Eco-friendly Practices For Efficient Plumbing Systems

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

When you tap into the faucet, do you ponder on the journey of water from the source to your sink? Probably not. However, people should be paying more attention to how water systems operate given how vital they are to their everyday lives. The good news is that there are efficient and eco-friendly practices that can help people manage these precious resources better.

efficient plumbing system

Importance of Efficient Plumbing Systems

No one likes water leaks or high utility bills; that’s why an efficient plumbing system is a paramount component of any modern home. Not only does it ensure adequate water supply for domestic use, but an efficient system also contributes to water conservation efforts significantly.

An efficient plumbing system reduces waste by minimizing leaks and uses less power pumping water around your home. While this may seem inconsequential, saving a few liters of water per day can add up to thousands of gallons over the year. Conservation also extends to energy usage; pumping less water requires less electricity, contributing towards a smaller carbon footprint.

Embracing eco-friendly practices in plumbing doesn’t just benefit households either – it’s advantageous on a broader scale too. Water treatment facilities can operate more efficiently when demand is mitigated. By decreasing overall consumption in your communities, you can allow these vital infrastructures to work at their best.

To learn more about organizations making a difference in eco-friendly endeavors, click here. Next up is making a smart choice with the materials and products you use in your plumbing system.

Green Plumbing Materials and Products

Thanks to advancements in technology and manufacturing, there are various green plumbing materials and products available today. Copper pipes, once ubiquitous in practically all homes, are slowly being phased out in favor of PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes. PEX pipes neither corrode nor leach harmful substances, making them a safer and more eco-friendly option.

Other products go beyond materials. For instance, sensor-based faucets reduce water waste by shutting off when not in use – no need to worry about the faucet running unnecessarily. In addition, low-flow showerheads and toilets deliver sufficient water for cleaning and bathing while using significantly less water than their conventional counterparts.

Tankless water heaters are another excellent green product for your plumbing system. A tankless heater only heats up the required amount of water, conserving energy that would otherwise be wasted keeping a whole tank heated. They’re efficient, convenient, and provide an endless supply of hot water when you need it.

Water-Saving Appliances and Fixtures

Saving water doesn’t stop at the pipes; your choice of appliances and fixtures also plays a crucial role. EPA’s Energy Star program certifies energy-efficient appliances that save significant amounts of water and electricity throughout their lifespan.

Energy-efficient dishwashers, for example, use less than half the water of washing dishes by hand. Modern washing machines have also improved tremendously; models with efficiency ratings can save up to 20 gallons of water per load compared to older units.

When choosing fixtures such as toilets or faucets, look for those carrying WELS (Water Efficiency Labeling & Standards) ratings. The higher the rating or stars, the better its efficiency – lower water usage equates to significant savings on your utility bills over time.

eco-friendly commercial plumbing solutions

Effective Leak Detection and Repair

Water leakages are one of the primary causes of water wastage in homes. A minor leak might not seem like much, but a faucet dripping once every second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water in a year.

Regular checks for leaks should be a part of your routine maintenance to ensure your plumbing system remains eco-efficient. This includes checking for dripping faucets, running toilets, and inspecting exposed pipes for any signs of leakage or moisture.

A professional plumber who specializes in leak detection can also help identify less obvious leaks within your walls or underground. Once detected, it’s essential to prioritize repairs to prevent further loss of water and potential damage to your property.

While this might seem like a daunting process, think about the potential water and money savings that could result from it – these repairs pay for themselves over time.

Energy-Efficient Water Heaters

A conventional water heater can represent a significant percentage of your utility bill. That’s why it’s worth considering switching to energy-efficient versions that can help you save both energy and money. These heaters range from solar ones, which generate heat from the sun’s radiation, to heat pump versions, using heat from the air or groundwater.

Solar systems are especially valuable during sunny seasons, as they can meet up to 100% of a household’s hot water needs. In turn, heat pump systems utilize the fact that compressing any gas increases its temperature – it’s a part of a thermodynamic cycle used in refrigerators as well. Professionals such as Dan’s Plumbing can advise on practical heating options.

Savings on your utility bills aren’t the only benefit of these devices – you’ll also be reducing the amount spent on maintenance since they typically have longer service lives than traditional models. Installation costs can be initially high, but the subsequent savings will eventually outweigh any upfront investment.

Insulating Pipes for Energy Conservation

Heating and cooling loss through uninsulated pipes can increase your energy consumption quite substantially. Insulation is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce your energy costs and improve the system’s overall efficiency, especially in cold climates where heat loss could be significant.

For hot water lines, insulated pipes can keep the water hot longer, meaning your water heater works less, and you don’t waste potable water while waiting for it to get hot. For cold lines, winterizing your home with insulation can prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting, which would lead to water waste and expensive repairs.

Glass fiber, foam, or rubber are standard materials used for pipe insulation. When rightly installed, the insulation could reduce up to 70% of heat loss.

Low-Flow Toilets and Showerheads

Switching to low-flow toilets and showerheads can contribute significantly towards conserving water. These fixtures maintain the same level of comfort while using fewer gallons per flush or minute.

The modern low-flow toilets consume only around 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf), much less compared to older models that use anywhere from 3.5 to 7 gpf. There’s also an option of dual-flush toilets allowing you to use different flush volumes depending on need – liquid wastes require less water compared to solid wastes.

Low-flow showerheads also help cut down on both your water and energy usage by limiting flow rates without compromising the performance. You still enjoy efficient showers but with substantially less resource consumption.

ecofriendly tankless heater

Sustainable Practices for Maintenance

A well-maintained plumbing system is critical for sustainability. Regular checks help detect leaks early, potentially saving thousands of gallons of water over time – not to mention avoiding unnecessary increases in your water bills.

Regular drain cleaning can help maintain optimal flow rates and prevent major clogs that could lead to back-ups or overflows. Being mindful of what you flush down the drains can also prevent blockages and potentially damage your plumbing system.

Don’t forget to also regularly check your sump pump, especially prior to wet seasons, ensuring its effectiveness during heavy rains. Sump pump failure could spell costly water damage to your house.

To Summarize

In a world where sustainability is continually growing in importance, every effort counts. Employing eco-friendly practices in your plumbing systems is an excellent start to this cause.

With the detailed benefits explained, it’s clear how these actions not only conserve these precious resources but also save money in the long run. So, why not make the switch today and contribute towards a greener future?

Building Businesses with Purpose: Social Entrepreneurship

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Although profit margins often dominate business discussions, a new wave of entrepreneurs is emerging, driven not only by financial success but by a deeper sense of purpose. Social entrepreneurship has taken root as a powerful means of positive change, emphasizing a fusion of profit-making with social impact. In this article, we delve into the key characteristics of social entrepreneurship. So, let’s explore how the business landscape is being reshaped by enterprises built with purpose.

Characteristics of Social Entrepreneurship

Defining Social Entrepreneurship

At its core, social entrepreneurship is about creating sustainable and scalable solutions to address pressing social and environmental challenges. Unlike traditional entrepreneurship solely focused on profit, social entrepreneurs leverage innovative business models to effect positive change. They identify gaps in society, develop innovative solutions, and build enterprises that prioritize social, environmental, and economic impact.

Examples of Social Entrepreneurship in Action

Social entrepreneurship can take many forms. Some of the common initiatives include microfinance institutions, fair trade organizations, renewable energy projects in underserved communities, and enterprises providing employment opportunities for marginalized groups.

Key Characteristics of Social Entrepreneurship

To help you understand all that goes into becoming a social entrepreneur, below are top five characteristic that are seen within organizations practicing social entrepreneurship.

1.  Mission-Driven Approach

Social entrepreneurs are guided by a clear and compelling mission to address a specific social or environmental issue. This mission becomes the driving force behind every business decision, aligning the company’s values with its impact objectives.

2. Innovative Solutions

Social entrepreneurs are known for their ability to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Whether it’s through technology, business models, or service delivery, these individuals seek transformative approaches to drive positive change.

how companies can become more eco-friendly

3. Triple Bottom Line

While traditional businesses focus on profit as the sole bottom line, social entrepreneurs adopt the triple bottom line approach. They measure success not only by financial profitability but also by social and environmental impact, creating a well-rounded evaluation of their enterprise.

4. Collaborative Ecosystems

Social entrepreneurship thrives on collaboration. Successful social entrepreneurs actively engage with diverse stakeholders, including governments, non-profits, businesses, and communities. Building a supportive ecosystem is crucial for scalability and sustained impact.

5. Sustainable Business Locations

Social entrepreneurs design business models that prioritize long-term sustainability. In their brick and mortar locations, they often strive to reach net zero emissions by a combination of efforts including: Utilizing renewable energy sources (such as installing a solar panel system), adding double or triple paned windows, switching to energy efficient lighting (such as replacing fluorescent lights with LED), and choosing energy efficient heating and cooling methods (such as a geothermal pump system).

Ways to Make Your Business Eco-Friendly

6. Measurable Impact

Social entrepreneurs are committed to quantifying and measuring the impact of their initiatives. Through metrics and key performance indicators, they track the progress of their mission, ensuring transparency and accountability to stakeholders.

7. Adaptability and Resilience

The social entrepreneurship landscape is dynamic and often challenging. Successful social entrepreneurs exhibit adaptability and resilience, embracing setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Their ability to navigate obstacles is crucial for the longevity of their impact.

Making an Impact, Not Just an Income

In a world faced with complex social and environmental challenges, social entrepreneurship stands out as a beacon of hope. Building businesses with purpose goes beyond profit margins; it involves a commitment to creating positive change and leaving a lasting impact on society. As more entrepreneurs adopt the key characteristics of social entrepreneurship, we can anticipate a transformative shift in the business landscape—one where purpose-driven enterprises become the norm rather than the exception.

The Problem of Plastic Pollution in the UAE and Possible Solutions

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Plastic pollution is a serious global issue. The United Nations Environment programme highlights that each day, “the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes”. Annually, this translates into some 19-23 million tons of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems and pollutes lakes, rivers and seas. According to data collected by Greenpeace, the MENA region has the world’s highest per capita plastic footprint. On average, “residents in MENA contribute more than 6 kg of plastic waste to the surrounding marine environment every year, as per World Bank report estimates, published in May, 2023. Meanwhile, plastic pollution continues to be a real problem in the UAE due to it affluence, increase in population, and growing consumerism.

plastic trash on a beach in the UAE

The scale of the UAE’s plastic pollution problem has both pragmatic and lasting consequences.  According to an Environment Agency Abu Dhabi survey, it is estimated that the average person in the UAE uses around 500 single-use plastic bottles per year, which is far above the global average. The effect of plastic pollution on the UAE’s environment is deadly as plastic ends up deposited in the ocean and harms marine life and ecosystems across the wider Persian Gulf. In 2022, Dubai officials found out that nine in ten turtles found dead near the UAE coast had plastic in their stomachs. From both an ethical and environmental perspective, it seems imperative to curb plastic pollution, otherwise the UAE’s marine life is at risk.

Realizing the risks and challenge plastic pollution poses to the environment, the UAE government is working to promote sustainable solutions to address this issue. The COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, which gathered thousands of environmental scientists, policy makers and activists from across the globe, has put added significance to the measure taken by the UAE.

The Plastic Free Pacific conference, which focused on plastic pollution in the Asia-Pacific region and globally, presented at COP28 and advocated for a paradigm shift to reduce the problem of plastic pollution and find solutions. COP28 raised the alarm, however looking at the damage plastic doing, there is need for highlighting the relationship between the world’s emissions of fossil fuels, as plastic production in manufacturing and consumption of goods is a high carbon emission activity.

Primary plastic polymers are essential to the manufacture of plastics, and some 98% of them are derived from fossil fuels. The move from plastic pollution in the form of plastic bags, cutlery and utensils and towards sustainable materials only makes sense if fossil fuels are phased out. This is as phasing out fossil fuels leads to decarbonizing plastic production and even reducing overall plastic production and the quantity of plastic deposited in the UAE’s beaches and oceans.

The UAE government, big business and NGOs are working together as part of the Rebound Plastic Exchange (RPE) project. The RPE project encourages people and businesses to recycle plastic waste, thus diverting plastic from ending up in landfills, incinerated or deposited in the UAE’s oceans. Therefore, through the RPE initiative the UAE seeks to reduce the amount of marine debris, and damage to marine life and ecosystems by plastic pollution. The RPE initiative will reduce the overall plastic consumption and curb the throwaway culture, thereby helping to preserve marine life and vulnerable ecosystems like coral reefs. The government and the civil society should work together to implement proactive measures such as responsible waste management practices, enhanced recycling systems, strict regulations on waste disposal and raising waste awareness.

The UAE government ordinance which plans to charge for and phase out disposable plastic bags is a seen as a pragmatic step in the right direction. Such efforts coincide with the focus on the UAE Circular Economy Policy, to promote better waste management to protect fragile ecosystem of the country.

plastic-waste-middle-east

Plastic waste pose a serious threat to marine life in the Middle East

In addition, the UAE has implemented other policies to curb plastic pollution. Abu Dhabi implemented a ban on single use plastics back in 2022, and to date 450,000 single-use plastic bags have been saved in the area. Sarah Goldsmith, writing for Borg and Overstrom, highlights the role of public policy with the ‘Dubai Can’ initiative. This initiative solves the problem of plastic pollution in Dubai by encouraging residents to use re-fillable water bottles and installing water dispensers and stations across the city. In turn, this policy decreases plastic pollution as the use of re-fillable water battles reduces the demand for plastic water bottles, much of which ends up in landfills to the detriment of wildlife and people because of the carcinogenic effects of plastic pollution.

Furthermore, the UAE government, charities and civil society have taken active steps to curb plastic pollution. The UAE government has banned plastic bags effective since the beginning of 2024. The UAE government has proposed a ban on the importation of plastic cutlery, cups, Styrofoam and boxes effective January 1, 2026.  When the UAE government’s decisive action on plastic pollution is evaluated in line with policy recommendations by businesses and charities, it can be argued that the UAE is mobilizing to tackle plastic pollution and find solutions to the issue. Putting in context the risk to environment, animal and human life, controlling plastic pollution has to be part of public awareness. Legislations and laws need public support to be successful.

Besides the direct impact of environment, plastic pollution negatively impacts the health of people as plastic. The influential environmental think tank, the Geneva Environment Network, has conducted research into the relationship between high levels of plastic pollution and human health and wellbeing. Some of the scientifically proven health implications of plastic pollution include higher levels of cancer, changes in human hormone activity (endocrine disruption) and reproductive, growth and cognitive impairment. In turn, the harmful effects of plastic pollution on human health also impact the UAE and its residents due to high levels of plastic pollution in this region. This is especially important given the scale of plastic pollution in the UAE. In a 2019 report, the World Bank estimated that some, “11 billion single-use plastic items in the UAE are consumed annually, an average of 4.8kg per person”.

Therefore, the health effects of plastic pollution in the UAE, especially given the UAE’s large plastic footprint, are alarming. The trophic transfer of micro-plastics into human food chain is an established fact. Since one animal eats another, micro-plastics move through the food chain, thereby endangering the lives of many animals and eventually having consequences for human health. Researchers Dr. Marcus Eriksen, an environmental scientist, and Dr. Ulrich Wernery, a veterinary microbiologist, both work in the UAE and have discovered that 1% of camels died due to the ingestion of plastic that amassed over time in their digestive tracts. These plastics kill ill camels slowly by blocking their intestines, tearing at internal organs and creating conditions for bacterial infection.

camel eating plastic wastes

Large numbers of camels in the Middle East die every year due to plastic ingestion

Plastic pollution has a serious impact on marine life, and this links with the need to find alternatives to plastic. Derek Baldwin, writing for Gulf News in 2016, notes, “Small fish prefer to eat the plastic and gorge themselves on tiny plastic pieces smaller than five millimeters” and this leads to stunted growth and greatly increased mortality rates. This has practical outcomes, too, and “divers in the UAE confirm that plastics witnessed in recent dives in local waters pose deadly hazards for fish and sea turtles that ingest the pollution believing the debris to be food”.

Overall, plastic pollution is a serious global problem and one that also affects the UAE. The rise of a consumer society, international trade and a growing population have led to an increase in plastic pollution. However, recent years have seen UAE society move towards policies that effectively curb plastic pollution, like Rebound Plastic Exchange (RPE) and the ‘Dubai Can’ initiative help reduce plastic consumption and encourage reusing plastic items rather than a throwaway culture. This is very important given the UAE’s tourism based economy and overreliance on the hospitality sector, and so reducing plastic pollution is important to keep the tourist industry running.

As the UAE is popular with tourists due to its beaches, diving and marine activities, plastic pollution can harm tourism prospects and lead to falling revenue from tourism. However, it is only if further legislation is passed by the UAE government that plastic pollution can be controlled in the long-term, as when the UAE government shifts policy then residents, NGOs and civil society will respond.

السياحة البيئية في سلطنة عُمان

By | | , ,
3 Comments

eco-tourismالسياحة والسفر والرحلات البرية والبحرية في العالم باتت ركيزة أساسية في كل مكان. وأصبحت محط أنظار الاقتصاديين في استغلال المكونات الطبيعية و التراثية الثقافية لرفع اقتصاد أي دولة في العالم. و تطورت السياحة في العالم الغربي بشكل كبير, و تزايدت اعداد السياح في العالم مما أدى إلى ظهور مكاتب مسؤولة عن السياحة في كل دولة لحساب عدد السياح من الجانب المحلي الإقليمي والدولي. و تطورت السياحة إلى حد كبير وتعددت أنواعها و مقاصدها؛ حيث وجدت السياحة الطبيعية، الرياضية، العلاجية، التعليمية، الثقافية الحضارية، الخضراء و المستدامة. وكل هذه الأنواع المختلفة من السياحة ضلت في ازدهار مستمر.

 حتى ظهر مصطلح السياحة البيئية في عام 1983، و قد تم إعلان العام 2002 عام السياحة البيئية في كيبيك في كندا، حيث زادت نسبة السياحة البيئية بحوالي 10-15% من إجمالي الإنفاق السياحي العالمي، و وفقاً لمنظمة السياحة الدولية فقد قام حوالي 30 مليون سائح دولي برحلات سياحة بيئية. و في هذا النطاق أحتلت جمهورية كوستاريكا الأمريكية  المرتبة الأولى عالمياً في تنمية قطاع السياحة البيئية.

وقد عرفت السياحة البيئية  من قبل الصندوق العالمي للبيئة بأنه "السفر إلى مناطق طبيعية لم يلحق بها التلوث ولم يتعرض توازنها الطبيعي إلى الخلل، وذلك للاستمتاع بمناظرها ونباتاتها وحيواناتها البرية وحضاراتها في الماضي والحاضر. و بمعنى آخر كذلك تعرف السياحة البيئية أيضا بأنها زيارة  إلى مناطق طبيعية غير معرضة نسبيًا لأية أضرار، وذلك للتمّتع بالطبيعة وأية معالم ثقافية حاضرة وماضية ترافقها. و يكون السائح مسؤولاً بيئيًا بحيث يحافظ على الموقع الطبيعي، و بأحداث أقل قدر من الضرر على الطبيعة ومواردها.

و تتمركز السياحة البيئية العمانية في عدة مكونات طبيعية منها؛ أولاً، جبال السلطنة الشمالية حيث تبرز جمال المناظر الطبيعية الخلابة مدعومة بالحياة البرية. و تتصف أنشطة السياحة البيئية في الجبال بشيء من المتعة والمغامرة، حيث  تقام رياضة تسلق الجبال، و المشي بينها، التخييم الجماعي، اكتشاف المغارات و الكهوف، و تتبع مجاري الأودية للوصول لمناطق ذات جمالية طبيعية. ثانياً، الصحاري إحدى أهم المواقع السياحية في السلطنة و من أهمها صحراء رمال وهيبة و صحراء الربع الخالي المرتبطة بالمملكة العربية السعودية من جهة الغرب. وفيها تقام أنشطة التخييم، مشاهدة النجوم ليلاً و المشي في الكثبان الرملية الذهبية. ثالثاً، المناطق الساحلية و البحرية التي تعد مواقع غنية بالتنوع الإيحائي،  ويتضح ذلك في منطقة رأس الحد في المنطقة الشرقية حيث تعشش أربعة أنواع من السلاحف ناهيك عن الشعاب المرجانية الموجودة في بحار السلطنة. و في هذا المجال قد طرحت السلطنة مشاريع  لتنمية السياحة البيئية ومنها عُمان تحت الماء و مشروع مشاهدة السلاحف. و قد عرفت المحميات الطبيعية في السلطنة مواقع سياحية بيئية.

و في عام 2010م حصلت السلطنة المركز الأول عالمياً في مجال السياحة البيئية، التي تمنحها صحيفة برلينا تاج زاوتون الالكترونية الالمانية المتخصصة. تعتبر الجائزة مؤشراً إيجابياً على سلامة النهج الذي تنتهجه السلطنة في مجال حماية وصون البيئة والذي يرتكز بشكل أساس على مبدأ تحقيق التوازن بين متطلبات التنمية الشاملة وحماية وصون الموارد الطبيعية.

و في هذا النطاق  تتميز السياحة البيئية في عُمان عن غيرها من الدول، حيث تعطي السائح طابعاً مميزاً، و تترك في ذاكرته جمال الطبيعة العمانية و عراقة التراث و التاريخ و سماحة العمانيين في استقبال السياح.  و بذلك يتحقق مطلب هذا النوع من السياحة لتبقى الاستدامة في المرتبة الأولى وبذلك تصان البيئات المختلفة و تبقى الموارد الطبيعية في استخدام متوازن للأجيال القادمة.

5 Ways To Keep Your Home Warm This Winter

By | | , ,
6 Comments

The year’s coldest and bitterest season can have us scrambling for room heater, extra jumpers, blankets and coats even within the comfort of our own homes. But it certainly doesn’t have to be the case. By making a number of incredibly simple changes, you can quickly replace the chill enveloping your home during the winter season with a welcomingly warm glow.

1. Eliminate draughts

A warm home isn’t just the result of an excellent source of heat; it is also contingent on its ability to retain heat. This is where insulation comes in. To prevent heat escaping, vulnerable areas like windows and doors need to be shored up.

draught proofing your home

Thankfully, these draughts can be eliminated inexpensively. You can buy a draught excluder for a few pounds; or, depending on your aptitude for DIY, you can even make one on your own – all from materials you more than likely have lying around the house.

2. Effective heating with domestic hot water circulators

Installing a circulating pump is a wise investment for a number of reasons. Not only will it provide your home with an instant supply of hot water, it will also more efficiently heat and distribute water around your home than a conventional boiler.

Central heating pumps from Pump Sales Direct are equipped with electric controlled wet rotor pumps, which allow the pump to intelligently adapt to your system’s changing demands to maintain maximum efficiency at all times.

3. Curtain call

A heat-saving change that won’t cost you a penny, opening and closing your curtains in tandem with the sun’s appearance is something you can’t afford not to take advantage of. It is important to use as much of the natural heat energy provided by the sun as possible and opening your curtains during daylight hours is an important heat-saving solution.

Keeping your curtains closed after the sun has gone in is equally important. The thicker your curtains, the more heat will be saved.

4. Stop heat escaping through chimney

Easily overlooked, chimneys can be a significant source of heat loss within the home. They can however, just as easily be closed over. Chimney balloons, relatively inexpensive at around £20, can be placed within the chimney hole, out of sight, and inflated until they occupy enough space to shut out incoming cold air and trap escaping heat.

5. Retain heat from your radiators

Usually reserved for wrapping up your lunch, tin foil can also be used as a heat-saving device. Positioned behind radiators, aluminium foil will reflect heat back into the room instead of allowing it to escape through walls.

ground source heat pump

The tin foil you’d find in your kitchen cupboards will make a difference, but if you want to see a more pronounced impact, you’ll have to shell out for specially designed foil. Still, at under £10, it represents excellent value for money.

Final Words

As you’ve hopefully learnt, keeping your home warm doesn’t require a gargantuan effort; it just requires some minor, easy-to-make changes. More effectively and efficiently heating your home also has a monetary benefit. If just having a warmer home wasn’t reason enough to make some changes, the added financial incentive should be more than enough of a motivator.

Solar Energy in Qatar

By | | ,
4 Comments

Qatar’s solar energy future is steadily developing. With average daily sunshine of around 9.5 hours, low-cloud cover conditions and plentiful space, there is great scope for small, medium as well as large-scale solar power projects in the country. Qatar’s global horizontal irradiance is 2,140 kWh per m2 per year which makes it well-suited for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

The country is geographically well-positioned to tap its tremendous solar energy potential and has set an ambitious target of 2 percent renewable energy contribution in the national energy mix by 2022. Solar energy has multiple advantages for Qatar in the form of energy security, improved air quality, reduced GHG emissions, employment opportunities, apart from augmenting water and food security.

solar-qatar-foundation

In addition to solar PV, Qatar has very good potential for concentrated solar power (CSP) as its direct normal irradiance (DNI) value is around 2,008 kWh per m2 per year which is above the minimum threshold of 1,800 kWh per m2 per year. Qatar’s concentrated solar power potential can be effectively utilized in seawater desalination processes as well as large-scale power generation.

CSP offers an attractive option to power industrial-scale desalination plants that require both high temperature fluids and electricity. CSP can provide stable energy supply for continuous operation of desalination plants, based on thermal or membrane processes, in Qatar. Leading CSP technology companies are taking a keen interest in Qatar solar market and rapid developments are expected in the coming years.

Major Developments

Qatar’s foray in solar sector has been boosted by its emergence as regional R&D hub and ongoing transformation into a knowledge-based economy. Currently, efforts have focused on developing solar capacity in the country through research centers, universities, utilities and pilot projects, and a number of institutions including Kahramaa, Qatar Foundation, QNFSP and QSTP are actively working on this front. Infact, the number of institutions and companies in Qatar’s solar sector has rapidly multiplied in recent years.

The state electricity and water utility Kahramaa is spearheading efforts to transform Qatar into a regional solar hub. Kahramaa’s first solar power facility, to be setup in Duhail over 100,000 m2 area, is expected to be operational by 2016 with a generation capacity of 15MW. Kahramaa has targeted a generation capacity of 200MW solar power at 60 sites across the country by 2020.

To make up for Qatar’s space constraints, the company plans to install solar panels on redundant surfaces such as roofs of power stations and water reservoirs, thereby utilizing existing power transmission lines which will substantially reduced construction costs.

Qatar Foundation has the largest pipeline of PV installations in the country and is producing around 85 percent of Qatar’s total solar energy. It recently announced the launch of one of the Gulf region’s first Energy Monitoring Centre (EMC) to manage its smart grid and monitor solar power generation across all sites within Education City. The EMC is part of the recently completed Solar Smart-Grid Project that added a total of 1.68MW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at various facilities within the QF campus. The project is also the first commercial PV project in Qatar to be granted approval for grid connection from Kahramaa.

QNCC was the first LEED certified project in Qatar and remains its largest rooftop solar system installed to date. QSTech, a polysilicon plant owned by Qatar Foundation and SolarWorld, is nearing completion and will produce 8,000 tonnes per annum of high grade polysilicon for export to the world’s solar energy markets. QSTec is also constructing a 150 MW Solar Module manufacturing facility and a 1.4MW solar farm at Ras Laffan.

Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP) has placed a strong emphasis on solar power as part of its master plan to devise a holistic solution to food security. QNFSP’s efforts are motivated by the objectives of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, in addition to achieving environmental sustainability. Desalination powered by solar energy will not only ensure affordable, sustainable and secure freshwater supply but will also help increase the capacity for farming.

The performance of photovoltaic systems is affected by local geographical and climatic challenges, including high temperature, humidity and soiling. Qatar Science & Technology Park and Chevron have established a test facility at QSTP which will evaluate ten to twenty different solar technologies, both photovoltaic and thermal. It is part of Chevron’s $20 million Center for Sustainable Energy Efficiency at QSTP, which will also evaluate solar air conditioning and low-energy lighting technologies. The aim is to provide local organisations with reliable data that will help them conduct solar feasibility studies, compare different technologies, and select the right products.

Dubai’s Journey Towards a Sustainable City

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Only a decade ago, Dubai was considered one of the world’s worst polluters. The ecological footprint of this single city was huge, however, by 2050 it could be a sustainable city with the smallest ecological footprint of any city in the world.

Why Sustainability Matters

Over the last couple of decades, the need for a renewed focus on our global commitment has become obvious. We have started to see an unusually high rate of extreme weather events across the globe, events which many scientists are attributing to global warming.

dubai

Time is running out to take decisive action on climate change. Governments around the world have pledged to try and hit certain targets under the Paris climate accords. In accordance with these targets, many nations have introduced new regulations regarding town planning and urban development.

It is becoming increasingly common to see people with town planning experience in one country, taking that experience and deploying it elsewhere. This makes sense if you think about it. For example, someone experienced at planning towns in Australia, especially in the country’s harsher climate, would have plenty to offer town planners in similar climates around the world.

A Ski Slope in the Dessert

Dubai has always been a city of innovation. It boasts some very impressive architecture, for which it is known around the world. In fact, the tallest freestanding structure in the world is in Dubai. For many, the most emblematic symbol of Dubai’s innovative streak, and its mastery over the harsh local climate, is Ski Dubai.

Ski Dubai is an indoor artificial ski-slope, it is where Emiratis first learn to ski, before they head to world-renowned resorts in Europe. As impressive an achievement as Ski Dubai is, it also represents something else about Dubai.

The Pollution Problem

Dubai has exploded in terms of population in recent years, having been a small fishing and trading port of little note until an oil and real estate boom. Like most rapidly developing countries, Dubai’s growth has come with a significant environmental cost. When Emiratis want a ski slope in the middle of the desert, they build one. There have been numerous other projects undertaken to transform Dubai and overcome natural obstacles.

Dubai’s leaders have now recognized that the current rate of development is ecologically unsustainable.

A Sustainable Future

However, Dubai is already operating a fleet of driverless metro trains, these are usually faster than travelling on the cities congested roads. Coupled with the investments Dubai is making in water treatment, waste recycling facilities, green spaces and green buildings, and the solar power plant they are currently building, Dubai is making excellent progress towards becoming the most sustainable city in the world.

Dubai’s leaders have now recognized that the current rate of development is ecologically unsustainable. New environmental policies, and a more ecologically conscious approach in general, have been needed for some time. While they are overdue, no one can deny that they are comprehensive.

A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable to predict that Dubai might become one of the greenest cities in the world. However, this is looking to be an increasingly realistic possibility.

Water Line Maintenance: Importance and Benefits

By | | ,
5 Comments

Regular water line maintenance is essential as it ensures continuous water supply and prevents pipes from bursting which is costly to repair and replace. Water is vital to every home and hence the need to ensure that there is a good flow of water into your home. Some homeowners prefer to inspect their water lines to cut down costs but, in the long run, it will be costly if you do not get professional services. Various plumbing service in Singapore offer these services to homeowners, and you can use the internet to find the most reputable.

Keep reading to know the importance and benefits of water line maintenance:

water-leakage

1. Identify water line problems early

When you hire a professional plumber to check on your water lines, they will use their equipment to determine if there is any problem that could arise in the future and they look for ways to prevent it. The technician will advise you on whether to repair and replace the water line systems.

2. Prevents water-borne diseases

When water pipe bursts and the water comes in contacts with sewage and other contaminants, this can lead to diseases such as cholera and other serious ailments. When you haven’t done repairs and replacements in your water line systems, they may get cracks which may give way to bacteria entering your water lines.

Therefore, to prevent water-related diseases, you need to make sure that your water pipes are functioning well and that there is no room for contaminants to get into your water system. Sometimes you might find that the water coming from your water lines is not as clean as it should be and this might be caused dirt from broken water lines.

3. Saves time and money

When you get your water lines repaired on time, it will save you on costs that you would spend if the problem developed into a bigger issue. Also, when you hire a plumber who is an expert, it will take less time checking on the lines to ensure that they are working correctly.

However, repairing a whole water line system may take several days, which might cause you to stay without water as the water lines are fixed. The cost of hiring a technician to inspect on your water pipes is less compared to the replacing your water lines.

4. Reduces the water bills

When your water lines crack and pipes bursts, it may take you a while before you realize it and this leads to increased water bills. If you notice that your water bills are more than the normal bill, contact a plumbing company to inspect your water line and find out if there are burst pipes and cracks.

Maintenance of water lines should be done after every few years. You may ask for referrals from your neighbors and friends when searching for a plumber. The best Singapore plumbing service should have contact details so that you can call them whenever you want your pipes to be inspected.

أحسن تدابير لتوفير الطاقة

By | | ,
1 Comment

الطلب المتزايد على الطاقة يضيف إلى الضغط على احتياطيات الطاقة المحدودة لكوكبنا. هذا يؤدي إلى استنزاف سريع لهذه الموارد ، مما يجعل المرء يفكر في مسألة خطيرة – إذا استمر هذا ، كيف سيكون مستقبلنا؟ ليس بالضرورة أن تكون الصورة قاتمة. على الرغم من صحة هذا ، إلا أنه لا يمكننا عكس الضرر الذي ألحق بالفعل ، ولكن يمكننا بالتأكيد اتخاذ موقف لتحسين الأمور.

energy conservation guide

يمكنك توفير الطاقة إما عن طريق إجراء تعديلات صغيرة على عاداتك اليومية أو عن طريق إجراء تحسينات واسعة في بنية المنزل وفي داخله. في هذه العملية ، لن توفر الكثير من المال فحسب ، بل ستحمي البيئة بشكل كبير. دعونا نلقي نظرة على عشر طرق عملية للحفاظ على الطاقة.

  1. إجراء تغييرات صغيرة في عاداتك اليومية

نعم ، من خلال إجراء تغييرات طفيفة في عاداتك المنزلية اليومية ، يمكنك المساعدة في توفير الكثير من الطاقة. على سبيل المثال ، فصل أجهزة الشحن الخاصة بك بعد الاستخدام ، وإيقاف تشغيل المراوح / الأضواء والأجهزة الأخرى عند عدم الاستخدام ، وتجفيف الأطباق والملابس الخاصة بك ، وما إلى ذلك. هذه التغييرات تقطع شوطا طويلا في تقليل استهلاك الطاقة الإجمالي.

  1. أدخل الأجهزة الموفرة للطاقة إلى منزلك

قد تكون مغرمًا جدًا بتلك المروحة المألوفة في غرفة الرسم التي كانت معك منذ زمن بعيد. ولكن هل تعلم أنها أحد المساهمين الأساسيين في تكاليف الكهرباء المرتفعة؟ وينطبق الشيء نفسه على المصابيح الكهربائية المتوهجة. إنها نهمة للطاقة. قم بتبديلها بالمصابيح الكهربائية الموفرة للطاقة مثل المصابيح الفلورية المتضامة  CFLs ومصابيح LED . واليوم ، هناك أنواع مختلفة موفرة للطاقة في كل الأجهزة المنزلية تقريبًا مثل المراوح والمبردات وأجهزة التكييف والثلاجات وأجهزة التلفزيون ، على سبيل المثال لا الحصر. تستهلك هذه الأجهزة طاقة أقل بكثير مقارنة بنظيراتها التقليدية ، وبالتالي توفر الكثير من الطاقة.

  1. اختيار النوافذ الموفرة للطاقة

ما لا يعرفه معظمنا هو أن النوافذ هي أحد المصادر الرئيسية لفقدان الطاقة ويمكن أن تصل إلى حوالي 10 إلى 25٪ من تكاليف التدفئة. يمكنك تقليل فقدان الحرارة أثناء فصل الشتاء عن طريق تثبيت إطارات مزدوجة. كذلك ، يساعد التجريف والكشط حول النوافذ والأبواب والفتحات بشكل كبير في منع فقدان الحرارة ، وبالتالي الحفاظ على دفئ منزلك.

  1. النظر في ترقية نظام التكييف الخاص بك

يتكون نظام HVAC من التدفئة والتهوية وتكييف الهواء. يمكن أن يؤدي استبدال نظام HVAC القديم بطرازات موفرة للطاقة إلى تقليل إجمالي استهلاك الطاقة لنظام HVAC وخفض فواتير الخدمات العامة بشكل كبير. تعتبر معدات التكييف المعتمدة من Energy Star هي الخيار الأفضل.

hvac-air-filter

  1. تثبيت ترموستات مبرمجة

يمكن ضبط منظمات الحرارة القابلة للبرمجة لإيقاف التشغيل تلقائيًا وحتى لتقليل درجة الحرارة / التبريد عند النوم. تساعد هذه الميزات على تقليل الفاقد في الطاقة دون الحاجة إلى التنازل عن راحتك. تشير التقديرات إلى أن منظم الحرارة القابل للبرمجة يمكن أن يساعدك على توفير حوالي 11،000 روبية سنوياً!

  1. تقليل تكاليف تسخين المياه

تشكل تكاليف تسخين المياه جزءًا كبيرًا من إجمالي فاتورة المرافق. لمواجهة هذا ، أولا ، اختيار سخانات المياه الموفرة للطاقة. وبصرف النظر عن ذلك ، فإن ترموستات سخان الماء عند درجة حرارة منخفضة وعزل سخان المياه وكذلك أنابيب المياه الساخنة والباردة سوف يقلل من فقدان الحرارة ويساعدك على توفير الكثير من المال. يمكنك القيام بذلك عن طريق لف البطانيات العازلة حول سخان المياه التي من شأنها أن تقلل فقدان الحرارة بنسبة 25ــ45 ٪.

  1. تقليل وقت الاستحمام

تعود على الاستحمام القصير. يخرج رأس دش حوالي 2.5 جالون من الماء / دقيقة في المتوسط. وبالتالي ، من خلال تقليل وقت الاستحمام ، فإنك لا تساعد فقط في الحفاظ على الماء ولكن أيضًا تقليل تكاليف تشغيل المضخات كثيرًا.

  1. استخدم أدوات المطبخ بحكمة وكفاءة

تسخين بقايا الطعام في الميكروويف يستخدم طاقة أقل مقارنة بذلك في الأفران الكهربائية التقليدية. عند الطهي على موقد ، تأكد من إغلاق أغطية أواني الطهي. هذا يقلل من وقت الطهي من الطعام. استخدم غسالة الصحون فقط عندما تضطر إلى غسل حمولة كاملة من الأطباق. حاول تجفيف الأطباق الخاصة بك. إذا قمت بغسل الصحون ليلاً وإبقائها جافة في العراء ، فستستيقظ على الأطباق الجافة في الصباح ، دون استهلاك أي طاقة!

  1. اغسل الملابس في الماء البارد

يضمن غسل حمولة كاملة من الملابس مرة أو مرتين في الأسبوع أن الغسالة تعمل على إمكاناتها المثلى. استخدام الماء البارد لغسل الملابس يساعدك على خفض تكاليف تسخين المياه.

  1. غرس الكثير والكثير من الأشجار

إن زرع الأشجار حول منزلك يوفر الظل وبالتالي يبقي على الأجزاء الداخلية من المنزل باردة خلال فصل الصيف. لذلك ، لا تحتاج إلى تشغيل التيار المتردد في كل مرة ، وحتى إذا قمت بذلك ، يمكنك الحفاظ على درجة حرارة أقل. هذا سوف يقلل من تكاليف التبريد إلى حد كبير.

من خلال اعتماد هذه التغييرات البسيطة في نمط حياتك اليومي ، يمكنك المساعدة في الحفاظ على الطاقة. إذا قام كل فرد بدوره في توفير الطاقة ، تخيل فقط مقدار الطاقة التي يمكن أن ينقذها العالم سنوياً!

تذكر ، يبدأ التغيير منك ، لذا ابدأ الآن!

ترجمه للعربية يوسف بنغزواني

يوسف بنغزواني:  خريج المعهد العالي للتجارة وإدارة المقاولات بالمغرب. حاصل على البكالوريا في الاقتصاد  وعلى ماجستير في إدارة الأعمال (MBA) من كندا. هو ايضا متخصص في إدارة المشاريع معتمد  من قبل معهد إدارة المشاريع (PMI) في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

The Menace of Marine Litter

By | | ,
12 Comments

Marine litter, long a neglected topic, has started to garner some attention. Marine litter is composed of a diverse mix of items from various sources and so a one-size fits all solution is unlikely to be effective. Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), shipping wastes, plastic packaging (bottles, caps, bags, etc.) and plastic manufacturing pellets are amongst the most common and persistent items found. Comparing the feasibility and the financial case for recovery versus prevention for each of these groups reveals a worrying gap in our attempts to deal with the problem.

marine-waste

Scale of the Problem

Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is arguably the most damaging type of marine debris as it continues to fish the oceans, trapping and killing animals for years after it goes overboard. Nets are often located in high numbers around known fishing grounds making targeted recovery possible. Even in such hotspots, recovery is costly and tends to fall to the third sector. An effectively priced deposit scheme with port and shore facilities to support the collection and recycling of damaged gear should reduce the amount of fishing gear discarded and fund the recovery of the remaining items.

While it is thought that 80% of marine litter originates on land, it seems clear that there is an on-going flux between terrestrial and marine environments. Floods can increase the flow of litter down rivers to the sea, while storms stir up the ocean, leading to litter that has already entered the marine environment being deposited in greater than usual amounts on beaches.

In 2013 the European Commission published three studies looking into the composition and sources of marine litter in European seas. In a chapter integrating the results it noted that:

“Plastics are the most abundant debris found in the marine environment and comprise more than half of marine litter in European Regional Seas. More than half of the plastic fraction is composed of plastic packaging waste with plastic bottles and plastic bags being predominant types of plastic packaging…

Therefore, measures within a strategy to close the largest loopholes in the plastic packaging cycle should target plastic bottles and plastic bags.”

Capping the Problem

Plastic packaging is one of the most common items of marine debris with grave impacts upon marine wildlife. Foraging birds are known to ingest large quantities of plastic, especially caps and lids, turtles eat plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish, and many species are recorded as trapped and disfigured by beverage can yokes.

However the impacts are even further reaching. As plastics break down they are ingested by smaller and smaller organisms. Recent studies have found that plankton ingest tiny fragments of plastic which are then passed up the food chain through predation. In fact, there may already be plastic in the tissue of the fish that we consume.

Despite hype about profitable schemes that will clean the ocean gyres in five years, the breakdown of material makes recovery almost impossible. Plastic debris may outweigh plankton by a ratio of 6:1 in the areas of highest concentration but widespread skimming of the ocean surface will also harvest vast amounts of the phytoplankton, zooplankton and other organisms living there. The majority of marine life lives at the surface and so, considering the risk of disruption to the entire marine food chain, the plankton baby is one that you really don’t want to throw out with the plastic-polluted bathwater.

Whilst debris recovery efforts may be able to remove small quantities of plastic packaging, in particular the larger items, it cannot deal with the full spectrum and so is largely ineffective as a response to the litter problem. The real challenge is not to clear litter once it is in the ocean doing damage, but to prevent it from getting there in the first place. Container deposit schemes and plastic bag levies have been shown to be highly effectual means of reducing litter on land; and by extension, will help to prevent marine litter.

Ex-Pellets from the Oceans

Plastic manufacturing pellets, or nurdles as they are known in the industry, are often underreported debris items as they are so small that they often escape observation. They are typically less than 5mm in diameter and unusually for marine debris are from known sources as they are only used in the manufacturing of plastic products.

Locating and separating such small objects from the world’s oceans is clearly a mammoth task of considerable expense. Instead the manufacturing industry has initiated a programme of environmental responsibility to limit the loss of the pellets. Praised as an effective and affordable program, the initiative would have even greater impact if adopted as an industry standard world-wide, especially if combined with further efforts to reduce pellet loss during transport.

There are no effective natural processes that remove marine debris. The flow of material into the oceans vastly exceeds any practicable man-made method of extracting this growing soup of litter. The only way to tackle the issue is to prevent marine litter entering the oceans in the first place. Effective measures to prevent this pollution at source already exist. Some, such as levies or blanket ban on single use carrier bags, are becoming more widespread, but others such as deposit refund schemes are still very limited, both in terms of geography and the types of packaging targeted.

Note: The article is being republished with the kind permission of our collaborative partner Isonomia. The original article can be viewed at this link.

الطحالب – معمل وقود حيوي

By | |
Leave a comment

اتجهت أبحاث الخبراء والمتخصصين فى الفترة الأخيرة إلى التركيز علي إنتاج الوقود الحيوى من الطحالب الخضراء، خاصة بعد إقرار بدء مرحلة نضوب النفط فى فترة زمنية قريبة، وأنه سينضب أكثر من 95% من مصادر البترول الموجودة على سطح الأرض.   وايضا مشكله الغذاء المحتمل حدوثها في حاله استخدام المنتجات الزراعيه او مخلفاتها في الوقود الحيوي لانتاج منتجات الوقود مثل وقود الديزل الحيوي, الايثانول, الجازولين الحيوي و غيرهم من منتجات الوقود الحيوي.

وقد اشارت االعديد من الدراسات الحديثه الي ان الطحالب الخضراء كمصدر للوقود تندرج تحت لواء مصادر الطاقه المتجددة وخاصا بعد التزايد المستمر في سعر الوقود الاحفوري. فهي تنمو بسرعة ولها أثر محدود على البيئة ولا تؤثر علي الاحتياج العالمي للغذاء مثل القمح والذرة والسكر.

ما هي الطحالب؟

الطحالب هي كائنات دقيقة وحيدة الخلية ولها قدرة علي التمثيل الضوئي. تتميز بمعدل نمو سريع. تعتبرمن اقدم انواع الحياه علي وجه الارض. حيث يعتقد ان الوقود الاحفوري تكون من الطحالب في العصر القديم. وتتتم عملية البناء الضوئي في ظل استخدام الكربون والمياه في وجود اشعه الشمس و نسب بسيطة من الفوسفات والنترات والتي ممكن الحصول عليها من مياه الصرف. وفي ظل وجود الظروف الجيدة للنمو , تضاعف الطحالب نموها خلال 24ساعة. باضافة الى ذلك, الطحالب تحتوى على محتوى زيت يزداد عن 50% من محتواها الكتلي في بعض انواع الطحالب لذا تم استغلال هذه النسبة لانتاج الوقود. وتنتج سلالات متنوعه تترواح في تركيبها باشكال تتشابهه كميائيا لسلسله الهيدروكربونات البترولية.

مميزات الطحالب

بخلاف ان الطحالب تنتج الدهون, تقوم ايضا بانتاج البروتين ومركبات الكربون والسكريات. وبعض سلالات الطحالب تقوم بتكسير مركبات السكريات لانتاج الكحول في ظل توافر الظروف المناسبة للتفاعل.

والكتله الحيوية للطحالب يمكنها التشكل لانواع مختلفة من المواد الكميائية والبوليمرات, (السكريات، والإنزيمات، أصباغ ومعادن). او الوقود الحيوي (مثل وقود الديزل الحيوي, مواد قلويه, كحول). غذاء وعلف ( مثل الاحماض الدهنية غير المشبعه, فيتامينات وغيرها) و ايضا المركبات النشطة بيولوجيا (مثل المضادات الحيويه, مضادات الاكسدة والتمثيل الغذائي) من خلال تقنيات المعالجة والمحفزات المجهرية والتحلل الحراري.

كما أن الوقود الحيوي المشتق من الطحالب لا يشارك الإيثانول في بعض الصفات غير المرغوب فيها، حيث إنه يمكن تحويل الطحالب إلى شكل مصنع من أشكال وقود البنزين، الديزل أو وقود الطائرات، أو إلى مادة خام مثل النفط يمكن معالجتها في المصافي التقليدية. لكن إنتاج الوقود الحيوي من الطحالب يجابه في الوقت الحاضر تحديا كبيرا جدا يتمثل في ارتفاع تكاليف الإنتاج بصورة كبيرة.

من اهم ما يميز استخدام الطحالب كبديل للوقود انها لا تحتاج الي اراضي صالحة للزراعه فمن الممكن زراعتها في الصحاري, كما انها لا تتطلب مياه عذبة وقيمتها الغذائية عالية. هناك الكثير من الابحاث المركزة علي الطحالب الخضراء في جميع انحاء العالم, وبالاخص في امريكا الشمالية واروبا مع عدد كبير من الشركات التي خصصت مبالغ مالية كبير لتطوير الابحاث المنعقدة علي الطحالب الخضراء كمصدر بديل للوقود الاحفوري.

وفى إنتاج الوقود السائل من الطحالب يتم بطريقة كيميائية بسيطة؛ إذ يجرى تحويل الزيوت المستخلصة إلى ديزل حيوى، وإن هناك نوعين من الطحالب يستخدمان فى هذه العملية: الأعشاب البحرية التى يوجد بها كمية كبيرة من الزيت يتم درسها ثم استخلاص الزيوت منها لتحويلها إلى وقود، والثانى الطحالب الدقيقة التى تُزرع داخل المعمل؛ حيث تُعرف نسبة الزيت الموجودة داخل الخلية ثم يبدأ التغيير فى الوسط الغذائى لها، وكلما كانت نسبة الدهون أعلى كان أفضل.

 وتشير معظم الدراسات العلمية الي امكانية انتاج الزيوت من حوالي 25-50 طن للهكتار الواحد سنويا من الطحالب الخضراء. وتحتوي الطحالب الدقيقة, من بين بعض المركبات البيوكيميائية الاخري علي الدهون المحايدة( ثلاثي, ثنائي, احادي الجلسريد احماض دهنية حره), والدهون القطبية (الدهون السكرية, الدهون الفوسفاتية) و استرات الشمع.  

يختلف المحتوي الدهني للطحالب المجهريه 1-90% من الوزن الجاف ويوقف علي نوع وسلاله الطحالب وظروف الانتاج. أن عملية إنتاج الوقود من الطحالب تمر بعدة مراحل؛ ففى البداية لا بد من تأكد جودة الزيت الموجود داخل الخلايا ثم استخلاصه، وفى النهاية، وبمعادلة كيميائية، يتم تحويل الزيوت إلى بيوديزل.

واستخدام الطحالب كسماد اثبت كفاءة عالية للانتاج,فأى محصول زراعى يحتاج إلى عناصر غذائية معينة، كوحدات البوتاسيوم والأوكسجين ووحدات الفوسفور، ومن ثم فهى تحتاج إلى أى مركب يحتوى على هذه العناصر والطحالب غنية بها.

مرحلة الانتاج والتكرير

من اجل تطوير مستدام والحصول علي المردود الاقتصادي المطلوب من استخدام الطحالب, فان استخدام الكتله الحيوية( بروتين, دهون وكربوهيدات) لابد ان يتم الانتفاع بها. ومن هنا يتضح اهمية التكرير للطحالب المجهرية ليتم فصل و تحديد الكتله الحيوية المطلوب الحصول عليها. ان مصطلح التكرير يوصف تحليل وتجزئة العديد من السلاسل الكميائية بواسطة التكامل بين العمليات الحيوية في ضوء الاستدامة وخفض التكلفة مع التركيز علي الكفاءة البيئة.

عند تطبيق التكرير البيولوجي للطحالب, فان الدهون تنقسم الي نوعين: دهون صالحة للوقود الحيوي ودهون صالحة كمادة اوليه للمنتجات الكميائية في الصناعة و الاحماض الدهنية الضرورية لذلك. البروتين والكربوهيدرات الناتجة تكون صالحة للغذاء والاعلاف وبعض المنتجات الكميائية. اما بالنسبة للاكسجين الناتج فيتم تجميعه وحفظه في الحاويات المخصصه لذلك.  

الانتاج التجاري للطحالب الخضراء قائم علي استخدم تقنيات مختلفة للانتاج: استخدام الانابيب الشفافة او حاويات تسمي المفاعلات الحيوية او النظام المفتوح (مثل استخدام المجاري المائية) والاخيره تختص للانتاج الصناعي الكبير. وفي الاونة الاخيرة اصبح متبع النظام الجامع ما بين النظمين المغلق في المرحلة الاولي ثم النظام المفتوح لاحقا به.

وتعد مزارع انتاج الطحالب ذات منافع متعددة وتشمل:

استخدام المخلفات الصناعية كمدخلات انتاج ( مخلفات الحرق مثل ثاني اكسيد الكربون, مخلفات المياه الصناعية وايضا مخلفات محطات التحلية).

تنوع المخرجات الناتجة. ف.هناك مخرجات لانتاج طاقة حرارية ( ديزل حيوي, ميثان, ايثانول و هيدروجين). منتجات غير حرارية ( غذاء, اسمدة, اعلاف حيوانية وغيرها من المواد الكميائية).

ليس لها اي تاثير علي انتاج الغذاء ( فهي لا تستخدم اراضي زراعية ولا مياه نفية).

انتاج مواد دهنية تفوق الانتاج من المحاصيل الزراعية.

بعد مرحلة استخلاص الزيوت من الطحالب ، يمكن الاستفادة منها كاعلاف غنية بالبروتين وصالحة للاستخدام فى تغذية الحيوان والدواجن والأسماك. كما انها تدخل في صناعه الايثانول والميثان والسماد العضوي, وذلك نظرا لارتفاع نسبة الامينات الموجبة الي الفوسفات السالبة N:P ratio)), و حرق المتبقيات الناتجة تستخدم لتوليد الطاقه ( حرارية و كهربية).

ويتم انتاج الطحالب الخضراء حاليا كبديل للوقود علي نطاق واسع من اجل خفض تكاليف الانتاج. ايضا انتاج الغذاء الكميائي والوقود من الطحالب سوف يخضع للكثير من التحسينات والتطورات اللازمة حتي تصبح ذات مردود اقتصادي وبيئي مناسب.

 

ترجمه:

هبة احمد مسلم- دكتور الهندسة البيئية. باحث في الشئون البيئية. معهد الدراسات والبحوث البيئية– جامعه عين شمس.

مدرس بالاكاديمية العربية للعلوم والتكنولوجيا والنقل البحري-  مصر.

التحكم في البيئة والطاقه داخل المباني.

هندسة الميكانيكة- وكيل محرك دويتس الالماني بمصر. 

للتواصل عبر hebamosalam2000@gmail.com

 

Why Laminate Flooring is the Perfect Option for Your Office?

By | | , ,
3 Comments

The task of choosing an office flooring needs utmost care. You have to pick the one which is durable and perfect according to the interiors of your office. The options are plenty. Choosing one among them is not easy. The task of choosing a suitable flooring for your office is a once in a blue moon task. Owing to this reason, you might not know the exact factors which you should consider while selecting the one. We will make it easy for you. Laminate flooring scores in all aspects. It is one of the best office flooring options. There are many benefits of laminate flooring which most of the other flooring options do not possess.

We will highlight a few reasons why laminate flooring is the perfect option for your office.

1. Affordable

When you’re looking for a flooring option for your office, you would, of course, need an affordable one. Options like marble are often pretty expensive. Moreover, you need the one which is suitable according to the interiors of your office. Laminate fits in the requirement entirely.

When you compare the cost of laminate flooring with other flooring options, you will realize that it is not only long-lasting, but it is also pretty affordable. As a result, you will be able to install it and forget it. You will not be forced to think about a new flooring option at least for a decade.

2. Durable

Laminate flooring is highly durable as compared to other options. It can handle stains, scratches, dents and even fading. Most of the laminate flooring option consists of aluminum oxide top coating. As a result, the flooring retains its look over a more extended period.

You will not have to opt for any maintenance or polishing once you install it, you will not need to devote any more time to the laminate flooring. As a result, it is not only durable but also cost-effective in the longer term. The advantage of laminate flooring is that even when you shift workspace or desk in your office, it can handle the scratches without any problem. The additional layer ensures that the tile below is not impacted at all. Thus, when you’re looking for a flooring option for heavy duty of office usage, it is one of the perfect choices.

3. Aesthetically pleasing

It is essential to choose a flooring option which matches the decor of your office. Laminate comes in a wide variety of options. It is printed using a high definition printer. You can opt for different designs as per your requirement. The color options available are plenty. You can even choose the textured look. Thus, every design aspect which you might need in laminate flooring is available.

The advantage is that with the help of HD printer, you can print intricate designs on the laminate flooring. Thus, there is no shortage of tile designs when it comes to laminate flooring. You can make different types of office floorings with the help of laminate flooring.

Some of the options include:

  • Hardwood flooring
  • Tile flooring

The construction will be of laminate flooring, but the look will be of the mimicked flooring. As a result, with the help of laminate flooring, you will be able to get the aesthetically pleasing designs which you require. Thus, it is much more versatile as compared to any other type of flooring option.

4. Ease of installation

Most of the laminate flooring options these days comes with the proper locking mechanism. The advantage of the locking mechanism is that it is easy to install. In many of the cases, you will find contractors who can fix it at affordable rates.

Typically, the contractors charge you on a per square foot basis for installation. Thus, even a small saving per square foot can result in a significant amount of saving for your office. Most of the offices have a vast area. Thus, when you look at it on a net basis, you will be able to save a significant amount of money.

Moreover, since the installation is hassle-free, it will be done quicker. As a result, your office will be ready soon enough. You will not have to interrupt the work in your office for an extended period. You can get it installed in a shorter period which will allow you to resume work with minimal disruption.

5. Eco-friendly

Most of the businesses and offices these days opt for eco-friendly resources. When you’re searching for flooring option, you might think that there are no eco-friendly alternatives. However, this is not true. Laminate flooring is eco-friendly as compared to the other options.

You need to understand that the maintenance of laminate flooring is on the lower side. Also, the cleaning mechanism is simple to follow. You will not have to use harsh chemicals for the polishing. Thus, the harmful resources used to maintain your laminate flooring is on the lower side.

The laminate flooring reduces the carbon footprint of your office. You can even clean it with the help of vinegar and water solution. You will not have to opt for a chemical-based cleansing agent. Thus, over a more extended period, you can reduce the use of harmful chemicals to maintain your flooring.

6. Less Maintenance

The office is a high traffic area. When you select office flooring, it is essential to choose one which requires less maintenance. Laminate flooring fits the requirement perfectly. You can either opt for vacuuming it or sweeping it. The choice is entirely yours.

In case, it suffers from any stains; you can use a damp mop to remove the stain. You can also use a simple cleaning solution like mixing water and vinegar to clean the floor entirely. The amount of time required to maintain the laminate flooring is on the lower side. Moreover, with the help of a vacuum cleaner, you will be able to clean the entire office floor without any problem. Thus, you can save a significant amount of money by not having to hire extra cleaning staff.

7. Warranty

When it comes to office flooring, you need an option which is sturdy and which can last for an extended period. In case, there is any problem it would be a good idea to get it fixed through warranty. When you look at the warranty of laminate flooring, you will realize that it is minimum for one year.

You can also get an extended warranty since you will be buying the flooring option in bulk for your office. With proper warranty, you can protect your investment in laminate flooring. If there are any defects with the product, you can directly get them replaced. Thus, the amount of money which you spend on laminate flooring is entirely secure.

8. Usable as subflooring

Many times, when you want to opt for concrete flooring or vinyl flooring, it might not be compatible with your subfloor. If the sub-flooring is not suitable, you might have to opt for a different flooring option which goes well with your subfloor. If you want to opt for the same flooring nevertheless, you might have to get the subflooring redone. The renovation of the subfloor can be a pretty expensive proposition. When you multiply the extra cost with the entirety of the office, it can cost you thousands of dollars.

You have a simple solution in the form of laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is so versatile that you can use it as a subfloor. It will allow you to create a sturdy subfloor on which, you can install your preferred flooring option. The cost of laminate flooring is so low that it will not increase your budget by a significant amount. Thus, you can get the exact flooring option which you prefer.

9. Hypoallergenic

Laminate flooring is hypoallergenic. It does not trap any dust or any other contaminants. Moreover, it is easy to clean which will allow you to eliminate the pathogens from your office. Also, it acts as a moisture barrier. The water will not seep into the subflooring. As laminate flooring can not absorb moisture, mold or any other bacteria does not grow in laminate flooring.

Since it does not support any organic matter, it is hypoallergenic. It does not harbor dust and contaminants which further reduces the probability of allergies. Irrespective of the allergies which you suffer from, you can easily install laminate flooring without any problem. Hundreds of individuals frequent the office. Thus, you have to go for laminate flooring which will help you avoid any indoor air quality issues. In the longer term, it can also help you avoid any liabilities arising out of infections at the workplace. It can minimize your liability and save you thousands of dollars in the longer run.

10. Variety of different styles

The versatility of the laminate flooring is its best feature. Irrespective of the decor of your office, you can find a suitable option. Most of the designs are available at affordable rate. You can visit https://www.woodfloorwarehouse.co.uk to check the different design options.

Not only, can it mimic any other type of flooring but when it comes to texture, style, and colors, it can maximize your flooring options. Some of the factors which can vary from one design to another include:

  • Finishing: With the help of different finishing options, you can easily mimic the decor of your office. The finishing of the laminate flooring can last for a lifetime.
  • Surface treatment: The surface treatment allows you to get a slip-resistant tile. It will help you move around the office quite quickly. If you are looking for a slip-resistant tile, pick one of the many textured options.
  • Thickness: The thicker the flooring, the more durable it will be. When you’re looking for a sustainable laminate flooring option, you can go for the one which is thicker.
  • Plank style: The style of the plank will determine the direction of the grain of the laminate flooring. You can go with the one which you like the most.
  • Colors: as we stated above, the upper surface of the laminate flooring is printed using HD printer. Thus, the color options can vary. There are numerous color and design options to compare.

When you compare the color and style options of laminate flooring, you will realize that it is the most versatile and innovative flooring option which you can get. It will allow you to pick the one precisely as per your requirement. You can go for the formal look or the semi-formal look or even the casual look. The choice is entirely yours.

11. Versatile

Not every office is the same. Some of them might consist of a work floor along with an office space whereas some others might consist of only the office space. In some cases, you might need a flooring option for the attached washroom in addition to the office space. There is no need to opt for different flooring options for every one of these spaces.

The laminate flooring will not only look good enough in your main office space but also on the work floor. You can opt for the slip-resistant variant which will allow you to minimize accidents on the work floor. Similarly, you can also use it in the washroom as well as the common area. The problem with opting different flooring options is that the cost can get out of hand. Moreover, you will need to change the installation procedure.

On the other hand, when you are opting for laminate flooring, you might have to change the design if required. The base flooring will remain the same. The installation cost will stay the same. The difference in the price of laminate flooring as per the design will be negligible. Thus, all the disadvantages of choosing different flooring options for different areas of your office are minimized. You need not deal with any of these problems when you choose laminate flooring for your office.

Final Thoughts

So, if you are not able to choose the flooring option which you should opt for your office, laminate flooring is the perfect solution. With the help of laminate flooring, you have to pick a single design, and you will be able to install the flooring in your entire office. Moreover, with low labor cost, you can save a lot of money. When you add to it the low cost of maintenance, over a while, you can easily save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. The advantages of laminate flooring are numerous as compared to the other flooring options.