Building Services - Assignment 02: Earth Month Journal

30.05.2018 (Week 10)

Yaw Xin Qi (0326980)

Building Services

Project: ASSIGNMENT 02: Earth Month Journal [20% - Individual]
Timeframe: Week 08 – Week 12
Description: This project aims to increase awareness on Building Services usage (ie electricity, water etc) and its impact on the environment. You are to keep a journal of your current lifestyle, reflect and then create a ‘greener’ lifestyle for yourself and in the spaces that you design in future.
Requirements: Journal, Summary of experience and reflection in Hardcopy & Individual Blog (E-portfolio) form
Lecture[s]: All lecture topics

BUILDING SERVICES

EARTH MONTH JOURNAL
YAW XIN QI
0326980

Everybody has bad habit. For me, I think I have lots of bad habits. Everytime after I charge my smart phone or laptop, I will leave the charger on the power plug without removing it. I used to switch on the air-conditioner in my room as the weather was too hot. It was switched on whenever I was sleeping and doing projects. I like to bath as long as possible and really enjoy of it especially when the weather was hot. I usually wash clothes every three or four days because I think it will be smelly and dirty if left it for so long time. Whenever I was washing the dishes, I would switch on the tap all the time even when the detergent is being applied on the plates. 

Besides, I think I do have good habits too. For example, I will keep all the plastic bags that I get after shopping or going out to buy things. These can be used to keep things in daily life and also keep rubbish to throw away. Besides, I will keep the recycle bags received and reuse it again whenever I go for shopping. Since the shopping mall located in Melaka will not provide plastic bags, we have to bring our own. Although a recyle bag might cost a small amount to acquire, they are actually much more useful than you might think. A canvas bag is sturdier than a traditional plastic or paper bag and can hold more goods. Other than that, I will keep all the papers that I printed wrongly to use it as draft papers in the future. My parents also educate us to keep all the tins, plastics, paper and cardboard which can be sold out for recycle purpose.

Here are some small changes I try to make in my life to help live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. I take shorter shower, make it as fast as possible to save water, from 15 minutes to around 8 minutes. I try to wash clothes when there’s a full load, once a week and hang my clothes when the weather is sunny so my clothes will dry faster. Whenever I am washing dishes, I will not turn on the tap all the time and use it only to wash off the detergent. Besides, I turn off the tap while brushing teeth or soaping, I do not let the faucet flow while brushing teeth. Lastly, I also try to turn off the fan and light when it is not in use.  

As conclusion, from the changes that I trying to make, I think it is a bit hard for me to turn off the fan and light when it is not in use because I am not used to it. Since my rental fees already included electricity fees with fix amount every month, I will think that I have to full use of it. I think this is the most challenge part for me solve.