Located on a
historic rise the southern coast of Singapore, the Poh Ern Shih Temple (or Temple of Thanksgiving) is a shining example of what can be achieved with a group dedicated to social and environmental objectives.
Back in 2000, the directors at this forward focused Buddhist temple identified key trends that were shaping their future. Among these were an aging population, changing congregation needs, an increased cost of energy and water across Singapore, geological and geographic concerns, and dependence on foreign oil. They set out to construct a new, purpose built temple replacing an aging structure that had been around since 1954.
After viewing a teaser on television, I dropped in to see first hand the progress being made on the temple during Phase 1 of construction. Guided by the temple’s president-cum-construction manager Boon Siong, I was shown through the myriad of facilities that would be coming online at the end of 2008.
As many of the temple’s congregation and nuns are growing older, an emphasis of aging in place and embracing an elderly population were a main guiding factor. It is estimated that by 2028, older Singaporeans will be dying at a rate of around 2000 people every day. By 2010, there will also be an increased number of people in wheelchairs making mobility a key concern.
Boon informs me that this SG$20m project would eventually accommodate 2,500 patrons, be fully handicapped accessible, boast WiFi hi-speed internet across the facility, and be capable of generating approximately 60mW of power p/a.
Both the temple roof and stupa will be covered in P.V. panels, and several small windmills are currently in operation on site. If they prove viable in the temple’s breezy coastal location, Boon informs me that they will add more in the future. Also attached to the system is a monitor that calculates saved carbon emissions.
The site has 7 large solar hot water heaters to accommodate a commercial kitchen serving 1000 people, and 22 resident Buddhist nuns who will soon move into their new digs.
Despite the tropical climate of Singapore, 80% of the temple is naturally ventilated. Utilising the thermal mass of construction materials, as well as many passive ventilation designs in public spaces, few areas in the temple are reliant on air conditioning. The dome in the main hall of the temple is specially designed for passive ventillation, taking cooler air from the lower floor and, through a narrow opening at the top, creating a draft that moves air upward.
Singapore is situated in the “Ring of Fire”, an area of high geological activity. As with its neighbouring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia (on which it depends for many natural resources such as water and oil), it is subject to seismic upset.
Anticipating that Singapore’s public work systems could be directly affected by an earthquake or tsunami, the temple directors ensured that most of the temple’s energy and water needs could be managed on site. This would ensure the temple’s operation in the event of a disaster, and enable sheltering of its congregation and the local community.
A water collection, storage, and purification scheme is in the works for the site. An innovative micro hydro plant is also being explored. Water collected from the roof of the temple plunges nearly 25m to the basement level where it is collected. On its way down, engineers are exploring how the falling water can generate electricity during the monsoon season as an additional boost to the temple’s power system.
Every effort has been made to reduce the electrical load on the system, from energy efficient appliances, LED and compact fluorescent lighting, to natural lighting for lower levels provided by Solatubes.
While the Singaporean government was initially dubious about the project’s many unique features, they have slowly started coming around. Boon tells me that with many of the innovations, there is potential to implement them in the other high-rise structures that dot the Singaporean cityscape.
With such an awe-inspiring structure underway, and jam-packed with innovative features, I ask Boon more about the motivation for his personal involvement.
“My generation destroyed the environment,” he says. “Now its time for [the younger generation] to save it. We must now help our children and grandchildren restore the earth back to health by educating them how we can do it.” Undoubtedly, Boon is keen to push a few envelopes and challenge evolution to the next level.
While the up-front cost of the temple is significant, the payback comes with lowered operating cost, dramatically reduced environmental impacts, and enhanced way of life for all who visit and grow the temple.
Boon says, “People always ask me, ‘How much does it cost to do this?’ I tell them that if your father was dying of cancer tonight, would you ask how much it costs to save him?”
By merely boiling all equations down to talk of dollars and cents, we lose track of what is really important—the well-being of our own lives and the planet that makes that all life possible in the first place. Not only that, but taking a progressive stance on future challenges can mean reduced risk and development of an advantageous position.
While there are up-front costs to be met, being proactive can save massive expenditures in the face of disasters and the ever increasing cost of energy. The Temple of Thanksgiving is an amazing case study and inspiration for us to think clearly, plan effectively, and do the right thing in our own lives.