Assignment: Critical Reflection

The moment I found out that I would be taking an effective communication class for my first trimester, I dreaded the idea and hoped to defer from the module. As I took a similar module in polytechnic but due to the lecturer's way of teaching the class, I disliked the module very much. However, there is a reason why effective communication must be taught to all the new students in Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). 

My initial thought when I started the class was the same as in polytechnic but I was mistaken. On the first day of class, the expectation of the class was set and I knew that this module will help me improve my presentation skills and report writing. This is because, during my time as a property officer in EM Services, I was unable to express my ideas or opinions clearly to my colleagues and managers. Especially when it came to advising the residents over the phone or through face-to-face conversations. 

As the tutorial classes went on, I found it challenging to keep with the weekly submissions, doing my revision for my other modules and contributing to my project work. Also, the tutorial class was twice a week as compared to my other tutorials which are once a week. 

Though it was a fast-paced module, it has helped me tremendously. From presenting, report writing, structuring a proper sentence and learning the proper APA citation, I didn't think I was able to improve this much within 3 months. I feel much more confident in presenting the work I do and standing in front of a room full of people. I am thankful to have gone through this module and hope to continuously improve my effective communication skills.

Annotated Summary #1

 D. Strik, H. V. M. Hamelers, J. F. H. Snel and C. J. N. Buisman Green electricity production with living plants and bacteria in a fuel cell DOI: 10.1002/er.1397

In this article, the authors explained how the use of a microbial fuel cell can be used in living plants to generate electricity. As production of electricity releases harmful gases into the atmosphere, scientists are looking into creating renewable electrical energy. By using plant microbial fuel cell (plant-MFC) in plants, it transforms solar radiation into green electricity from the photosynthesis of plants.

The authors explained how plant-MFC is used when the plant is undergoing the process of photosynthesis. During this process, the plant produces organic materials where it is transported throughout the plant. As not all the organic materials are used, it will be excreted at the roots of the plant. The unwanted materials, referred to as plant rhizodeposits, is utilized as substrates by the bacteria that surrounds the soil which will generate electricity in the plant-MFC.  

The research paper showed that the possible growth of plant energy and highlighted the environmental advantages of the system. Since there is a variety of plant-based technology such as bioelectricity, bioethanol and biodiesel, it has its drawbacks and it competes for agricultural land use. By using plant-MFC, the authors addressed was its "social point of view" as it can be implemented in natural environments "without being competitive with agricultural lands".

This article has helped my research project on how plants can be sourced as renewable energy and be utilized sustainably. Though the plant technology is still in the developing process, it has shown significant progress and its beneficial environmental impacts. This has emboldened my team's project idea and how plant energy can be implemented at the new campus in SIT. 

Assignment 2: Sensor Tech for HVAC - Final (Summary and Reader Response)

In the article "The Expanding Role of Sensor in "Smart' HVAC Systems", Manz expressed the need for sensors in buildings as it will "reap significant energy savings". He explained that by connecting all the various systems in the building, especially the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, will create an integrated and innovative monitoring software that observes the energy consumption of the building. Manz mentioned that over the years building owners neglected energy savings until the 1970s and 2000s when there was an increase in oil prices, making "power conservation is essential". Another aspect of the need for sensors is the advancement of technology. He mentioned that replacing the analogue sensors with a small-scale digital unit reduces installation time and "eliminate the need for recalibration". According to the article, sensors have changed the ways of energy management in a building. However, the author could have elaborated on the benefits of sensors in a smart building: determining the occupancy load in a room, monitoring the indoor air quality (IAQ), and integrating with various systems in the building.

The first benefit of sensors that Manz could have elaborated is it can determine the occupancy load in a room. In the article “Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings”, the authors explained that the current HVAC system in a building will operate at full capacity throughout the day which results in "rooms are often needlessly over-conditioned, which may lead to significant waste in energy consumption." For example, the HVAC system will operate from 7.30 am to 6 pm and about an hour of the day, the occupants in the building will be lesser. Since most of the rooms will be empty, it causes an unnecessary waste of energy to cool down the building. Using an occupancy-based sensor, it will sense the occupancy level in the room and "cool" down the room accordingly. If the room has been unoccupied after some time, the HVAC system will return to its preconditioned temperature setting preserving the comfort level of the room. With an occupancy-based control sensor, it reduces the energy consumption in a building and “avoiding wasting energy for empty rooms.”

Another benefit Manz could have elaborated is sensors can monitor the IAQ of the building. IAQ refers to the environmental characteristic inside the building that would affect our health, comfort, or work productivity. In a company blog post by Aeroqual, the post explained that people spend at least 90% of their time indoors compared to outdoors and continuously breathe in "indoor air" which has been recycled multiple times throughout the HVAC system. Through this process, the number of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and organic chemicals in the air inside the system will start to accumulate which may irritate our eyes and nose.  If the building has insufficient vent outlets and inadequate ventilation, it will contribute to short and long-term respiratory health issues. In a different blog post by Germain, he informed by monitoring the level of carbon dioxide in the building, building managers can determine if the IAQ is well ventilated and able to circulate with the outdoor air. This will replenish the oxygen levels and clearing the pollutants within the building. IAQ is an essential part of the HVAC system as it manages the comfort level and increases work productivity as well.

 Lastly, Manz could have elaborated on is integrating HVAC with the various systems into a single management network. From a newsletter by Searle, most HVAC system uses single propriety monitoring management but it does not monitor overall systems in the building such as lighting, fire system, security management, etc. As technology advances, it is possible to integrate the various building systems into a single management system. An example is an additional sensor that can be installed to monitor the sunlight intensity within the room and a lower light setting accordingly. It is ideal for building systems to evolve and become smarter as it will "optimize performance and create the best possible indoor environment".

In conclusion, sensors within the HVAC system is a crucial role in energy management and assisted in maintaining the overall occupancy comfort in the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

D. Jin, C. Winstead, J. Nutaro & T. Kuruganti (2018). Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings. Energies. 11. 2427. 10.3390/en11092427. 

 

Aeroqual (2018, Sept 25) Why monitor indoor air quality? Aeroqual.

aeroqual.com/why-monitor-indoor-air-quality

 

E. Germain (2011, Feb 2) The Benefits of Air Quality in Building Management. Envirotech-online.

https://www.envirotech-online.com/article/health-and-safety/10/sgx-sensortech/the-benefits-of-air-quality-sensors-in-building-management-eric-germain/864

 

N. Searle (2018, April 4) Top five benefits of HVAC and lighting control integration. CSE Mag.

https://www.csemag.com/articles/top-five-benefits-of-hvac-and-lighting-control-integration/

Assignment 2: Sensor Tech for HVAC - Draft 2 (Summary & Readers Response)

In the article "The Expanding Role of Sensor in "Smart' HVAC Systems", Manz (2018) expresses the need for sensors in buildings as it will "reap significant energy savings". He explained that by connecting all the various systems in the building, especially the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, will create an integrated and innovative monitoring software that observes the energy consumption of the building. Manz mentioned that over the years building owners neglected energy savings until the 1970s and 2000s when there was an increase in oil prices, making "power conservation is essential". Another aspect of the need for sensors is the advancement of technology. He mentioned that replacing the analogue sensors with a small-scale digital unit reduces installation time and "eliminate the need for recalibration". According to the article, sensors have changed the ways of energy management in a building. However, the author could have elaborated on the benefits of sensors in a smart building: determining the occupancy load in the room, monitoring the indoor air quality, and integrating with other systems in the building. 

 

With an aid of a sensor, the HVAC system can operate based on the occupancy level or load in a room. In a normal building, the HVAC system will operate at full capacity throughout the day according to a fixed timing. For example, it will operate from 7.30 am to 6 pm and about an hour of the day, the occupants in the building will be lesser. Since most of the rooms will be empty, it causing an unnecessary waste of energy to cool down the building. Using an occupancy-based HVAC control system, it regulates the thermal comfort in the room based on peak and non-peak hours in the day. The sensor will sense the occupancy in the room and "cool" down the room accordingly. If the room has been unoccupied after some time, the HVAC system will return to its preconditioned temperature setting maintaining the comfort level in the room. With an occupancy-based control sensor, it reduces the energy consumption in a building and ensures the coolness of the room is maintained.  

 

Secondly, we spend at least 90% of the time indoors compared to outdoors and we continuously breathe in "indoor air" which has been recycled multiple times throughout the HVAC system. Through this process, the number of pollutants in the air inside the system will start to build up and may irritate the eyes and nose. If the building has insufficient vent outlets and inadequate ventilation, it will contribute to short and long-term health issues such as asthma, pneumonia, and systematic hypertension. Through monitoring the level of carbon dioxide in the building, building managers can determine if the indoor air quality (IAQ) is well ventilated and able to circulate with the outdoor air, replenishing the oxygen in the building and clearing the pollutants within the building. IAQ is an essential part of the HVAC system as it manages the comfort level and increases the productivity of the occupants as well. 

 

Lastly, the current HVAC system uses a single propriety monitoring management but it does not monitor overall systems in the building such as lighting, fire system, security management. As technology advances, the possibility of integrating all the various building systems into a single management system. Such an example is an additional sensor that can be installed to monitor the sunlight intensity within the room and lower light settings accordingly, thus increasing energy efficiency. Future innovations of sensors are limitless and it will help to construct the building's design and function.

In conclusion, sensors within the HVAC system has been an asset in energy management and maintaining the overall occupancy comfort in the building. Without sensors, the building operations would be vastly different and it has eased our living conditions without realizing it.

 

References: 

 

1) Dong, Jin & Winstead, Christopher & Nutaro, James & Kuruganti, Teja. (2018). Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings. Energies. 11. 2427. 10.3390/en11092427. 

 

2) Aeroqual (2018, Sept 25) Why monitor indoor air quality? aeroqual.com/why-monitor-indoor-air-quality

 

3) Eric Germain (2011, Feb 2) The Benefits of Air Quality in Building Management https://www.envirotech-online.com/article/health-and-safety/10/sgx-sensortech/the-benefits-of-air-quality-sensors-in-building-management-eric-germain/864

 

4) Nick Searle (2018, April 4) Top five benefits of HVAC and lighting control integration https://www.csemag.com/articles/top-five-benefits-of-hvac-and-lighting-control-integration/

 

5) Coolautomation (2016, May 1) HVAC System – The Past, The Present and The Future https://coolautomation.com/blog/how-do-we-make-hvac-integration/ 

(Revised on 9 Oct 2020, Friday)

Assignment 2: Sensor Tech for HVAC - Draft 1 (Summary & Reader Response)

In the article "The Expanding Role of Sensor in "Smart' HVAC Systems" Manz (2018), expresses the need for sensors in buildings as it will "reap significant energy savings". He explained that by connecting all the various systems in the building, especially the HVAC system, will create an integrated and innovative monitoring software that observes the energy consumption of the building. Manz mentioned that over the years building owners neglected energy savings until the 1970s and 2000s when there was an increase in oil prices making "power conservation is essential". Another aspect of the need for sensor technology is the advancement of technology. Replacing the analogue sensor with a small-scale digital unit reduces installation time and "eliminate the need for recalibration". With the points explained in the article, Manz could have elaborated on the overall cost of the sensors.

Firstly, tenants may not be willing to spend additional costs for upgrades. According to the U.S Department of Energy, the "split-incentive" refers to the accumulation costs and energy-efficient advantages to various bodies based on the responsibilities for capital improvements and other bills, such as utilities. An example of the "split-incentive", a building owner would like to replace the fluorescent lights to a LED motion sensor light that will cost $20 000 in total. Some tenants are willing to accept this proposal as it will reduce their utility cost but some tenants may refuse. It may be due to their lease period is shorter than the breakeven savings cost which could be 10 years later. With the implementation of these "smart" systems, there would be an increase in their rentals. 

 

References: 

U.S Department of Energy (2016, April) Energy Efficiency in Separate Tenant Spaces - A Feasibility Study https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/DOE%20-%20Energy%20Efficiency%20in%20Separate%20Tenant%20Spaces_0.pdf

 

Therma (n. d.) https://www.therma.com/pros-vs-cons-of-implementing-iot-programs-in-your-facility/

Assignment 1: Self-Introductory Letter

 

Dear Professor Brad, 

My name is Nur Atiqah and with this introduction letter, I hope that you will get to know me better. Before I was accepted into university, I went to Institute of Technical Education graduating with a Higher Nitec certificate in Facility Management and went on to take my diploma in Integrated Facility Management at Temasek Polytechnic. Upon graduation, I worked at EM Services as a Property Officer at Pasir Ris – Punggol Town Council.

My interest in engineering started when my father used to watch a television series on Discovery channel called “How’s Its Made”. The series would show the process, from beginning till end, of making our everyday items, such as hairdryer, canned food, computers, etc. It had answered my curiosity in the various process taken to build and create such items. This made my mind think of how the building components were made and how it was installed.  

While working at EM Services, I gained confidence to speak to strangers and using the polite terms in addressing an issue. For example, I would receive multiple feedback regarding a unit’s belonging obstructing the passageway at the common corridor. I would visit the unit and advise them to remove the said items, informing them about the safety aspects; fire safety and accessibility. Most residents will understand and co-operate, but some will question even more. During this time, I would find myself in a difficult position as I am unable to find the proper terms or inform them in an appropriate manner.

Aside from receiving feedback from calls, I would receive them via emails. I am competent in verbalizing with residents, but I lack in effective writing as I find it difficult to construct a decent reply. Before I sent out the reply, my manager would vet the email and this may take time for him to think through and paraphrase the reply. At times, I would have to reply 5 different emails in a day.

My goals for this module are to improve in my writing and ­­­­­­­­speaking skills. My mind is able to process through the ideas and opinions but I find myself unable to project it out. Even as I am writing this letter, I still find it difficult to write down my reflection. I hope that with much practice and understanding I am able to overcome this hurdle.

Regards, 

Nur Atiqah Nadia

(updated on Thurs 24 Sep 2020)

I have read Dorathy's, Nadia's and Clement's introductory letter on 24 Sep 2020.

Tutorial 1, Task 3: The Importance of Communication Skills for Engineer

"Employers identify communication as one of the basic competencies every graduate should have, asserting that the ability to communicate is valuable for obtaining employment and maintaining successful job performance."

Sherwyn Morrale, Michael Osborn & Judy Pearson, Professors of Communication (2000)

What can I derive from the quote above?

Being a graduate and showing an exceptional profile when applying for a job does perk up the employers' eye. However, without the necessary and basic communication skills will diminish the possibility of obtaining that dream job.  

How does an employer determine the applicant is suitable for the job?

One thing I dread when applying for a job is the interview. The whole interview may take 10mins at most but it feels like an hour of grueling questions. However, after much exposure to interviews, I realized that it is the critical part of the employment process. Through interview questions, the employer will be able to determine if we have the basic communication skills/ competency in taking up the role. 

Why is effective communication important to you?

After I've been working 2 years in the building management and maintenance industry, I discovered miscommunication and misinformation is the main reason for works to be delayed or executed incorrectly. For example, giving instructions to an employee may seem to be an easy task. However, if the instructions were not delivered properly or giving an incomplete direction of the "what to do" will cause delays and leads to disruptive working relationships.