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We've Got the Chops for Green Ops!

Posted on | 04 Oct 2024

Taking public transport is the environmentally-conscious choice commuters make, and LTA does our part to ensure our service providers and operations are as eco-friendly as possible, too.

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We are all on board the Singapore Green Plan 2030, and embracing sustainability to us means not just hopping onto public transport but popping greener systems into transport ops. The targets may be described as ambitious, but keeping up with technology and fostering community collaborations help us on our way to meeting them.

Did you know we are committed to reducing our Energy Utilisation Index and Water Efficiency Index by 10% and Waste Disposal Index by 30%[1] by the time 2030 rolls round?

Here are 3 sustainability projects that we think you’ll appreciate!
 

[1] Baseline for Energy Utilisation Index and Water Efficiency Index is the average of 2018 to 2020 figures, while the baseline year for Waste Disposal Index is 2022

Infographic featuring the various eco-friendly projects like solar panels, upcycling and regenerative braking system
1. Solar so far

Solar power has long been advocated by the green community, including LTA! We have been exploring opportunities to implement it and it’s looking sunny so far. LTA deploys solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the roofs of new and newly upgraded land transport infrastructure. We are committed to deploying 16 MWp by 2025 and 25 MWp by 2030.

We are installing solar PV systems on the roofs of selected existing land transport infrastructure, so these rail and bus depots, offices and other buildings will be able to draw from a clean, renewable energy source.

Besides being greener in operating and maintaining our bus and rail assets, Public Transport Operators (PTOs) can also enjoy a lower cost of electricity generated from the solar PV, as compared to purchasing from the grid.

2. Consuming less energy

Every little bit of energy saved counts. We’re pumping up our efforts when building our rail stations to improve the efficiency of our electrical services, from lifts that recover energy to dual-speed escalators to smart air-conditioning! We have hybrid cooling systems, which use fans to circulate air cooled by air-conditioners (that don’t then need to be set at temperatures so low).

And soon, artificial intelligence will allow the air-conditioning system to predict and match demand, keeping you comfortable in our stations at any time, with less energy wasted.

We have even found ways to save energy while operating our trains. Our regenerative braking systems recoup about 30% of the energy they use, and also reduce the wear-and-tear on the braking components—so there is less material waste, too!

Graphic of regenerative braking system
3. Thumbs up for upcycling

Talking about waste, did you know that our trains are designed to be at least 92% recyclable? That’s right: you’ll see decommissioned train cars with novel uses like film sets and educational pods, and also parts like the seats, grab poles and strap-hangers repurposed creatively. You might be resting on an old train bench at a void deck in Yishun as you read this, for all we know!

Or potting plants in an old train intercom panel in your community garden or holding on to a handrail along a ramp, which you once upon a time held onto in a train carriage. No more spoilers, but we’re sure you’ll enjoy spotting elements of our public transport heritage in the most unexpected of places!

We’re just happy to do our part to keep Singapore’s only landfill on Pulau Semakau from filling up too soon.


Check out LTA’s inaugural Sustainability Report 2022/23 (PDF 6.7MB) for more information and keep a look out for more CONNECT articles in this sustainability series!
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