SINGAPORE: Marina Bay illuminated like never before with spectacular night-time light-show designed to promote use of energy efficient light bulbs

Record ID: 824165

  • Title: SINGAPORE: Marina Bay illuminated like never before with spectacular night-time light-show designed to promote use of energy efficient light bulbs
  • Date: 29th October 2010
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIGHT ART INSTALLATION "POSITIVE ATTRACTS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT CHRIS TOBIAS SAYING: "Each LED bulb takes approximately 2-3 watts to power and it gives off about the same amount of light as a regular bulb that would take about 16 watts or so to power. So there's a factor of five, difference." MORE OF "POSITIVE ATTRACTS" INSTALLATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT CHRIS TOBIAS SAYING: "You can imagine, multiply that across all the different metropolitan areas - the buildings, and their occupants and usage, it would be huge. I mean, you could probably save about five times the amount of energy, if you were using LEDs." BOAT PASSING THROUGH MARINA BAY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON TOUR BOAT BOAT PASSING UNDER BRIDGE LIGHT PROJECTION ON MAYBANK BUILDING BOAT PASSING THROUGH MARINA BAY "JELLIGHT" INSTALLATION IN DISTANCE NEAR SINGAPORE FLYER VARIOUS OF "JELLIGHT" INSTALLATION OF COLOURFUL JELLYFISH VARIOUS OF DIGITAL ORIGAMI TIGERS INSTALLATION "WATTFISH?" INSTALLATION OF FISHING RODS HANGING OFF HELIX BRIDGE VIEW OF SINGAPORE CBD FROM BAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF LIGHT FESTIVAL, MARY-ANNE KYRIAKOU SAYING "The first step is awareness. A lot of this technology most people would never experience. And it's something which is used on a building, something which may be used to highlight a boat. But so that they can see that this technology is being used in a creative, innovative way, opens new possibilities and with that new possibilities is new environments, new objects, new design, new thinking." VIEW OF BAY WITH "SINGAPORA FLORA" INSTALLATION IN DISTANCE "SINGAPORA FLORA" LIGHT INSTALLATION VARIOUS OF "MY PUBLIC GARDEN" LIGHT INSTALLATION PEOPLE LOOKING AT INSTALLATION FROM BOAT MORE OF "MY PUBLIC GARDEN" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT, PETER BIRKETT SAYING: "I think it's very important because subtly, if nothing else, subliminally, there will be an awareness raised by everybody that walks through this event. They will realise that by turning off lights in the surrounding buildings or whatever they may be doing to try and compensate the power used does help, and the corporates and the stakeholders taking part they will also, if not already, they will also realise. But I think the general public will get the message." FLOWERS FROM 'MY PUBLIC GARDEN" INSTALLATION
  • Embargoed: 13th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore, Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA74FAUGHI75AKKBG31WBHTYGS0
  • Story Text: Singapore's Marina Bay is seeng the light and basking in the glow of more than 20 installations designed to show just what energy efficient light bulbs can do.
    From jellyfish to tigers, the displays are aimed at turning heads and minds.
    Chris Tobias, a sustainability consultant to the event says each display uses light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs to promote energy efficiency.
    "Each LED bulb takes approximately 2-3 watts to power and it gives off about the same amount of light as a regular bulb that would take about 16 watts or so to power. So there's a factor of five, difference."
    Tobias says the display is merely an example of the savings and efficiencies that could be achieved if such technology was more widespread.
    "You can imagine, multiply that across all the different metropolitan areas - the buildings, and their occupants and usage, it would be huge. I mean, you could probably save about five times the amount of energy, if you were using LEDs," he said.
    One of the installations, called "Positive Attracts" by artist Edwin Cheong, uses RGB LED strips with software programming that sends waves of colour through the figurines.
    RGB is an acronym for "Red Green Blue" a concept that combines the three colours in various ways to produce a variety of other hues. The installation uses acoustic sensors to detect human movement which triggers a series of lighting effects. The waves of light pulsing through the figures are meant to symbolise optimism.
    Another installation, by Singaporean artists Pascal Petitjean and Aamer Taher, is called "Jellight" which uses energy-saving lightbulbs to create a 360 degree non-glaring light source, based on the concept of a helium balloon.
    Further around the bay, a red LED tiger combines ancient lantern-making techniques with digital design and fabrication technology. The prowling animal is brought to life by pulsating low energy LED lighting.
    "Singapora Flora" - a huge vase of bright flowers also uses LED lights.
    Like "Positive Attracts", many other installations rely on human interaction to work. Five LED fishing rod poles mounted on The Helix Bridge to represent Singapore's fishing village past, are lit up when people crank an electricity generator.
    The idea behind "My Public Garden" was to create an enchanted forest, inspired by drawings directly from the artist's sketchbook. Twenty-nine glowing plants make up the garden. Each light work is powered by biodiesel fuel.
    Visitors to the light festival are encouraged to take public transport to Marina Bay, in a further effort to reduce carbon footprints. Brochures are handed to attendees, encouraging them to make energy efficient choices.
    Some buildings in the vicinity of the light festival agreed to turn off more lights than usual and turn down the air-conditioning in humid Singapore, during the festival.
    Consultants have been brought in to measure the carbon footprint of the event, which will be announced at its conclusion.
    Sustainability consultant Peter Birkett says the footprint measurement will take into account the amount of power used, wastage and the impact of transporting the artists to the event from around the world.
    He says festivals such as this are important in bringing about change.
    "I think it's very important because subtly, if nothing else, subliminally, there will be an awareness raised by everybody that walks through this event. They will realise that by turning off lights in the surrounding buildings or whatever they may be doing to try and compensate the power used does help, and the corporates and the stakeholders taking part they will also, if not already, they will also realise. But I think the general public will get the message," he said.
    The festival runs until November 7.
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