Thus, I think KMB not only to reduce the exhaust emission of gases pollutants, but also to reduce the temperature polluting of the environment in Hong Kong.
Other from the exhaust emission quality, I think KMB should more consider the quantity of exhaust emission. Normally, the better the driving attitude, the less the fuel will use. Then the training for driving smoother to save the fuel is essential for all drivers. And more, to reduce energy waste also can improve the efficiency of the saving of energy, for example, turn off engines when stopping at bus termini and reduce usage of bus indoor lighting system when daylight is rich.
Since 2001, the new green buses that introduced by KMB are equipped with a monocoque chassis and independent suspension that reduce the noise of the bus in motion and ensure a smoother ride. That is a sound boost of the bus design that can give a more comfortable ride for the passengers and road side environment, as it running in busy corridors.
As passengers are now more consider the Indoor Air Quality of vehicles, KMB introduced a state-of-the-art air conditioning system which incorporate various new features, enabling the temperature, humidity, air flow and air quality inside buses, more, the air filter and electrostatic filter in air-conditioning buses filter out larger particles as well as fine dust, making the air inside buses clean and fresh.
Since KMB ’s view is good for improve the IAQ, then the air filter become the major factor to maintain the good quality of air, if the frequency for cleaning the filter or no monitoring of the efficiency of filter, it not only cannot give out the best quality if air, but also give a place for germs and mores accumulation and development, which may harm to passengers. If KMB have not focus on it, to having a monitoring system for the out-flow air quality form its filter, it will get reputation when something happened.
Globally, ozone problem become more serious in recent decade, and KMB is try to minimize the pollution on ozone. Then, since 1994, the refrigerant R134A was introduced to all the air-conditioning buses which meet the standard laid down by Montreal Protocol. And the extinguishing system and brake linings are replaced to environmental friendly products. These issues surely can protect our atmosphere by which reduced harm to the ozone layer.
After that, a major factor to determine the consumption of fuel is the weight of the vehicle, then KMB new buses are using glass reinforced and aluminium alloy to minimize the use of fuel from the bus body, but this may decrease the strength of the bus body, then it may have a much more damage to passengers, if accident happened.
To maintain the best performance of buses, a good bus depots cannot omit. Then, bus depot is another valuable items for a bus operator. Green management become a great challenging for KMB, even now and future. At Lai Chi Kok, the West Kowloon Reclamation Commenced Service, KMB has a new depot which is much more environmental friendly from construction to operation.
When building the depot, it use of pre-cast elements. Set-up the water-recycling automatic bus body washing machine and more with a waste water treatment system. As the pre-set timer system can give a way for energy use more efficiency. As same as in bus, ozone harmless refrigerant – R407C, is using in the air-conditioning system and the mechanical ventilation system. To minimize the noise polluting to surroundings area, high wall on the rooftop is used.
For a bus operator, tires are the most consuming items. So, KMB retreated around 33,000 used tires every year to alleviate the industrial waste problem. By the way cannot be retreat, tires will collected and used to manufacture playground flooring. This protecting action is very kind to our world as tires are fossil products, that cause a lot of problems even buried or burned.
Nowadays, we found that bus stop becoming an advertisement display more than a bus stop. Lighting display box, rooftop display decorating, most of them are consuming electricity energy. To reduce the pollution of the environment by this product, solar powered bus shelter has constructed. It can adjust the photovoltaic grids that capture the most energy. Since this feature is sound to our environment by reduce use of fossil fuel, but the bigger and bigger advertising display become a barrier to the natural wind, that make the road side hotter and hotter. For this bus shelter design, we can think that it is environmental friendly by the way of saving energy from burning fuel. But in another way, it is not acceptable, as those energy capture from solar is not enough for the use of the lighting box and the lighting box display is not a necessary parts for the bus stop. More, it blocked wind and view, then, we can found out the result that the photovoltaic grid is good for the advertising display, but the advertising display is not good for us as well as our environment.
To be a more environmental friendly bus operator, KMB should have to get change in their bus route, such as cancellation, and merging. It should reduce the bus frequently passing along busy districts and to avoid bus route overlapping. But we are so sad to know that, KMB is not standing on the “green” side. As news report also claim that, at peak hours, such as 5:00pm-6:00pm, bus need queuing long time to the stop for getting passengers and queuing to leave the stop. Such habitat is the side effect of the fighting between bus operators. Then consumers used more time to leave and reach their destination, and buses will use more fuel by which when they are waiting and queuing with slow moving to and out the bus stop. This queuing not only harm to the environment, but also harm to the company ‘s image. It is not people want.
To maintain the best quality of the exhaust emission and indoor air quality, an effective and quality maintenance is essential. Then, the high technology build-in environmental friendly products can give out their best performance to work out their duties.
References:
1. KMB NET
