Extreme Weather Resulting From Present-Day Climate Change

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Regardless of where one is on the globe, the effects of climate change are very apparent and extremely threatening to the local inhabitants. These climatic threats are presenting themselves in four main ways, namely extended heat waves, devastating flooding, persistent droughts and extensive wildfires. These are presently the most destructive impacts of climate change, but there are other natural event occurrences. As well as the geo-physical impacts, there are also the accompanying increasing health risks, anxiety and stress issues, fatigue and exhaustion, just to name a few resultant factors.

dust storm in middle east

Right now with the summer in full swing in the northern hemisphere, heatwaves and wildfires are the most prevalent. Not only are temperatures reaching higher levels but they are sustained for longer periods extending heatwaves to new levels, breaking temperature records and length of duration of the heat wave itself.

The increased temperatures are first a major threat to actual human lives as we are not accustomed to the sustained higher temperatures. But the infrastructures in our urban environments are also stretched beyond their design capacity. For example, surface roading materials and train track construction are not designed for these elevated temperatures. Consequently, various transportation modes can be brought to a halt.

With elevated temperatures, there is the subsequent inadequate supply of potable (drinkable) water. Irrigation and watering needs would exceed the water storage capacities. Yet plant materials and animals need the cooling effects of water to sustain them also in extreme situations. The drier the vegetation, the more volatile the trees and other vegetation, and leaf litter becomes the spontaneous combustion that is a formidable reality. Wildfires can be triggered by natural combustion and infrastructures reaching the limit of their capacity resulting in short circuits and random energy currents that ignite extremely dried vegetative materials.  Winds are more unpredictable and variable in flow direction, driving forest fires faster and further.

There are four significant areas where environmental changes are modifying and intensifying weather events.

1. Hotter, longer heatwaves

A small increment in the temperature pattern results in a significant shift in the nature and character of heatwaves.  This present summer, the temperatures in the U.K. surpassed 40C for the first time. The unusual characteristic of the heatwaves, is not just the increase in the temperature but also the length of the heat wave is becoming longer.

Another weather phenomena is coming under the radar also. It’s the occurrence of a ‘heat dome’ where hot air is being pushed down and held in a location  which then begins to experience a sustained high pressure system. This will also intensify the heatwave. And because the heat dome is holding warmer air in-situ, the heatwave will persist longer, and have more severe impacts over the region.

2. More persistent and harsher droughts prevail over seasons

Just as the heatwaves become more persistent and last longer, droughts are also increasing in severity across the globe. As the rains are less, the ground dries out to a greater degree, and results in failed crops. Not only is the food production cycle interrupted severely, the consequences are extended over seasons and years.

extreme weather events

At the same time, ground water dries up and natural water supplies become non-existent. If there is subsurface water table, it tends to be lowered and eventually dries up totally also. And the cycle continues, The ground surface temperatures steadily get hotter, the warm air above the ground gets hotter, and the intensity of the atmospheric heat is enhanced giving rise to further extended heatwaves.

3. Forest fires turn into wildfires across endless expanses

As the rise in atmospheric temperatures continue to creep higher, all moisture is drawn out of the vegetation and the ground soil. Eventually, it reaches a state of tinder-dry conditions, ideal for igniting and fueling natural wildfires. The fires are able to traverse the land mass at great speed as there is nothing impeding the advances of these self-igniting fires.

Human error and mishaps also trigger the starting of fires, but once established, nature is able to fuel and sustain these wildfires. The warmer air temperatures and consequent drying out of the vegetation and soils, triggers the wildfires earlier in the summer season.

Another new phenomena that has come on the stage of extreme weather events as a result of the higher atmospheric temperatures and prolonged heatwaves. These are the weather systems referred to as “pyrocumulonimbus” clouds.  These clouds are able to generate excessive lightning which in turn, can ignite more forest fires. These weather systems are uncontrollable and unmanageable, driven by the escalating thermals and persistent heatwaves.

wildfire-destruction

4. More extreme rainfall events resulting in more flooding

Warm air holds more moisture, and hotter air holds even more moisture. This moisture collects excessive amounts of water vapour as “atmospheric rivers”. This phenomena began to appear in the scientific literature in the late 1990’2. Such massive moisture systems are just waiting to drop copious water. This is no longer happening in just flood plain areas known for periodic flooding,  but in atypical flood regions. Long term rainfall records are being exceeded month after month by highly variable rain systems.

Nature is highly variable, but coupled with climate change and the escalating temperature rises, gives rise to very extreme and new types of weather systems. These combinations with all the variability is a perfect mix for destruction and mayhem across the globe. The question is, can humankind halt these climate change patterns.

Is the expertise and technology available to ameliorate the extreme weather systems that are crashing across the regions of the globe?

Time is not in our favour.

Carbon Market in the Middle East

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The Middle East and North Africa region is highly susceptible to climate change, on account of its water scarcity, high dependence on climate-sensitive agriculture, concentration of population and economic activity in urban coastal zones, and the presence of conflict-affected areas. Moreover, the region is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions on account of its thriving oil and gas industry.
The world’s dependence on Middle East energy resources has caused the region to have some of the largest carbon footprints per capita worldwide. Not surprisingly, the carbon emissions from UAE are approximately 55 tons per capita, which is more than double the US per capita footprint of 22 tons per year. The MENA region is now gearing up to meet the challenge of global warming, as with the rapid growth of the carbon market. During the last few years, many MENA countries, like UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have unveiled multi-billion dollar investment plans in the cleantech sector to portray a ‘green’ image.
There is an urgent need to foster sustainable energy systems, diversify energy sources, and implement energy efficiency measures. The clean development mechanism (CDM), under the Kyoto Protocol, is one of the most important tools to support renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives in the MENA countries. Some MENA countries have already launched ambitious sustainable energy programs while others are beginning to recognize the need to adopt improved standards of energy efficiency.
Among regional countries, the United Arab Emirates has launched several ambitious governmental initiatives aimed at reducing emissions by approximately 40 percent. Masdar, a $15 billion future energy company, will leverage the funds to produce a clean energy portfolio, which will then invest in clean energy technology across the Middle East and North African region. Egypt is the regional CDM leader with twelve projects in the UNFCCC pipeline and many more in the conceptualization phase.
CDM Prospects in MENA
The MENA region is an attractive CDM destination as it is rich in renewable energy resources and has a robust oil and gas industry. Surprisingly, very few CDM projects are taking place in MENA countries with only 23 CDM projects have been registered to date. The region accounts for only 1.5 percent of global CDM projects and only two percent of emission reduction credits.
The two main challenges facing many of these projects are: weak capacity in most MENA countries for identifying, developing and implementing carbon finance projects and securing underlying finance. Currently, there are several CDM projects in progress in Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Morocco, UAE and Tunisia. Many companies and consulting firms have begun to explore this now fast-developing field. 
The Al-Shaheen project is the first of its kind in the region and third CDM project in the petroleum industry worldwide. The Al-Shaheen oilfield has flared the associated gas since the oilfield began operations in 1994. The project activity is expected to reduce GHGs emissions by approximately 2.5 million tCO2 per year and approximately 17 million tCO2 during the initial seven-year crediting period.
Conclusions
Potential CDM projects that can be implemented in the region may come from varied areas like sustainable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, landfill gas capture, industrial processes, biogas technology and carbon flaring. For example, the energy efficiency CDM projects in the oil and gas industry, can save millions of dollars and reduce tons of CO2 emissions. In addition, renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, holds great potential for the region, similar to biomass in Asia.

Prepaway – Microsoft 70-347 Exam: Preparation Tips and Tricks

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Microsoft 70-347 is now retired, but passing this test led to the MCSA certification. Achieving this credential proves that you have the knowledge to install and manage Cloud-hosted applications with Office 365, including Skype, Exchange, and SharePoint for Business. The 70-347 exam demands your thorough preparation. Otherwise, attaining even the passing score can be very difficult. AZ-303 Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies Exam provides the candidates with useful preparation tips for passing this test.

Why should you take the Microsoft 70-347 exam?

There are so many good reasons why studying for the Microsoft 70-347 exam is worth one’s effort and time. Besides being one of the tests that qualify an individual for the MCSA certificate, passing this exam also makes an individual stand out from peers. This means more job opportunities in bigger companies, possible salary increment, promotion, and respect from colleagues.

The Microsoft MCSA certifications are recognized worldwide and are highly valued in the IT industry. Passing the 70-347 exam gave a chance to apply for jobs in the companies beyond the borders of your country and continent. It is always important to develop your skills with Office 365. As more businesses realize the potential of the Microsoft’s Cloud-based productivity set, adoption of Office 365 has been continuing at a very fast rate.

Preparation options for the Microsoft 70-347 exam

As mentioned earlier, Microsoft 70-347 required thorough preparation. Although it is now retired, preparation tips can be useful for any other Microsoft exam. Working smart and hard is the only way to pass such certification tests. The following exam preparation tips from PrepAway will help you prepare adequately for this test and pass IT with flying numbers at your first attempt. Check them out!

1. Create a study plan

If you have opted for self-studying, you must have a study plan to guide you through. Preparing for a comprehensive IT certification test such as Microsoft 70-347 requires planning and hard work. You can only plan your study by having a blueprint. You cannot read through the entire syllabus in just a day or a week. You need to know the syllabus and create a study plan on how you are going to cover every topic.

2. Plan ahead of time

Planning ahead means distributing the study loads throughout the entire preparation period, distributing the exam topics throughout study days, making short notes, availing reference books, and reviewing whatever you have covered to ensure that there is no knowledge gap.

3. Focus on your goals

Before you start preparing for the Microsoft 70-347 exam, you should first of all outline your goals. When you know them, you will know what you are working towards, and you will be able to achieve your study goals in a systematic way. Thus, be sure to know your goals clearly and stick to them.

4. Simplify whatever you read

Great exam preparation materials are written in the simplest language to understand. However, you can still make it even easier for your understanding by simplifying whatever you have read and learnt. This will make your revision more effective.

5. Test your understanding

Look for exam questions for every topic and try answering them to see how good you have understood the topic. When you take practice questions, you will be able to tell whether you have really understood it. You should test yourself at the end of every theme before moving on to the next one. Only proceed to the next topic when you can correctly answer all the exam questions on the current topic.

6. Take a training course

Training is the most effective way of preparing for the Microsoft 70-347 exam, especially for those who are not good at studying on their own. When you take a training course, you will be studying in an environment that is conducive for studying. This will enhance your learning and help you focus fully on the outcome, thereby increasing your chances of passing the test. There are several training options to choose from.

For instance, you can opt for classroom-based learning, e-learning, or online training, depending on your preference, schedule and budget. PrepAway offers online training to the candidates at a very affordable fee. When you take a course, you will learn all the concepts from the qualified and professional instructors.

7. Take practice tests

You need to benchmark your knowledge before taking any exam. Practice tests are an excellent way to do that. When you take them, you will be able to identify your weak areas and how good you have mastered the study material. Practice tests are also an excellent way of assessing your readiness. They are good for simulating actual world testing conditions, and you will know exactly what you should expect in the real exam. This builds your confidence. PrepAway is one of the best providers of practice tests, and it offers many questions covering all the objectives of the 70-347 exam.

8. Prepare with exam dumps

Most likely, you are a very busy person and you might not have the time for instructor-led training or the time to read exam guides, books, or use various exam resources. If that is the case, then braindumps are your perfect alternative. With Microsoft 70-347 exam dumps from PrepAway, you don’t need other preparation resources to prepare for this certification test. The questions you find in dumps are almost the same as the ones you’ll find in the actual exam. They are formatted and compiled in an official and professional manner to cater fully for the candidate’s learning techniques. When you practice with brain dumps, you will adopt to the real testing environment.

Conclusion

Preparing for the Microsoft 70-347 exam doesn’t have to be as difficult as it might sound. All you need to do is to put the above preparation tips into practice, and you will pass this certification test without a struggle.

Dust Storms and Heatwaves – Extreme Weather Events Impacting Iraq

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The people of Iraq, particularly in and around Baghdad, are being overwhelmed with the current weather conditions. Since April 20222, the region has been impacted by at least eight dust storms turning everything in the path of the storms orange. The dust storms are visible in satellite imagery as the systems are so intense.

extreme weather events in iraq

Such a high frequency of sandstorms enhances the desertification as the rainfall patterns have also diminished over recent years. Not only is the natural environment threatened beyond normal levels, but such dust storms create havoc on human health, especially respiratory disease and complications associated with respiration. Over 2,000 persons were hospitalized in the mid-May dust storm.

Now in the peak of the summer months, the threat to people’s health and  local environment has shifted to the aggressive and very persistent heatwaves across the Middle East region, as well as across other regions of the globe.

The extra-ordinary temperatures are hovering around the 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures in excess of 120 degrees are persisting for up to six days in such places as Jahra, Kuwait. Other locations such as Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Ahvaz in Iran are recording 122 degrees Fahrenheit. These triple digit temperatures are moving towards the peak summer norms.

These heatwave occurrences are coinciding with the Indian monsoon season which typically occurs from June to September. These monsoon rains have historically contributed on average, 70% of India’s total annual rainfall. This is rainwater that replenishes groundwater, natural and man-made reservoirs, and spill into the waterways. These water resources are needed for crop irrigation and for the generation of hydropower.

This annual cycle of monsoon rains starts with the land mass across the subcontinent of India and the Middle East region. The surface land heating up creates a low pressure zone. This drop in pressure brings in winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal to form the rain cloud systems.

Northern Africa has similar intensification of the temperature but not breaking the 100-degree level. But city temperatures are able to soar to cross the 100-degree mark. There is no way to cool down and stay cooled. So people’s health and lives are threatened by heat stroke, heat cramps and exhaustion. If the body temperature cannot be controlled and regulated to an acceptable lower body eat, these conditions can lead to death.

impact of sand and dust storm

The only real defense is to have access to drinking water, healthy foods and air conditioning. One needs to reduce intake of caffeine, alcohol and sugar-laden foods. Easy access to devise shaded areas are effective throughout the 24h – diurnal cycle as temperatures do not drop very much in the night hours also. Clothing needs to be light coloured, light fabric, loose and not fitting. All the while protecting oneself from excess dust inhalation and possible COVID transmission.

Environmental conditions, weather systems and ongoing human health conditions add to the daily challenges of life across the globe. Nowhere seems to be exempt from the challenges of extreme weather events and climate change occurrences.

Features of a Green Building

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green_buildingA green building incorporates environmental considerations into every stage of the building construction and focuses on the design, construction, operation and maintenance phases. The key process difference between green and conventional buildings is the concept of integration, whereby a multi-disciplinary team of building professionals work together from the pre-design phase through post-occupancy to optimize the building for environmental sustainability, performance, and cost saving.

Green buildings offer widespread benefits to a number of building industry stakeholders, including building occupants and society as a whole. Green buildings typically incorporate superior air quality, abundant natural light, access to views and noise control which benefits building occupants, making these building better places to work or live. The major considerations taken into account are the lot design and development efficiency, energy and water efficiency, resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building’s overall impact on the environment.

An integral characteristic of a green building is its stress on protecting existing ecologies, and improving ecologies that may have been damaged in the past. Green buildings are usually constructed on environmentally sensitive lands or previously developed property, with measures taken to restore plant life. Green buildings also utilize fewer materials, through efficient design and elimination of unnecessary finish materials. In addition, green building operations promote material as well as water recycling in their operation and also provide returns for those investing in real estate.

Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors in almost all green building programs. Careful window selection, building envelope air sealing, duct sealing, proper placement of air and vapour barriers, use of clean energy-powered heating/cooling systems contribute towards an energy efficient building. Use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind or biomass energy, to meet energy requirements can significantly reduce carbon footprints of such buildings.

Features of a Green Building

Green homes lay stress on water conservation by implementing more efficient water delivery and recycling system, both of which are integral features of a property that is eco-friendly. Minimization of water use is another characteristic feature of a green building which helps in reducing the detrimental effects of water use and its effects on local ecologies, such as aquatic life.

An increase in respiratory ailments and allergies and the use of chemicals that can give off gas from materials have greatly contributed to sensitive awareness of the air we breathe inside our homes. The green building also focuses on reducing respiratory ailments and allergies by improving the quality of in-house air by controlling the contamination source, diluting the source, and capturing the source through filtration.

Green Building Rating Systems

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) and Green Globes are popular green building assessment and rating systems used around the world. Sustainability is now a top priority in MENA region and countries like Qatar, UAE and Lebanon have come up with their own green building rating system to incorporate socio-economic, environmental and cultural aspects in modern architecture. Qatar’s Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) is billed as the world’s most comprehensive green building rating system while Abu Dhabi’s Pearl Rating System (PRS) has carved a niche of its own in global green buildings sector.

Green Buildings in the Middle East

The Middle East region has been witnessing rapid developments in the green buildings industry, primarily driven by concerns related to environmental degradation, fossil fuel depletion and energy inefficiency. Buildings in the Middle East consume more energy than those in other parts of the world mainly on account of extremely hot weather and rampant use of glass exteriors.

Countries in the region are increasingly promoting energy efficiency as a means to ensure energy security which has become a boon for the green buildings industry. The number of LEED-registered buildings has increased rapidly across the region, especially in GCC, in the past few years. Some of the notable examples of green buildings in the Middle East are Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, KAUST in Saudi Arabia and Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar.

Conclusions

To sum up, green buildings not only contribute towards a sustainable construction and environment preservation but it also brings lots of benefits and advantages to building owners and users. Lower development costs, lower operating costs, increased comforts, healthier indoor environment quality, and enhanced durability and less maintenance costs are hallmarks of a typical green building.

Trends in Recycling of EPS Foam

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Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, commonly known as styrofoam, the ubiquitous lightweight material used in packaging of electronic devices, food items and electric appliances, is popularly used because of its water and heat resistant properties. These properties likewise make it a preferred material for disposable food containers such as bowls, plates and coffee cups.

styrofoam-recycling

Due to its popularity, the global demand for EPS foam and its production is steadily increasing.  According to GBI Research, the global demand for both polystyrene and EPS increased to 14.9 million tons in 2010 from 13 million tons in 2000.1 This is expected to further swell to 25 million tons by 2022, 1.7% of which, or close to 400,000 tons coming from the Middle East.

The increase in EPS production necessitates intensified recycling efforts.  After all, a greater supply of EPS would result to more polystyrene waste, which, when disposed of in landfills take up significant space because of its bulk.  Furthermore, because of its light weight, it can easily be blown away and litter streets and water bodies, and clog storm drains. Being non-compostable and essentially non-biodegradable, it would take hundreds if not thousands of years for EPS to decompose.

The technology to recycle polystyrene already exists and recyclers have been producing goods from recycled polystyrene for years.  One of the reasons why polystyrene waste recycling is not very popular, even among recyclers, is the high cost associated with transporting the waste because of its volume to weight ratio.  A truckload of EPS foam actually contains very little polystyrene, with 95-98% of its content being air.

The cost can be lowered considerably by reducing the volume of the waste, preferably at the point of origin, before transporting to recycling facilities.  Volume reduction equipment offered in the market include balers, compactors and densifiers – these terms are sometimes used interchangeably by manufacturers – and the main differences in their processes are as follows:

1. Baling

Balers use hydraulic ram to compact EPS waste either vertically (from above) or horizontally (from the sides).  The resulting bales are tied with a strap or twine to keep them together and for easier handling and transport.

2. Cold compaction

The volume of EPS is reduced without using heat.  EPS waste is fed to a pre-breaker where it is broken into flakes of roughly 1 to 2 inches in size.  Using an auger or screw compactor, it is then compacted hydraulically into “logs” or blocks, achieving a reduction in volume of up to 98%.  The compacted polystyrene can be broken into size or transformed into pellets.

3. Thermal densification

Thermal densifiers such as StyromeltTM use heat to melt EPS and liberate trapped gases. The melted resin is then allowed to cool into briquettes or strands.  This process achieves a greater compaction rate than most hydraulic compactors and results to a product that is sterile.  There is, however, the issue of the release of vapours in the workplace and the smell created once EPS is heated. Most manufacturers resolve this by installing air filters on the equipment.

EPS-recycling

For companies, organizations or communities that receive and dispose of large quantities of EPS annually, buying or at least renting a volume reducing equipment could be a worthwhile investment.  With reduced volume, garbage skips need to be emptied less frequently, reducing labor and transportation costs. As the oil prices and demand for recycled polystyrene products increase, so does the price for compacted EPS.

Although the prices may vary depending on the quality, compacted EPS could sell at £350 (US$530) per ton, with some recyclers willing to pay more for large quantities.2,3  Some recycling equipment suppliers or leasers even buy the compressed product for a competitive price, easing the need to find a separate recycler to deal with.

Being thermoplastic, compressed polystyrene can be melted and remolded to different plastic products and recyclers are finding innovative ways to do just that.  It has been fashioned into CD cases, coat hangers, picture frames, toys and office supplies such as pens, stapler bodies and rulers.

Recycled EPS is also utilized to manufacture wood-alternative products such as interior decorative moldings.4  Such products are comparable to softwood but have the advantage of being both water- and mold-resistant, and of being impervious to rotting and decay.

Crushed polystyrene can be used as aggregates to produce lightweight concrete.  Rastra, a company based in Arizona, USA, produces Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) using 85% recycled EPS and 15% cement.5 ICFs are hollow foam blocks that are stacked and filled with concrete to form building walls.

Homes and buildings built with ICFs are more sound-proof, and provide greater thermal insulation, making cooling and heating equipment more efficient.  In South Africa, a new patented formula is being used to manufacture building panels from waste polystyrene, and plans are underway to build one million homes using the said panels.6

Recycling polystyrene certainly shows great promise and more ways of utilizing recycled polystyrene will likely be discovered in the future.  Hopefully, the promise of greater profit, not to mention a cleaner planet will encourage companies, organizations and governments to step up polystyrene recycling efforts.

References

  1. Polystyrene and EPS market expected to grow at a healthy rate of 5.6% from 2010-2020, Plastemart.com, last modified February 14, 2013,
  2. Recycled-EPS Interior Molding, BuildingGreen.com, accessed July 30, 2013, http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm/2007/2/1/Recycled-EPS-Interior-Molding/
  3. ICF – Insulated Concrete Forms/Compound ICF, Rastra, accessed July 31, 2013, http://www.rastra.com/
  4. Building a million houses out of waste, Green Times

World Habitat Day 2017: Affordable Homes

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World Habitat Day, observed every year on the first Monday of October, is meant to reflect on the state of our urban areas and the basic human right regarding provision of adequate shelter to all human beings. World Habitat Day (WHD) also aims to remind the planners and government officials of the collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations and a day to encourage grassroots action from civil society organizations to advocate for universal decent housing.

Each year, World Habitat Day takes on a new theme chosen by the United Nations based on current issues relevant to the Habitat Agenda. The themes of WHD are selected to bring attention to UN-Habitat’s mandate to promote sustainable development policies that ensure adequate shelter for all. These themes often promote important subjects such as housing and social services, a safe and healthy living environment, affordable and sustainable transport and energy, promotion, protection and restoration of green urban spaces, safe and clean drinking water and sanitation, healthy air quality, employment generation, improved urban planning, slum upgrading and better waste management.

The theme for World Habitat Day 2017 is Housing Policies: Affordable Homes. The purpose of WHD is to reflect on the conditions of our cities and towns and on the basic right of all to acquire an adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

This year WHD will focus on promoting at all levels of decision making on how to implement concrete initiatives to ensure adequate and affordable housing for all socio economic groups of people in the context of implementation of the New Urban Agenda based on Sustainable Development Goals.

An analysis of housing affordability over the last two decades reveals that despite increasing demand, owned and rental housing has been largely unaffordable for the majority of the world population mostly in developing countries. Around 1.6 billion people globally live in inadequate housing, of which 1 billion live in slums and informal settlements. While millions of people lack suitable homes. Ensuring housing availability and affordability is a complex issue of strategic importance for development, social peace and equality. Addressing the housing needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, especially women, youth and those who live in slums must be a priority in the development agendas.

The WHD is aimed at drawing the people’s attention towards the basic desire and need of poor people for an adequate housing. We need to understand that promoting sound housing policies is also crucial for climate change, resilience, mobility and energy consumption. For housing to contribute to national socio-economic development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda calls for placing housing policies at the center of national urban policies along with strategies to fight poverty, improve health and employment.

The WHD is aimed at drawing the people’s attention towards the need of poor people for an adequate housing.

The purpose of celebrating the WHD is to pay serious attention towards the need for better shelter all over the world, to share the priority of affordable and adequate housing, to bring the positive changes in the systems including policies and attitudes, to reflect on the states and towns and pay attention on the basic human rights for adequate shelter and to increase the awareness worldwide of joint responsibility for the future generation’s shelter.

Providing and improving housing is a gigantic task and cannot be dealt only by the governmental authorities. It require involvement of all stake holders including communities, NGOs and experienced developers to optimize urban densities and provide land zoning with efficient services and utilities that are environmental friendly and have minimum carbon footprint.

With the shortage of urban space, we need to develop in a sustainable manner to keep room for future growth and accommodate population in the coming decades. In the Middle East, the concerned authorities are giving due attention to the subject of planning and providing decent housing to citizens and to avoid any social, health and environmental problems.

Let us whole-heartedly support and celebrate the WHD and organize any activity or event in our own community including an awareness campaign, a fun activity, area cleanliness and get together in parks and public spaces.

Why Do You Need Eco-friendly Cleaning?

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We’ve settled into a lot of different amenities over the years. From cars to washing machines to even the mighty toaster. Of course, just because we’ve built something doesn’t mean we’ve given up on trying to improve it in just about any way, shape, or form we can muster up. One of the newest ways to improve something that exists is to make it more friendly for the environment. One of the newest industries to get hit by the green wave would be the housekeeping industry.

What’s to gain from eco-friendly cleaning services? Lucky for you, I got to the bottom of it all:

Prevent The Creation Of Superbugs

All of these harsh chemicals that promise to kill 99.9% of germs sound great once you realize that all that’s left is what’s resistant to said chemicals and they now have their pick of the litter as far as resources in that area. These harsh antimicrobial products don’t offer any significant health benefits, while I personally consider the fact that they create an environment perfect for breeding superbugs to be the opposite of their intended effect.

Good Price To Value Ratio

Most of the industrial chemicals that are used for deep cleaning the house are quite expensive. By using eco-friendly cleaning products, Wimbledon cleaning services are able to provide their customers with affordable high-quality cleaning services that are safe for their health and easy on their pocket!

Better Air Quality

As nice as it is to have a house that looks livable, there isn’t much good in getting your home cleaned if it makes it unlivable thanks to all of the noxious fumes now circling in the air. Dry heat like that in Austin makes air already difficult to tolerate, any nasty extras come out twice as strong in that kind of climate. Often, people such as those interested in maid service Austin, have a desire to keep their air as crisp as possible to help beat the heat. No fumes, no worries, no hassle! Natural cleaning chemicals don’t have this effect which makes them great for those who suffer from allergies and regular breathing problems.

Sustainability

Most natural products are beginning to come in biodegradable or at least highly recyclable containers to further hammer in the full eco-friendliness of that product. It doesn’t get more eco-friendly than starting from the dirt and ending in the dirt, now does it? Another great thing about many natural cleaners is that they can be shipped highly concentrated and then diluted as needed, further reducing the amount of materials that had to be used.

Also Read: Eco-friendly Ways to Wash Your Car

If you have a penchant for keeping the planet as healthy as you possibly can, then it is a no-brainer that you should consider looking for an eco-friendly cleaning service as opposed to your regular harsh chemical style cleaner. Also try to invest in a maid service software.

If you’re lucky, you’ll manage to reduce your carbon footprint, your allergy medication bills, and your cleaning bill too. We’re becoming more and more aware of the fact that we have a limited amount of resources available to us and a surplus of people who need said resources; the eco-friendly movement is merely a natural continuation of our desire to get the most out of what we have now.

The Environmental Benefits of a Smart Home

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Smart home systems, with their extensive automation, sensing, and remote control capabilities, offer a lot of environmental benefits. If you’re not yet sure why this matters, consider that making your home more efficient will save you money as well as affect your carbon footprint. There are many ways to go about reducing your carbon footprint, and implementing smart tech in your home is a good place to start. Here are some of the ways you can use smart home devices to conserve energy and natural resources.

How Smart Home Systems Work for You

 

Temperature regulation

Smart thermostats are programmable, but the most advanced ones go beyond that, actually sensing what’s happening in the environment and adjusting to your behaviors. Simple programmable ones will help you save energy by kicking on the heat or AC only when you need it and adjusting the temperature when no one’s home. They offer more advanced programming than previous generations of programmable thermostats so you can set them for both weekday and weekend schedules, and you can also control them from your phone as plans change.

Some smart thermostats can sense if a door is left open and turn off the system in response, or even learn your heating/cooling preferences. Others can be connected to sensors in your home to trigger them to start or stop the HVAC system.

Home sensors

Speaking of sensors, there are various types of smart home sensors available for almost anything imaginable, such as light and temperature sensors, which will turn off lights and thermostats in case you forget. Leak sensors can be placed in out-of-the-way locations to catch leaks before you’d see evidence of them, saving you money in repairs and preventing water from being wasted.

The SmartThings motion sensor, for instance, can be placed anywhere in your home and programmed to turn on lights, set security alarms, adjust portable heating or AC, and other things based on your motion. Devices like this make forgetting to turn the heat down, the lights off, or the alarm on a thing of the past. Contact sensors can be placed anywhere something opens and closes to alert you if someone has accidentally left a window open or the fridge door isn’t shut.

Irrigation

Have a garden to water? Studies have found that smart irrigation systems can conserve from 30% to 50% of water used for this purpose. They do this by tailoring watering schedules to the needs of the landscaping and sensing environmental changes (an unexpected rainshower, for instance) that changes a garden’s needs, among other things.

There are a couple of types of smart irrigation systems, weather-based and soil moisture sensor systems. Weather-based controllers get hooked up to a network so they can monitor local weather conditions. Soil moisture sensors, as the name indicates, measure soil moisture content and transmit this information to a controller that determines when and for how long watering will happen.

Lighting systems

Smart lighting has a couple of components: the bulbs themselves and networked systems that provide automated or remote control of the lights being on or off. Start with smart lighting by replacing regular bulbs with something like Philips Hue bulbs, They’re LED, which is much more energy efficient, and offer remote control. Many of them offer temperature ranges, as well, so you can adjust the lighting environment as your needs change throughout the day. What’s more, LED bulbs are mercury-free; even efficient CFLs still contain this hazardous substance.

With a smart lighting system, you can remotely turn off the light in your kid’s room if they fell asleep without doing so, program lights to go on/off at certain times when you’re on vacation to give the appearance of being home without running them 24/7, and otherwise customize your lighting environment to provide only what you need while you need it.

Window treatments

Sometimes people forget how much of an effect passive cooling and heating via your windows can affect the indoor temperature. Smart window treatments can be hooked up to systems like Alexa and Google Home so they automatically adjust based on the time of day and your needs.

Such devices can provide energy conservation by taking some of the load off the HVAC system to maintain a steady temperature as well as helping out in other ways. For instance, if you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, smart blinds can open when your alarm goes off so the morning sun can help wake you up. Blinds adjust themselves to block out sun in the summer and let it in during the winter. You can buy custom sets or upgrade your current window treatments with a kit.

Bottom Line

These are just a few ways smart home devices can be used for energy efficiency as well as increased convenience. The environmental difference such devices provide is not negligible, and neither is the cost savings: An EPA study found that just using a smart thermostat offered anywhere from a 10 to 30% savings on energy bills. Home electricity and water conservation, when implemented on a large scale, has the potential to significantly affect the pace of climate change. Start simple with a few smart light bulbs, or jump in with a central control hub such as Alexa and outfit your home with the range of smart devices available on the market.

How Vacuum Technology is Used to Create Core Energy Storage Devices for e-Mobility: Lithium-ion Batteries

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You’ve got one in your pocket right now. Indeed, lithium-ion batteries are found in small portable electronics such as smartphones and laptops, in addition to being the heart of electric automobiles and vehicles. They are also used extensively in spatial and aeronautical applications. But what exactly are lithium batteries, and why are they so hotly debated today? What role does vacuum technology play with lithium batteries?

Vacuum Technology is Used to Create Lithium-ion Batteries

What exactly are lithium batteries, and why are they so important today?

Modern lithium-ion batteries have lately become the focus of today’s key conversations and debates, owing to their popularity as the preferred technology for electric vehicles. Unlike other types of batteries, lithium-ion batteries have a far higher energy density and a slower discharge rate, allowing them to hold a charge for much longer. Along with e-vehicles, they can also be found in small portable electronics like smartphones and laptops, as well as in telecommunications and aerospace applications.

The mechanisms at work

As a revolutionary and cutting-edge battery technology, lithium-ion batteries use lithium ions as the main components in the battery’s operation and electrochemistry.

Lithium-based energy storage systems are constantly being optimized. They are intended to push e-mobility to the next level by lowering production costs and increasing mileage.  The transition to electric vehicles is, in actuality, the most recent and remarkable evolution in today’s highly competitive market. They have already been identified as the future of transportation and are expected to overtake the automobile industry over the next decade.

E-mobility is the road to the future

Climate change, fossil fuel use, and ecological sustainability all seem to have a close solution in the new technological innovations of e-Mobility.

The European Union has requested countries to stop producing gas-powered automobiles to defend a key pillar of the EU’s plans to lower net global warming emissions by 55% by 2030. As a consequence, today major automakers have begun to develop their own electric vehicles — we are all familiar with the automobile industry’s pioneer, Tesla — and their car technology is rapidly progressing. Vacuum technology has been critical in this industry and continues to be the driving force behind those advancements.

Vacuum technology and electric mobility

In the mobility industry, vacuum technology has a lengthy history. It started as an industry-wide innovation roughly 60 years ago and has been used to help the production of automotive batteries for decades.

Such a pillar will be used for many years to come. Vacuum technology is still having a vital function in the most recent e-mobility advancements with lithium-ion batteries.

Agilent is a designer and supplier of vacuum solutions, and it offers practical options for effective energy storage problems. It helps manufacturers all over the world create optimal lithium batteries and lithium battery technology. It also aids the quality control process with the use of certain equipment. Vacuum and leak detection technologies, for example, are necessary as a quality measure in a variety of industrial operations.

Vacuum Technology is providing energy to electric vehicles!

Vacuum is already being used in a variety of functional stages and processes related to electric mobility. The very first step starts with a vacuum: the electrolyte-filling stage of a lithium-ion battery, for example, is fundamental to ensure that the cell is evenly saturated with the electrolyte.

Let’s examine the stages where vacuum is paramount to creating the precious energy storing device.

Vacuum technology in more than half of the lithium battery manufacture process!

Agilent vacuum specialists have long supported lithium-ion battery manufacturing with specific equipment and technological research for production and quality control. They now have an essential role with their vacuum technology accounting for more than half of the stages in battery production.

The excellence of the production line has a significant impact on battery performance, longevity, and general performance. Agilent technologies and expertise constantly work to optimize resource usage and minimize process time while maintaining product quality.

The lithium ion batteries manufacturing process

Starting with raw materials, the process is divided into three major stages that result in the desired, finished lithium ion battery.  The three main phases are electrode manufacturing, cell assembly and cell finishing.

lithium-ion batteries manufacturing technology

Each of these phases is made up of four subphases. More than half of the entire process is carried out in vacuum conditions or with the assistance of vacuum and leak detection technologies.

Electrode manufacturing

Base material mixing

The materials are blended together in the first stage. Under vacuum, active material, binder, and conductive agents are mixed to achieve the desired homogeneity, viscosity, and purity.

Vacuum  helps to remove air bubbles, which improves battery electrical performance and charging capacity.

Vacuum drying

Drying the laminated lithium-ion electrodes under a vacuum ensures that there is no remaining moisture. The precise and careful drying process is designed to avoid damaging electrode microstructure.

Cell assembly

Electrode degassing

The laminated and post-dried electrode surface has air pockets that must be eliminated via vacuum treatment. Impurities, residual gas pockets, and oil residues affect electrical performance, therefore dry, hydrocarbon-free vacuum pumps are necessary for electrode surface degassing to achieve optimal results.

Explore Agilent’s scroll pumps and their powerful, yet delicate vacuum technology.

Cell finishing

Battery electrolyte filling

Filling takes place under a vacuum to provide a uniform distribution of the electrolytes within the cell, ensure electrode wetting, and avoid inefficiencies caused by trapped gas bubbles. Vacuum pumps for this procedure must be able to withstand electrolyte residuals. This process done under vacuum increases battery efficiency and longevity.

Battery housing

Battery housing is crucial in e-cars for several reasons, including robustness in case of crash, chassis integration, and a lightweight form factor. Housings serve as battery protection and must be refrigerated, corrosion-resistant, and electromagnetically protected. Helium leak detectors are utilized here to ensure that the aluminum die-cast battery casing is sealed and watertight.

Battery testing

To suit the changing needs of vehicle manufacturers, technological advancements have led to the production of many types of batteries. Li-ion battery cells can have a soft cover in the shape of a pouch cell or a hardcover in the shape of a cylindrical or square. The leak tightness of both the battery module and the final battery assembly is crucial for ensuring high-quality standards in longevity, performance, and secure operation of the battery. Agilent leak detectors and dry pumps provide cutting-edge performance in detecting potentially dangerous leaks during the battery production process.

Examine the most modern Agilent helium leak testing equipment.

ادارة النفايات في الشرق الاوسط – التحديات الرئيسية

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يعد الشرق الأوسط من  اخصب الأماكن في توليد النفايات عالميا, ويعد نمط الحياة المسرف, و التشريعات غير الفعالة, و معيقات توفير البنى التحتية, و السلوكيات العامة غير المبالية, و انقص التوعية البيئية من العوامل الأساسية المؤدية لنمو مشاكل النفايات في الشرق الأوسط. كما يسهم مستوى المعيشة المرتفع  مقرونا بعدم توفر مرافق جمع والتخلص من النفايات في تحويل موضوع "القمامة"  الى "مسؤولية" .

العقبات الرئيسية

ان الأدراك العام للنفايات يتمحور حول اللامبالاة و عدم الاكتراث, و يتم التعامل مع النفايات  على انها(نفايات) و ليس (موارد). وهناك حاجة ملحة لزيادة الوعي لدى العامة حول القضايا البيئية, وممارسات ادارة النفايات الصلبة و المعيشة المستدامة. وتتصف  مشاركة العامة في المبادرات المجتمعية لأدارة النفايات بالخمول وذلك بسبب تدني مستوى الوعي البيئي و التعليم العام. للأسف ليس لدى أي من بلدان المنطقة الية فعالة  لفصل النفايات من المصدر.

تعاني ادارة النفايات الصلبة في الشرق الأوسط  من قصور التشريعات و سوء التخطيط. ولا يتوفر في الكثير من الدول  تشريعات للتعامل مع موضوع النفايات, اضافة الى عدم كفاية التمويل, وغياب خطط أدارة النفايات, و  ضعف التنسيق  بين الجهات ذات العلاقة, وعدم توفر القوى البشرية المؤهلة, فضلا عن  ضعف القرارات الفنية والادارية , مما يؤدي بمجمله الى عدم قدرة تلك الدول على تنفيذ استراتيجية متكاملة لادارة النفايات في المنطقة. تسند صلاحيات ادارة النفايات في العديد من البلدان الى الشركات التابعة للحكومة و البلديات و هذا بدوره يؤدي الى عدم تشجيع مشاركة القطاع الخاص والرياديين في هذا القطاع.

على الرغم من تشديد  الأسلام على جوانب  تقليل النفايات, الا انه ولسوء الحظ فان  معدلات توليد النفايات للفرد في البلدان العربية هي من الاعلى في العالم.  بسبب عدم توفر المرافق المناسبة لتجميع النفايات والتخلص منها,فأنه من الشائع في المنطقة أن ترى النفايات ملقاة عشوائيا في الاماكن المفتوحة  والصحارى و المسطحات المائية. علاوة على ذلك فان قلة الوعي وتقاعس الناس عن تقليل نفاياتهم وفصلها عند المصدر وادارتها باسلوب صحيح يشكل  قضية حرجة أخرى

يحتاج النظام المستدام لادارة النفايات  الى  مشاركة واسعة من العامة, و تشريعات فعالة, و تمويل كافي, اضافة الى ا ممارسات وتكنولوجيا حديثة  لادارة النفايات. يأمل الأقليم في تحسين سيناريوهات ادارة النفايات عن طريق فصل النفايات في المصدر, و تشجيع مشاركة القطاع الخاص, وتطبيق أنظمة اعادة التدوير و توليد الطاقة من النفايات, وتطوير منظومة تشريعية و مؤسسية قوية ومؤثرة.

بصيص الأمل

في السنوات الاخيرة, قام عدد من البلدان مثل قطر و دولة الامارات العربية المتحدة, بانشاء مشاريع طموحة لادارة النفايات الصلبة, الا ان فعاليتها لم تؤكد بعد. و بشكل عام, تخطو دول المنطقة خطوات بطيئة ولكن ثابتة نحو التصدي لتحديات ادارة النفايات وذلك من خلال الاستثمارات الكبيرة في مثل هذه المشاريع, و ايجاد تكنولوجيا جديدة و رفع مستوى الوعي العام. غير ان سرعة التقدم والانجاز غير متوافقة مع معدل زيادة توليد النفايات في المنطقة. ان الادارة المستدامة للنفايات تعد تحديا كبيرا لصانعي السياسات, و المخططين الحضريين و غيرهم من الجهات ذات العلاقة, و هناك حاجة الى خطوات فورية لمعالجة جبال النفايات المتراكمة في مدن منطقة الشرق الأوسط.

 ترجمة:

لمى ماهر غرايبه-طالبة بكالوريس في العمارة (جامعة العلوم و التكنولجيا الأردنية)-مهتمة في مجالات العمارة الخضراء و الطاقة المتجددة.

Why Electric Vehicles Are the Future of the Automotive Industry

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Electric vehicles have come a long way since their invention in the 1830s. What was once a novelty for the Chicago World’s Fair is now a common sight on major highways. With Tesla now modernizing the industry, EVs are more attainable than ever in the world’s market.

Still, high price tags and a lack of charging stations at pit stops keep many car users from making the switch. Of the over 280 million cars in the U.S, only 2 million are fully electric or hybrid vehicles. So why are so many predictions pointing to EVs in the automotive industry?

Electric Vehicles Pros and Cons

Read on as we explore why EVs are instrumental to the future of the industry and the pros and cons of EV ownership in 2022.

Electric Vehicles Pros and Cons

Most conversations on EV ownership start with gas prices and end with charging stations. Yet many fail to explore the true impact of EVs and how initial setbacks to the industry are only temporary issues. A family of EV charging stations already exists at many gas stations along major roads.

With over 200 miles at full charge and portable charging plugs available, the initial fears of EV ownership are quickly rectifying themselves. Still, the benefits of an EV will vary based on location, average mileage, safety features and the make of the car.

Below, we detail the common and uncommon pros, cons, and misconceptions of EV ownership.

Pros

Skipping prices at the pump is the most popular pro for purchasing an electric vehicle. With gas prices always fluctuating, the initial cost of an EV is said to pay itself with the money you save from avoiding gas stations.

The second greatest pro rests in the eco-friendly nature of most EVs. Even hybrids that run on electricity and gas production have more environmentally friendly emissions than a normal gas-powered car. As the world shifts to a more environment-friendly manufacturing perspective, EVs are the natural evolution.

Though many worry about the charging capabilities of cars, a full charge from home can last over 200 miles. This is perfect for community use and short road trips. Utilizing mobile and turbo-charged charging stations can take you even further, with quick charges available in 30 minutes.

Some may worry about the cost of charging your EV at home through an at-home charger or chagrin station. Though a full charge from a depleted battery will take 48 hours to fill, it will only cost you 6$, or a little over ¢10 every kilowatt-hour.

So long as time isn’t a restraint for your commute, the at-home full charge is efficient and cost-effective.

Cons

Tesla is the current king of electric vehicles, servicing high-quality EVs at even higher prices. This makes it hard for other automotive manufacturers to break into the EV world, even if their vehicle can rival a tesla. Though Toyota has earned the #2 spot for EV production and sales, its product output fails to match Tesla.

Like Apple products dominated the early 2000-2010 markets, Tesla’s status as king of EVs creates elitism at a cost. Without true competitors, Tesla can continue to charge an arm and a leg and keep the market inaccessible for the average American.

Additionally, EVs aren’t currently compatible with rural or long-drive use. A fully electric vehicle isn’t feasible for driver-focused commuters in less populated areas if the area does not support local charging stations. Hybrid vehicles can overcome this issue, but overreliance on gas eliminates the benefit of your electric vehicle.

electric car

Looking to the Future

Though their numbers are limited in the current market, the potential behind electric vehicles is extensive. Sources suggest within the next ten years; the EV market will jump from 2 million to over 18 million. Though the growth may not rival the current output of gas-powered vehicles, the steady growth hints at a more EV-friendly world.

With major obstacles such as cost and lack of public charging stations taken care of, the electric vehicle market will finally reach more average American consumers. A surge in hybrid and fully electric vehicles will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve air pollution, and lower the average cost of living. Less money on gas can open wallets to invest in new experiences and opportunities in your new electric vehicles.

It may take a few years for the EV to become a true automotive rival. Still, with growing interest, investments, sales, and visibility, the electric vehicle will soon become a common sight during your next road trip.

Also Read: From Vision to Reality – Jordan’s EV Surge and the Road to Sustainability