1. Introduction
1.1
Background Information
This report has been prepared in response to the letter of authorisation requesting for
proposal on developing sustainable solutions to an engineering problem.
Electricity has become one of the essential daily needs.
With the continued development of technology that requires electricity, the
demand for electricity to power up electrical devices has also increased.
Despite the importance of electricity, many people are still unaware that they
may be responsible for electricity wastage in their everyday lives. For
example, electricity wastage is common in educational institutions as faculties
and students often forget to turn off the air-conditioners, lights, fans and
other equipment before leaving.
According to the Energy Market Authority (EMA) of
Singapore (n.d.), Singapore imports natural gas from Indonesia and Malaysia to
generate approximately 95 per cent of her electricity. Even though natural gas
is "cleaner and more energy efficient" than coal and oil, burning of
this gas still releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (Ng, 2018). Parfit
(n.d.) claimed that it is evident that carbon dioxide produced by coal and
other fossil fuels is warming the planet. The carbon emitted from the burning
of these fossil fuels traps solar energy in the atmosphere, causing global
temperatures to increase.
1.2
Problem
Statement
Currently, electrical appliances such as
air-conditioners, fans and lightings in SIT@Dover are left switched on even
when the premises are unoccupied. An ideal situation would be to switch off
these electrical appliances when not in use. However, based on our recent
observations of SIT@Dover, these appliances are operated manually. Therefore,
if the users do not switch off these appliances, it will result in unnecessary
electricity wastage.
1.3
Purpose
Statement
The report aims to propose solutions to the SIT
Estates Division on reducing electricity wastage in the campus through the use
of automation technology. The focus of the solutions will be on addressing the
main issue with electricity wastage which is the manual nature of operating the
electrical appliances.
2. Proposed Solution
2.1 Incorporating
electricity management system into the campus’ CCTV
The team’s proposed solution to electricity wastage
in SIT is to incorporate an electricity management system into the campus. The
electricity management system originates from combining the idea of human
monitoring used in video surveillance and the application of motion sensors in
buildings to improve energy efficiency.
2.1.1 Human
monitoring in video surveillance
According to Kaur and Singh (2014), human
monitoring in video surveillance can be breakdown into four steps: 1) video, 2)
background modelling, 3) human detection and 4) human tracking. The first step involves the recording of the
video footage in the designated area. Followed by background modelling to
specify on the background in the designated area for the purpose of
differentiating the moving objects from the background. Next, would be human
detection to distinguish humans in the video by separating the foreground from
the background. Lastly, it would be human tracking to monitor the movements of
the human. This is also known as computer vision (CV) which the camera’s software
analyzes sequential frames of live video for differences and records a motion
event when a significant change is detected.
2.1.2 Motion
sensors in buildings
According to Riyanto, Margatama, Hakim, Martini and
Hindarto (2018), one of the approach to motion sensors operation is via motion
detection by differentiating the foreground image from the background image in
order for the moving objects to be detected. In the case of Passive Infrared
Receiver (PIR), the device detects the change in infrared radiation caused by
moving objects and responds by releasing output voltage (e.g. switching on the
lights when a person enters the toilet).
2.1.3 Application
In the context of reducing electricity wastage in
SIT, CCTV will be used to replace the need for motion sensors in the automation
of electrical appliances such as lightings, air-conditioning and computers.
Based on observations, most of the high asset classrooms in SIT such as lecture
theatres, computer labs and interactive classrooms are installed with CCTVs for
the purpose of surveillance. Existing CCTVs can be programmed to have human
monitoring served as an added function.
The concept of electricity management system is to
detect students and lecturers entering the classroom through the CCTV monitoring
system and responds by switching on the lights and air-conditioning in the
classroom. Similarly, if students and lecturers are seen leaving the classroom
at the end of a class by the CCTV, the electricity management system will
response by switching off the power supply.
Artificial intelligence (AI) will be incorporated
into the electricity management system to create a more intuitive approach as
compared to the rigid structure commonly found in the application of motion
sensors in buildings. According to Jarrahi (2018), artificial intelligence (AI)
can assist to simplify complex problems by using the correlation between
variables and provide a suitable solution from many possibilities. In the case
of the electricity management system at SIT, the AI can help to determine the
call to action for various scenarios using software algorithms. For example, if
students are seen carrying their bags out of the classrooms, it would represent
the end of a class and the lightings and air-conditioning can be switched off.
While students who entered the classroom with their bags on but left without
their bags will be seen as going for a break, hence, the electricity appliances
can go into standby mode instead of switching off.
The electricity management system in SIT will be a
localized system catered to individual classrooms in the campus. The advantages
of having an isolated system is that it does not affect the system operation in
the entire campus in the event of a system breakdown.
3. Benefits of Proposed Solution
3.1 Reduction
in carbon footprint
If the problem of electricity wastage has been
reduced, the electricity consumption would also decrease. Therefore, lowering
the carbon footprint produce.
3.2 Low
implementation costs
Instead of retrofitting the classrooms with motion
sensors, the CCTV can do the job of the motion sensors by introducing a new
function to the CCTV known as human monitoring. Therefore, the costs of
purchasing the motion sensors and retrofitting the motion sensors into the
classrooms can be removed.
3.3 Innovation
breakthrough in electricity management
The adoption of human monitoring using CCTV to replace
motion sensors will provide building management with an alternative to
electricity management. One of the main advantages of using human monitoring
through CCTV is that it allows for greater analysis of the scene.
In addition, the success of the pilot project in SIT
would enable the electricity management system to become a case study for other
existing buildings on ways to reduce electricity wastage. Therefore, SIT will
be able to gain more publicity and improve its reputation among the other
universities in Singapore.
3.4 Cost
savings
If the electricity wastage in SIT is being
minimized, there will be more energy savings for SIT in terms of lower
electricity bills. This will allow the school to have more funds that can be
better utilized in other areas such as student development.
4. Proposal Evaluation
The electricity management system addresses the
problem identified in electricity wastage in SIT. With the automation of
electrical appliances, the problem of operating the electrical appliances
manually has been solved.
Other methods to reducing electricity wastage such
as motion sensors and operation timer for electrical appliances based on the
booking of the venue have been considered before deciding on using human
monitoring in the electricity management system. The primary reason for
choosing human monitoring is that it provides a balanced approach to the
problem. For example, if the operation of electrical appliances is based on the
booking of the venue, there will be shortcomings such as electricity wastage
when the venue is used for a shorter period as compared to the original
timeslot booking.
One of the challenges faced in the implementation
could be due to the complexity of the solution. The software for human
monitoring is relatively new in the market and may not be readily available,
hence, the time needed to implement the solution may take a longer time. The
project can be collaborated with other SIT courses such as Information
Technology and Electrical Engineering to create the software for human
monitoring in CCTV. This will also help to reduce the cost of implementing the
solution.
Another challenge would be the accuracy of the
human monitoring in CCTV. There may be chances of false detection by the
device.
5. Methodology
In this section, the research methodology used in
the report is described. The primary research is based on our observation and
on the utility bills and energy usage data. The secondary research is based on
implementation of Electricity Management System has been conducted.
5.1 Primary
Research
The utility bills of SIT@Dover were obtained from
the SIT Estates Division to understand how much is being paid for the
electricity monthly. This is shown in Appendix _. SIT is paying a total of a
total of $59,715,90 for 314 582 KWh and $60,668.20 for 320 119.41 KWh
respectively at Academic Plaza and University Tower.
Research were being made in National Environment
Agency’s GO GREEN TIPS Singapore where setting an air conditioner at the
temperature about 25˚C would save up to $25 a year for every degree you raise.
This is based on average 2012 electricity tariff of $0.2989 per kWh, assuming a
single-split, 1000W air-conditioner. Used for 365 days a year.
In addition, standby power can account for up to
10% of electricity use. Switching them off when not in use will save up to $70
a year. This is based on average 2012 electricity tariff of $0.2989 per kWh,
assuming 35W of standby power in a home.
According to Energy Efficiency Programme by NEA, computers
should be switched off completely when not in use for long periods (e.g. more
than 30 minutes). Leaving a desktop (300W) switched on for 8 hours (e.g.
overnight) daily will cost about $240 a year.
Observation were made in SIT@Dover campus when the
team noticed electricity wastage in classroom after 10pm for 3 consecutive days
as shown in Appendix __.
5.2 Secondary
Research
To further reinforce the Electric Management
System, secondary sources from journal/scholar articles and conferences were
used for the purpose of this report. This is in order to find out the
functionality, cost and efficiency for both human monitoring in video
surveillance and motion sensors. Researches were also being made on Artificial
Intelligence on the detection of human behaviours in and out of the classroom
for the system’s functionality. In conclusion, information on these functions
were needed for research in order to invent the improvised Electric Management
System for minimising electricity wastage in SIT @ Dover.
6. Conclusion
Electricity wastage has a negative impact on the
environment as it increases electricity consumption which will increase carbon
dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.
Electricity wastage increase the carbon footprint
With the implementation of this proposal, it will not
only help to reduce the utility bills of the schools, but also improve energy
efficiency and reduce electricity wastage in Singapore.
