Dense but Very green

Singapore. Looking at one of 3 scale models of the city/country of Singapore, I was awed by the amount of green space. While Singapore is the second most densely populated country in the world, almost 50% of its land is dedicated to parks and other green space. We visited the Urban Redevelopment Authority to see the city from a different perspective, a 1: 5,000 scale model which was very cool. The models are used for urban planning and development which is particularly important in a country with only 272 square miles. And Singapore has won many awards for their urban planning. So many, in fact, they now sell their urban development expertise to other countries such as Dubai, Brazil, Qatar and Oman (not sure where all these countries are located but they sound pretty exotic). So not only is Singapore one of the cleanest cities/countries in the world (and while you don’t get caned for littering, the fine was just increased to $410 US dollars for improperly disposing of your trash), it is also one of the best planned. And safest. And greenest. My, my. Do I see a move in the future?  ...

Spelunking

Bermuda. Is it called caving, spelunking or potholing? Depends where you live. In the US and Canada, caving is known as spelunking (which is really one of the coolest words ever) and in the UK and Ireland, it is known as potholing (not such a cool word). Caving involves exploring caves (brilliant) which are some of the most fragile and rarest environments on Earth. Recreational caving differs from other sports in that it is intentionally not publicized to ensure individuals don’t abuse caves due to ignorance or disregard. Many species found in caves exist only in that single cave. In  Bermuda, over 25 cave species are critically endangered meaning they have a 50% chance of extinction if nothing is done. Wow, I had no idea. So what can we do to protect our caves? Learn about our environment. Knowledge is power. Even on the cave tour I joined, people had thrown coins into the pools to make a wish. Unbeknownst to me, the copper in pennies deteriorates rapidly causing toxic copper ions that pollute the water. Had I known, I would have said something to the tour guide. Now that would have made for an interesting dialogue!...

Water Conservation Using White Roofs

Bermuda. The only fresh water source in Bermuda is rainfall. There are no streams or lakes. So how is rain water collected? From the roofs. Which is why all the roofs on Bermuda buildings are white. Bermuda law requires every household collect 80% of the rain that falls on the roof. The white paint on the roof tiles is a nontoxic material applied every 2-3 years which keeps the rain water as clean as possible as it is channeled off the roof into cisterns. Very civilized. And what a great idea! Why doesn’t everyone collect rainwater. Well, in the US, it is illegal in 9 states. What? Illegal? But in some states it is a law you must collect rain. You have to be kidding. So if you live in Utah, Oregon or Washington you have no right to the precipitation (rain or snow) that falls on your property. It is publicly owned. Yet if you live in Texas, you are incentivized to buy rain water collection equipment and in Arizona, most new buildings are required to install rain catchment systems. Very confusing and absolutely crazy....

Bermuda Karsts

Bermuda. Having never heard of a karst until visiting Thailand, I was excited to learn there are karsts in Bermuda. Not only karsts, but caves. Filled with stalagmites and stalactites. On a quick business trip to Bermuda last week, standing in the Customs line, I watched a video on the caves and cave animals living in Bermuda. Caves in Bermuda? I have been to Bermuda 12-15 times and never heard of caves. It just goes to show what happens when we look around us to experience life. A karst is formed when water sinks into limestone forming peaks, caves and sinkholes. And Bermuda has one of the largest concentrations of caves in the world with over 150 caves. Really! This is Crystal Cave with an underground walkway through the cave. Our guide told us stalactites always go down (an elderly lady told him the tights are always down. I don’t know if she meant hers but it has helped me remember it). The stalagmites grow up and a column is where they meet in the middle. How very cool....

Singapore Supertrees

So we are back in Singapore gazing at what has to be one of the coolest trees I have ever seen. This is a solar powered super tree, one of 18 just recently opened to the public in June, 2012. They have been described as walking thru Alice in Wonderland. (with such a description I might even go back and read the book). The trees are vertical gardens, generating solar power, collecting rainwater and acting as air vent ducts for nearby conservatories. The trees vary in heights from 82 to 164 feet. Ultimately they will be completely covered with tropical plants and ferns providing shade for those walking beneath them. One even has a bistro on top (which we did not visit because of my height thing). They are also lit up at night in all different colors. Part of a 250 acre landscaping project, Gardens By the Bay, they are so incredible I wonder why the Supertrees concept is not used all over the world. In fact, I am thinking of building one in my back yard if I can figure out how to get around the Palm Beach Architectural Review Board who would probably frown on such a grand...