5 Effective Tips to Keep Your Lawn Healthy

By | | ,
2 Comments

A beautiful, soft and green lawn is a marvel to look at, but can be hard to achieve. Assuming that you already have the right soil and the right type of grass growing on it, it’s a tedious prospect keeping your green as healthy as it possibly could, especially if you have to deal with weeds and other factors. But having a beautiful turf is not complicated; it just takes a bit of effort. In this article, we will discuss a few tips to keep your lawn healthy:

alhambra-garden

1. Prevention is better than cure

Having to deal with weeds once they’ve taken root is a lot harder than simply making sure they don’t grow in the first place. Get a good pre-emergent herbicide that can target hard to deal with weeds and other plants. These types of herbicides basically work by stopping the weed seeds from sprouting, rendering them practically dead. The grass you’d want to keep healthy should be okay though.

2. Cut high and cut often

Whenever you need to mow your lawn, you may be tempted to cut your grass as low as possible in order to save time. While this may seem more efficient, it actually makes your lawn vulnerable of weeds that can take root, since there’s fewer competition for them. A healthier lawn can be achieved if you cut no more than a third off the top of the grass each time.

3. Invest in a good weed whacker

Weed whackers, also known as weed eaters or string trimmers, are tools that trim your lawn more precisely than a lawn mower can. The best string trimmer is capable of cutting grass cleanly, as opposed to a lower quality one that will tear the grass instead of cutting it. If a grass is torn rather than cut, it results in a more ragged edge rather than a smoother one, which results in a lawn that has a brown hue rather than a healthier green one.

4. Keep your grass well-fed

Makes sure to invest in some good fertilizers for your lawn, one that has a high concentration of nitrogen. Look for fertilizers that can both feed you grass and turn it green quickly as well as maintaining its health over time. Sometimes, the grass turns dormant during summer, which is a result of dry conditions or drought. Dormant grass shouldn’t be fed because they’re unable to absorb nutrients, wasting your time and money.

5. Potty-train your dog

If you’ve noticed that your lawn has large dead spots on it, then it might be your dog that’s the problem. Your dog’s urine is chock-full of chemicals that can kill grass after long periods of time. Teach your dog to do its business away from your lawn the same way you house-trained yet. You should also set aside a spot in your yard with gravel or mulch, where they can pee without ruining your grass. Visit DoggieDesigner.com for detailed guides on dog breeds to help with training.

The right lawn maintenance can keep your grass growing healthy and looking its best. A lovely yard is possible, but it’s going to need your help for it to be perfect. Devote a good amount of time every week on your turf, and we guarantee it’ll all be worth it.

إدارة النفايات في المغرب

By | | , ,
1 Comment

تعد إدارة النفايات الصلبة واحدة من المشكلات البيئية الرئيسية التي تهدد المملكة  المغربية. إذ تنتج هذه الأخيرة أكثر من 5 ملايين طن من النفايات الصلبة بمعدل نمو توليد النفايات السنوي وصل إلى 3 في المئة. و يعاني التخلص السليم من النفايات الصلبة البلدية في المغرب من أوجه قصور رئيسية  تتمثل في عدم وجود البنية التحتية المناسبة والتمويل المناسب في المناطق خارج المدن الرئيسية.

وقد أبان تقرير البنك الدولي،  على أنه في عام 2008، قبل الإصلاح الأخير  “لم يتم  جمع إلا 70 من المئة فقط من النفايات الصلبة البلدية في المدن وأن فقط  أقل من 10 من المئة من النفايات التي تم جمعها هي التي يجري التخلص منها بطريقة مقبولة بيئيا اجتماعيا. هذا مع وجود حوالي 300 مكب نفايات عشوائي، وحوالي 3500 جامع للنفايات، يشكل الأطفال 10 في المئة منهم ،  يعيشون داخل وحول هذه المكبات المفتوحة “.

خطر حرق النفايات

إنه لمن المألوف أن نرى حرق النفايات  كوسيلة للتخلص من النفايات الصلبة في المغرب. حاليا، يتم التخلص من النفايات البلدية  بطريقة هوجاء وغير مستدامة و التي لها آثار كبيرة على الصحة العامة والبيئة. فعدم وجود البنية التحتية لإدارة النفايات يؤدي إلى حرقها كشكل من أشكال التخلص من النفايات غير المكلفة. وللأسف، فإن الآثار الصحية الرئيسية لحرق النفايات هي، يا إما غير معروفة على نطاق واسع أومستهان بها بشكل صارخ  من طرف الغالبية العظمى من السكان في المغرب.

يشكل حرق النفايت مصدر قلق صحي خاص بسبب كمية الديوكسينات الكبيرة التي تنتج أثناء عملية الحرق. إذ يعد الديوكسين من الملوّثات البيئية شديدة السمية التي يتم تحريرها عند حرق النفايات المنزلية. أكثر الديوكسينات التي يتم إصدارها في الهواء أثناء عملية الحرق ينتهي بها المطاف إلى الترسب على أوراق النباتات الخضراء. وبالتالي دخولها في السلسلة الغذائية عبر أكلها من قبل  الحيوانات الحلوبة مثل الأبقار والأغنام والماعز مما ينتج عنه تخزين الديوكسينات وتراكمها في الأنسجة الدهنية لهاته الحيونات. و بمجرد حدوث ذلك، يصبح  من الصعب تجنب الديوكسينات  ويكون الإنسان ، في المقام الأول، الأكثر عرضة لخطر الديوكسينات من خلال تناوله اللحوم ومنتجات الألبان الأخرى، وخاصة تلك التي تحتوي على نسبة عالية من الدهون.

وعلاوة على ذلك، فإن هذا النوع من الحرق في الهواء الطلق يتسبب أيضا في تلوث الجسيمات. ويقصد بهذه الأخيرة، الجسيمات المجهرية التي ينتهي بها المطاف إلى الترسب في الرئتين وبالتالي تسببها في عدد  كبيرمن المشاكل الصحية للإنسان، مثل الربو والتهاب الشعب الهوائية. و للأسف، يعتبر الأطفال وكبار السن الذين يتعرضون للديوكسينات هم المهددون الأكثر بتلك الأمراض. عدا هذا، ينتج عن هذا الحرق مواد مسرطنة ضارة أخرى مثل الهيدروكربونات العطرية متعددة الحلقات، ثنائي الفينيل متعدد الكلور (PCB)، والمركبات العضوية المتطايرة، وسداسي كلورو البنزين .و من المعروف أن هذه  الملوّثات  تسبب مشاكل صحية عدة تتراوح بين تهيج الجلد إلى تلف الكبد والكلى وحتى في بعض الحالات الأكثر خطورة فقد تم ربطها بالسرطان.

و غالبا ما يحتوي الرماد، نفسه الناتج عن حرق النفايات، على الزئبق والرصاص والكروم والزرنيخ. “بإمكانية امتصاص و ومراكمة خضروات الحديقة  لهذه المعادن،  قد يشكل تناولها خطرا على الصحة. يمكن أيضا للأطفال الذين يلعبون في الساحة أو الحديقة أن يبتلعون، عن دون قصد، التربة التي تحتوي على هذه المعادن. أيضا، يمكن أن يجرف المطر الرماد إلى المياه الجوفية والمياه السطحية، و بذلك تتلوث مياه الشرب والغذاء. “هذا دون التطرق إلى فئة جامعي النفايات الذين يعرضون صحتهم مباشرة للخطر بفرزهم نفايات البلدية.

الجانب الإيجابي

إلا نه هناك خبر سار بخصوص مستقبل إدارة النفايات الصلبة في المغرب و الذي يتمثل في كون البنك الدولي قد خصص 271300000 دولار للحكومة المغربية من أجل وضع خطة إدارة النفايات البلدية . وتشمل تفاصيل الخطة استعادة حوالي 80 موقع دفن النفايات، وتحسين خدمات جمع النفايات، وزيادة إعادة التدوير بنسبة 20٪، وهذا كله بحلول عام 2020. في حين يتوقع  أن يصنع هذا الإصلاح المعجزات لسكان المناطق الحضرية فإن المرء يأمل أن تشمل فوائد هذا الإصلاح  فقط حوالي 43٪ من سكان المغرب الذين يعيشون في المناطق الريفية، مثل أولئك الذين يعيشون في قريتي.

ومما يعد من البديهيات، أنه وبالرغم من توجه المغرب نحو نظام إدارة ، أكثرصداقة للبيئة  وأكثر أمانا، للنفايات الصلبة، فإن عددا كبيرا من سكانه، بمن فيهم الأطفال وكبار السن، سيغفل عنهم هذا الإصلاح. و حتى يتم بذل المزيد من الجهد، بما في ذلك مبادرات التمويل وزيادة في التعليم، سيظل هؤلاء الناس عرضة لظروف معيشية حرجة بسبب التمويل غير المناسب، و وضعية البنية التحتية والتعليم.

ترجمة

هند سلامة، حاصلة على شهادة الدكتوراة تخصص الكيمياءـ البيئة من كلية العلوم عين الشق جامعة الحسن الثاني ـ المغرب، عملت كمديرة مشاريع في عدة مؤسسات و أعمل حاليا كمستشارة مستقلة في مجال البيئة و التنمية المستدامة و مترجمة  ، هذا عدا عن مساهماتي في البرنامج التطوعي للأمم المتحدة  UNVو متطوعة أيضا مع EcoMENA

5 Ways Using Marbles At Home Help Improve Our Environment

By | | , ,
3 Comments

It is always important to consider the impact on the environment anytime you want something done in your home. Having this type of concern can make you use an eco-friendly approach to various things like energy you want to be in your house. Marble is an amazing material and has grown to become really popular among homeowners for use in their homes.

The reason why most people have grown to like marble is that it provides layers of elegance and aesthetics, but another great thing about the product is that it helps to conserve the environment. Let’s take a look at the ways how marbles can help improve our environment.

1. Marbles are Natural

Marble is environmental-friendly since it is a natural stone and this benefits the environment in so many ways. Because it is in the natural form, marble doesn’t require any power of energy to produce and therefore doesn’t cause any pollution and saves on energy. What’s more, marble has thermal mass which helps to insulate your home naturally, which saves energy since you won’t be required to heat or cool your home.

2. Marbles Don’t Require Manufacturing

Marble doesn’t require any machines to be created but requires people to harvest it, thereby eliminating the need to run machines that emit gases and pollute the environment. Because of this more people get jobs of harvesting the material and this creates job opportunities in the society.

Employment is created from the fact that marble can be quite heavy to carry from its original position and therefore many people are required to do the job. This greatly benefits the environment by eliminating the use of machines which would’ve otherwise caused pollution and helps people who were unemployed to find jobs.

3. Marble Can Be Recycled

The good thing about marble, since it is a natural stone it can easily be recycled later on if you want to change the flooring, counters, or other marble aspects in the house. There won’t be any need to dispose old material, instead all you have to do is call a marble company like marble.com to remove the old pieces of marble and re-use them anywhere else. These old marble pieces can be used to make tiles and anything else which can come out from the pieces.

This ability of marble to be able to be recycled makes it even more environment-friendly and efficient for use. Whereas it pays to recycle a naturally occurring item that has zero effects to our environment, instead of having to replace it with other not so environmentally friendly items.

4. Marble is Durable

Durability is a key factor when considering building your home and marble can really come in handy for you in this case. Since marble is natural stone it has a durable quality and when you construct your home with it, your home is able to withstand wind, snow, rain, heat, and even fire.

Also, when you use marble to build interior structures like the kitchen counter top among others, it is hard for them to get burned, scratched, or even stained. The durability makes marble environmental-friendly since you don’t have to keep extracting the material in case of damages, as marble is strong enough to withstand damages and can also be recycled.

5. Marble is Affordable

The affordability of marble is great for the environment in that many people can afford to use it, thereby avoiding other manufactured items that will affect the environment as they are being processed. Marble is a natural stone and therefore doesn’t require the use of machine for extraction. This greatly helps you save on cost yet still preserves the environment.

benefits of marble

Another thing which we mentioned earlier that also helps to make marble much affordable is that it doesn’t get damaged easily, and old pieces of marble can be recycled and used to make something else.

Final Thoughts

Marble provides great benefits to the environment and not only that, but is also safe and efficient to use for your home. Therefore, the next time you think of building a house, changing any interior part of your home, or replacing something in your home, consider using marble to help conserve the environment.

Every person shares a responsibility to care for this environment for the sake of a peaceful coexistence with nature, as well as for our future generations. Apart from marble being very practical in your home, it is also aesthetically strong and highlighting the beauty of your home in a natural way.

How Islam is in Harmony with Nature

By | | , ,
14 Comments

The ecological crisis of the world presents one of the biggest challenges of our time. Through prophets and messengers, God has revealed holy books that bring both glad tidings and warnings, so that people act in a righteous and just manner.

In the Holy Quran, God speaks of creating everything in balance, and warns that transgression of the balance shall have disastrous consequences. This holds true not just for the world around us, but also for our souls, for Islam does not differentiate the world of man from the world of nature.

green muslims

There are over 6,000 verses in the Holy Quran of which more than 500 deal with the natural phenomenon. Allah, the Almighty, repeatedly calls on mankind to reflect on His signs, which include all aspects of nature such as trees, mountains, seas, animals, birds, stars, the Sun and the moon and our own hearts.

Islamic jurisprudence contains regulations concerning the conservation and allocation of scarce water resources; it provides legislation for the conservation of land; it has special rules for the establishment of rangelands, wetlands, green belts and for wildlife protection and conservation.

Planting a tree is considered a sadqa-e-jariyah, an act of continuous charity, a desirable deed for which the planter is rewarded for as long as the tree benefits any form of creation. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had declared a 30-km area around his city of Medina a protected grove, prohibiting the cutting down of trees within its borders.

Quran and environmental conservation

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prescribed picking up litter from the streets as an act of faith. He forbade the cutting of cedar trees in the desert since they provided shade and shelter to animals. There are innumerable sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that stress on conservation of resources, especially water. He calls upon us to be what God intended us to be, which is in harmony with nature.

Humans have the capacity to subvert the world, far more than any other living species. We also have the capacity to uphold the physical world. Islam believes that all human souls come from a garden, and that at the end of time each soul will either enter the garden or the fire. We can turn the world into something that is hotter, greedier and more destructive, or we can turn it into something that is calm, garden-like and reflects the divine purpose.

natural attractions in UAE

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) famously said, “Even if the Day of Judgment should arrive and you are holding a sapling in your hand, plant it.” This also indicates that one should never lose hope and continue one’s efforts to be at peace with the earth till the very end.

 

Sustainable Waste Management: What Every Homeowner Should Know

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Waste management is often the most overlooked process in homes. Most homeowners in urban areas typically rely on rubbish removal services because of the convenience they bring.

Sustainable waste management is everyone’s responsibility. As the human population rapidly grows, the consumption of various goods increases, producing more waste. Although some organizations and government institutions develop solutions, they still require active individual participation.

Here are some solutions to sustainable waste management every homeowner should know:

sustainable waste management for homeowners

1. Intentional Waste Reduction

Most types of waste are produced and, therefore, can be reduced. These are plastic bags, food packaging, packets, straws, and other disposable items. These usually end up in rivers and oceans, harming marine life.

Waste reduction should start in every home. A simple change everyone can make is buying unpacked items and goods in biodegradable packaging. For instance, you may purchase fruits and vegetables in your local farmer’s market. Doing so will lessen the use of plastic compared to purchasing peeled and sliced ones in supermarkets.

Another home essential you can replace with an eco-friendly option is food wraps. Instead of single-use cling wraps, you may use beeswax wrap as an alternative. You can wash and reuse it until it wears out, then it’s compostable.

For unavoidable nonbiodegradable waste, create a proper segregation bin for collection. If you want to dig deeper into efficient waste collection systems, you can get the facts here.

2. Composting

Composting is a traditional yet effective way of managing biodegradable and food waste. Its byproduct can serve as fertilizer for your garden.

Learning different types of composting will help you determine which works for you. Not everyone has large backyards for a compost pit. However, some alternatives like a covered compost bin prevent bug and pest infestation.

composting-food-waste

Managing food waste at home is highly beneficial to reducing rubbish ending up in landfills. You can also reap the benefits of self-sustainability when growing vegetables and fruit trees in your garden.

3. Biogas Digester

Another way to deal with biodegradable waste is using a biogas digester. It provides an efficient composting solution that takes sustainability to a different level.

A biogas digester decomposes organic matter like biodegradable waste and food scraps into biogas through anaerobic digestion. The methane gas it produces by the end of the process can fuel a stove cooktop.

Biogas from MSW

Anaerobic digestion is a reliable technology for treatment of organic fraction of MSW

Setting up a biogas digester in your backyard can solve many problems. Aside from being a sustainable waste management tool, it also helps reduce the amount of methane gas released into the atmosphere. Instead of letting organic waste decompose in landfills, you can use them for growing and cooking food.

4. Recycling And Repurposing

Nonbiodegradable waste is more challenging to dispose of sustainably. Home items like appliances and gadgets usually end up in scrapyards. Although environmental institutions are taking action to repurpose them, the amount of waste the world produces every day makes it more challenging.

You can start recycling and repurposing at home. You can find some easy DIY projects using recycled materials like plastic and glass bottles. When you recycle, you’re giving these items a new purpose while helping the environment.

However, recycling isn’t limited to small items. Some tiny house DIY-ers often use reclaimed materials to save construction costs. These may include windows, doors, sinks, and even floor planks. Repurposing is a wise solution for tiny living as it is rooted in reducing a home’s carbon footprint.

5. Hiring Bin Collection

Hiring bin collection should be every homeowner’s last resort for managing waste. Only a few rubbish removal services practice sustainable waste collection, so you have to be mindful of hiring one.

Some garbage collectors practicing eco-friendly waste management bring their collections to different recycling plants. Unfortunately, the rest usually take a shortcut by simply dumping the rubbish in landfills.

When hiring bin collection services, know where they’re dumping the waste. It’s also best to hire one near your area, so they don’t have to consume more fuel to get to your house. Looking at sustainable waste management from a broader perspective makes it efficient and in keeping with the goal.

Also Read: Rubbish Removal in Sydney – What to Expect?

6. Greywater Filter

Wastewater is often overlooked when tackling sustainable waste management. For some, it’s easy to take clean water consumption for granted in locations with abundant water sources. However, water conservation should be everyone’s priority because we have no idea when its supply will remain unlimited.

greywater recycling

Installing a greywater system in your household can help save the environment and your budget. The water coming from your shower, sink, and laundry can be collected and filtered through a system. Then, you can reuse it for watering plants.

Furthermore, you may install a more complex water filtration system to purify greywater for home use. Some new technology allows the reuse of filtered and purified grey water for laundry and showers. You may also collect and filter rainwater as another sustainable water conservation option.

Conclusion

Sustainable waste management is one of the best solutions to lessen the effect of climate change. This responsible act can help you live with a purpose—to help save the earth for you and the future generations.

10 Greenest Ways of Traveling

By | | , ,
3 Comments

From plastic waste to carbon emissions, travel isn’t the most environmentally friendly activity. However, the benefits of venturing far from home to experience other cultures are priceless. Many millennials see travel as necessary. Fortunately, there are ways you can make your trips more eco-friendly!

1. BYOE (Bring Your Own Everything)

Coffee cups, water bottles, utensils, take-out containers, napkins, and so much more can be brought in your personal item and used throughout your trip. By replacing single-use items with reusable ones, you drastically cut down on the waste you produce while traveling. Also, be sure to bring a reusable grocery bag with you if you plan to hit the markets.

plastic bag alternative

 

2. Travel to Eco-Friendly Locations

Some countries are more environmentally-friendly than others. Traveling to eco-friendly destinations like Spain helps you spare the planet while experiencing another culture. The country’s natural beauty is living proof of its people’s dedication to green living. You can take in the beauty of Spain while being green at your holiday home at https://www.interhome.co.uk/spain/mallorca/. Countries like India, Pakistan, and Moldova don’t rank as high on the eco-friendly scale.

3. Take the Train

When you are traveling from country to country, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint by taking a train instead of an airplane. Europe has an efficient railway system that makes intercontinental travel a breeze. Why fly from country to country when you can experience the countryside on a relaxing train ride? You will see more of the area and help the planet!

ecofriendly mode of travel

4. Eat and Drink Local

Importing and shipping foods make a huge carbon footprint on our planet. When you are traveling, you can reduce your environmental impact by chowing down on local delights. Coastal areas offer fresh-caught fish; other areas boast fresh produce. If you want to taste some local dishes, opt for local restaurants rather than big chains.

Let’s take Danville city in Georgia, for example. While tourists may opt for familiar places to eat, we recommend checking out the local diner called Me’s Burgers and Brews; it’s easily one of the best restaurants in Danville. It’s a family-owned joint that serves gourmet burgers and craft beer, and they source local products from Melrose Bison Farm and the Windmill Farm Bake Shop. This means they provide fresh ingredients while lessening the waste from packaging and logistics as well. So no matter where you go, be sure to fill up on foods that are native to the region.

food-waste-ramadan

5. Take Direct Routes When Flying

Here is your excuse to avoid layovers. You can’t avoid flying, but you can cut your greenhouse gas emissions significantly by only taking flights that go directly to your destination. Planes emit the most harmful gas and use the most fuel when they are taking off, so you make your trips a little more eco-friendly when you reduce the number of takeoffs. Also, fly with budget airlines. They usually fill more seats per flight than their expensive counterparts, saving the environment and your wallet.

6. Take the Bus

Taking an Uber everywhere isn’t the most efficient way to get around. One of the best ways to get around locally is to use public transportation. Taking the bus or subway is a great way to meet the locals and get from place to place. The metro produces 76% fewer gas emissions than cars. Some cities even use electric buses that reduce smog and cut back on natural gas usage.

7. Don’t Go Off the Beaten Path

When you are hiking, don’t stray from the marked trekking trails that are designated for hikers. Leaving the trail is risky, and you might accidentally stomp on fragile plants or animal homes. Avoid unfortunate encounters with powerful animals and keep the wildlife around you safe by only hiking on the set path.

sustainable trekking trails

 

8. Take Tours That Give Back

Plan your tours with organizations that contribute to the community in some way. Local tours often donate part of their proceeds to great causes. If you can take a few tours that teach you about the local environment while helping it out, that’s a win-win. When you take tours, be sure to ask about the size of the tour group. Small groups harm the environment less than large ones, and tours with fewer people give you a more intimate experience and a chance to ask questions.

9. Go Electric

If you need to rent a car for your trip, consider renting an electric-powered car. It usually does more harm than good to replace your car at home with an electric one if it is still in good condition, but why not spare the environment some stress by driving an ecofriendly car on your vacation?

electric-car

10. Treat Your Holiday Home Like a Home

You wouldn’t wash a towel after one use or leave the lights on when you leave your home; could you imagine the laundry and the electric bill? When you are traveling, it’s important to maintain your at-home eco-friendly practices. Always hang your towels back up so that housekeeping doesn’t wash them, turn off lights when you leave a room, and don’t spend an eternity in the shower!

Whether you reduce your environmental impact by bringing your own food containers or cutting out layovers, anything you do helps. Together, we can significantly reduce the environmental footprint we make when traveling while still being able to experience the big, wonderful world.

Solar Panels for Commercial Buildings: 5 Things to Consider

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Society and technology have truly come a long way. From fixed fires in the hearth to gas and electric lighting, it makes sense to want to upgrade your business with a commercial solar energy system.

However, like with any early adoption, it pays to conduct a thorough evaluation. In fact, it’s likely the only way to determine the best process to incorporate solar technology with your commercial building.

commercial solar energy system

A rooftop solar power project in Abu Dhabi

1. Solar Technology

When considering a solar energy system, it’s important to differentiate between solar technologies and solar power systems. Solar technology has two dominating categories — solar thermal power (CSP) and photovoltaics (PV). When you see residential homes and commercial buildings with solar panels, it’s likely using PV. On the other hand, CSP, which uses mirrors and heat, is typically found in large power plants.

2. Solar Cells

Most people don’t realize that it’s not the solar panels that convert energy. Rather, it’s the solar cells contained in arrays that make up a solar panel.

Arrays are thousands of individual solar cells grouped together. Currently, there are about 24 unique types of solar cells that can be broadly categorized into three groups.

Crystalline Silicon

The majority of PV cells are crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers. They come from lab-grown ingots, which take approximately a month to grow fully and can form into single or multiple crystals.

From these large ingots, the single crystals are used for monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) cells and solar panels. At the same time, the polycrystalline cells and solar panels (poly c-Si) use the multi-crystals.

Monocrystalline cells have a distinctive color and are cylindrical. They provide the most efficient energy conversion, but cutting the cells to shape can be somewhat wasteful.

On the other hand, polycrystalline cells don’t go to waste because they’re melted and poured into the arrays. However, this process diminishes some of its effectiveness.

types of solar cells

Thin Film

Thin-film solar cells are also PV cells but are about 100 times thinner than c-Si. These use amorphous silicon (a-Si). However, they’re not limited to a-Si. They can also be made from organic PV, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) or cadmium-telluride (Cd-Te).

They’re by far the cheapest and most flexible option because they can be laminated onto various surfaces. These surfaces include glass, skylights and roofing tiles. However, the benefit of flexibility means decreased levels of efficiency compared to c-Si cells.

Third Generation

Third-generation cells are the latest and greatest in solar cell technology. These solar cells pick, choose and combine the best qualities of c-Si and thin-film cells. The end result is a sustainable product that’s efficient, practical and cheaper to produce.

3. Types of Solar Energy System

There are three types of systems that dominate the industry. Depending on your building’s location and usage requirements, one type will be better suited than another.

Grid-Tied Solar Energy System and Power Outages

First, you have a grid-tied solar system that connects to the local power grid. This system is excellent for those in cloudy places who worry about not having enough electricity or suffer from power outages.

You save money on your energy bills by first using up all your converted energy from the sun and can then tap into the grid on an as-needed basis.

Another benefit is net metering. This is when your system produces excess energy and sends it back to the grid in return for credits on the next electricity bill. However, not every state or municipality offers net metering, in which case a hybrid system may be more advantageous.

Being tied to the grid also means that these systems require less equipment, which reduces the overall cost. If the upfront costs are a deterrent, consider calculating how much a grid-tied system would be and how much you could save in the long run.

Off Grid House

Off-Grid Solar Energy System and Battery Storage

These systems are best for commercial buildings that use some means to be completely energy independent. Off-grid systems can be more expensive because they require larger batteries and other materials.

They work best with smaller commercial buildings designed to conserve energy in any way possible. For example, a solar panel generator and energy-efficient windows are extra measures you can take.

However, off-grid systems aren’t an end-all-be-all to your remote commercial building. That’s because the batteries have limited storage capacity that can get quickly used up.

Hybrid

Finally, there’s a hybrid system which is a combination of the other two. They’re connected to the grid but also come with extra battery storage.

Hybrid systems may prove the most beneficial if you find your commercial building uses a lot of power. The system first uses the energy stored in batteries and then calls on the grid when demand exceeds solar energy production. As an added benefit, hybrid system owners can take advantage of net metering.

4. Does Your Commercial Building Require Battery Storage?

It may seem like the obvious answer is to get a solar system with battery energy storage, but it’s not necessary in some cases. For example, battery storage has minimal financial benefit if you have a grid-tied system in an area that offers net metering.

On the other hand, commercial buildings prone to constant blackouts will certainly benefit from a hybrid system. That way, you have energy stored for blackout conditions and net metering to assist with monthly costs.

5. DIY or Professional Installation?

While the commercial solar panel cost isn’t cheap, it’s never recommended to install it yourself. More often than not, the DIY installation ends up costing more than hiring a professional.

Installing solar panels comes with risks easily overlooked that can cause significant issues down the line. For example, incorrectly connecting a single wire can lead to electrocution, fires or your panels not working at all.

Without adequate roofing knowledge, a DIYer can accidentally damage the roof and cause leaks. Additionally, many solar panels require a licensed professional to install for the warranty to be valid.

solar panels maintenance

By taking the chance and doing it yourself, you run the risk of voiding your warranty and missing out on compensation if anything goes wrong. However, if you’re adamant about self-installation, double-check for building permits and regulations.

The last thing you want is to complete a perfect job, only to have your local authorities come and tell you to take it down within a week.

Ordering a Solar Panel System for Your Commercial Building

As you can tell, a lot goes into solar panels and determining which type is best for your commercial building. However, you shouldn’t let that deter you from making your building eco-friendly.

The most efficient way to determine the best system is to shop around. Your local companies can present valuable insight into any specific incentives offered by your state.

Environment as a Peace-Building Tool

By | | , ,
3 Comments

The world is changing demographically, economically, politically and environmentally. The acquisition of natural resources, such as water, can be viewed as a threat to the international security. Severe environmental degradation can deepen regional divisions and trigger social conflicts for communities that depend on these resources for their livelihoods and fulfillment of basic needs. Moreover, the environment itself can be dramatically affected by such conflicts.

environment as peace-building tool

The unprecedented demand for natural resources is fuelling ethnic conflicts, causing large-scale displacement and is a severe threat to the lands, livelihoods and the way of life of indigenous people. Infact, many of the bloodiest conflicts in Africa and Asia in recent years have been fuelled by profits from the exploitation of natural resources, including diamonds, timber and minerals.

Indigenous communities ranging from the Batwa of Central Africa to hill tribes in northern Thailand, Bedouin in the Middle East and Uighurs in China’s Xinjiang province face a grave risk of being forced from their land and resources by activities taking place in the name of industrial development.

Locally, tensions over non-extractive natural resources that have an impact on livelihoods can also drive conflicts. Tension can result from the decline of limited sources and inequitable distribution and utilization within a given context; this may spill over into wider instability and violence. In the case of Darfur, one of the reasons that led to violence is competition between herders and farmers over land; historical ethnic divisions compounded this conflict.

A New Approach to Stability

Recognizing the linkages between the environment and insecurity, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for integrating environmental initiatives to solve conflict and instability into the U.N.’s conflict prevention policy. So, if environmental degradation can trigger conflict and violence, then environmental cooperation initiatives can be used as peace-building tool. This can create a dialogue between parties in conflict.

Environmental challenges, such as industrial pollution, are global issues that ignore political boundaries. These challenges require a long-term perspective to achieve sustainable management, encourage local and nongovernmental participation, and extend community building beyond the polarization of economic linkages. Furthermore, environmental cooperation can build bridges across boundaries and between people, and enhance building a more sustainable peace and stability.

indigenous-communities-deforestation

Environmental cooperation can be initial building blocks for increasing confidence and enhancing trust between communities, hence, reducing uncertainties and mitigating tensions. Cooperative sharing of resources encourages common goals, and establishes recognized rights and expectations. Moreover, initiatives of cooperation to manage environmental resources will promote peace between disputing parties and may establish sustained interaction and long-term relationships, encouraging stability. The more environmental initiatives exist, the more conflicts will be resolved in a non-violent manner. Environmental initiatives can be used to initiate dialogue between disputing parties even for non-ecological conflicts.

Shared water supply is an important domain for environmental conflict resolution. Sharing of water resources represents an opportunity to keep the dialogue alive between disputing parties such as in the Nile river case. Management of biodiversity conservation in disputed areas is a major aspect of environmental peace-building strategies. This may help to achieve win-win solutions between local communities. It is worthy to mention that NGOs can enhance the chances of sustainable peace by promoting awareness and motivation of local community participation. Therefore, their influence must be strengthened in policy decisions that are related to environmental security.

Environment and the Arab Spring

In the wake of historic Arab Spring, a new approach to sustainability is required in the Middle East. The Arab world offers a fertile ground and ample opportunities to prepare a sustainable mechanism for peace and regional security using environment as a tool. Traditional tools of wildlife conservation, such as Hima and Haram, produce a promising opportunity for environmental synergies in the region.

wildlife protection in islam

Climate change and human intervention is threatening many wildlife species in the Middle East

In order to protect land, forests and wildlife, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) created inviolable zones in which resources were to be left untouched. Haram areas were drawn up around wells and water sources to protect the groundwater from over-pumping. Hima applied to wildlife and forestry and designated an area of land where grazing and woodcutting was restricted, or where certain animal species (such as camels) were protected.

Adopting natural environmental initiatives, such as Hima and Haram, has multiple direct and indirect benefits for overall development in the Middle East. It can enhance trust, build confidence, and reduce uncertainties in the Arab world, which may help in finding an amicable solution to multiple and unending problems faced by this strategic region.

Rediscovering the Natural World – The Islamic Approach

By | | , ,
5 Comments

Today more than half the world’s population live in cities. Our increasingly urban lives have ensured an almost total disconnection from the natural world to the extent that it is not uncommon to meet children who believe that milk originates in plastic supermarket cartons. It is as well to be conscious of this as much is left out in their education, both religious and secular, to the extent that we are continuing to cause irreparable harm to the Earth.

Muslims are no exception to this, having also adopted urban lifestyles and modern modes of living that reveal an almost complete lack of awareness as to where this is all going. Taking children to the zoo or visiting national parks is more in the nature of recreational activity and actually reinforces the idea of otherness. The educational aspects remain lamentably superficial, and the spiritual is nowhere to be seen.

Islam and environmental conservation

Care for the Natural World

In the Islamic order, care for the natural world expresses itself in every aspect of personal behaviour. The guidance for this comes from the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s teachings (Sunnah). It is integral to life, an expression of existence in submission to the will of the Creator in harmony with the cosmic pattern. There is a code of conduct that governs interpersonal behaviour and an individual’s rights and responsibilities within a community; it also deals with an individual’s behaviour towards other sentient beings and the rest of the natural world.

Holistic Expression of Life

As Muslim interaction with the environment evolved, it manifested itself in a range of rules and institutions, embodying a truly holistic expression of life. It took into consideration the importance of reducing waste, being abstemious, generous, considerate, moderate, unselfish, caring, and sharing.

The qualities of love, humility, trust and justice remained preeminent. Over the centuries these values have been elaborated upon by a succession of mystics, scholars, jurists and teachers responding to real problems experienced by the growing community of Muslims in various parts of the world.

Sustainable development-Islam

Erosion of Sacred Nexus

However, this Islamic mode of expression is now severely attenuated, having been swept aside by the forces of history – like the other older traditions – into a domain which treats the natural world exclusively as an exploitable resource. As the secular ethic progressively seeped into the Muslim psyche, and as industrial development, economic indicators and consumerism became the governing parameters of society, there has been a corresponding erosion of the Muslim perception of the holistic and a withering of its understanding of the sacred nexus between the human community and the rest of the natural order.

Environmental Approach of Quran

As the Islamic tapestry unfolded in its expression over the centuries, we discover that there are no references in the Qur’an to the environment or its -isms, as we now understand them. The context in which we discuss this subject today originated as recently as the second half of the last century and Rachel Carson is recognized as having given impetus to this movement since her research was published in 1962 (see chapter 2, ‘A Delayed Reaction’). Neither can the word ‘nature’, which is an abstraction, be found in the Qur’an. The closest term in modern Arabic usage is bi’ah, which connotes a habitat or a surrounding.

Nevertheless, the Qur’an is inherently environmental and holistic in its approach. It speaks of creation (khalq) and contains over 250 verses where this word is used in its various grammatical forms. Derived from the root kh–l–q, it is used in many ways to describe what we see, feel and sense in the world. The verses contain references to the natural world from herbs to trees, from fish to fowl, to the sun, stars and skies.

He (Allah) created everything and determined them in exact proportions (25: 2).

The human community is but an infinitesimal part of the natural world but we have now lost sight of this through our proclivity for dominating it. The Qur’an observes:

The creation of the heavens and the earth is far greater than the creation of humankind. But most of humankind do not know it (40: 57).

Multi-faceted Response

Creation is the fabric into which the tapestry of life is worked. An Islamic approach to environment provides us with a three-faceted response:

  1. The first is to approach the Earth as sacred and identify how through abusing it we have desacralized our understanding of it. Hence we can rediscover what it is that we have lost in the process.
  2. The second is to formulate an ethical understanding of our relationship with the natural world and build a knowledge base that enables us to resolve the immediate crisis and motivates us to lay down a basis for long term behavioural change.
  3. The third is to look at this through the prism of political economy and discover what it is that an Islamic approach to this subject can do to both improve our understanding of the current malaise and provide some answers as to how we can create a model of well-being without having to subvert our own existence.

Note: The excerpt has been published from Fazlun Khalid’s latest book Signs On The Earth: Islam, Modernity And The Climate Crisis, published by Kube Publishing. The book can be purchased from the Amazon website.

Things You Should Know About The Disposal of Waste Tires

By | | , ,
24 Comments

Tens of millions of tires are discarded across the Middle East every year. Disposal of  waste tires is a challenging task because tires have a long life and are non-biodegradable. The traditional method of disposal of waste tires have been stockpiling or illegally dumping or landfilling, all of which are short-term solution.

waste tires disposal

The Menace of Waste Tires

Stockpiled tires provide perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, vermin and snakes. Accidental fires caused in tire dumps can rage for months releasing toxic fumes. For example, a massive fire broke out at Jahra dumpsite in Kuwait in April 2012 where more than 5 million waste tires were stored.

Landfilling of tires is a major problem as tires come up to the top of landfill and can damage caps and liners. Tires are not desired at landfills because of their large volumes and 75% void space which quickly consumes valuable space. Many countries in North America and Europe have banned landfilling of whole tires and made recycling mandatory.

Tire recycling is the process of recycling vehicles’ tires that are no longer suitable for use on vehicles due to wear or irreparable damage (such as punctures). These tires are among the largest and most problematic sources of waste, due to the large volume produced and their durability.

landfill in kuwait

Tire Recycling Technologies

There are three major technologies for recycling of waste tires – ambient mechanical grinding, cryogenic grinding and pyrolysis.

Ambient mechanical grinding

In ambient mechanical grinding process, the breaking up of a scrap tire happens at ambient temperature. Tires are passed through a shredder, which breaks the tires into chips. The chips are fed into a granulator that breaks them into small pieces while removing steel and fiber in the process. Any remaining steel is removed magnetically and fiber through a combination of shaking screens and wind sifters. Finer rubber particles can be obtained through further grinding in secondary granulators and high-speed rotary mills.

Cryogenic grinding

Cryogenic grinding refers to the grinding of scrap tires at temperatures near minus 80oC using liquid nitrogen or commercial refrigerants. Cryogenic processing generally uses pre-treated car or truck tires as feedstock, most often in the form of chips or ambiently produced granulate.

When the tires are exposed to such low temperatures, they become brittle and can be easily crushed and broken. It can be a four-phase system which includes initial size reduction, cooling, separation, and milling. This process requires less energy than others and produces rubber crumb of much finer quality.

Rubber crumbs or crumb rubber, the product obtained from ambient/cryogenic grinding of scrap tires, is used for manufacture of new tires or in a variety of landscaping applications including path paving projects, playground surface cover, running tracks, and athletic field turfs.

pyrolysis of waste tires

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis refers to the thermal decomposition of scrap tires either in the absence or lack of oxygen. Pyrolysis uses pre-treated car or truck tire chips as the principal feedstock. It is a two-phase treatment which uses thermal decomposition to heat the rubber in the absence of oxygen to break it into its constituent parts, e.g., tire-derived fuel (TDF), synthetic gas and char. Cracking and post-cracking take place progressively as the material is heated to 450-500 °C and above.

The use of tire-derived fuel in cement kilns, paper mills or power plants is one of the best uses of scrap tires. The char can be used in low value production processes as a colorant or filler.

أنسنة العمارة – بعيون معمارية أردنية

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

عبر شوارع اللوبيدة (في عمان – الأردن) العابقة برائحة الياسمين، وجدت طريقي إلى ستوديو عبير صيقلي، في منزل قديم يعكس الهوية الأصيلة والملهمة للأردن. عبير صيقلي هي معمارية أردنية شابة برزت مؤخرا على  العديد من المنصات الإعلامية المحلية والعالمية بسبب ابتكارها “حياكة منزل weaving a home” والذي رشح لجائزة LEXUS Design  2012.

Abeer's Studio

تأثيرالتعليم والمعرفة المحلية

تتأثر افضل كليات الهندسة المعمارية في الوطن العربي الى حد كبير بالتوجهات  العالمية في مجالي البيئة المبنية والاستدامة. ولسوء الحظ فان المراجع العربية مهملة بشكل كبير في عملية التدريس. ان التفكير الحديث حول البيئة المبنية وعلاقتها مع الناس والطبيعة تعتمد بشكل اساسي على التطبيقات الرقمية والافتراضية (الحاسوبية) تاركةً تفاعلا محدودا للطلاب  مع المجتمعات ومواد البناء . ضف الى ذلك عدم المواءمة بين البحث العلمي ومتطلبات السوق في معظم الدول النامية مما يعظم الفجوة ما بين الهندسة والتنمية المستدامة. الاعتراف بتفرد  العمارة العربية التراثية واهميتها التاريخية في تشكيل مبادىء البناء المستدام  يدعونا الى القلق اليوم على الدور المتناقص للمعرفة المحلية في التصدي لتحديات الاستدامة المعاصرة.

بالنسبة لعبير، فقد زودتها دراستها في الخارج برؤى جديدة ليس فقط حول الهندسة المعمارية ولكن وبشكل خاص حول طاقاتها وقدراتها ضمن سياق اكبر. وما قدمته لها البيئة الغنية بالثقافة  والتي نشأت فيها هو احترام وتقدير الفن والابداع والبيئة المحيطة. بمرور الوقت واكتساب الخبرات والتجارب طورت عبير الاسلوب المعماري الخاص بها. مشيرة الى المعنى الحقيقي للتكنولوجيا وهو الحرفة والحياكة والصناعة، تعرف عبير العمار المبتكرة بأسلوب يدمج كلا من الحداثة والقدم، التراث والتجديد. واخيرا فهي ترى الهندسة المعمارية كتكنولوجيا اجتماعية.

إعادة تعريف النجاح

عندما نركز على المنتج النهائي، عادة ما نميل كأشخاص إلى إهمال المتعة والفائدة  من العملية أو الطريقة بحد ذاتها.ان التركيز على العملية (الطريقة)  يعزز الثقة بالنفس والوعي الذاتي كما ويتطلب  ذلك الاجتهاد والتفكير العميق بينما نستمتع بالتجربة. بذلك يمكننا الانخراط بشكل أكثرعمقا مع الحاضر، وبالتالي التعلم بشكل أسرع وتجربة الحياة على أكمل وجه.

وفقا لعبير صيقلي، لا تتمحور العمارة حول المبنى نفسه وانما الدخول الى ذلك المبنى وتجربة طبيعتة الميتافيزيقية (الغيبية) مع مرور الزمن. “المهندسين المعماريين التقليديين في الوقت الحاضر يميلون الى استخدام برامج الكمبيوتر لتصميم المباني بينما يجلسون في مكاتبهم المغلقة. وبالتالي فان ذلك يبقيهم بعيدين عن الناس والطبيعة. كمعماري حقيقي، عليك أن تتواجد فعليا في المكان الذي تصصمه لتشعر به وتتفاعل معه وتختبر تصميمك على ارض الواقع”. تتابع صيقلي: “الابداع يكون في العملية التصميمية بمراحلها وليس في النتيجة النهائية.”

التفكير من خلال التطبيق: الخيمة

عبير صيقلي وهي احد المؤمنين بهذه المنهجية حيث عملت على مدى عدة سنوات على تطوير نسيجها الانشائي الفريد من نوعه (مادة نسيجية ذات خواص معمارية وانشائية) بشكل مستمر.  وفي الوقت المناسب، قامت عبيرباستخدام هذا العمل الابداعي لسد حاجة انسانية غاية في الاهمية. ان مشاركتها في مسابقة LEXUS Design  كانت جزءا من عملية تقديم منتجها للناس ودمجه  مع الطبيعة. 

صممت مآوي الكوارث عبر العصور من مجموعة كبيرة من المواد، ولكن عبير توجهت في اختيارها للمواد التي تستخدم في حياكة المأوى  الى “الانسجة التي تمتص أشعة الشمس” كما ستزود المآوي المستوحاة من ثقافة البدو الرحل  بالطاقة الشمسية. ان استخدام النسيج الهيكلي يشير إلى عادات قديمة متمثلة في ربط الألياف المستقيمة لتكوين منتج معقد  ثلاثي الأبعاد.

View of tent structures

ان معالجة مشكلة هامة  مثل مشكلة تأمين المأوى المناسب للانسان هي بالتأكيد من المواضيع والقضايا المرتبطة بمفهومي العمارة المبتكرة والتنمية المستدامة. وفي الاردن بشكل خاص كأكبر الدول المستضيفة لللاجئين السوريين بما يزيد على 1.4 مليون لاجىء، لا يمكن اعتبار هذا الاختراع مجرد منتج متوفر بالاسواق. بل ان هذا الابتكار سيلبي ابسط الحاجات الإنسانية ويسهم في أنسنة الهندسة المعمارية او يمكن القول إضفاء الطابع الانساني عليها.  تتحدث عبير بشكل مفصل عن نسيجها واستخدامه في الاغاثة الانسانية على مدونتها ولكنها كانت اكثر شغفا بمشاركتنا  في #InspireMENA  بالهامها الاساسي وهومبدأ التفكير من خلال التطبيق. “التجربة العملية، مراقبة اداء المادة، التحليل وبشكل بطيء ستجد نفسك هناك”. وتضيف صيقلي ” يتأتى الالهام الحقيقي من خلال العمل الجاد لسنوات طويلة والاستمرارية والمثابرة في العمل”.

وصفة للإبتكار

لا يوجد وصفة موحدة للابتكار ،  توضح عبير صيقلي، لكن المهندسين والمعماريين الأردنيين بحاجة لأن يسألوا أنفسهم الأسئلة التالية: مالذي يميزني أنا؟ ما هو تعريف المحلي أو المستدام؟ ومالذي يميز الأردن من ناحية معمارية ومستدامة؟
وعندما سألناها عن دور الشركات الهندسية، شددت صيقلي على حقيقة أن أكثر المؤسسات في هذه الأيام لا توفر للشباب بيئة للتعلم والنمو. مؤكدةً على أهمية الإبتكار  قالت عبير:بدون اهتمام شخصي وتدريب سوف ينفصل المهندسون عن أنفسهم وعن المجتمع من حولهم. بغض النظر عن كل الصعوبات التتي نواجهها في بلادنا، يعتمد الإبتكار على قوة المحرك والدافع الشخصي: إذا احتجت شيئا، سوف تصنعه .”

“اعرف دورك كمعماري في دولة نامية. لقد اكتشفت دوري وأصبحت انسانة أكثر وعيا: أن أخدم المجتمع وأحسن نوعية الحياة – هذه هي أنا” – عبير صيقلي.

العمارة والتنمية المستدامة

الرابط المباشربين العمارة وأهداف التنمية المستدامة هو الهدف العالمي رقم 11؛ المدن والمجتمعات المستدامة؛ الا أنه وبنظرة أكثر تعمقا على  العمارة وكيف تؤثر وتتأثر بالعناصر الأخرى، سيقودنا ذلك إلى ما يربطها  بأغلب الأهداف العالمية السبعة عشر. ان العلاقة الفريدة بين البيئة المبنية والناس والطبيعة توفر فرصة  لتوضيح مفهوم التنمية المستدامة الحقيقية، كما تَوَضَح في ابتكار عبير.

بحلول عام  2030، سيعيش 60% من سكان العالم في المدن، مما يستوجب ايجاد طرق جديدة ومتكاملة للتفكير بالعمارة والتصميم الحضري.

ترجمة

معاذ  وحيد الزعبي درس هندسة الطاقة المتجددة من الجامعة الالمانية الاردنية، يعمل حاليا كمهندس تصميم لمحطات الطاقة الشمسية. تدرب في احدى اكبر شركات الطاقة المتجددة العالمية وهي JUWI. وعمل سابقا في غرفة صناعة الاردن على المساعدة في انشاء وحدة الطاقة والاستدامة البيئية.

يهتم بمصادر الطاقة المتجددة بشكل عام وكيفية الاستفادة منها بشكل مستدام.

أثار التغير المناخي على مصادر المياه

By | | , ,
9 Comments

النقص الحاصل في كمية المياه العذبة في الشرق الأوسط و شمال إفريقيا يمثل خطرا حقيقيا في النمو الإقتصادي , التلاصق الإجتماعي , السلام و الإستقرار السياسي . علاوة على ذلك , إستهلاك المياه العذبة في هذه الأيام لم يعد يقتصر على توافرها الحالي و المستقبلي و إنما تعتمد على إحتياجات الإستهلاكية التنافسية قطاعياً و جغرافياً .

و ما يزيد الأمر سوءا , أن هذا الوضع الرهيب بدأ بالتفاقم بسبب التغيرالمناخي السريع . التغير المناخي يؤثر على مصادر المياه من خلال تأثيره العميق على كل من كمية المياه , التوقيت  , التغير , الشكل و شدة الترسيب .

climate-change-water-scarcity

منطقة الشرق الأوسط و شمال أفريقيا تحديداً هي الأكثر عرضة لأثار التغير المناخي التخريبية و ذلك بسبب أن دول هذه المنطقة بلا شك هي من الدول التي تعاني  شدة في النقص للمياه عالمياً , حيث أن نصيب الفرد للمياه أقل من المعدل الطبيعي .

بالإضافة إلى أن دول الشرق الأوسط و شمال إفريقيا تعاني من وضع حرج بالنسبة لإنخفاض تساقط الأمطار و تفاوت شديد في هطولها مكانيا و زمانيا , غير أن لبنان هي الأفضل حالا من ناحية الهطول , و قطر هي الأسوء في تغير نسب هطولها .

كيف يؤثر التغير المناخي على مصادر المياه

درجات الحرارة المرتفعة تزيد من نسبة تبخر للمياه الموجودة في الجو , مما يؤدي إلى زيادة قدرة الجو على حمل المياه .هذا يسبب حدوث مواسم جريان مبكرة و قصيرة و زيادة في المواسم الجافة . كما أن زيادة التبخر يقلل من مستويات الرطوبة في التربة , والتي بدورها تزيد من نسبة تكرار الجفاف الحاصل في المنطقة , و زيادة أرجحية حدوث التصحر . بالإضافة إلى نقصان نسبة الرطوبة في التربة أيضا و حدوث إنخفاض في نسب الترشيح مما يؤدي إلى إنخفاض معدل التغذية في المياه الجوفية .

التغير المناخي أيضا يؤثر على مستويات البحر . إن إرتفاع مستويات سطح البحر قد يؤدي إلى إنخفاض في طبيعة و وفرة المياه في المناطق الساحلية . إرتفاع مستويات سطح البحر قد يؤثر سلبا على نوعية المياه الجوفية من خلال تسرب المياه المالحة إليها . بالإضافة إلى ذلك إرتفاع مستوى سطح البحر يؤثر على دورة المياه تحت سطح المناطق الساحلية  مما يؤدي إلى إنخفاض تدفق المياه العذبة و قلة نسبة المساحات المائية العذبة .

و من ناحية أخرى فإن إرتفاع مستويات سطح البحر يزيد من مستوى المياه في خزانات المياه الجوفية , مما قد يزيد نسبة الجريان السطحي لكن على حساب تغذية الخزانات الجوفية . إنه من المتوقع أن يرتفع مستوى سطح البحر ما يقارب 19 إلى 58 سنتيمترا في نهاية القرن الواحد و العشرين . و الذي بدوره سيؤثر على 12 دولة من أصل 19 دولة من دول الشرق الأوسط و شمال أفريقيا . إرتفاع سطح البحر على هذا النحو من المحتمل أن يكلف جمهورية مصر , حيث أنها من الدول الرئيسية التي ستتأثر بهكذا إرتفاع , 10 % من سكان دلتا نهر النيل مشمولين مع الأراضي الزراعية و الأنتاج .

هذه الأنخفاضات في مصادر المياه ستؤدي إلى عواقب اجتماعية واقتصادية مكلفة . المياه المستعملة في تصنيع الأغذية , إنتاج الطاقة , الصناعات التحويلية , الملاحة , استخدام الأراضي , و إعادة التصنيع . و بناءا على ذلك فإنه من الصعب أبقاء توازن بين جميع إحتياجات الإنسان بإستمرار حصول نقص في مصادر المياه . على سبيل المثال , إنه لمن المتوقع في حال زيادة درجات الحرارة حدوث زيادة في إحتياج المحاصيل للمياه  بحدود من 5 إلى 8 % بحلول عام 2070 , و الذي يجب أن يعوض عن طريق إستخدام المياه المستعملة في تصنيع الطاقة , و بالتالي يهدد أمكانية إنتاج الطاقة . كما أن النقص في مصادر المياه يشارك في زيادة أسعار المياه , من خلال فواتير المياه الشهرية أو خدمات توصيل المياه مرة واحدة شهريا للمنازل و الشركات .

و أخيرا , إن النقص المتزايد في مصادر المياه سيؤدي إلى لجوء الحكومات لإتباع مشاريع إقتصادية شديدة مثل محطات تحلية المياه , الأنابيب ( مشروع نقل مياه البحر الأحمر – البحر الميت ) و السدود . هذه المشاريع ليست الوحيدة الشديدة إقتصاديا بل أيضا غير مستادمة بيئا و سوف تساهم بالنهاية إلى إحتباس حراري و تغير مناخي ( انبعاثات غاز ثاني أكسيد الكربون من محطات التحلية ) .

نقاط مفتاحية سريعة

الإحترار العالمي لا ينكر , و الزيادة في إنبعاثات الغازات الدفيئة سيكون له أثر عميق مناخيا , بيئيا , و إجتماعيا بشكل عالمي , خصوصا في مجال مصادر المياه . هذا من أكبر إهتمامات دول الشرق الأوسط و شمال إفريقيا , حيث أن هناك تزايد في تسجيلات الجفاف المتكررة , كما أن توافر المياه من المتوقع أن ينقص بنسبة 30-50% بحلول عام 2050 .

و من الواجب على دول المنطقة أن تقلل من إنبعاثات غازاتها الدفيئة و تحويل مصادر طاقتها إلى الطاقة النظيفة . و ينبغي على هذه المناطق عمل جهود عاجلة و طويلة الأمد للحفاظ على الماء عن طريق تقليل  المتطلبات و الإستهلاك , من خلال تحسين البنى التحتية للمياه بهدف التقليل من التسريب , تحسين تقنيات إدارة المياه ,  و إزالة دعم المياه .

كل فرد يعتمد على شيئ موثوق, دعم نظيف للمياه العذبة للحفاظ على حياته . المياه شيء أساسي لكل جزء في الحياة من الطاقة لإنتاج الغذاء و حتى الحفاظ على النظام البيئي . الإجراءات يجب أن لا تكون فقط لإيقاف النقص , لكن أيضا لتحسين الوضع , لأنه بدون ماء , ليس هناك حياة .  

ترجمة

علا محمود المشاقبة , حاصلة على درجة البكالوريوس تخصص ” إدارة الأراضي و المياه ” من الجامعة الهاشمية – الأردن بتقدير جيد جدا , عملت تطوعيا كعضو إداري مع مجموعة ” مخضّرو الأردن  JO Greeners – الجيل الأخضر حاليا -”   منذ ثلاثة سنوات, و متطوعة أيضا مع منظمة  EcoMENA  . موهبة الكتابة شيء أساسي في حياتي و قمت بتوظيفها في  خدمة القضايا البيئية