an important part in meeting the demand for food production in urban agriculture. One of the distinctive features and vital functions of the HVAC system is the ability to grow crops according to its optimal environmental conditions through the use of customizations (CultivaSystems, n.d.). In addition, HVAC systems emphasize focusing energy efficiency to address challenges posed by global warming in agriculture (AGRIVI, n.d.). Engler and Krarti (2021) have mentioned the features of HVAC systems include thermostats and controllers, sensors, heat pumps, and energy efficiency that work together to create a sustainable environment for growing crops. Furthermore, Engler and Krarti (2021) state that the main function is to develop optimal environmental conditions for cultivation, which include temperature control, ventilation, and humidity control. HVAC systems used in urban farming play a crucial role in ensuring food safety and quality produce without being affected by the climate. Using HVAC systems in urban agriculture to meet the food demand while reducing carbon emissions, especially in Singapore.

HVAC systems play a vital role in countries such as Singapore due to limited space to meet food demands (Wijkvliet, 2022). This will lead to healthy crops and higher yields which is part of the goal of Singapore's “30 by 30”. By 2030, the goal is “to produce 30% of the nation’s nutritional needs locally” by transforming “Singapore’s agri-food industry into one of the most highly productive, innovative, and sustainable” (Singaporelife, 2023). As Singapore is a little red dot, the government and farmers have to embrace technology and innovations to improve its product quality and production efficiency. Singapore has adopted various technologies to increase local food production by making use of limited land spaces. One example of this is the Singapore Housing and Development Board (HDB). HDB’s Green Towns programme was launched by Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to set the goal for Singapore’s sustainable future (Ng, 2021). One of the approaches is to convert HDB rooftops into urban farms. The urban-metabolic farming module aims to create an eco-resilient farms-cape (Case et al, 2022). HVAC systems have been applied to farming techniques where environmental control is required.

Global warming is a major world concern, and the adoption of HVAC systems can help by reducing carbon emissions. One example of this would be the reduction of carbon emissions through the use of solar-assisted heat pumps. The evidence suggests that heat pumps have a lower carbon emission value compared to traditional kerosene heaters (Engler & Krarti, 2021). Engler and Krarti have also shared that solar-assisted heat pumps are capable of handling the loads of heating and cooling at a coefficient of performance (COP) of over 3.0.

Nevertheless, HVAC systems used in indoor farming are hard to maintain as compared to traditional farming. Due to all year-round operations, the equipment wear and tear would be higher, leading to an eventual shortening of its life span. One of the HVAC systems for indoor agriculture that is very good at temperature control is energy-efficient. In addition, most HVAC equipment is designed with the assumption that it will not exceed a maximum capacity of 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (Sabeh, 2022). Another reason why HVAC systems are hard to manage for indoor agriculture is because the primary occupant is plants. Plants require a suitable environment to grow in indoor in terms of humidity and temperature. Additionally, each of the plants has its own needs and plants interact with interactive building systems. Therefore, HVAC systems must be able to monitor plant response and even predict the changes in the indoor agriculture environment.

In conclusion, HVAC systems in indoor agriculture can help to reduce carbon emissions. With regard to Singapore's “30 by 30” goals, the country does not need to rely on imported food and can ensure the food shortage that we faced during the COVID-19 period will not recur in the future (Singaporelife, 2023). Therefore, having a good HVAC system in indoor agriculture can make a positive impact to the world.

 

References

AGRIVI. (2022, November 1). Overcoming Weather Limitations with Greenhouse Farming. AGRIVI. https://www.agrivi.com/blog/overcoming-weather-limitations-with-greenhouse-farming/

cultivasystems. (n.d.). Indoor Agriculture HVAC. Cultiva Systems. https://cultivasystems.com/indoor-agriculture-hvac/

Engler, N., & Krarti, M. (2021, May). Review of energy efficiency in controlled environment agriculture. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 141(110786), 12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032121000812

Ng, W. K. (2021, February 23). 7 urban farm sites on HDB rooftops launched for public tender in Bukit Panjang, Woodlands, Sembawang. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hdb-rooftops-to-get-more-urban-farms

Sabeh, N. (2022, June 22). Why Is HVAC so Hard for Indoor Farms? Greenhouse Grower. https://www.greenhousegrower.com/production/why-is-hvac-so-hard-for-indoor-farms/

Singapore Food Agency. (2022, November 11). A sustainable food system for Singapore and beyond. Singapore Food Agency. https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-for-thought/article/detail/a-sustainable-food-system-for-singapore-and-beyond

Singaporelife. (2023, June 3). 30 by 30 Vision: Singapore's Agritech Sector Nurtures Food Security - by Hawksford. GuideMeSingapore. https://www.guidemesingapore.com/in-the-news/2023/singapores-agritech-sector

verticalfarmdaily. (2023, April 14). HVAC importance in vertical farming. Vertical Farm Daily. https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com/article/9520856/hvac-importance-in-vertical-farming/

Wijkvliet, N. v. (2022, November 11). No space, no problem. How Singapore is turning into an edible paradise. Sustainable Urban Delta. https://sustainableurbandelta.com/singapore-30-by-30-food-system/

William, Y. E., Hui An, Chien, S.-C., Soh, C. B., Ang, B. T. W., Toshikazu Ishida, Hikaru Kobayashi, Tan, D., & Tay, R. H. S. (2022, December 16). Urban-Metabolic Farming Modules on Rooftops for Eco-Resilient Farmscape. https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/sustainability/sustainability-14-16885/article_deploy/sustainability-14-16885.pdf?version=1671172473

 

Critical Reflection

Module Learning

Before taking this module, my initial thought was it would be very boring because I took a similar module at Singapore Polytechnic that was not useful. However, I have a positive thought, hoping to improve my writing and communication skills through this module since I know my English is weak. Surprisingly, this module was indeed fun and enjoyable as I never experienced before in my entire education, contrary to my negative perspective. Additionally, my writing and communication have shown improvement with the guidance of Professor Blackstone.

Throughout this trimester, I have been trained to write a formal report with a given deadline and learn to communicate better. When writing a report, I have to do thorough research on the topic for deep understanding so that the information written is reliable and detailed. After posting every draft writing on the blog, I would get feedback from my peers and Professor Blackstone, and from that, I got to know what I lacked and where to improve. On the other hand, communication is my weakness because I do not know how to express my words especially when it comes to presentation. 

This module taught by Professor Blackstone has various online resources and uses bloggers to engage the learning, making every lesson enjoyable. The online resources are very useful when it comes to reader response and technical reports especially learning how to make use of AI for research and writing.

In conclusion, this module is the best one that I have ever taken and it allows me to push myself for the best through the challenges that I face. The skills I have acquired in this module are not just useful but I  can also apply to various academic and professional settings.

Project Learning

For our team's research project, I took the role of reporter. My tasks were to present on behalf of the group for our progress and ideas. However, I did not fully adhere to my role as I was not confident enough and I truly feel I have missed the opportunity to try. In terms of the group project, each of us has a different background and perspective therefore it required us to cooperate with each other. In contrast, through discussion, we were able to work well because we had similar ideas and goals. 

One important thing that I learned from the project is to be open-minded to accept disagreement and stand in each other shoes to think. The process of preparing presentation slides was not easy because I was unsure what needed to be presented for my part as I was in charge of three components: sensors, line follower, and battery. I am glad to have great teammates to help me out including when preparing for the final presentation. Overall, working with the group turned out to be enjoyable, and it helped me to be more open up and learn from each other experiences and knowledge.

Performance on student participation

I personally think that my overall performance in this module is good because I always ensure that I am punctual for class and hand in assignments on time. I have a strong interest in learning and improving and I always put in my 100% effort to do every work. I do not like being late for class because it's not my usual behavior. Missing important information at the beginning of the class makes me worry that I might fall behind my peers. Additionally, submitting assignments on time is always very important to me because it is my responsibility to ensure I complete my work on time. 

In terms of class participation, I might not actively participate enthusiastically in class. However, I always try my best when I have to read up information from the board in class as I know this is an opportunity to practice and improve my speaking skills. Moreover, I do work well in group activities, actively participating by discussing ideas and giving feedback. On the other hand, when I get feedback from my peers, I take time to read it and identify areas where I need to improve. For reader response drafting I consulted Professor Blackstone on the area that I was unsure of and sought guidance on improvement. After receiving grades and feedback from Professor Blackstone, I looked through the areas where I made mistakes and consulted again to further clarify in detail.

Lastly, I would always show respect when someone is speaking in front of the class. Actively listening and paying close attention to details is a basic courtesy that I believe is important whenever someone is speaking.