How Park Signages Improve Visitor Experience

Imagine wandering through a sprawling park, surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of nature. You’re eager to explore, but a wave of uncertainty washes over you. Where’s the trailhead for that scenic hike you read about? Which path leads to the hidden waterfall? And is there a restroom nearby? Do you feel this way sometimes?

Did you know that Americans visit their local parks an average of 29 times a year? That’s a lot of potential for getting lost or missing out on hidden gems! Thankfully, park signage is the trusty guide that silently leads through these unfamiliar landscapes. It transforms a simple stroll into an immersive adventure. This article will uncover how these seemingly simple signs do more than point the way. So, dive in and discover how park signages can elevate your next outdoor adventure.

park signages and visitor experience

Enhancing Navigation and Wayfinding

At the park entrance, a welcoming sign with a clear map sets the stage for your adventure. This sign welcomes you and provides a detailed map with color-coded trails, points of interest clearly marked, and even estimated hiking times. Armed with this information, you confidently choose your path, knowing exactly where you’re headed.

As you venture deeper into the park, strategically placed directional signs act like breadcrumbs, guiding you along winding trails and ensuring you don’t miss a turn. These signs are thoughtfully designed to blend seamlessly with the environment. Wooden signs might be nestled among the trees, while metal ones could reflect the industrial history of a particular area. Each of them is like a piece of a puzzle, fitting together to create a cohesive wayfinding system that eliminates the guesswork and lets you focus on enjoying your surroundings.

Providing Essential Information

Park signages are a fountain of knowledge, ready to quench your curiosity. They’re like mini lessons scattered throughout the park, offering fascinating insights into the ecosystem, history, and culture of the area. These informational signs can be found in various forms, from interpretive panels with stunning photographs and detailed descriptions to interactive exhibits that engage all your senses. They might even include QR codes that link to videos, audio recordings, or virtual tours, providing a multi-layered learning experience.

Informational signs aren’t just about fun facts and historical tidbits. They also play a crucial role in promoting responsible park use and environmental awareness. Signs that explain the park’s Leave No Trace principles, highlight the importance of staying on designated trails, or educate visitors about the fragility of certain ecosystems can inspire a sense of stewardship and encourage visitors to protect these natural treasures for generations to come.

Highlighting Points of Interest

A park signage is also your personal tour guide, showcasing the must-see spots and under-the-radar treasures that make each park unique. Imagine you’re meandering through an expansive botanical garden, surrounded by a sea of colorful blooms. A beautifully crafted sign catches your eye, beckoning you towards a secret alcove. Intrigued, you follow the sign and discover a secluded garden overflowing with rare orchid species in full bloom. The accompanying sign reveals the orchid’s fascinating history, its delicate beauty, and the meticulous care it requires. Suddenly, you’re not just admiring a flower; you’re witnessing a botanical masterpiece, a hidden wonder you might have otherwise missed.

Signs are like spotlights, illuminating the park’s most captivating features. They might direct you to a scenic overlook with panoramic views, a historic monument with a fascinating backstory, or a unique geological formation that tells a tale of ancient times. By highlighting these points of interest, they can transform a leisurely stroll into a treasure hunt, encouraging you to explore deeper and discover the park’s many wonders.

Promoting Accessibility and Inclusivity

Park signage is about making everyone feel welcome and included. To achieve this, consider these key points:

Accessible design

  • Use high-contrast colors and clear fonts for easy readability.
  • Incorporate tactile elements and Braille for visitors with visual impairments.
  • Provide multilingual signage to cater to diverse communities.

Informative content

  • Clearly indicate accessible routes and amenities, such as ramps, restrooms, and parking spaces.
  • Provide details about trail surfaces and grades to help wheelchair users choose appropriate paths.
  • Create family-friendly maps highlighting areas for children.

Engaging features

  • Incorporate playful illustrations or interactive elements for children.
  • Use universally understood symbols and icons.

Prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity is about removing barriers and ensuring that all visitors have equal access to the park’s wonders.

park signage

Enhancing Aesthetic Appeal

Beyond wayfinding and information, park signage plays a crucial role in shaping the overall aesthetic experience. Imagine strolling through a lush forest and stumbling upon a hand-carved wooden sign with intricate details that seamlessly blend with the natural surroundings. These signages complement the park’s unique character and atmosphere.

Natural materials like wood and stone can create a rustic, organic feel, while metals like copper or bronze can add a touch of elegance and sophistication. The colors chosen for signs should also harmonize with the surrounding environment, using muted earth tones or vibrant hues that reflect the local flora. The design of the sign itself is equally important. Whether it’s a classic serif font for a historical park or a playful script for a children’s garden, the typography should complement the park’s theme and purpose.

Encouraging Recreational Activities

Well-placed signage can be your activity coordinator, sparking inspiration and inviting you to discover the park’s recreational offerings. Signs can point out prime fishing spots, serene picnic areas, or hidden coves perfect for kayaking. You might even stumble upon a sign advertising a guided birdwatching tour or a yoga class in the park. A park signage transforms a passive experience into an active one. It encourages you to get out there, explore, and have fun..

Final Thoughts

A park signage is the silent architect of your outdoor experience, subtly shaping your journey and enriching your connection with nature. They’re the key to unlocking the full potential of every park visit. So, the next time you find yourself wandering through a park, take a moment to appreciate the humble signs that guide, inform, and inspire you. Who knows what hidden wonders you might discover?

5 Cheap, Easy Vegan Recipes for College Students

Veganism is gaining popularity as a food preference and a lifestyle choice. There are many ways in which veganism can prove to be healthier for our bodies, environmentally beneficial, and less cruel to animals. Many nutritionists have designed diet plans that cater specially to vegan lifestyles. Students can look into any of these diet plans if they wish to try eating vegan food at any time. However, students who want to eat healthier often have many things on their plates, and they don’t have the time to cook. We can offer a solution to this issue. In this article, we shall discover some easy and inexpensive recipes that students can use to make vegan dishes.

Vegan Recipes for College Students

1. Vegan Salad Bowl

This easy, no heat, no cooking vegan salad is the perfect snack for students! A vegan salad is one of the easiest meals to make, as it takes hardly 15 minutes to put this dish together. The preparation is simple. Mix finely chopped red onion, some salt, sugar, pepper, and vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Set it aside. Now put some cooked and chilled couscous, as well as cucumber, dill, and lettuce, in another bowl. Sprinkle some olive oil and mix the vegetables so that the oil coats all the vegetables evenly. Now add your pickled onions to the mixture, and your vegan salad bowl is ready to consume.

Busy students often neglect their diets and only focus on their coursework and completing their assignments on time. Fortunately, there are solutions to this problem. Students can pay for college research papers and then use the time they save to make vegan meals for themselves.

2.  Tomato Curry With Roasted Eggplant

Tomato and eggplant is a well-sought combination for many. The tanginess of the tomatoes compliments the roasted and smoky flavor of eggplant to create a mouth-watering dish that cooks in less than 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While your oven is pre-heating, cut the eggplant into large cubes. Spread the eggplant in a pan and pour some olive oil to thinly coat it. Add some salt, pepper, and spices to the run to deepen the flavor.

After the oven has pre-heated to the required temperature, place the pan with eggplant into the oven and let it roast. In the meantime, finely chop your tomatoes and cook them in a pan on low heat. Once your eggplant is roasted, mix it with your tomato purée and enjoy over any grain or pasta.

Also Read: How Low-Calorie Meal Planning Supports Sustainability

3. Spinach and Chickpea Curry

Making spinach and chickpea curry needs a small amount of planning. Chickpeas are high sources of protein. They are also highly flavorful when cooked with spices and condiments. To make a spinach and chickpea curry, you must soak the chickpeas in water overnight. This is the first step. The next day, take some oil and heat it in a pan. Add your spices and let them temper. Next, add finely chopped tomatoes and onions and wait until the onions sauté. Then add your chickpeas. Once the chickpeas are soft, add the washed and chopped spinach.

Remember that spinach cooks very quickly, so you need to keep the heat only for a few minutes after adding the spinach. Once the spinach has shrunk, your curry is ready. This dish is best served with some rice or some Indian flatbread.

4. Lentil and Cardamom Soup

One of the easiest things to make on the go is soup. Making soup is an easy and quick undertaking. Most of the time, making soup takes less than 20 minutes to make. The process is also simple. First, you must cut up all the ingredients that you want to add to your soup. For lentil soup, the most popular choices for vegetables include onions, tomatoes, lentils, garlic, and carrots. Roughly chop all these vegetables and add them to your pan.

Add a few drops of olive oil, spices, cloves, and cardamom, and let the vegetables cook. You can add water if needed. Once the vegetables are soft and fully cooked, set your pan aside to cool. Once your vegetable stock has cooled down, put it in a blender to make a smooth purée. Add your purée back to your pan and dilute its consistency with either water or coconut milk. Let it boil for a few seconds, and your soup is ready to consume.

veganism in mena

5. Vegan butter chocolate chip cookies

Vegan butter chocolate chip cookies are a simple snack to make and tasty to eat. The first step to making these delicious cookies is combining almond flour, butter, dates, and rolled oats in a mixer. Next, in a separate bowl, combine peanut butter and almond oil. Add your dry mixture to your wet mixture while stirring continuously to avoid forming lumps. Once your mixture is combined well, form cookies and bake them.

There are many more such recipes that students can try to cook for themselves. Not only that, but as a student, you can also try to create your own recipe and publish it online on a blog. You can check out writing tips to understand the best way to write your recipes and share them with other students.

Concluding Thoughts

There are many myths surrounding veganism. People wrongly believe that veganism is an expensive lifestyle and that vegan diets cannot provide a body with its required nutrition. However, this is not true. Many vegan recipes are tasty and healthy at the same time!

In fact, vegan recipes use different kinds of vegetables, which are often less expensive than cooking with meat. If you are curious about the vegan lifestyle and vegan meals, and you’d like to taste a vegan meal, you can try any of the recipes mentioned in this article. We hope that this article inspires you to include more vegan foods into your diet and encourages you to try a more extensive variety of dishes regularly.

An Easy Guide on How To Setup Your Own Greenhouse

We have all heard about greenhouses, and we have all been told that it is healthy for the environment. However, we might have never been taught how to build one, or how important it is for our Earth. Now more than ever, given the ever-growing presence of global warming that is threatening our planet, it is a must to have a greenhouse. This having been mentioned, if you’re looking to have one, here are some tips in a guide to help you setup your greenhouse.

1. Structure

Picking the appropriate structure for your greenhouse is by far the most important step that you have to take on; choosing the right structure determines the effectiveness and functionality of your greenhouse. Understand that every structure has its own function, so choose a structure that will be within your budget and at the same time can help you achieve amazing results. Prefabricated greenhouse is a popular choice of greenhouse structure since it can be built and installed quickly and it is oftenly cheaper.

2. Greenhouse Hardware

Meticulously choosing the hardware for your greenhouse is a very important step as well because the hardware that you choose to hold up your structure is what’s going to save your greenhouse through storms and harsh weather.

3. Cooling Systems

Greenhouse plants are prone to overheat, which is why you need to take care of the cooling systems and ventilation for your greenhouse. There are definitely several types of cooling systems, but it is preferable that you choose one that is practical, long-lasting, and strong enough to cover your greenhouse as a whole.

4. Property

One of the many things that you have to look into as well, is buying a property that has enough space for you to build your own greenhouse on. There are many real estate agents out there, but this reliable investing group has a high level of experience, a variety of sources, plenty of resources, and professional methods to satisfy their customers. It is essential that you have a real estate agency that you can rely on in order for you to get the most efficient setup for your greenhouse.

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5. Heating Systems

The heating system you will choose for your greenhouse will be based on the structure you chose earlier; you also need to pick the right size of the heating unit and how appropriate it will be for your greenhouse.

Also Read: Factors to Consider When Starting Your Own Greenhouse

6. Environmental Controls

It is vital that you have a functional thermostat so you can have complete control over the temperature in your greenhouse. You constantly need to improve the circulation to remove the humidity in the air by the environmental control options. Which is why it is important that you make sure that the environmental controls are easy to use and that you understand their features and how they work.

7. Building

Finally, you have reached the last step. Now all you have to do is order your greenhouse and build it once and for all. There are many manuals and several specialists that you can consult in the building process, but know that half of the work is done since you have bought all the needed equipment.

Conclusion

Congratulations on being an environmentally aware citizen of the earth! Now that you have built your own greenhouse with the appropriate structure, chose the perfect hardware, picked the perfect cooling systems, purchased a property for your greenhouse, bought the right environmental controls, and finally bought it, you have done your bit for the environment. Your contribution is important, especially if you are aiming to build something as big as a greenhouse.

Modern Greenhouse Design Ideas For Your Future Home

Greenhouses have definitely evolved through time. It has come a long way from its plain and simple designs to the now high-tech structured architectures. The location, weather, and the availability of materials have a lot to do with the never ending innovations. Consider these modern greenhouse design ideas that will complement your home, lifestyle, and passions in life if you plan to build your own greenhouse in your backyard.

greenhouse-design-ideas

 

1. Strong and Sturdy Foundation

Having concrete and dug-deep foundation will keep the structure in place and could last longer as compared to bamboos or soft wood which are susceptible to pests attack and damages.

Concrete and heavy footings can save you a lot from trouble in the future. You do not have to dig everything out if you want to make some new tweaks on your greenhouse.

2. High-rise Walls

Air ventilation is very important when building greenhouses. High walls of about 10 feet at least are generally acceptable. It would be nice to imagine yourself working on an extensive and well-ventilated space with enough area for your other hanging plants and an extra spot to store your garden tools.

The team of elite Brisbane architects knows what are the best quality materials to use in order to create an edgy, long-lasting and modernized plan that will suit your taste.

3. Anti-Fog Wall and Roof

Too much sunlight can damage and wilt your plants. With the anti-fog technology incorporated in the structure, the additives applied causes the water to condense rapidly when it hits the wall and roof. This process makes the fog disappear right away.

The castiron guttering collects the water formed from the condensation to be utilized by the plants. Architects can guide you on what type of wall material could maximize water collection.

4. Large Windows

Adding windows can also be a good option since not all the time the weather is humid and not every time the heat of the sun is excruciating for the plants, You can opt to have it opened during milder weather condition and let the natural air pass through the windows as compared to vents which only allows less air to enter the structure. You can have it circular, rectangular or eccentric shaped windows.

backyard garden ideas

5. Plumbing, Water System Options

Water is one of the most important factors in determining the healthy growth of your plants. You can install rainwater catchment that stores inside the drums.

You can also use automatic water system and sprinkler system that is automated watering of your plants. This can reduce your time watering the plants so you can use it to spend on other essential things.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter if you are building a small or a large scale greenhouse as long as you are technically guided. Seeking the help of professionals can also lessen your worries because you know that it is built on trust and high standards. You can also be sure that it is safe and securely built. At the end of the day, we all want a cozy and productive space, and of course, produce high quality plants.

Wildlife Protection in Bahrain: An Overview

Wildlife maintains ecological balance of nature, food chain and nature cycles and plays an important role in the environment and for human progress through availability of large gene pool for the scientists to carry research and breeding programs in agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery. The World Conservation Union estimates that there are more than 16,000 wildlife species that are currently threatened with extinction. In the last 500 years, 820 species have become extinct as a result of human activity.

wildlife-bahrain

Al-Areen Wildlife Park in the only protected area on land in Bahrain, and is spread over 400 hectares

Bahrain has very limited wildlife population, and its conservation is of great importance. Al Areen Wildlife Park located in Sakhir is a nature reserve and zoo. The park is one of the five protected areas in the Kingdom. The reserve is house to 100,000 planted flora and more than 90 species of birds and 50 species of animals. The inmates include extinct species including the wild Arabian Oryx, Persian Gazelle, Chapman’s Zebra, the rare Addax and many other exotic birds.

Unfortunately, many people try intimidating animals or birds for the sake of pleasure and time passing often with bad intentions and having no respect for wildlife. Usually children do mischievous activities of throwing stones and litter on animals to get their attention or throwing eatables thinking that these poor creatures will eat. It is a very cruel example of unfriendly action towards beautiful creatures that provide us with recreation and happiness.

We need to realize that we are bound with all other forms of life in one gigantic ecosystem and have to improve our attitude and way of thinking about other creatures on earth. We need to understand that animals and birds are also creatures like us and have full right to live in harmony with the human beings. We need to be careful in our acts of dealing with them and taking care of their wellbeing.

help stop wildlife poaching

We being the dominant creatures on this planet need to create more awareness about animals and birds and school children are to be trained in how we deal with them and care about their welfare. At park and other recreation areas, we need to stop other people harming the birds who do it just as a random sport or activity.

It is suggested that NGOs need to engage volunteers to support and assist the staff at wildlife parks and to create awareness amongst the people how and what contribution animals and birds are providing and how we need to take care of them.

Wildlife conservation is imperative if we are to become stewards of the earth, and to create a truly sustainable future for ourselves and for the generations to come.

What is the Difference Between Carpet Dry Cleaning and Steam Cleaning?

Steam carpet cleaning and dry carpet cleaning are two of the main ways to deep clean your carpet. Both of these cleaning methods serve to restore your carpet and remove deeply ingrained impurities from its fibres.

While both of these carpet cleaning methods strive for the same outcome, they are fundamentally different. Steam cleaning involves hot water injected within the fibres to sanitise them, while dry carpet cleaning is all about using a chemical solution applied to the carpet without causing it to get wet.

benefits of steam carpet cleaning

If you have a carpet at home and wish to keep it clean and fresh, opting for one of these cleaning methods is the right choice. It’s important to know more about them to make an informed decision.

Steam carpet cleaning

Steam cleaning your carpet is one of the best ways to ensure its fabric is restored to as-new condition in an eco-friendly manner. The carpet cleaning service from Crystal Carpet Cleaners is all you need to get your carpet clean and look like the day you bought it.

Steam cleaning involves a machine with a water tank that heats up to produce steam. Under high pressure, the steam is injected deep within the carpet fibres to remove allergens and dirt. The water is then extracted, which is why the cleaning method is also referred to as hot water extraction.

The method is highly effective because the hot steam easily kills off dust mites, bacteria and all sorts of allergens that dwell within the carpet fibres. Furthermore, steam cleaners are also effective for treating tough stains on the carpet, as they break down the materials and remove them during extraction.

The benefits of carpet steam cleaning

Steam cleaning has many benefits. It is a popular cleaning method for extending the life of your carpet and keeping it free of allergens. Here are some of its benefits.

Efficient form of cleaning

Steam cleaning takes care of the dirt and dust embedded deeply within the fibres of the carpet. Unlike vacuum cleaning, which only tackles surface dirt, steam cleaning breaks down the particles deep within the fibres. It’s an effective way of cleaning carpets.

Deal with all sorts of allergens

The hot steam used during a steam cleaning session reaches high degrees and is effective at killing germs, bacteria and all sorts of allergens within the carpet fibres. You don’t need to worry about things like dust mites, bed bugs and other unwanted guests on your carpet.

It is safe for people with allergies

Those who struggle with allergies and sensitivity to cleaning chemicals can breathe a deep sigh of relief. Steam cleaning is an eco-friendly method that doesn’t rely on harsh chemicals and cleaners to do the job. Vapour from distilled water is all it takes to sanitise your carpets and deal with allergens on the surface.

Prolong the life of your carpet

Steam cleaning works equally well for new and neglected carpets. Using this cleaning method is a sure way to improve the appearance of the carpet, as well as prolong its life due to the restorative effect of the steam.

No residue on the carpet

With steam cleaning, you don’t have to worry about any residue left on the surface. Water vapour enters the carpet fibres and is then extracted. There will be some moisture left but it will dry quickly if you provide enough ventilation.

Things to keep in mind about steam carpet cleaning

Carpets are made of different materials and as such require different care methods. Certain fabrics do not do well with any sort of moisture during cleaning. You should consult the manufacturer’s care instructions before you proceed with steam cleaning, or else you risk damaging your carpet.

When steam cleaning your carpets, make sure you let them dry completely before you step on them. Before steam cleaning you should always vacuum the carpet surface to remove solid spoils first.

Dry carpet cleaning

This carpet cleaning method differs from steam cleaning substantially. It’s a multi-step process. First, the carpet is treated with a cleansing compound and cleaning agents. That’s where the name ‘dry cleaning’ comes from. These cleaning solutions aim to break down any residue within the carpet fibres.

Next, cotton pads (bonnets) are used. They are immersed in hot water and essentially condition the carpet with the aid of a rotary machine. The motion releases dirt and allergens, essentially cleaning the carpet with minimal moisture.

rug cleaning innovations

The benefits of dry carpet cleaning

Dry cleaning can yield excellent results when done right. You can take advantage of its main benefits.

It doesn’t leave the carpet soaking wet

The main benefit of dry cleaning lies in the fact that it doesn’t require excessive moisture. It is ideal for delicate fibres that do not tolerate steam and any kind of wet cleaning. The cleaning process leaves the carpet dry and ready for use almost immediately.

Deep cleaning prowess

Dry cleaning is much better than simple vacuuming. It supplements the process with efficient cleaning compounds, which break down dirt and stains. These chemical solutions can leave the carpet looking like new immediately.

Added protection

Using dry cleaning solutions introduces a new kind of benefit for your carpet – a protective layer. It serves to prevent stains and spills from soaking into the fibres.

Things to keep in mind about dry carpet cleaning

This carpet cleaning method features the use of strong chemicals, which can be problematic for people with respiratory sensitivities and allergies. It’s recommended that such people and pets don’t come into contact with the carpet for some time after the cleaning procedure.

Both carpet cleaning methods have strong advantages and some downsides that you should be aware of. Knowing which cleaning method to choose for your carpet is essential for keeping it fresh and beautiful at all times.

احراق الغاز و هدره

من المعروف أن إحراق الغاز وهدره يرتبطان بعملية استخراج النفط الخام في حقول النفط. أن آبار النفط الحديثة تكون قادرة لاستعادة كل من غاز آبار النفط والنفط الخام ، وعليه  فإن الغاز يشكل مورد إضافي لحقل النفط. تلجأ الكثير من شركات النفط المنتجة في العالم إلى حرق الغاز المصاحب لحقول النفط بكميات كبيرة محاولةً تعظيم أرباحها، واستخدمت في سبيل ذلك أرخص السبل للتخلص من الغاز الطبيعي الذي لا تريده.

وتحرق شركات النفط الغاز المصاحب لأن النفط ينتج في مناطق نائية بعيدة عن المراكز الاقتصادية والسكانية ويحتاج نقله والاستفادة منه استثمارات كبيرة لا توفرها أسواق الطاقة. ونظراً لكون شركات النفط تركز على مصالحها فهي تريد النفط المنتج وترى في إحراق الغاز المصاحب أرخص الطرق لتعظيم الأرباح.

peak-oil-middle-east

ومازال حرق الغاز بدون فائدة منتشرا في كثير من بلدان. حيث ان الدول العشرين الاكثر هدرا للغاز هي روسيا ، نيجيريا ، إيران ، العراق ، أنغولا ، فنزويلا ، قطر ، الجزائر ، الولايات المتحدة ، الكويت ، إندونيسيا ، كازاخستان ، غينيا الاستوائية ، ليبيا ، المكسيك ، أذربيجان ، البرازيل ، الكونغو ، المملكة المتحدة ، والغابون وتقدر بعض المصادر أن الغاز الذي يتم إحراقه في حقول النفط والغاز يمثل حوالي 5 بالمائة من الإنتاج العالمي من الغاز الطبيعي، ولو استخدمت هذه الغازات لتوليد الكهرباء لغطت احتياجات القارة الافريقية.

من ناحية أخرى، أن إحراق الغاز هو إحراق لثروات بشرية تقدر سنوياً ببلايين الدولارات، ولا يقتصر الأمر على ذلك، بل إن إحراقه يساهم في زيادة انبعاث الغازات الدفيئة ويضر بالبيئة المحلية في كثير من الدول بدون أي فائدة للبشرية. لقد طرح البنك الدولي مبادرة للتخلص من ظاهرة حرق الغاز الطبيعي والتي تدعو إلى وقف حرق الغاز الطبيعي بصورة نهائية قبل عام 2030. ويحاول البنك الدولي من خلال هذه المبادرة العمل مع الدول وشركات النفط ومؤسسات التنمية لوقف إهدار الغاز الطبيعي بهذه الطريقة وإيجاد أسواق لبيع هذه الغازات أو وضعها في استخدامات نافعة للبشرية. ويمكن استخدام الغاز الطبيعي كوقود أو حتى تحويله إلى مصادر طاقة أخرى يمكن نقلها بطرق أيسر.

ولم يشارك في هذه المبادرة إلا عدد قليل من الشركات والمنظمات.  أن ما لا يقل عن 150 مليار متر مكعب من الغاز على مستوى العالم يتم إشعاله أو إهداره كل عام  مما يضيف نحو 400 مليون طن من غازات الاحتباس الحراري في الانبعاثات السنوية.  وهذا يعادل تقريباً جميع التخفيضات السنوية المحتملة للانبعاثات من المشاريع المقدمة حالياً في إطار آليات كيوتو.

gas-flaring

تبلغ نسبة حرق الغاز في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا 50 مليار متر مكعب سنوياً ، مما يجعلها ثاني منطقة في العالم بعد روسيا ومنطقة بحر قزوين التي تبلغ حوالي 60 مليار متر مكعب. كمية الغاز المتوهج في الشرق الأوسط وحده ، حوالي 30 مليار متر مكعب ، يمكن أن تغذي 20 مليون طن من الغاز الطبيعي المسال.  تشير بيانات البنك الدولي إلى أن بعض البلدان في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا قد زادت من حرق الغاز خلال الـ 12 عامًا الماضية أو نحو ذلك. وتشمل هذه: العراق وعمان وقطر والمملكة العربية السعودية واليمن في حين أن دول أخرى مثل الجزائر ومصر وليبيا وسوريا والإمارات العربية المتحدة قد انخفضت حرق الغاز. تُظهر البيانات المنشورة أن حرق الغاز السنوي يعادل ربع الاستهلاك السنوي من الغاز في الولايات المتحدة ، و 30 في المائة من استهلاك الاتحاد الأوروبي السنوي للغاز ، وثلاثة أرباع إجمالي صادرات الغاز السنوية في روسيا. وفي أفريقيا ، وهي واحدة من أكثر قارات حرق الغاز انتشارا ، فإن 35 مليار متر مكعب سنويا من انبعاث الغاز يعادل نصف الاستهلاك الإجمالي للطاقة في القارة.

في العديد من البلدان المسؤولة عن معظم عمليات إشعال الغاز وهدره، تضمن الضريبة والقياس الدقيق أن يتم دفع الرسوم الصحيحة ويتم تقليل التأثير على البيئة إلى الحد الأدنى ، ولكن هذا ليس هو الحال دائمًا. هناك حوافز لتنفيذ ممارسات أكثر جدوى وأقل تكلفة مثل إعادة حقن الغاز الطبيعي في الخزان ، ومحطات تسييل الغاز الطبيعي على نطاق صغير في موقع الإنتاج ، وتوليد الكهرباء في الموقع ، وتوزيع الغاز الطبيعي على المناطق الحضرية المجاورة وما إلى ذلك ، في حين تتم العمليات المكلفة ، مثل بناء خطوط الأنابيب ، فقط عندما يبرر الغاز الطبيعي المستخرج التكاليف المرتفعة.

وبغض النظر عمن يحرق الغاز ، يجب أن تكون حوافز الاستثمار في خفض الحرائق مناسبة وواضحة إلى أقصى حد ممكن. لا يوجد خيار واحد هو الأفضل لجميع حقول النفط. لكل حقل نفط خصائصه وحجمه وظروف السوق المحلية واحتياجات البنية التحتية الخاصة به ، وكل بلد له إطاره السياسي والمؤسسي والمالي الخاص به وبالتالي ، فإن القياس الدقيق لحرق الغاز هو أفضل شيء ، لأنه يعطي الصناعة وسيلة لجمع البيانات ، وبناء صورة دقيقة للغاز المشتعل وتخطيط طرق أفضل لتقليل الخسائر وإنشاء أفضل الممارسات في المستقبل ، كما يتم اتخاذ تدابير أكثر صرامة لمراقبة هذه الأمور.

Solar Energy in Jordan

The solar energy potential in Jordan is enormous as it lies within the solar belt of the world with average solar radiation ranging between 5 and 7 KWh/m2, which implies a potential of at least 1000GWh per year annually.

Solar energy, like other forms of alternative energy, remains underutilized in Jordan. Decentralized photovoltaic units in rural and remote villages are currently used for lighting, water pumping and other social services (1000KW of peak capacity). In addition, about 15% of all households are equipped with solar water heating systems. Portable solar generators can be helpful in transforming the renewable energy landscape across Jordan

sustainability-jobs

Jordan has major plans for increasing the use of solar energy. As per the Energy Master Plan, 30 percent of all households are expected to be equipped with solar water heating system by the year 2020. The Government is hoping to construct the first Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) demonstration project in the short to medium term and is considering Aqaba and the south-eastern region for this purpose. It is also planning to have solar desalination plant. According to the national strategy the planned installed capacity will amount to 300MW – 600MW (CSP, PV and hybrid power plants) by 2020.

One of the most promising potential investments in renewable energy worldwide will be installing more than 250 MW of concentrated solar power (CSP) in Jordan’s Ma’an development zone through different projects developed by the private sector. The upcoming CSP solar power plants in Ma’an would highlight Jordan’s strategy of sustainable energy diversification. Many companies use R&D tax credits to carry out these initiatives.

The Ma’an Development Area enjoys about 320 days of sunshine a year, with a high level of irradiance that allows over 2500 million kWh of primary energy to be harvested annually from each square kilometre.  At full capacity, the planned flagship CSP plant could meet some 4% of the Kingdom’s electricity needs, reducing the reliance on electricity imports from neighbouring countries. Surplus energy could in turn be sold to Syria, Egypt and Palestine, whose networks are connected to Jordan.

Also Read: Jordan’s Solar Surge

القيمة الإستراتيجة للأرض

القيمة الإستراتيجة للأرض في تأمين الأمن الغذائي والمعيشي للأجيال الحالية والمقبلة جعلها تكون محور الشعار الذي رفعه المجتمع الدولي للإحتفال باليوم العالمي لمكافحة التصحر الذي صادف في 17 يونيو 2018 “للأرض قيمة حقيقية – استثمرها”، الشعار تجسيداً لمضمون “الهدف 15 – حماية النظم الإيكولوجية البرية وترميمها وتعزيز استخدامها على نحو مستدام، وإدارة الغابات على نحو مستدام، ومكافحة التصحر، ووقف تدهور الأراضي وعكس مساره، ووقف فقدان التنوع البيولوجي”.

types of art to celebrate nature

مقاصد الهدف تؤكد في بعض محاورها على ضمان حفظ وترميم النظم الإيكولوجية البرية والنظم الإيكولوجية للمياه العذبة الداخلية وخدماتها، ولا سيما الغابات والأراضي الرطبة والجبال والأراضي الجافة، وضمان إستخدامها على نحو مستدام، وذلك وفقا للالتزامات بموجب الإتفاقات الدولية، بحلول عام 2020، ومكافحة التصحر، وترميم الأراضي والتربة المتدهورة، بما في ذلك الأراضي المتضررة من التصحر والجفاف والفيضانات، والسعي إلى تحقيق عالمٍ خالٍ من ظاهرة تدهور الأراضي، بحلول عام 2030.

القراءة التاريخية لعلاقة المجتمع البحريني بالأرض تشير الى حقائق الوعي المتأصل في الثقافة الزراعية للمجتمع، وثقافة الإستغلال الرشيد للأرض، وتلك الثقافة تركت أثرها الإيجابي في تعزيز ثقافة الإستدامة المرتكزة على المنفعة الرشيدة في توفير المصدر الغذائي والمعيشي للفئات الإجتماعية التي كانت تمتهن الزراعة كمصدر للحياة والبقاء، لذلك كان الفلاح يعتني بالأرض ويعمل على الإهتمام بمتطلبات بقائها واستدامة إنتاجها، ويتمثل ذلك في تقنين إستغلال الموارد المائية، ومعالجة الأرض بالاسمدة الطبيعية، وتبني نظام راحة الأرض وفق المواسم الزراعية لتحافظ على إنتاجيتها، وذلك ما ساهم في التنمية الزراعية والإنتاج الزراعي المستدام.

الثقافة الزراعية التي كانت سائدة والمرتكزة على القيم الأصيلة في عدم التفريط بالأرض الزراعية وإنتاجيتها لم تعد موجودة في مجتمع اليوم، وترك الجشع في حب المال أثره في شيوع ثقافة التدمير والتصحير والتجريف المتعمد للأراضي الزراعي وتحويلها الى غابات إسمنتية، والتسبب في القضاء على المساحات الخضرية التي كانت تتميز بها البحرين حتى سبعينيات القرن الماضي.

السؤال الإستراتيجي الذي ينبغي ان نجيب عليه، كيف يمكننا في ظل المتغيرات السلبية المشهودة ضمان إنجاز الأهداف الوطنية للتنمية المستدامة حتى عام 2030 وفق ما هو مخطط له.؟

العلاقة الرشيدة مع الأرض الزراعية ليس مبدأً مستحدثاً تطلبته الظروف العصرية، كما انه ليس وليد القرارات الدولية الحديثة، كما هو محدد في أهداف التنمية المستدامة، بل تلك ثقافة إنسانية ممتدة بتاريخ وجود الإنسان على البسيطة، والشعار الذي رفعه المجتمع الدولي “للأرض قيمة حقيقية – استثمرها” للإحتفال باليوم العالمي لمكافحة التصحر يمثل تأكيداً فعلياً على ثقافة العلاقة التي بناها الإنسان في الإدارة المستدامة للأرض الزراعية.

الثقافة الإنسانية الرشيدة في العلاقة مع الأراضي الزراعية وفق ما تشير اليه الدراسات التاريخية في الشأن البيئي إرتبطت بحياة المجتمعات القديمة التي تميزت بالوعي العميق في إستثمار الأراضي الزراعية ذلك ما يبينه الباحث العراقي الدكتور علي حنوش في كتاب “العراق .. مشكلات الحاضر وخيارات المستقبل” إذ يشير الى أنه “يعتبر ما تم التوصل اليه في ميدان الحفاظ على خصوبة الأرض وضمان إنتاجيتها، مظهرا من مظاهر تطور حماية الأرض في العهود القديمة من خلال تطبيق ما يسمى نظام بور الأرض (أو إراحة الأراضي، بزراعتها عاما وتركها في العام التالي) والذي أستخدم منذ القدم وحتى الى حقبة قصيرة من القرن الحالي في اراحة الأرض، والذي إستفادة منه الرومانيون لاحقا” ويشير “المظهر الآخر لحماية البيئة يجلى في عدد من المواد التي حملتها شريعة حمورابي، الذي كان كان يعد من أشهر ملوك السلالة البابلية التي حكمت من 1894 الى 1595 قبل الميلاد. وأهم ما إشتهرت به شريعته التي تتألف من 282 مادة، ومنها نحو سبعة مواد تخص النخيل. فقد فرضت المادة التاسعة والخمسون غرامة قدرها 225 غراماً من الفضة على كل من يقطع نخلة واحدة. ونظمت المادة الستون أصل المغارسة ما بين صاحب الأرض والمغارس أو البستاني. إذ أوضحت ضرورة قيام البستاني بغرس الأرض بالفسيلة والإعتناء بها لمدة أربع سنوات”. (1)

الثوابت التاريخية تؤكد على واقع العلاقة الإنسانية في الإستثمار الرشيد للموارد والثروات التي تكتنزه البيئات الطبيعية، ويقول الباحث علي حنوش بأنه “معلوم ان عوامل النظام البيئي واستقرارها سبقت المجتمعات البشرية وتطور أنظمتها على اليابسة. وأحد مقاييس التطور للمجتمعات الإنسانية، هو قدرتها على الاستثمار المتوازن للموارد الطبيعية من أراض ومياه وسهول وجبال ووديان ومناجم ومراع وغيرها. ويرتبط النمط الإستثماري لتلك الموارد الى حد بعيد بمستوى فهم الإنسان أو تجاهله للقوانين الطبيعية والمبادئ التي تتحكم بالتوازن البيئي أولا، وفي ألقدرة الإنتاجية لتلك الموارد الطبيعية واعادة انتاجها ثانيا”. (2)

الدلالات التاريخية تؤكد على مستوى الوعي الذي وصلت إليه المجتمعات البشرية في تنظيم العلاقة مع الموارد الطبيعية وتبنيها منهج الإدارة المستدامة مع ما تكتزه البيئات من ثروات وخيرات طبيعية، وترشيد إستثمارها لموارد الإرض بما يضمن إستدامتها وصون بقائها، والسؤال الذي يؤكد حضوره في سياق معالجتنا لواقع العلاقة مع موارد الأرض، لماذا لا تستثمر المجتمعات الحديثة تلك الثروة التاريخية في تعزيز مبادئ الإدارة المستدامة للثروات الطبيعية.؟

الإستغلال غير الرشيد للأرض، السلوك الذي حرص الخبراء الضالعين في قضايا التصحر والأمن الزراعي التحذير من أبعاده السلبية في تدهور الأراضي الزراعية، ويبين ذلك العالم المصري في العلوم الزراعية ومكافحة التصحر الراحل محمد عبد الفتاح القصاص في البحث بعنوان “الإنسان والطبيعة والتكنولوجيا ” في كتاب “فقر البيئة وبيئة الفقر” إذ يشير الى أن “أثر الإنسان على التربة يتصل بأنماط إستخدام الأرض التي تحول النظم البيئية الطبيعية إلى نظم يديرها الإنسان لإنتاج متطلباته من الغذاء والكساء وخامات الصناعة والوقود وغيرها. وكثيرا ما يزيد ضغط الإستخدام على قدرة التربة على الإحتمال أي قدرتها على الحفاظ على توازن تفاعيلاتها الطبيعية،ومن ثم تتضرر”. وفي إطار معالجة القصاص أسباب تدهور الأرض يشخص عناصر الضرر ويحصرها في “الري الزائد على طاقة الصرف وما تتبعه من بلل التربة وتملحها، وتلوث التربة بالفيض الزائد من الكيماويات الزراعية (الأسمدة والمبيدات)، والرعي الجائر الذي يحرم التربة من غطاء النبات الواقي وما يتبع ذلك من إنجراف التربة بعوانل التعرية، وتوغل العمران على أخصب الأراضي الزراعية، وعمليات تجريف التربة ليكون منها خام لصناعة الطوب”.(3).

السلوك الإنساني غير الرشيد تسبب في تدهور الأراضي الزراعية وتعقد مشكلة التصحر ودفع ذلك الواقع المجتمع الدولي تبني منظومة من السياسات والإتجاهات التي يمكن أن تساهم في تغيير الحالة والحد من تصاعد مستوى التصحر، ويعالج قضايا التصحر العالم القصاص في كتاب عالم المعرفة-242 “التصحر – تدهور الأراضي في المناطق الجافة” ويشير “مكافحة التصحر تعني منع تدهور الأراضي التي تنتج الأخشاب والأحطاب والكلأ والمحاصيل. وتعني في اللغة التي أشاعها مؤتمر الأمم المتحدة للبيئة والتنمية(1992)، أن تكون تنمية موارد الأرض في المناطق الجافة وشبه الجافة تنمية متواصلة (مستدامة)،أي تنمية تحقق العطاء الموصول للنظام البيئي المنتج فيقابل احتياجات الحاضر واحتياجات المستقبل”.(4).

القراءة المتمعنة للمرئيات التي يتبناها العلماء في شأن إتجاهات مكافحة التصحر، ينبغي أخذها في الإعتبار لتأكييد النوايا الدولية في تجسيد شعار اليوم العالمي للتصحر للعام 2018، وذلك يتطلب المبادرة في بناء مشروع يرتكز على إتجاهات العمل التنظيمي والإداري والقانوني والتوعية والتدريب والشراكة المجتمعية والشفافية في رصد وتعميم البيانات، وتبني الخطط العملية في وقف عماليات تجريف الأراضي الصالحة للزراعة وإعادة تأهيل الأراضي الزراعية، وتقديم المساعدات المالية للمزارعين وتحفيز انشطة العمل الزراعي والتشجير وتوسيع دائرة الغطاء النباتي والمساحة الخضراء.

forest-jordan

الحديث في قضايا التصحر وجهود الدول في بناء مشاريع مكافحة التصحر ورؤى المختصين في معالجة هذه المشكلة ذات البعد العالمي والأمن الزراعي والبيئي للإنسانية، في تحريك سواكن العمل الدولي والإقليمي والوطني للحد من تصاعد مستويات ظاهرة التصحر، وذلك في إطار ما طرح من مرئيات في سياق معالجتنا واقع البعد الإستراتجي للشعار الذي رفعه المجتمع الدولي “للأرض قيمة حقيقية – استثمرها” للإحتفال باليوم العالمي لمكافحة التصحر، ترك أثره على مواقف بعض المتابعين لصفحتنا على الإنستغرام الذين تلقينا رسائلهم ومرئياتهم ومقترحاتهم في شأن الطرق العملية في تمكين الجهود الوطنية للحد من تصاعد مستوى حدة التصحر وتغيير المسار في مكافحة ظاهرة التصحر على المستوى الوطني.

الرؤى التي بادر عدد من المتابعين إرسالها وسجلوا فيها تقييمهم لواقع معضلة التصحر ومقترحاتهم للحل تشير الى مؤشر إيجابي في دلالات الوعي الإجتماعي البيئي، ويمكن الإشارة الى رؤى طالبة الماجستير في التنمية المستدمة مريم أحمد التي علقت بالقول “مِن ضمن المساعي التي يجب أن تتخذها الدّولة لتحقيق أهدافها في مجال استدامة الأرض وتقليل التّصحر، منع جرف الأراضي الزّراعية واستثمارها جيدًا، وأشارت هناك حاليًا أرض زراعية في منطقة (مقابة) شاسعة وجميلة، ويقال أنها أول مزرعة وصلتها الكهرباء، وفيها بئران قديمان وكان الشّباب في طفولتهم القريبة حين يحفرون حفرًا صغيرة يتدفق الماء إليهم، أرضٌ مميزة ولكنها تُجرف منذ أسبوعين، فأيّ استدامة للأرض نتحدث عنها إذا لم تضع الدولة قوانين تحمي مثل هذه الأراضي، الكلام مهما كان منمقًا وجميلًا، مؤثرًا وضروريًا، إلا أنّ التّطبيق والتّنفيذ هو الأهم وهو الطّريق الذي يعكس حقيقة ما نضعه من أهداف، وقالت ذهبت في زيارة لتلك المزرعة وكم أحزن كثيرًا لفكرة جرفها”.

إن ما جرى الإشارة اليه يمثل قيمة بيئية ويشير الى واقع تاريخي مهم في شأن البيئة الزراعية التي تتميز بها البحرين حتى مرحلة تاريخية قريبة، وذلك ما يتذكره الجيل الذي عاش في تلك المرحلة التاريخية، ومن المفارقات الجميلة عند زيارتنا مركز جابر الصباح الصحي في باربار إستمعنا الى حديث عابر للدكتورة بشرى سيد أحمد الطبيبة في المركز الصحي، أشارت في سياقه الى أن “شارع البديع كان مغطاء بالإشجار الكثيفة من مختلف الأصناف، وقالت كنت أشرح الى أبنائي بأن المركبات تسير وسط الشارع ولا تطالها أشعة الشمس لوجود الاشجار الكثيفة على جانبي الشارع”.

البحرين لم تكن تعرف ظاهرة التصحر قبل ان يجري تجريف الأراض الزراعية وتحويلها الى حدائق إسمنتية للسكن، ونرى أن معالجة هذه المشكلة في حاجة الى قوانين صارمة تمنع تجريف الأراضي الزراعية وتبني مشروع لإستزراع الشوارع والأراضي الفضاء ودعم القطاع الزراعي والمزارعين ماديا ضمن مشروع وطني يعزز بقرار سيادي يأخذ في الإعتبار توفير التمويل المادي لتمكين المشروع من تحقيق الأهداف الإستراتيجية لمكافحة التصحر وتعزيز إنجاز الاهداف الوطنية للتنمية المستدامة.

الهوامش:

  1. د.علي حنوش – العراق – مشكلات الحاضر والمستقبل (دراسة تحليلية عن مستويات تلوث البيئة الطبيعية والبيئة الإجتماعية) – الطبعة الأولى 2000 – دار كنوز الأدبية – بيروت – لبنان – ص- 27.
  2. مصدر سابق – ص – 115.
  3. د.محمد عبد الفتاح القصاص “الإنسان والطبيعة والتكنولوجيا ” كتاب “فقر البيئة وبيئة الفقر” الطبعة الأولى مايو 1998 – دار الأحمدي للنشر – القاهرة – تحرير دز محمد عاطف كشك – ص:35.
  4. د.محمد عبد الفتاح القصاص – “التصحر – تدهور الأراضي في المناطق الجافة – كتاب عالم المعرفة-242 – ص – 185.

Top 7 Benefits of Recycling Used Coffee Grounds

As coffee lovers, we use multiple devices and brewing methods to get coffee in the way we desire. These machines and tools such as a moka pot, a bean to cup machine, or even a prosumer barista model coffee machine. All these methods result in large amounts of used coffee grounds that will usually end in the garbage.

However, you can benefit from used coffee grounds in more ways than one. From using it as a compost or a natural cleaner, the options are endless. Here are remarkable and easy ways for recycling used coffee grounds and save the environment.

recycling of used coffee grounds

1. A good fertilizer for your garden

Coffee grounds can be a good source of nitrogen for many acidophilic plants including many vegetables, fruits, and flowers. It can be used directly on azaleas, roses, rhododendrons.

For example, fruits and vegetables that can benefit from coffee grounds include spinach, blueberries, and tomatoes. Carrots can also get better if you add coffee grounds when sowing it. You will not only get better carrots but also keep your carrots clean from any pest attack.

If you do your own composting at home, add the used coffee grounds for a better and cheaper fertilizer.

New research suggests that coffee grounds should be composted for about 100 days first before putting them on the plants. At first coffee grounds contain high levels of caffeine, tannins, and chlorogenic acids. These compounds can be toxic on plants’ soils.

Anyways, after you compost the coffee grounds completely, these toxins subside. After that the nitrogen and potassium content of the beans will be beneficial for the plants.

2. Keep your house smelling good

To remove any unwanted odors in your house, you can recycle your coffee into a deodorant. Use a bowl of dried used coffee grounds and put it in the fridge or on the counter. It will work as an absorbent material for any unpleasant odor that may result from storing food or from cooking.

DIY tip: You can use coffee grounds as a component in abrasive homemade kitchen cleaners to increase its scratchiness component.

3. Refreshen your indoors with used coffee grounds

Coffee grounds can be a fragrant substitutes to essential oils in candles. Use the old coffee grounds to make a refreshing scented coffee candle and enjoy the coffee aroma.

Damp coffee grounds can help you inhibit dust while cleaning your fireplace. Sprinkle some used coffee grounds around the fireplace to decrease the dust while cleaning. After that sweep the grounds with the ashes and garbage.

4. Coffee grounds as a skin care routine

Used coffee grounds can be great for your skin in many ways. They can be used as a mask for exfoliation. Use yesterday’s coffee ground as a scrub for your skin. You can do this in the shower and use water afterwards to remove the debris.

Pro tip: if you have a dog, use the coffee scrub on him too after giving him a bath. Dogs love this kind of skin stimulation and it keeps them cleaner. Its body will be free from fleas. The smell of the coffee can be repellant for many insects as ants and fleas.

Coffee ground mask is also a great mask for your face. Its antioxidant ability makes your skin fresh and bright. To make this mask make a paste of warm and damp coffee grounds mixed with coconut oil (unrefined), and raw almond milk. Spread the paste on your face in a circular motion, then rinse with fresh water after 10 minutes.

Keep your hands fresh with coffee grounds. Scrub the morning leftover grounds in your hands to remove any unwanted smell. This tip is useful after working with onions in the kitchen as they leave your hands smelly even after using soup.

5. Coffee can keep the ants away

Sprinkle some used coffee grounds around in the corners that ants come from in your house. The scent of the coffee bothers the ants and it works as natural pesticides with out their hazards.

6. Make some coffee fun with your kids

Coffee grounds can be used in arts as a stain due to its vivid coffee color. It can be a perfect and safe material for crafts projects for your kids. The options are endless using this coffee grounds color and it also gives you a quality time with your kids.

Coffee grounds can also be used as a salt dough. Mix some used coffee grounds with salt, water and flour to make an easily moldable dough for the kids. It can be shaped easily as they play and then dried. Once it is hard it can be hung on the wall, or sent as a gift for friends and family.

7. Recycle your office coffee

Your office surely consumes a lot more coffee than you think. Coffee waste in offices can be a valuable resource for recycling. Most companies now aim to go all the way to digital interactions to reduce paper wastes, so coffee recycling might be the next.

coffee waste recycling

Disposing the used coffee grounds into the waste is not a good choice nowadays. Some businesses now started to separate their coffee ground waste and send them to be composted.

Composting the coffee grounds may not be the best options, as coffee waste can be used for more than just a fertilizer. Coffee waste can make coffee logs that burn to provide warmth. They provide more burning time and more temperature.

Conclusion

It turns out the products of the roasting process are not just waste. The used coffee ground is way too valuable to be tossed as a waste in the garbage. It can be recycled into multiple useful items as toys, pesticides, scrubs, and compost. Use the coffee waste at home to save the environment and be an eco-friendly coffee drinker.

Know About Zero Waste Kitchens and Energy-Efficient Cooking

Food is the single largest source of waste. Worldwide, we throw away about a third of our food. More food ends up in landfills than plastic or paper. The enormous amount of wasted food depends on our cooking and eating habits. Generally, it is easy to be sitting at home, in front of your television, consuming whatever you want then throwing every‑thing in the trash. But have we ever thought, where does the garbage go?

Zero Waste Kitchens

Given that most of the domestic waste originates in the kitchen, a green home should definitely include a zero waste kitchen. Zero waste kitchens is not about recycling more of our kitchen waste from plastics containers, metal cans and glass jars. It is about acting on needless waste and stopping it from coming into our homes in first place.

zero waste kitchen

 

Bea Johnson introduced the concept of the 5Rs in her book Zero Waste Home which are Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. The first and the second R address the prevention of waste, the third R encourage thoughtful consumption while the fourth and fifth Rs are the last stage processing of discards.

The Egyptian cuisine is considered one of the most time consuming and tiring kitchens with a lot of organic wastes. On top of that it is not energy efficient because of long cooking time. A lot of initiatives in Egypt started to promote for the idea of zero waste food. They collect food leftovers and pack them nicely and give them to needy people. Other NGOs can come to your door step and take for example cooking oil. Some also pay for it as incentives to encourage people not to throw it away. Throwing used cooking oil is not only a waste but also cause blockage for the sewage system.

compost_cycle

Food waste can be transformed to several sources of energy like biogas and biodiesel or even can be transformed to liquid fertilizers and compost.

Energy-Efficient Cooking

Every winter we notice an increase in demand for gas cylinders. Gas consumption increase during winter season due to long cooking time to prepare warm meals. It is not only waste of energy but waste of time as well.

zero waste kitchen

We can reduce cooking time by following some simple practical tips for energy-efficient cooking:

  • Marinate the meat that we will consume along the month or even a week and then freeze them. They will take less time when cooked grilled or baked.
  • Another simple tip that is often overlooked way to reduce cooking time. Cook items you eat often in bulk – such as beef, chicken, rice and beans, or pasta – and freeze the leftovers for later use. If you’re freezing cooked pasta, drizzle a little oil over it to prevent sticking when you defrost.
  • Always make essential food components in a large quantity and freeze them. Like chopped onions, garlic, tomato sauce, broth etc.
  • It is important to match the size of any pot or casserole you use on the stove top elements.
  • Turn the heat down to the lowest setting after reaching boiling point. Higher heat just escapes round the side of the pot or boils the liquid faster but doesn’t cook its contents faster.
  • Optimize the use of a preheated oven by cooking several dishes, either at once, or in a row.
  • Don’t turn on the oven too soon before using. Just a few minutes is enough for pre-heating.
  • Turn off the oven or stovetop a few minutes early. The residual heat will keep cooking the food.
  • Use pressure cooker. It uses less energy than standard cooking pans. Reduction ranges from 70% up to 90 % and consequently reduces cooking time.
  • Adding one spoon of vinegar on meat reduce cooking time because it makes it more tender.
  • Do not add salt till late in cooking. Salt increase cooking time when added to beef for example. Add salt only if you are boiling water, as it makes it quicker to reach boiling point.
  • When you use the blinder, mixer or food processor, use it once for adequate amount not every day for small amounts. Freeze the extra amount for another use.
  • Buy air fryers to cook delicious meals in a flash

To conclude, it is not difficult to have a zero waste kitchen and it is easy to transform your kitchen trash into valuable cash. Cooking can also be enjoyable, quick and yet energy efficient. We need always to remember that waste-free kitchen is not only a physical kitchen, but it is mainly a mindset and lifestyle.

How to Avoid the Common Debt Traps

Common sense tells us it’s better to be debt-free than to incur debt. However, if you’re going to have a comfortable life — and have yet to obtain an immense personal fortune — some debt is generally unavoidable. After all, few people are in a position to purchase a home, or a car or pay for a college education outright.

However, there are right ways to go about taking on these debts and wrong ways. In far too many cases, people who recognize we need those things willingly engage in deception to take unfair advantage of us. With this mind, here are some tips for avoiding common debt traps.

Buying More Than You Need

“Congratulations, you qualify for a $2,000,000 mortgage!”

As wonderful as that sounds, do you really need a multi-million-dollar home?

What’s more, even if you do qualify, will your income really support such a loan? After all, there are a number of different ways to structure such a mortgage, as far too many people learned during the subprime mortgage crisis of the first decade of the 21st century.

People were taking interest-only loans for amounts far higher than their incomes would support, with the belief the value of the property would appreciate such that they could refinance and walk away with cash before the principal payment came due.

We all saw how that worked out. It’s always best to limit your borrowing to what your income will safely support. Otherwise, you’re just asking for trouble.

Fantastic Debt Consolidation Offers

“With this deal, you can consolidate all of your outstanding debts into one place with a lower monthly payment and at a lower interest rate.”

However, if you fail to read the terms carefully, you might miss the fact that that low monthly payment and that minimal interest rate are only good for a certain amount of time. And, if you don’t pay off the loan in full before that time period elapses, you’ll be shifted to a much higher interest rate — as well as be held liable for all of the interest that would have accrued on the original balance during the introductory period — at the post-introductory rate. Alternatively, you may have to reach out to invoice factoring company Australia to ease your financial troubles.

And, oh, by the way, there’s also a $500 annual fee, which will be added to your outstanding balance — upon which the post-introductory interest will also be calculated.

When you’re considering any sort of loan of this nature it’s critically important to read the terms carefully to ensure the debt consolidation deal for which you’re signing up really is advantageous to you. Get invoice finance to overcome the hurdles in obtaining finance through traditional methods.

Renting to Own

“Just moved into a new place? Need furnishings? No problem, ‘Rent-a-Couch’ has you covered — and at a far more affordable cost than you might think. Prices start as low as $15 a week! No credit check is needed, you’ll be granted early purchase discounts and paying it off over six months will be the same as paying cash.”

It all sounds really good, until you stop and do the math and realize you could’ve bought the same furniture outright for a whole lot less money. Further, in the age of eBay and Craigslist, you can probably get the exact same furniture for far less money.

One more thing: “Rent-a-Couch” will absolutely show up and take everything back — regardless of how much you’ve already paid into it — if you miss a payment.

Caveat Emptor — Buyer Beware!

Long story short, we live in a market-driven society in which a whole lot of people are out there trying to make as much money as they can with as little effort as possible. In most cases, avoiding common debt traps is as simple as remaining mindful of that fact and carefully examining deals before agreeing to them.