Environmental Justice – The Core Essence of Islam

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Every human being has a right to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The most crucial aspect in the long-drawn fight against environmental pollution is environmental justice. Environmental justice is of great importance for marginalized, low-income and remote communities as such groups bear disproportionate burden of industrial pollution.

Traditionally, grassroot campaigns led by people of color and low-income groups have been the hallmarks of environmental justice movement around the world. Environmental justice has the potential to provide protection in the equitable distribution of environmental benefits to all sections of the society.

environmental justice in islam

In the last few decades, the distribution of environmental benefits, such as green spaces, clean air, pollution abatement and clean water, has assumed greater significance for all city-dwellers. As a result, environmental justice has now transformed into a fundamental outcome of environmental regulations, including public access to environmental data, improvement in quality of life through equal access to environmental goods and, most importantly, conservation of natural resources for the coming generations.

Environmental justice is inherently embedded in Islamic teachings on environmental sustainability. Infact, a Muslim is a steward for all creations, and has a special responsibility towards environmental care. According to Shariah, the elements of nature, such as land, water, sunlight and forests, belong to all living things, not just homo sapiens. The mankind has been given the liberty to exploit natural resources on a guardianship basis with the promise that it will not be overexploited, damaged or destroyed.

love for nature

سيعيد التعليم البيئي اتصال الاطفال بالطبيعة

Islamic principles on environmental justice highlights equitable distribution of environmental goods (air, water, biodiversity, forests etc.) among all communities and groups, irrespective of religion, race, social groups and region.

In Islam, each human being is a custodian of nature, and must live in harmony with other creatures. This implies that every Muslim must respect, nurture and care for the environment, and should desist from overconsumption of environmental goods and recklessly damaging the elements of nature, including forests, water bodies, soil and air.

Do Not Corrupt the Earth

Islam dislikes corruption of all kinds, including environmental corruption, such as industrial pollution, environmental damage and reckless use of natural resources. For Muslims, environmental justice is not only a religious duty but also a social obligation.

Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) gave high degree of importance towards environmental hygiene, sustainable cultivation of land, waste minimization, humane treatment of animals, preservation of forests and protection of wildlife. He discouraged overconsumption, lavishness and encouraged moderation in all walks of life.

To conclude, the concept of environmental justice is an integral part of Islamic beliefs. As environmental stewards of Planet Earth, we should use Allah’s Bounties in an equitable and sustainable manner to ensure its availability for the coming generations. We are custodians of all of Allah’s creation, including land, air, water, animals and trees, and bear full responsibility for its sustainable consumption and preservation.

The Holy Quran, Islamic law and Hadith emphasizes climate justice for everybody, and to build and maintain a healthy and clean environment which is free from all kinds of corruption, include human-induced environmental degradation.

How Instagram Influencers Can Spur Your Green Initiatives

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Social media platforms are the space where you can spread awareness of initiatives and calls to action.  Instagram is one of those platforms where you can get a wide audience to pay attention to your green initiatives. It’s one aspect to get a wide audience, but the point of social media is to convert your audience into active participants of your initiatives and green programs, thereby contributing to results. That said, you might want to consider having partnerships with Instagram influencers.

Instagram influencers are individuals who have a large following on the social media platform. With this, the green initiatives you are pushing to spur can be raised by partnering with Instagram influencers. Here are some of the ways Instagram influencers make it possible:

How Instagram influencers can promote green initiatives

1. Influencers Encourage High Engagement Levels

Instagram’s algorithm picks up on posts with a high level of engagement. These are the posts that immediately appear when you open the Instagram page, regardless of whether you are following the page or not. There were probably times when you started following a page because the immediate-appearing content roped you in to look for previous content uploaded on their page.

An Instagram influencer attracts high levels of engagement because of the number of people following them and for being deemed likable entertainers. Your green initiative needs such high levels of engagement for high visibility in a shorter time.

Instagram influencers can also buy female Instagram followers—helping to improve their engagement levels. These followers are real people who will like their posts regularly and maintain the engagement needed in their accounts. This increased level of engagement may further improve the visibility and awareness of your green initiatives promoted by the influencer.

2. They Create Strategic Content

An Instagram influencer knows their audience’s online behavior, preferences, tone of engagement, and frequency. These patterns help them create content that will resonate with their audience. Your green initiative won’t be widely received if the content doesn’t resonate with the wide following.

For instance, the Instagram influencer you decide upon that can spur your green initiative probably has a following of people who enjoy outdoor activities. This target market’s studied trends and patterns may direct how the influencer holds discussions about your initiatives and eventually lead the awareness into a call to action.

3. They Can Result In High Conversion Rates

A conversion rate is when your Instagram follower follows through with your call to action. For example, if your initiative is to create a clean-up campaign or organize a donation fund for wildlife, a high conversion rate is the number of social media followers that then participate on the ground.

For one to be considered an Instagram influencer, it means that they would have garnered large numbers of followers and qualify to become product ambassadors. Your goal is to have that wide audience become aware of your initiatives and encourage them to participate.

For conversion to occur, the audience has to believe in the authenticity of your product, service, or idea; understand it, and engage with the positively driven content enough to make a participation decision. Different influencers have varying product marketing and content creation strategies, and you can only determine your partnership success by having engaged them.

4. They Subtly Persuade The Audience To Act

People find the influencers entertaining and have a certain level of admiration for them, so they don’t need to invest much persuasion when displaying your green initiative.

If your green initiative reaches a point where it doesn’t need aggressive persuasion, you may enjoy a greater level of attention as audiences sometimes experience fatigue from blatant calls to action. An influencer can create content where they are cleaning water bodies in a national park where animals drink to make sure that it’s safe for them. This is a visual example of subtle persuasion where the audience appreciates the clean-up initiative and may follow through.

5. They Raise Awareness

Instagram influencers may be the reason why your green initiatives get recognized. An influencer represents multiple narratives. This means that their audience may be wide and diverse. Those who weren’t aware of your initiatives may get to know about them because of the influencer presenting them.

Conclusion

Sustainability influencers can be pivotal in the role of spurring your green initiatives. Through them, you may achieve high engagement rates, which can be challenging to achieve on your own. The influencers’ strategic content means the audience receives the content packaged in a particular manner they enjoy. The high engagement levels on influencers’ pages help your initiative’s visibility. The subtle persuasion resulting from influencers helps to encourage your audience to act upon your green initiatives.

التسامح هدف سامي

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تطوي البشرية ببزوغ فجر اليوم الاول من عام 2022 صفحة عام مليء بالمآسي، المآسي التي صنعتها النفوس الشريرة وعم بسببها الدمار في البقاع المختلفة من العالم وتدهور بفعلها النظام البيئي لكوكب الارض بيتنا المشترك، وخسرت البشرية بسببها مقوماتها الاقتصادية والمعيشية، وتوسعت قاعدة اللاجئين وجيش الفقراء والمعوزيين، ودفع ذلك الواقع العقول الحكيمة في رفع قامة دعوتها لتبني الحكمة كموروث انساني في معالجة الخلافات بين الجماعات والمجتمع البشري، وثقافة التسامح القيمة الانسانية التي يمكن الاحتكام الى قيمها وعقيدتها وهي القيمة الكفيلة في جعل المجتمعات تعيش في أمان وسكينة.

islam-nature

التعايش بين المخلوقات صفة تتميز بها الكائنات الحية في محيطها الكوني، وهي أكثر رقيا في منظومة علاقاتها ضمن خريطة التنوع الثقافي والانتماء العرقي في المنظومة المجتمعية في بعض البلدان، وذلك التنوع ذي قيمة حضارية يساهم في التفاعل المتناغم والمتبادل بين مجموعة الانواع البشرية في اطار التعايش ضمن الخلية المجتمعية الواحدة، والارتقاء بقيمة الوجود الاجتماعي، وبناء مقومات الرخاء والاستقرار الاجتماعي والتطور الحضاري للمجتمع البشري.

ان ذلك يشير الى ضرورة الحاجة في ترسيخ قيم التواصل والتفاهم والتشارك والصفح لنتمكن من الابحار الآمن وقيادة قاربنا المشترك بوعي وحكمة للعبور الى الضفة الأخرى، لذلك علينا ان نبادر ونشرع في بناء عقد التسامح، وعلينا ان ندرك حقيقة ثابتة بان ثقافة التسامح تمنحكم السعادة والسكينة، ولنسعى في جعلها منهجا لعلاقاتنا وحياتنا المشتركة في العام 2022.

Water Scarcity in Bahrain

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Bahrain is listed among the top ten countries that are likely to suffer from a water crisis in the next 25 years. The World Resources Institute (WRI) have estimated that 33 countries, half of which are in the Middle East, would suffer from a severe water crisis by 2040. According to the study that included 167 countries, the top ten countries that would face water crisis by 2040 are Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The finding shows that the Middle East is already probably the least water-secure region in the world as it depends heavily on groundwater and desalinated sea water, and faces exceptional water-related challenges for the foreseeable future.

This warning comes in the wake when we are utilizing huge potable water quantities and misuse is increasing due to low cost and lack of awareness among the users in Gulf countries. This is a fact that spring waters and ground waters are fast being depleted and wells are drying up and cost of treating and conveying water is increasing. Due to the severe shortage in freshwater resources and despite the higher cost of the desalinated water, as compared to other conventional water resources, the GCC Countries have constructed a large number of desalination plants, since the early Seventies. These facilities were constructed to bridge the gap between fresh water availability and drinking water demands. These desalination facilities consume huge amounts of fossil energy mostly natural gas and fuel, and release enormous quantities of CO2, which has adverse environmental impacts that might lead to an increase in the average temperature and a decrease in the precipitation quantities.

We need to understand the technical, financial and environmental consequences of water wastages as seawater is to be desalinated, treated to potable water standard at a huge cost, transported and stored and when wasted in drains and sewerage system, cost a lot of finances going down the drain. The Government has taken cognizance of the situation based on which the Water Resources Council (WRC) was formed in 1982 which reflects the government’s efforts in the protection and development of water resources, as well as increasing community awareness of the optimal ways of using and exploiting it.

The main duties of the WRC are drawing up the country’s water policies; protecting and developing the country’s water resources and regulating and coordinating water utilization between competing sectors. As per the Edict 42/ 2015 issued by HRH the Premier, stipulates the re-formation of WRC under the Deputy Premier’s chairmanship and membership of Follow-up Minister as Deputy Chairman and ministers of Finance, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Transportation and Telecommunications, Housing and Industry and Commerce as members for a four-year renewable term. The re-formation of the WRC is the result of the developments Bahrain has experienced in the field of water use for human, agricultural and industrial purposes, which have resulted from demographic variables and the expansion of the geographical area and rise in industrial development.

While the Bahrain Government is continuing its effort in providing potable water to all its residents, we need to understand and participate in water conservation to avoid any future water crises. Let us at minimum adopt these basic steps:

  • Turn off the water tap while tooth brushing, shaving and face washing.
  • Run washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full.
  • Using water-efficient appliances
  • Avoid wasting water and turning off faucets tightly after each use.
  • Repair and fix any water leaks immediately

7 Easy Steps to Write Essay in an Hour

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It is important not to procrastinate when it comes to writing essays. However, you have only 1 hour to write your essay, don’t give up! We’ve got you covered!

If you are always on the go and need to submit an essay fast before the deadline, then these seven steps will help you write that essay in an hour.

how to write an essay in an hour

1. Turn to Professional Online Writers

If you are in need of an essay but don’t have the time to complete it, then you can always turn to professional online writers for help. They can usually finish your paper writings in less than 1 hour.

The number of orders for essays is growing rapidly day by day. It is hard to believe that people are actually ready to pay for someone else to write their essay for them.

People are looking for the best essay writing service provider that they can find online. The truth is that there are many essay writing service providers but few of them will meet the standards you want in your essay writer.

It is quite easy to find a good essay writer these days because the majority of writers have already updated themselves with all the latest trends in academic writing.

You can just put in Google “write an essay for me fast” and you’ll find and a lot of services that can help you out.

They know all about how to get an A+ on your paper and present it in an interesting manner so you will get maximum grades for it, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when looking for an online essay writer.

  • Check their samples of papers that they created for other students quickly.
  • Skim through their reviews.
  • Google their brand name and read what people say about them on third-party websites.
  • Ask their support if they can complete your essay within an hour.
  • Ask them if they can give you an on-time delivery guarantee if you pay them their expensive fee for super urgent delivery.

If you think that you can still make it happen on your own, go ahead and follow these tips below.

2. Choose Your Topic Wisely

When it comes to writing essays, the first step you need to take is choosing your topic.

If you have an hour or less, it’s best to go for topics that you can write quickly about and may already know a lot about. That way, you can spend more time on the essay’s content rather than research.

Make sure it is something relevant and something that interests you. Once you have found a topic, spend some time researching it and create an outline of the essay. This will include the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Furthermore, one thing that people often forget is that they should always use their own voice when they are writing essays for college or high school courses. This will make them original and scholarly.

3. Brainstorm Ideas in 5-10 minutes

Brainstorming is a technique for generating a number of ideas quickly. Definitely, you can use it to generate interesting topic ideas for essay writing.

An important thing about brainstorming is that you should not judge your idea as good or bad because it might be the stumbling point. And you need to work fast as you have only 1 hour, right?

The idea is to just brainstorm, so don’t worry about the quality of your ideas. Write them down quickly, without thinking too much. Then go back and work on the ones that are most interesting to you.

4. Skim Through the Sources Quickly

Doing research is an important part of any essay. The introduction of the essay would have to contain a good number of ideas that are carefully chosen and then backed up with solid evidence.

To do this, students would have to spend hours reading through books, blogs, websites, and other materials to find appropriate arguments for their points. But with the advent of search engines, all you need are a few minutes to get your point across.

Students should focus on using their time wisely to get the most out of their search engine experience. Here are some tips for saving time while doing research:

  • Use only credible sources when researching.
  • Conduct searches in specific formats that will be more likely to provide results.
  • Find reliable statistics or studies that back up your points.

What’s next?

5) Make an Outline for Your Essay

An outline is a plan for your essay. It is the structure on which you will build your essay.

The outline can be in any form; it can be a list of points or paragraphs that you plan to include in your essay, or it may be a more comprehensive hierarchical list that includes subtopics with their own subpoints. It may also simply be a few words you jotted down on paper before starting to write.

What’s important about an outline is that it helps you stay organized and keep track of what you want to say as well as how to say it.

6. Start Writing With Confidence and Urgency

This technique is helpful for those who are not confident in their writing abilities. It helps them start to enjoy the process of writing and learn how to write quickly, while still getting content that is readable.

online paper writer

After you’re done with your first draft, you can go back and edit it.

It’s time to stop writing like you were taking a test. You always need to edit your content, but you should not have the fear of making mistakes when you first start the writing process.

As a writer, you can be creative and imaginative during the first draft. But if you are too afraid of making errors, it could lead to writer’s block.

You should not be afraid of failure because if that happens, then you have nothing to lose.

7. Edit for errors before submitting

It is important to edit for errors before submitting it to get a good grade.

Sometimes it is hard to catch all the mistakes in your essay. This section will show you how to edit your essay for errors and submit it to get a good grade on your paper.

Follow these steps:

  • Read over the essay for grammar and spelling errors
  • Add transitions to break up paragraphs
  • Remove any unnecessary words, phrases, or sentences
  • Use a dictionary to check word usage

You should revise your essay for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure errors. If you can’t find them then ask someone else to do that for you.

5 projets écolos à faire à la maison

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La Terre est notre maison : pour la protéger, il faut que tout le monde y mette du sien, ce qui passe par exemple par la réalisation de projets verts et écologiques chez soi.

Maintenant que vous êtes prêt à vous mettre à la menuiserie, voici 5 idées de projets écologiques:

eco-friendly home project

1. Retouchez votre cuisine avec un jardin d’herbes en pot

Vous trouvez que votre placard de cuisine aurait besoin d’un coup de neuf ? Pas d’inquiétude, vous pourrez la plupart du temps bricoler vous-même vos placards dans votre jardin ou tout autre espace ouvert.

Vous aurez besoin d’un outil tel qu’une scie à ruban afin de couper et sculpter le bois à votre convenance. De nombreuses marques existent sur le marché, n’hésitez donc pas à parcourir la toile afin de faire le meilleur choix pour vos besoins.

Pour rafraîchir votre cuisine de façon écolo, recyclez vos chutes de bois avec un petit jardin d’herbes près de la fenêtre. Cela vous permet de parfumer la pièce selon les herbes choisies, en plus de l’aspect esthétique.

2. Achetez des meubles d’occasion

Il existe des magasins de qualité qui proposent des meubles d’occasion à des prix raisonnables. En achetant des meubles d’occasion, vous contribuez à réduire les déchets générés par la création de nouveaux meubles. N’hésitez pas à recourir à différents outils de menuisier afin de leur apporter quelques modifications ou touches finales.

3. Installez des panneaux solaires

Avec la prise de conscience environnementale collective, l’énergie solaire gagne en popularité chaque jour. Parmi ses nombreux avantages : économiser l’énergie utilisée pour produire de l’électricité.

guide to home solar system

Grâce au développement de la technologie, l’installation de panneaux solaires est relativement sûre et présente des avantages évidents. En utilisant l’électricité générée par le soleil, vous contribuez à protéger l’environnement.

4. Installez des toilettes à faible débit

Ce n’est plus un secret pour personne, les toilettes à faible débit consomment entre 25 à 50 % moins d’eau que les toilettes classiques par chasse d’eau. En utilisant des toilettes à faible débit, une famille de quatre personnes peut économiser jusque 83 000 litres d’eau par an, soit environ 100 $ en moins sur la facture d’eau annuelle. Cette méthode aide à conserver l’eau et même à réduire la facture.

5. Installez des portes et des fenêtres plus larges

Ce projet vise à rafraîchir la maison, et concerne donc surtout le bois. Favorisez la lumière naturelle et économisez l’électricité tout en profitant de l’air frais.

Conclusion

Si vous aimez mettre la main à la pâte pour vous efforcer de rendre votre maison plus écolo, alors ces idées de projets écologiques sont faites pour vous. Hormis les scies à ruban, il existe d’autres outils et matériel de construction qui peuvent vous faciliter le travail à la maison. Que vous travailliez avec des outils manuels ou électriques, n’oubliez pas que la sécurité passe avant tout.

 

Translator: Cécile Lamhene

Cécile Lamhene est une traductrice indépendante de l’anglais vers le français. Après un master en traduction juridique, économique et technique à l’université de Lille, elle se spécialise dans le développement durable dans la région MENA et s’intéresse entre autres à l’agriculture, à l’élevage, à l’ingénierie, à l’énergie et à la gestion de l’eau.

Note: The original English version of the article is available at this link.

The Unending Benefits of Wetlands

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Wetlands are wonderful for numerous reasons but these wonders weren’t always known to man and it was often common to overlook the importance of this distinct ecosystem. The mention of a wetland used to bring to mind images of murky, mosquito-riddled swamps or unused lands that needed to be developed into a space which would be more useful to humankind.

Wetlands were grossly undervalued which led to loss of many and provoked the Convention on Wetlands to be signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The Ramsar Convention still serves as an international wetland conservation movement and currently holds over 160 nation signatories.

azraq wetland in jordan

Late Nelson Mandela illustrated the biological diversity that exists in a wetland when he once mentioned the St. Lucia Wetlands in a speech:

‘The wetland park must be the only place on the globe where the world’s oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest land mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale).’

Wetlands can be natural or artificial, can be saturated with freshwater, saltwater or brackish (which is water that contains salt but not as much as seawater) and supports vegetation that is especially adapted to grow in saturated soils. But apart from a wetland having such unique characteristics, the real wonders of a wetland lie in all the functions it has that benefit people and the environment.

The Importance of Wetlands

One of its most amazing characteristics is that it acts as a sponge or natural flood control system. The structure of wetlands enables them to absorb rainfall and thus reduce the volume of water that enters into rivers and streams which naturally lowers the risk of flooding. Wider floodplains also help to pan out and store the rainfall.

Another amazing feature of a wetland is its ability to purify water by trapping pollutants in its soils and vegetation. Wetlands are so effective at purifying water that they are used to purify wastewater from industry, mining and sewerage.

Wetlands replenish groundwater supply which is an important water source as well. Wetlands also support a large variety of animal and plant species. Sadly however, whilst wetlands have so many wonders that enhance the environment, there are many factors that threaten this landscape type. Wetlands in South Africa are threatened by overgrazing, pollution from pesticides, commercial development, alien plants and poor urban storm water management.

In the dry regions of the Middle East inland wetlands like rivers and lakes are vanishing due to the increased demands for fresh water. Azraq Lake, the sole Ramsar site in Jordan and Mujib River are good examples of water stress in the Middle East. Wetlands in Iraq are also facing extinction due to decades of conflicts, mismanagement and overlapping oilfields.

benefits of wetlands

Flamingos at Dohat Arad marine reserve in Bahrain

The loss of wetlands is a clear indicator of larger problems from declining water availability; a problem for both nature and the people who used to depend on these areas.

Bottom Line

As custodians of the Earth we should take time not only to visit and learn more about these environments but should try and become actively involved in projects to help preserve, protect and rehabilitate the remaining wetland ecosystems around the world.

May Allah guide us and bless us abundantly in our efforts to conserves and restore our environment (Aameen).

Evaporative Cooling: Achieving Energy Conservation in Buildings

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The global push toward sustainability and commitment to United Nations’ SDGs has brought innovative solutions of energy conservation in building design and operation. Evaporative cooling has emerged as an effective and environmentally-friendly method for reducing energy consumption (in comparison to HVAC system which consume approximately 40 percent of energy in buildings) while maintaining indoor comfort.

Let’s explore the principles, applications, benefits, and limitations of evaporative cooling in achieving energy conservation in buildings.

What is Evaporative Cooling

Evaporative cooling leverages the natural process of water evaporation to lower air temperature. The principle is simple yet effective: when water evaporates, it absorbs heat from the surrounding air, resulting in a cooler ambient temperature. This phenomenon is commonly experienced in daily life, such as feeling cool when stepping out of a swimming pool.

evaporative cooling systems

Evaporative cooling has been used for centuries as early as Egyptian Civilization dating back thousands of years. The same concept was used in the form of Wind tower in Persian Empires.

Types of Evaporative Cooling

There are two main types of evaporative cooling systems:

1. Direct Evaporative Cooling

Air is cooled by passing it over water-saturated pads. As the water evaporates, it cools the air, which is then distributed throughout the building. This method increases humidity levels and is best suited for dry climates.

2. Indirect Evaporative Cooling

In this system, air is cooled indirectly using a heat exchanger. The cooled air does not encounter the water, ensuring that humidity levels remain unchanged. This method is suitable for a wider range of climates.

Addressing Energy Deficits in Developing Nations

Many developing countries face significant challenges in meeting their growing energy and electricity demands. Rapid urbanization, population growth, and outdated infrastructure exacerbate these issues, leading to frequent power outages and limited access to reliable cooling solutions.

Evaporative cooling offers a viable alternative to traditional air conditioning systems, which are energy-intensive and expensive to operate. By reducing electricity consumption, evaporative cooling not only alleviates pressure on energy grids but also ensures that cooling solutions are accessible to lower-income populations.

Advantages of Evaporative Cooling in Buildings

Given the adoptability in design integration; evaporative cooling is equally suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial warehouses. The key advantages:

1. Energy efficiency and reduced cost

Evaporative cooling systems use significantly less electricity as they primarily rely on water evaporation and fans, so lower equipment leading to reduced operational costs.

2. Environmental benefits

Evaporative cooling systems do not use harmful refrigerants, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. By minimizing reliance on these, evaporative cooling reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Improved indoor air quality

As fresh air is inducted in every cycle, replacing stale air, the indoor air quality is maintained.

4. Adaptability to solar energy

Given their lower energy demands, they can operate efficiently using renewable energy sources, like solar energy, further enhancing sustainability.

5. Supporting Global Sustainability Goals

Evaporative cooling aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

  • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By using significantly less energy than conventional cooling systems, evaporative cooling promotes energy efficiency and contributes to affordable energy access.
  • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Integrating energy-efficient cooling solutions into urban planning helps create resilient and sustainable cities.
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action): By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the urban heat island effect, evaporative cooling supports efforts to combat climate change.
  • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Innovations in water-efficient cooling technologies can address the concerns of water consumption in water-scarce regions.

Limitations of Evaporative Cooling

Despite its advantages, evaporative cooling has limitations that must be addressed:

1. Climate Dependence and Water Consumption

The effectiveness of system is highly dependent on local climate conditions as it works best in hot and dry environments but may be less effective in humid regions. In areas facing water scarcity, the sustainability of evaporative cooling can be a concern as it needs continuous water.

2. Humidity Control and Cooling Range

Unlike traditional air conditioners, evaporative coolers may not achieve the same level of temperature reduction, especially in extreme heat conditions. It sometimes can increase indoor humidity levels, potentially leading to discomfort or mold growth if not properly managed.

3. Maintenance Requirements

Regular maintenance is necessary to prevent scaling, algae growth, and waterborne bacterial contamination in the system.

evaporative cooler

Technological Improvement

To address these challenges, researchers and manufacturers are exploring innovative solutions:

1. Hybrid Systems

Combining evaporative cooling with traditional air conditioning systems creates hybrid solutions that maximize energy efficiency and performance. These systems use evaporative cooling during milder conditions and switch to air conditioning during extreme heat.

2. Advanced Materials

The development of high-efficiency evaporative pads and heat exchangers enhances cooling performance while minimizing water consumption.

3. Automation and Smart Controls

Integrating sensors and automated controls ensures optimal operation by monitoring temperature, humidity, and water levels. This reduces energy and water waste while maintaining indoor comfort.

4. Localized Cooling Solutions

Portable and compact evaporative coolers are useful for their ability to provide targeted cooling in specific areas, reducing the need for whole-building systems.

Case Studies of Evaporative Cooling

Masdar City, UAE

This sustainable urban development integrates evaporative cooling systems to combat the arid desert climate. By combining passive design strategies and innovative cooling technologies, Masdar City serves as a model for energy-efficient urban planning.

Panyaden International School, Thailand

The bamboo-constructed campus uses evaporative cooling to maintain comfortable temperatures in classrooms while promoting sustainability. This approach aligns with the school’s philosophy of eco-conscious education.

Conclusion

As the world transitions toward greener building practices, integrating evaporative cooling systems into architectural designs and urban planning can significantly contribute to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Its ability to reduce energy consumption, minimize environmental impact, and provide cost-effective cooling makes it a valuable tool in the quest for sustainability.

How Security Lights Enhance The Protection Of The House?

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Security lights come with many benefits. When the natural lights of the day turn to night and spread darkness, you can opt for Olown security lights. When you get the fixtures mounted outside the house, they can cover the large area of the house.

During the night, the darkness may feel safe and secure. It is what you cannot see that is the primary concern. When you choose the outdoor lights, you will get a simple and efficient method of protecting the house. There are still many people who look at the benefits of security lighting outside the home.

How Security Lights Enhance The Protection Of The House

Why Are Security Systems Essential?

When leaving for work, you go with the expectation to come back to the smiling family and a safe house. There has been the growth of crimes across many cities. For this reason, it is highly essential to opt for the security system so that you are always protected and get the peace of mind to assure that your family is safe when you are out.

Choosing the home security system may be tricky, as selecting the most appropriate method is essential for house protection. If you’re not in the condition to invest in the tight security system, just having the security lights will be sufficient to increase the house’s security.

Adding the LED lights and the camera will be the most efficient security method to opt for. With the help of the security light systems, you will get various benefits such as:

1. Security

Having outdoor lights will become the best way to expose the burglars in the shadows they usually try to hide. Lights will leave them exposed and reduce the potential of a burglar to be deterred once they know that they do not have any other way to break in the house without being seen.

Your neighbors and the pedestrians will also be able to alert you when someone is lurking outside of your home. If you have security cameras, lights can help you capture them quickly.

2. Longevity

Security lights, particularly LED, tend to last long. You won’t be required to change them for many years to come, which can help you save money in the long term.

The reliability of the outdoor lights will provide you with ease of mind and keep the thought of maintenance away for a long time. Whereas, when you have the traditional light bulbs, they come with limited lifespans, and you will have to change them frequently, which will consume more time and cost for the investment.

4. Energy Savings

When you have LED lights, these lights tend to consume low voltage that can help you to save a significant amount of energy. Operating at a lower voltage than any other type of bulb, LEDs not only use less energy and reduce the bill but also get rid of the chances of them catching fire.

The extra energy will be required to keep the house lit from the outside, so there will be no reason not to have the LED lights experience the benefit by themselves.

Also Read: The Essential Features of LED Lighting for Green Buildings

5. Increase Property Value

When adding the exterior lighting, you should consider it an investment for the house as it can help you to boost the property value. It will also help you increase the demand for the house, and the potential future buyer will look at your property and consider buying it.

Another way it boosts the value lies in reducing the insurance rates allowing you to save over time. You will save money on unexpected costs when break-ins occur.

6. Control

There are different types of control options varying from on/off switches to time-controlled switches that you can program to go on at night at particular times. Others also include the photocells that can detect the dark, and it will turn on the light by itself due to the motion detector.

When it is on, it will turn on the light when it detects the motion nearby and turns it off when everything is settled.

7. Weather Resistant

Most fixtures can withstand dampness, but some are more resistant to weather. They will generally work whether it is rainy, dry, or snow. They can work at any weather changes during any type of season.

solar-powered-street

Conclusion

Having security lights can be the best way to protect the house, as you will always be able to see outside the house and leverage the benefits of tight security. Security lights can be the way to protect your family members and kids because the burglars think they will know that they will be caught.

Climate and Weather – They Are Not The Same Thing

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We can predict the climate but we are not so good at predicting the weather.

Why is this?

First, let us clarify the difference between weather and climate. Weather is what happens in the atmosphere here and now. The weather may seem chaotic, even random. Weather tends to be what many of us focus on especially before weekends and holiday, and very special events. As community-based people, we need to know what the weather will be in the very near future. We have an immediate need to know whether the weather conditions with be sunny and fine, wet and windy, or more extreme.

atmospheric river

Can we express the difference between weather and climate?

Well, yes. Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions. And by short-term, we mean really short-term such as hour-by-hour or day-by-day.  It applies to our immediate location usually. In contrast, climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. Climate is dependent on two different parameters: spatial and temporal. The spatial is determined by climate zones (that is another weather topic) and long-term temporal periods such as a minimum of 30 years.

Let us dive in a little deeper into the topic of weather vs climate.

This random, chaotic nature of weather takes effect even at very small, microscopic levels.  Microscopic disturbances can have a significant impact on our weather. These disturbances can result in very real large-scale changes in the weather.

Climate, on the other hand, is far more steady and stable. This is because it is the long-term average of the weather over a number of years. Preferably a minimum of 3 decades or 30 years. It is shaped by the large global forces that alter the energy balances in the atmosphere.

For example, changes in the sun’s intensity of energy, the tilt of the earth’s axis, the amount of sunlight the earth receives from the sun, the amount of solar energy reflected back to space, and the concentration of the greenhouse gases (human generated gases) released into the atmosphere wherever humans are living.

A change in any of these parameters affect the climate in largely predictable ways. To summarize the key differences: weather is all about short-term fluctuations while climate is large-scale and predictable.

We cannot observe climate directly. All that we are able to see and experience is the weather. This is typically measured in air temperature, air pressure, precipitation, cloud cover, and soil temperature and moisture. But that average weather over the course of many years reveals a pattern that represents the long-term trends in the climate.

The best advice, therefore, is to keep your focus on the climate, the long-term happenings and not on the short-term, erratic weather. But at the same time, we also need to monitor the weather in our immediate area for our personal plans and activities. Be aware that the 10-day forecast gives a general possible overview of the coming weather over the coming week. But be flexible and ready to adapt to the changes that inevitably happen.

climate change impacts

Weather is hard to predict. But climate is (almost) totally predictable. Climate has still changed over the decades and centuries. But these changes are always in response to a global force that is observable. This tends to make the climate trends far easier to predict and observe.

Needless to say, humans also have an impact. The strongest force that is driving the climate right now, in our lifetime, is the increasing levels of CO2 released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. These CO2 emissions are trapping additional heat from the sun within our atmosphere and in other CO2 reservoirs. A smaller portion of the trapped heat warms the air, i.e. it goes into the atmosphere. But most of the increased heat energy is sequestered (stored) into the oceans. That’s right, the oceans across the globe are getting warmer. And that has major long-term consequences. That’s another topic for another article.

Now you are better equipped to understand the variability and reliability of weather and climate.

Humanizing Architecture – Through the Eyes of Abeer Seikaly

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Through the jasmine-scented roads of L’weibdeh (Jordan) I navigated my way to Abeer Seikaly’s studio, an old house that resembles Jordan’s genuine and inspiring identity. Abeer Seikaly is a young Jordanian architect who has been featured on several global and local media platforms because of her innovation “Weaving a Home” that was shortlisted for the 2012 Lexus Design Award.

Influence of Education and Local Knowledge

Top architecture schools in the Arab world are heavily influenced by international trends in built environment and sustainability, and unfortunately Arabic reference material is largely ignored in teaching. The emerging thinking around built environment and its relationship with people and nature rely largely on digital and virtual practice leaving students with minimal interaction with communities and building materials.

Architect-Studio

Moreover, the growing disconnect between research and market requirements in most developing countries magnifies the gap between engineering and sustainable development. Acknowledging the uniqueness of traditional Arab architecture and its historical importance in shaping sustainable building concepts raises concern on the diminishing role of local knowledge in responding to contemporary sustainability challenges.

For Abeer, having the chance to study abroad provided her with new insights not only about architecture but more importantly about her own potential and abilities within a larger context. What her culture-rich home environment gave her, on the other hand, was respect and appreciation for art, creativity and surroundings. With time, exposure and experimentation, Abeer defined her own architecture. Emphasizing that the pure definition of technology is craft, weaving, and making, her definition of innovative architecture combines old and new, traditional and contemporary. It is also thinking about architecture as a social technology.

Re-defining Success

When people are focused on the product, they usually tend to neglect the joy and benefit of the process itself. Focusing on the process boosts self-confidence and self-awareness and yet requires diligence and mindfulness while enjoying experimentation. It enables us to engage more deeply with the present, and thus, allow us to learn faster and experience life to the fullest.

According to Abeer Seikaly, architecture is not about the building itself but more about getting into it and experiencing its metaphysical nature with time. “Ordinary architects nowadays are inclined to use computer software to design buildings while sitting in closed offices. This is only dragging them away from people and from nature. As a real architect, you need to be out there to feel, interact and test your designs”, says Seikaly. “Creating is about the process and not about the outcome.”

Thinking through Making: The Tent

As a firm believer in the process, Abeer Seikaly has been working on her creative structural fabric for years. When the time was right, she used this creative work to bridge a gap in human needs. Participating in the Lexus Design Award was part of engaging her fabric with people and nature.

Disaster shelters have been made from a wide range of materials, but Abeer turned to solar-absorbing fabric as her material of choice in creating woven shelters that are powered by the sun and inspired by nomadic culture. The use of structural fabric references ancient traditions of joining linear fibers to make complex 3-D shapes.

Study Model_AbeerSeikaly

Study model showing movement of the system and its collapsibility

Tackling an important issue like shelter for a humanitarian purpose can’t be more relevant to both innovative architecture and sustainable development. With Jordan being host to more than 1.4 million Syrian refugees, this is about humanizing architecture and meeting basic human needs.

She passionately mentions her ultimate inspiration: thinking through making. “Experimenting, looking at material’s behavior, testing, and slowly you are there”, says Seikaly. “It is about thriving and not about surviving. Revelation results from years of hard work and continuous perseverance throughout the process”, she adds.

Recipe to Innovate

There is no recipe for innovation, Abeer Seikaly explains, but Jordanian engineers and architects need to ask themselves the following: What are you about? What is local/sustainable? What is Jordan about?

When asked about role of engineering firms, Seikaly stressed the fact that most corporations nowadays do not provide an enabling environment for youth to learn and grow. Emphasizing the importance of innovation, she says “With no personal attention and coaching, engineers are disconnecting from themselves and from community. Despite all the difficulties we face in our country, innovation goes back to personal drive and motivation: if you need it, you will make it”.

“Define your role as an Architect in a developing country, I have discovered mine and became an aware human being. To serve society and improve well-being is who I am”, concludes Abeer.

Architecture and Sustainable Development

The straightforward link between architecture and SDGs is Global Goal No. 11 i.e. Sustainable Cities and Communities; nevertheless, a deeper look at how architecture influences and gets influenced by other elements brings about a link with almost each of the other Global Goals.

The unique relationship between built environment, people and nature makes it an opportunity to demonstrate real sustainable development, as highlighted by Abeer Seikaly’s innovation. Around 60% of the world’s population will be living in cities in 2030 which dictates a new and integrated way of thinking about urban design and architecture.

10 Ways to Efficiently Heat and Cool Small Spaces

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Efficient heating and cooling of space save energy and money. Luckily, you don’t need expensive traditional heating and cooling systems to efficiently heat and cool small spaces. These are pretty powerful and will quickly overheat a small space.

So how can you efficiently heat and cool spaces? There are several options. Below are ten permanent and portable solutions for heating and cooling small spaces.

1. Mini-Split Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

Currently, no permanent HVAC solution for small spaces is more popular than mini-split HVAC units. They’re the perfect option as a super-efficient, all-in-one heating and cooling system for a small setup.

How to Efficiently Heat and Cool Small Spaces

Heat ducts lose a lot of heat (25% to 40%) via the duct system. This is pretty inefficient and an unnecessary wastage of fuel. On the other hand, mini-splits don’t need any ductwork to provide heat. They do it directly, resulting in less fuel usage. This is not only better for your pocket, but the environment too.

Mini-split systems are great for small rooms and apartments. Since you mount the unit on the wall, it makes them great space savers because they won’t take up any floor space within your already compact setup.

Additionally, mini splits replace the need for separate window AC units, saving you more space. Therefore, you don’t have to look for a place to store another unit once winter is here.

In addition to a mini-split HVAC system’s efficiency in heating and cooling, it comes with modern electronics features, including remote control, a built-in dehumidifier, and a timer. Of course, you’ll never have such conveniences with other heating options such as an underfloor heater or a fireplace.

A mini-split is relatively inexpensive compared to other permanent heating and cooling options. Though you must have an HVAC technician do it for you, it doesn’t involve extensive installation.

Granted, mini-splits aren’t the cheapest option for heating and cooling small spaces. However, they may be the most effective and efficient option in the long run.

2. Electric Panel Heaters

An electric panel heater is another great option to heat small spaces. These low-watt heaters feature several advantages, one being affordability. Indeed, you can purchase an electric panel heater from your local home goods stores for as little as $100, or even less.

In addition, once you acquire an electric panel heater, you don’t need any special skills or help from an HVAC technician to install it. All you have to do for the heater to start working is plug it in. And since most come in low wattages, an electric panel heater is cheap to operate.

An electric panel heater is a perfect choice for heating small spaces. That’s because it hardly takes up any space. It also heats up quite fast. These two qualities make these electric heaters ideal for small spaces, especially in areas that don’t get extremely cold.

3. Wood Fireplaces

A wood fireplace is a great way to heat a small space quickly and add character to your small apartment. It’s also a permanent small space heating solution.

The good news is that heating your small space with wood is quite inexpensive. Better yet, it’s free for those with readily available wood at their homes.

The only disadvantage of heating a small space with a wood fireplace is the cost of installation. It can be pretty expensive. Also, in some places, installing one in an apartment is illegal or impossible. Remember, you need a chimney for the heater. That means for a small apartment, you must be on the top floor.

Consider a wood-burning stove too. It’s a viable heating option for small spaces too. While these are old-fashioned ways, they can go a long way in cozying up your space. All you need is to load your fireplace or wood-burning stove.

4. Gas Space Heaters

Small spaces also have spots that can be colder than others. This is where a small space heater, especially a gas heater, comes in. Propane or natural gas space heaters burn cleaner than kerosene, making them a better alternative than kerosene heaters.

In most cases, running a gas space heater doesn’t require electricity. This is good news because your small space heater will work even amidst a power outage.

If you live in areas where natural gas is abundant, purchase a gas space heater to run with this gas. You can also use propane gas- it’s widely available throughout the country.

Gas space heaters are pocket-friendly, costing less than $150. Besides, they’re small, thus ideal for small apartments. Since they burn clean, you don’t have to worry about cleaning the gas space heater’s components or changing its filters every time you run it.

On top of all these benefits, portable gas space heaters can generate a lot of heat within a short time. You’ll also enjoy the scene of live fire as it warms your small space up.

warm home in winter

5. Electric Underfloor Heaters

An electric underfloor heater is an ideal heating solution for a small space. You can install the heater underneath carpeting, ceramic floors, or laminate floors. This home heater is quite comfortable as it heats your small apartments from the floor up.

The good news is that electric underfloor heaters don’t consume much power. For instance, an electric underfloor heater will only use about 180 watts if you live in a small space of 6 by 3 feet. This is a minimal amount of power.

Another benefit of heating a small space with an underfloor heater is that the heat it radiates off spreads uniformly throughout your small house. Rising from the floor upwards means you’ll have no cold space left out within your home.

Also, nobody likes a noisy heater. But as this underfloor heating is on the floor, it operates quietly and unobtrusively, taking up minimal space.

It’s worth mentioning that although these heaters are not expensive, installing them can be costly. You either have to pull up your flooring or install another flooring over your existing one after laying your heating mat.

6. Ethanol Fireplaces

An ethanol fireplace is a small fireplace that runs on a bio-ethanol liquid or gel fuel. You can get yourself one of these fireplaces and install it in your small space.

They’re a great option, providing a clean-burning fire. Besides, ethanol fireplaces don’t require ventilation. You’ll hear people saying running an ethanol fireplace is just like running a candle, which shows how clean this solution can be.

The fact that ethanol fireplaces produce live flames means you’ll need another heater for your small space to use while asleep or away for safety reasons.

7. Gas Fireplaces

Instead of using a wood fireplace, you can go for a gas one. This is a great alternative that comes with more convenience because you’ll not have to add fuel manually now and then.

In addition, a gas fireplace doesn’t produce ash and smoke like a wood fireplace. It’s also easier to vent.

But remember, you must hook a gas fireplace to a gas line. Therefore, installation can be a bit more expensive than a wood fireplace. In addition, it might not be legal to install one in your small apartment.

8. Electric Fan Heaters

Electric fan heaters heat a small space by blowing hot air around your apartment through fans. The heater is usually more powerful than an electric wall heater. Regardless of the size, an electric fan heater will operate at high watts (over 1500).

An electric fan heater is cheap. The good news is that you can even purchase it like a fireplace model. This is good for aesthetic purposes. Moreover, you can use a remote control to operate it.

However, you should note that running an electric fan heater can be expensive. Additionally, the heater gets so hot that it can damage a child, pet, or anything else near it. So, you must keep them away from the electric fan heater at all times.

9. Kerosene Heaters

Another great option to heat a small space is a kerosene heater. These heaters are extremely portable and produce a lot of heat.

Though kerosene heaters will go a long way in heating your small apartment, be wary of their drawbacks.

Remember, they produce a live flame which can deprive a small space of oxygen. This means ventilation is necessary if you must use one.

Many apartments will not allow kerosene heaters too. Besides, you might have one but lack fuel to run it. Kerosene is not only becoming costly but rare to find with each passing year too.

Cleaning kerosene heaters and replacing their wicks is also costly.

10. Cooling Options for a Small Space

Apart from heating, you may require to cool your small space, especially during summer. Some of the options available for small apartments include:

  • Mini-split system: As discussed above, mini-split HVAC units have cooling capabilities alongside heating ones.
  • Using a PTAC unit. Make sure you use a PTAC of the right size to adequately cool your space.
  • Window air conditioner: A window AC will go a long way in cooling your small space. Whether it’s a small apartment, room, or house, window ACs make a great, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective cooling option. Luckily, they take no additional space in your small apartment. The good news is that there are window air conditioners with heat that you can use for year-round climate control for your small apartment.
  • Wall air conditioner: Wall air conditioners will also cool your small space. Just like window ACs, they don’t sacrifice space as they run through your apartment wall.
  • Opening your windows.
  • Using oscillating fans.

Wrap Up

When it comes to heating and cooling a small space, there are many options at your disposal. Of course, many factors will go into determining the one you choose for your small apartment, including ownership, budget, preferences, and your local climate. More important is to make your small space cozy with heat or AC.