Everything You Need to Know About a Biorefinery

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A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and value-added chemicals from biomass. Biorefinery is analogous to today’s petroleum refinery, which produces multiple fuels and products from petroleum. By producing several products, a biorefinery takes advantage of the various components in biomass and their intermediates, therefore maximizing the value derived from the biomass feedstock.

what is a biorefinery

A biorefinery could, for example, produce one or several low-volume, but high-value, chemical products and a low-value, but high-volume liquid transportation fuel such as biodiesel or bioethanol. At the same time, it can generate electricity and process heat, through CHP technology, for its own use and perhaps enough for sale of electricity to the local utility.

The high value products increase profitability, the high-volume fuel helps meet energy needs, and the power production helps to lower energy costs and reduce GHG emissions from traditional power plant facilities.

Working of a Biorefinery

There are several platforms which can be used in a biorefinery with the major ones being the sugar platform and the thermochemical platform (also known as syngas platform).

Sugar platform biorefineries breaks down biomass into different types of component sugars for fermentation or other biological processing into various fuels and chemicals. On the other hand, thermochemical biorefineries transform biomass into synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) or pyrolysis oil.

biorefinery basics

Etihad Airways flight from Seattle to Abu Dhabi in January 2012 was the first in the Middle East to be powered by sustainable biofuel.

The thermochemical biomass conversion process is complex, and uses components, configurations, and operating conditions that are more typical of petroleum refining. Biomass is converted into syngas, and syngas is converted into an ethanol-rich mixture.

However, syngas created from biomass contains contaminants such as tar and sulphur that interfere with the conversion of the syngas into products. These contaminants can be removed by tar-reforming catalysts and catalytic reforming processes. This not only cleans the syngas, it also creates more of it, improving process economics and ultimately cutting the cost of the resulting ethanol.

Biorefineries would help utilize the optimum potential of wastes and help solve the problems of waste management and greenhouse gas emissions. Each of these three components could be converted, through enzymatic/chemical treatments into either hydrogen or liquid fuels. The pre-treatment processes involved with these, generate products like paper-pulp, HFCS, solvents, acetate, resins, laminates, adhesives, flavour chemicals, activated carbon, fuel enhancers, undigested sugars etc. which generally remain untapped in the traditional processes.

biorefinery in MENA

Biorefinery Prospects in MENA

The MENA region has significant biomass energy potential in the form of municipal wastes, crop residues, industrial wastes etc. Around the region, pollution of air, water and soil from different waste streams continues to grow. The major biomass producing countries in MENA are Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. Traditionally, biomass energy has been widely used in rural areas for domestic purposes in the MENA region, especially in Egypt, Yemen and Jordan.

The escalating prices of oil and natural gas, the resulting concern over energy-security, have led the MENA nations to explore alternative sources of energy.  Biorefinery offers a plausible solution for augmenting energy supply, obtaining clean energy and production of a wide range of chemicals from a host of waste material, apart from associated waste management benefits.

How Can The Effects Of Climate Change Be Mitigated?

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Climate change will affect us all and it’s important to consider how climate change will have wide reaching consequences for generations to come.

This article investigates how the effects of climate change will affect all of us and what measures we can take to mitigate the effects of climate change.

climate change mitigation methods

What is climate change mitigation?

Climate change mitigation refers to actions taken to limit climate change by either reducing greenhouse gas emissions or removing those gases from the atmosphere.

Mitigation actions can include using new technologies and renewable energies, making existing equipment more energy efficient, and ensuring carbon sinks continue to absorb carbon and remain intact.

What are some strategies to mitigate climate change?

Climate change mitigation strategies include retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient; adopting renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and small hydro; helping cities develop more sustainable transport such as bus rapid transit, electric vehicles, and biofuels; and promoting more sustainable uses of land and forests.

Celestial Green Ventures looks at the benefits and drawbacks for some of the solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

1. Retrofitting

Retrofitting can help to improve the energy efficiency of homes, reduce fuel bills and create comfortable even temperatures all year round as well as helping to eliminate draughts.

There are plenty of challenges when it comes to retrofitting. Whether it’s the social and income divide, or a lack of funds, policy, trust, and experts to carry out the work, it’s still an uphill struggle to bring retrofitting to the fore, regardless of any climate change commitments.

2. Renewable Energy

The main benefit of renewable energy is that renewable energy sources will not run out. Examples of renewable energy sources are solar power, wind power, bioenergy and hydroelectricity. The most important difference between renewables and fossil fuels, is that renewable energy sources provide an infinite source of energy.

renewable-energy-arabic

Why invest in renewable energy?

Renewable energy is reliable, as opposed to fossil fuels which are always subject to disputes and wars between countries.  Renewable energy is also environmentally friendly as they use natural sources for energy generation and can therefore be considered clean.

Although renewable energy technologies can cause some emissions, overall, they are minimal and certainly lower than generating traditional fossil fuels.

There are also the economic benefits too as renewable technologies can create many jobs. This is especially important in some poorer regions. In fact, this is an emerging job market that can empower people in many parts of the world.

Renewable energy can help reduce turmoil in global energy prices, therefore helping to make the global energy market more stable.

What are some of the challenges related to renewable energy?

Unfortunately, most natural forces are strongly dependent on the weather conditions. Therefore, it is advisable to utilise a mix of sustainable power sources, to maximise the production of power across multiple inputs.

Another challenge regarding renewables is the initial cost and investment required for implementing them is high. The initial cost for renewable energy solutions is disproportionately high and sometimes unaffordable, in comparison with how much energy would be produced.

Celestial Green Ventures PLC is extremely aware that renewable energy requires significant resources to harness nature’s energies but this can present numerous challenges to providing the world with cleaner energy.

3. Sustainable Travel

Transportation is one of the largest contributors to climate change. By choosing sustainable travel methods, you can significantly help in the mitigation of climate change.

There are many benefits to sustainable transportation. Whether it be the benefits to your health, the Earth, the community or even financial benefits, sustainable travel can be better for them all.

Electric Vehicles Pros and Cons

Why is sustainable travel good for the planet?

Sustainable travel emits less pollution. Transportation accounts for nearly 24% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom.

However, about 82% of those emissions come from personal vehicles. Buses and trains only account for a mere 6% of greenhouse gas emissions, making these modes of transportation much greener than cars and vans. Additionally, sustainable travel also promotes good health because it reduces emissions and air pollution.

A further benefit is that as people choose sustainable transportation over driving themselves, leading to a decrease in congestion and lower emissions.

Celestial Green Ventures PLC recognises that the main disadvantage of implementing a sustainable travel infrastructure to any city or town is the initial cost and disruption.

4. Biofuels

Fuels that have been extracted from plants and crops are known as biofuels. Of these, the most commonly extracted and used one is Bioethanol or simply Ethanol and Biodiesel.

It is blended with gasoline and can be used as an alternative fuel for your car. Plant-based fuels come from renewable sources, can be grown anywhere and have lower carbon emissions as compared to fossil fuels.

Biofuel is made from renewable resources and relatively less-flammable compared to fossil diesel. It has significantly better lubricating properties.

Etihad_Biofuels

Etihad Airways flight from Seattle to Abu Dhabi in January 2012 was the first in the Middle East to be powered by sustainable biofuel.

Some things that biofuels are made out of include:

  •  Manure
  •  Waste from crops
  •  Other farming by-products
  •  Algae and plants grown specifically for biofuel.

Why are biofuels important in terms of economic security?

Economic security is also an interesting opportunity brought to light due to the increased demand for biofuels. Not every country has large reserves of crude oil.

For these countries that don’t have the natural crude oil resources, importing the oil puts a huge strain on the economy. If more people start shifting towards biofuels, a country can reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

Some of the disadvantages of using biofuels are that even with all the benefits associated with biofuels, they are quite expensive to produce in the current market. Biofuels also promote the use of fertilisers and consume vast amounts of water to produce the crops.

Growing these crops can also lead to other problems such as monocultures and potential food shortages. With the attractive yield for growing biofuel friendly crops this may sway farmers away from growing other crops we use for day to day food consumption.

What are some land-use strategies for mitigating climate change?

Nature-based solutions are recognised as being able to contribute significantly to the mitigation of climate change.

Land use strategies include sustainable forestry practices, reforestation and avoided deforestation actions. These actions also help to conserve biodiversity within these areas which is a further positive consequence from implementing these mitigation actions.

What are some policies that will implement change?

The Paris Agreement is an example of policy change to help mitigate climate change and to avoid dangerous climate change.

The agreement sets out the global framework for limiting global warming to well below 2° C and to limit the increase to 1.5° C.

195 countries signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 agreeing to these targets. The expectation was that keeping to the Paris Agreement, the risks and impact of climate change would be significantly reduced.

Conclusion

Celestial Green Ventures recognises that climate change is the most significant problem facing the world.

Global warming is increasing day by day and it cannot be ignored. If we continue the current trajectory, our world will face undesirable consequences.

Celestial Green Ventures PLC is concerned the expected effects of climate change could seriously compromise the ability of the agriculture sectors to feed the world, and severely undermine progress toward eradicating hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

It is now as important as ever to focus on the mitigation of climate change, both individually and collectively.

Biomass Potential of Date Palm Wastes

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Date palm is one of the principal agricultural products in the arid and semi-arid region of the world, especially Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. There are more than 120 million date palm trees worldwide yielding several million tons of dates per year, apart from secondary products including palm midribs, leaves, stems, fronds and coir. The Arab world has more than 84 million date palm trees with the majority in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.

date-palm-waste-management

Egypt is the world’s largest date producer with annual production of 1.47 million tons of dates in 2012 which accounted for almost one-fifth of global production. Saudi Arabia has more than 23 millions date palm trees, which produce about 1 million tons of dates per year. Date palm trees produce huge amount of agricultural wastes in the form of dry leaves, stems, pits, seeds etc.

A typical date tree can generate as much as 20 kilograms of dry leaves per annum while date pits account for almost 10 percent of date fruits. Some studies have reported that Saudi Arabia alone generates more than 200,000 tons of date palm biomass each year.

Date palm is considered a renewable natural resource because it can be replaced in a relatively short period of time. It takes 4 to 8 years for date palms to bear fruit after planting, and 7 to 10 years to produce viable yields for commercial harvest. Usually date palm wastes are burned in farms or disposed in landfills which cause environmental pollution in date-producing nations. In countries like Iraq and Egypt, a small portion of palm biomass in used in making animal feed.

date-palm-biomass

The major constituents of date palm biomass are cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. In addition, date palm has high volatile solids content and low moisture content. These factors make date palm biomass an excellent waste-to-energy resource in the MENA region. A wide range of thermal and biochemical technologies exists to convert the energy stored in date palm biomass to useful forms of energy. The low moisture content in date palm wastes makes it well-suited to thermo-chemical conversion technologies like combustion, gasification and pyrolysis.

On the other hand, the high volatile solids content in date palm biomass indicates its excellent biogas  potential in anaerobic digestion plants, possibly by codigestion with sewage sludge, animal wastes and/and food wastes. The cellulosic content in date palm wastes can be transformed into biofuel (bioethanol) by making use of the fermentation process. Thus, abundance of date palm trees in the GCC, especially Saudi Arabia, can catalyze the development of biomass and biofuels sector in the region.

Rethinking Sustainability: Islamic Perspectives

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The 21st century is characterized by a number of global environmental challenges that shaped and defined the discourse and agenda of the West with respect to the developing world, specifically the Islamic world. Islam provides new sustainability perspectives for discovering and explaining the root causes for the current environmental, economic and social crises as manifested in climate change, HIV, poverty and human security. For example, the Islamic perspective on climate change is that the root cause of this global issue is the absence or lack of human stewardship and is an indication of market failures.

environmental-therapy

Pitfalls of the Western Model

The Western model of economic development with its free market economies, political, economic and social institutions created a number of externalities and environmental costs. In the name of development local and indigenous people are deprived of their rights in the developing world. Rights and natural resources of local people are taken away and substituted by needs that are defined by the west.

Sustainability is not a product manifested in a sector like energy, tourism, agriculture, trade or urban environment but rather a worldview that encompasses all domains of life from spiritual realms, norms and consumption and production patterns to macro-economic policies. This system thinking and perspective towards culture, economy and ecology is fundamental for re-thinking sustainability and root it in local knowledge and embed it as a model for human-centred development.

The global financial crisis which started in 2008 along with poverty, AIDS and climate change challenges compel and incite a dire need for a new economic model that address these global challenges. There is a need to critique and rethink the underpinning of the current market economy that look at both human nature and culture as a commodity. The main pitfalls of the existing market model are that it discounts the future and is based on compound interest rate and a banking system that encourages loans and over-consumption.  When looking at the benefit-cost analysis of climate change, the interest rate (how much we discount the future) will justify the rationality of taking preventive action. In other words, the more the future was discounted the more it made economic sense for climate change impacts to take place.

Islamic Perspectives on Sustainability

The high cost and irreversible environmental costs of the market-based economic model is evident. It is argued that markets do not tell us the ecological truth and that climate change and global financial crises issues are evidence of the market failure. Re-defining the basic notion “what constitutes a good life” and how to pursue happiness are critical in understanding sustainability from an Islamic perspective.

media and sustainable development

The pursuit of happiness from an Islamic perspective is about adding value to life through good deeds and knowledge as part of human role in the construction of universe, helping others, bringing up good children, and also about living lightly on earth and elimination of waste and over-consumption. The Islamic dream is not linked to accumulation of wealth and living in luxury but rather on conserving the human, social and natural capitals which are considered as necessities.

There is a need for a macro-shift in our worldviews; a re-thinking of the fundamentals of the western economic model to ensure a humanistic and sustainable model that resonate with culture and ensures balance (mizan), social equity (adl) and respects harmony between nature, people and markets. Above all, what is needed is a new and fresh look at Islam as a source of both inspiration and restoration of the natural state of humans as referred to in Islam as fitra. The following is a brief outline on how Islam looks at the three pillars of sustainability (environment, social and economic).

Environment and Spirituality

The most interesting feature of the worldview of Islam is that it presents an interactive and integrated outlook. Therefore, a contemporary understanding of the notion of maslaha (public interest) may lead to a theoretical understanding of sustainability in its broader terms. Islam represents the natural state (fitra) or the intrinsic state of goodness. The natural state (fitra) implies a full harmony with nature, people and the built environment. It also means a full realization and consciousness of the role of the human as a trustee and a witness (khalifa). Humans are trustees (khalifa) to make sure that all resources are used in a sustainable manner.

Islam views the potential risks of climate change as a problem of absence of human trusteeship which is referred to as mischief (fasad). Islam looks at species as nations like humankind. Reading Quran informs the mind and the soul that our natural capital and social capital are interconnected and inter-dependant.

Islam teaches that species including plants and wildlife are in a state of prayers (tasbeeh). The harm of any species means that we are disrupting the symphony of life and silencing worshipers. Quran elevates and deepens the notion of aesthetic intelligence, bio-mimicry, and learning from nature. Both Quran and nature contain many signs (ayat) that demonstrate and offer insights and guidance to nurture naturalistc intelligence, innovation and learning.

Ihsan is a key concept in Islam which is the driver and fuel for human stewardship, responsibility and excellence. Zohd means living lightly on earth which is an Islamic concept that promotes conservation and rational use of resources. Waqf which is endowment fund resourced by civil society and private sector as an economic tool to ensure socio-economic and environmental security and also as a vehicle to contextualize the notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a value-based organization.

sustainable development in islam

Social Dimension

From an Islamic perspective, losing the social compass means the lack or absence of embodiment of the teachings of Islam (as a code of reference). This will result in a state of both ecological degradation (fasad) and human and social alienation. The second pillar of sustainability is the realization of the human and social dimension of development. The notion of equity, social justice (adl), public participation (shura) and the deep concern for future generation are cornerstones in Islam. The role of Ummah as a community of practice is to set standards for ethical codes of conduct and also to create new knowledge based on the values and public interest.

Within the framework of the Islamic way of development, material and spiritual aspects of life are complementary. To be able to live the good life of devotion to God, we have, therefore, to make the best use of the material resources of our world. Talking about development without considering the spiritual side of people is meaningless; development must preserve the essence of our humanity.

Among the dynamic principles of social life Islam has particularly emphasized two – firstly the optimal utilization of resources that God has endowed to man, and his physical environment; and secondly their equitable use and distribution and the promotion of all human relationships on the basis of rights and justice. Care for the poor and the marginalized through sharing resources and financial contribution of Zakat and Waqf a key concept in Islam that need to be harnessed through institutional innovation (ijtihad) and reform of governance.

islam and sustainable development

Economic Dimension

Islamic economics prohibits the compound interest which is the basic concept of the western banking system. Also, Islam provides regulatory framework that ensures the development projects are in the interest for the wider community, not for few individuals. Islam also provides a framework for valuing and weighting interest and value that transcends humans to species and natural resources and future generations.

The fundamental concept is that Islamic economics is that it prohibits usury (riba) and does not discount the future implies that fossil oil at the present is not discounted in the future and hence Islam limits over-use of fossil fuels and hence contributes to limit CO2 emissions due to climate change. Unlike the existing banking system which encourages loans and mega-projects that exploits our natural capital.

Islam encourages small-scale development which will result in lessening the distance that goods are transported and hence lowering of greenhouse gas emissions and the ecological footprints in the business sector. Islamic economics in its profit-sharing and absence of usury provides sound constraints to prevent borrowers from running into un-payable debts whilst encouraging wealth to be distributed evenly. This in turn will help to have a greener economy that is reformed by Islam.

Everything You Need to Know About Recycling of Plastics

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Disposal of plastic waste has emerged as an important environmental challenge in the Middle East where plastics make up as much as one-tenth of the solid waste stream. In affluent GCC nations, plastic waste composition in municipal solid waste is around 12 – 16 percent. Plastic waste in the region is continuously increasing due to increasing use of plastics in daily life. The Middle East is responsible for about 8 percent of the global plastic production.

menace of plastic water bottles

 

Plastic waste is a source of greenhouse gas emissions and ecological damage. Majority of the items found on beaches across the region contain plastic which pose a serious danger to marine life. Plastic waste disposal is a major challenge due to non-biodegradable nature of plastics and such wastes are visibly present in landfill sites for a long time.

Recycling of Plastics

Recycling of plastics is one of the best methods for sustainable disposal of plastic wastes. Unfortunately, plastic is much more difficult to recycle than materials like glass, aluminum or paper. A common problem with recycling plastics is that plastics are often made up of more than one kind of polymer or there may be some sort of fibre added to the plastic (a composite).

plastic recycling machine

Plastic polymers require greater processing to be recycled as each type melts at different temperatures and has different properties, so careful separation is necessary. Moreover, most plastics are not highly compatible with one another. Apart from familiar applications like recycling bottles and industrial packaging film, there are also new developments like covering pipes, window frames, roofing membranes and flooring.

Commonly Recyclable Plastics

  • High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) used in piping, automotive fuel tanks, bottles, toys,
  • Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) used in plastic bags, cling film, flexible containers;
  • Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) used in bottles, carpets and food packaging;
  • Polypropylene (PP) used in food containers, battery cases, bottle crates, automotive parts and fibres;
  • Polystyrene (PS) used in dairy product containers, tape cassettes, cups and plates;
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) used in window frames, flooring, bottles, packaging film, cable insulation, credit cards and medical products

Five Steps in Plastics Recycling

  • Collection: This is done through roadside collections, special recycling bins and directly from industries that use a lot of plastic.
  • Sorting: At this stage nails and stones are removed, and the plastic is sorted into three types: PET, HDPE and ‘other’.
  • Chipping: The sorted plastic is cut into small pieces ready to be melted down.
  • Washing: This stage removes contaminants such as paper labels, dirt and remnants of the product originally contained in the plastic.
  • Pelletization: The plastic is then melted down and extruded into small pellets ready for reuse.

Polyethlene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles have high recyclability and are an integral part of most curbside and drop-off recycling programs. Recycled PET and HDPE have many uses and well-established markets. The growth of bottle recycling has been facilitated by the development of processing technologies that increase product purities and reduce operational costs.

In contrast, recycling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bottles and other materials is limited. A major problem in the recycling of PVC is the high chlorine content in raw PVC (around 56 percent of the polymer’s weight) and the high levels of hazardous additives added to the polymer to achieve the desired material quality. As a result, PVC requires separation from other plastics before mechanical recycling.

plastic recycling process

Plastic Recycling in the Middle East

Plastic recycling is still in early stages in the Middle East. Some countries have started plastic waste collection programs but their efficacy is yet to be ascertained as most of the collected waste is still sent to countries, like China and India, for recycling. In recent years, several government initiatives have been launched and plastic recycling centers have been established in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar etc. which is a welcome development.

Apart from infrastructural roadblocks, lack of awareness and low level of community participation are major factors behind increasing generation of plastic wastes. The staggering amount of plastic wastes generated in the Middle East demands a concerted effort from policy-makers and urban planners to devise an effective plastic waste collection and recycling strategy to tackle the menace of plastic wastes.

How To Save The World From Plastic Pollution

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There is not one solution, we all know that. But let’s take a look back in time for a possible solution to plastic pollution. In a past-era, we had a solution that worked. Why not try that option once again. The returnable, refillable container of last century that was a sure thing introduced by Coca Cola in the 1920’s. It ensured customer satisfaction and more importantly, customer loyalty.

plastic-wastes

Coca Cola sold its desirable liquid in expensive bottles that the company needed to be returned for the next drink batch, and the batch after that, and the batch after that one, and so on. The bottle was reused 40 or 50 times. That’s an excellent usage record for one glass bottle.

How did it work? Simple. The company included a deposit charge. In those days, a two-cent deposit equated to about 40% of the full cost of the bottle of drink in the 1920’s. They secured around 98% return of their bottles. The deposit system is a highly successful model for securing the return of the original product, in this case the glass packaging.

This is a closed loop system, where the purchaser rents the container or packaging and buys the content. The idea of generating trash or getting rid of the container is not an option. So why is there not a surge in the regeneration of the conservation within the consumerism marketing approach?

It has been reintroduced when Szaky reintroduced the Loop approach for his online delivery service. The Loop market sells over 300 different items, in containers of various size and made from various materials. One can purchase food products, like ice cream right out to the more boring household items such as cleaning products.

The Loop signature product is the Häagen-Dazs ice cream sold in an insulated stainless steel tub. This means no softening, no melt. Just firm, cold ice cream by the time it reaches your home. Refillables are a serious, viable solution for the plastic waste crisis that the globe is presently facing. It is a way forward for future waste control but does not address the present plastic waste crisis.

plastic-collection-middle-east

Other initiatives are the ‘Bring you own refillable cup’ in cafes and coffee houses. The sale of coffee in refillable cups means we can avoid filling the landfills with once-used, thin-plastic-film lined paper cups. That’s another great retro step to reducing our plastic footprint.

The circular economy can also replace those very convenient one-serving of coffee, or sugar, or soup, or detergent, and so on. These single-serve sachets are typically in a plastic-type packaging. Yes, affordable. No, waste generators. Instead, we need to revert back to vending machine filling your container with a limited or selected  amount.

This container deposit – returnable item would not have grabbed the market several years back. But now that the outcry against plastics is so loud, the ‘Loop method’ can actually shout louder and grab the attention of investors and consumers. A global crisis makes the global population open its eyes and its mind.

How successful is Szaky with the ‘Loop  model’? He gave his pitch at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and he secured big producers like Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, Unilever, Proctor and Gamble all to sign on.

This is only part of the story about the future of plastic but it’s a great place to rethink and restart the process of consumerism.

4 Quick Ways to Reduce E-Waste in Your Small Business

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The issue of e-waste is one we all need to face up to, and small businesses are in a position to do more to help the environment and also reduce costs in this context.

If you’re looking for a fresh approach to minimizing e-waste in a flash, here are some tips to consider following in your own organization.

how to reduce e-waste in small businesses

1. Donate Old Equipment

If you own a small business, chances are there’s an abundance of unused tech lying around. Don’t let these items go to waste – donate them instead.

You can give away any gently used equipment like desktop computers, laptops, tables and much more to local good causes, whether that’s schools in your community that need it, youth projects or anything else.

This way not only will you reduce e-waste, but also help out people who may be struggling financially. So long as what you donate is still in good working order, you’ll avoid shipping perfectly serviceable items further afield for recycling or straight-up dumping.

2. Revamp Old Computers With Free, Open Source Software

Putting old computers to work in a different capacity within the organization, rather than shelling out for new hardware, is another wise move.

For instance, by installing a free, open source, lightweight operating system like Linux, you can extend the lifespan of older laptops or desktops, rather than sending them to the scrap heap as soon as the latest Windows update starts to hamper their performance. Not only will this reduce e-waste, but it’ll also save money in the long run.

Also, if your business still relies on outdated first-party programs like Microsoft Office, consider switching to free alternatives like LibreOffice, which offer all the same features for zero cost. You could go the subscription route, of course, but that’s a choice you have to make based on your budget and your needs. You can also explore Invoice Template for Microsoft Excel to reduce paper wastage due to invoicing-related tasks.

3. Use Call Forwarding to Avoid Buying New Phone Handsets for Employees

With the help of an auto attendant phone system, you can set up a call forwarding so that customers and clients can get in touch with team members wherever they might be.

The latest call forwarding tech means that there’s no need to splash out on new handsets for every employee; instead, calls placed to your business number or to their extension can be automatically routed through to whatever end point makes the most sense. This could be their own mobile handset, another landline off-site, or anything else.

This will also allow you to use the same handset with multiple extensions and even transfer calls between employees if needed.

By taking this approach, you’ll cut down on e-waste while still providing efficient customer service. Plus, it’s much cheaper than investing in expensive hardware that could quickly become outdated or obsolete. And best of all, you can be sure that your customers won’t notice any difference when making calls.

4. Recycle E-Waste Properly and Safely

At some point you’ll need to deal with e-waste that’s no longer viable for in-house operations or for donating externally. When the time comes, recycling is the best option for small businesses.

Ewaste Management for Small Businesses

By taking the time to properly recycle old electronics, you can prevent them from ending up in landfill or being illegally dumped overseas.

To get started, research local waste disposal companies who offer safe and secure methods of disposing of electronic items such as computers or phones – this should be done regularly if your business uses a lot of technology.

Additionally, ensure that all data stored on these devices has been securely wiped before sending them off for processing; this will help protect against potential breaches of privacy which could put your customers at risk.

Finally, don’t forget to keep track of any receipts provided by recyclers so you can prove that proper processes were followed when getting rid of unwanted equipment.

Energy Answers for the Middle East

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The economy of Middle East is practically synonymous with crude oil for the average Western observer, but what most people aren’t aware of is the Middle East hasn’t been doing so well out of its crude oil reserves in recent years. So much so, that it may be the first time in history that we can justifiably declare an imminent state of Peak Oil in these regions.

It is an understandably bold statement, and one that will come as a surprise to many… especially those who have been blindsided by the more general, global statistics. Besides a slight dip over the course of 2013, it appears that crude oil production around the world is in on an upward trend, and peak oil doesn’t seem to be on this side of the horizon.

But there’s a reason why production looks so healthy, and it isn’t anything to do with the Middle East region. If we exclude North America from the statistics, we’re left with a much bleaker picture.It is clear that it is only the U.S. and Canada who are bolstering production figures for the rest of the world. Everywhere else is seeing a sharp decline – and likely prolonged – decline.

Worse, even North America seems to be suffering once you dig into the details; their own upswing rests solely upon shale reserves, a sub-set of oil production that is becoming increasingly hard to recover in way that is economically viable. This is why less than 30% of shale operations take place outside of America and Canada, since they have almost exclusive access to the specialized rigs required to obtain shale oil.

Flow Reversal

Last month, BP were given the all-clear to commence drilling for shale gas in Oman (which set them back a startling $16 billion dollars for the contract). Other than this, however, most of the fossil fuel action now seems to be flowing out of America rather than towards it, and it’s highly likely that the U.S. and Canada will begin to export its excess oil to regions that, historically, used to produce it themselves. The shale boom has already crippled the European refineries, and West African suppliers are suffering a similar fate.

Given that the Middle East region is also in the firing line, what can be done to mitigate this, or at least lessen the dependency on crude oil?

United Arab Emirates is arguably just as famous for its oil as it is as pioneers of green technology. Cities such as Abu Dhabi (and Masdar City in particular) are well known for their greenery, advanced architecture, eco initiatives and focus on carbon-neutral municipal planning.

Great advances have been made already in these ‘green cities of the future’, and further innovations would be welcome. Improved water recycling or an increase in roof gardens are all areas which could drive things ever forward.

Dubai Wasn’t Built in a Day

As well as focusing on how to reduce waste and better use the resources we do have, it should also be remembered that many countries in the Middle East weren’t exclusively built on oil.

For instance, it’s a common misconception that Dubai’s great wealth came from the black gold; while the towering metropolis of today is markedly different from the settlement that has stood their since antiquity, it has blossomed for thousands of years as a prime location for trade. While oil has undeniably played its part, less than 7% of the emirate’s revenues actually come from oil and gas.

Dubai is a good example in that it has recognized the need for diversification in recent years. It remains a global hub for trade – accounting for 16% of its revenue – and has recently established itself as a huge market for real estate, construction and tourism. A good move on Dubai’s part, really, since its oil is expected to run out in the near future.

Ultimately, the answer seems to fall somewhere between Abu Dhabi’s focus on alternative energies and Dubai’s focus on different revenue streams. What is clear, however, is that focusing solely on chasing down the last barrel of oil is not a foolish move economically, but one which is will short-change our environment in the process.

4 Energy-Saving Gadgets to Save Money on Electricity Bill

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If you are having problems in settling the cost of your electric bills time and time again, the most obvious thing to do is to conserve energy. One of the most common reasons for your electric bill rising significantly is using your appliances recklessly and without thought.

To save energy, you must first deal with how to use your appliances correctly and efficiently. If, however, your devices are ‘energy vampires’; machines that use too much energy even without use, then it’s probably time for you to switch gears and buy gadgets or devices that not only is a useful alternative to your appliances at home but also saves a lot of energy.

Here are some of the energy-saving gadgets or appliances you can use to conserve energy and save a lot of money on your next electric bill.

1. Solar Charger

If you are always charging the batteries of your handheld devices such as your mobile phone, iPods, digital camera, or other portable devices, you will be adding a lot more on your electric bill. The best thing to do about this is to buy a solar charger.

Not only is it efficient in charging your devices, but it also conserves a lot of energy since you don’t need to plug it in an outlet for it to charge. All you need to do is to leave it out in a sunny area and let the sun do the job for you. By the time it is finished, you can quickly charge the batteries of your devices without using electricity in your house.

2. Smart Power Strips

If you have seen commercials about saving energy and the like, you must have heard the term “energy vampires.” These are appliances that use too much power if left plugged in the socket, even if you are not actively using the devices or left on standby mode. Some of the most common energy vampires at home are smartphones, TVs, light bulbs, and laptop chargers.

Sure, you can unplug then from the socket, but it would be too much of a hassle and a big bother, not to mention that it takes too much time, especially if you are in a hurry. But, if you use a smart power strip, the devices will automatically cut off power from appliances that are not in active use or left in standby mode, saving you time, money, and effort.

There is a lot of variety when it comes to smart power strips. Some are color-coded, divided into parts where your appliances should be plugged in specific sockets, and for the others too. Most of them, however, look like the standard sockets that you can install near an appliance and are used as a regular socket. That may be the case, but at least you are saving energy by using them.

On average, a regular household saves at least 25% of their energy cost when using a smart power strip. If you, however, take the chance and switch to smart power strips completely, you can save almost 50% of your total energy cost per month.

3. Energy Star Appliances

If you need to buy a new appliance, such as a washing machine or a microwave, shopping for energy star appliances will save you a lot of money in the long run. While these appliances can sometimes be more expensive than a regular one, you can save money in the long term since they take up less energy while still being efficient.

This is true, especially in washing machines. Washing machine technology has come so far recently and now offers products that cost less $80 a year to operate.

4. Smart Thermostat

Using a regular thermostat in your house can sometimes be a hassle since you have to adjust it manually. Also, if left unchecked, it will cost additional money on your electric bill because of the inefficiency. However, if you are using a smart thermostat, you will be saving both time and money since the intelligent thermostat will do the adjusting for you.

These devices learn from your household habits and will be using energy-efficient adjustments, even if you are not at home. By using a smart thermostat, you will be saving at least 10 to 25% of energy, which will shave off a significant portion of your monthly electric bills.

While this might be a little more expensive than the regular one, it is still a good investment because of the money it will shave off your bills. The average price of a smart thermostat can be $200, at least, but some landlords are willing to credit this cost in your next payment.

Bonus Tip

It’s also a good practice to scout for electricity providers that provide competitive rates. For instance, if you’re residing in Ohio, one of the prudent things you can do is to compare electricity prices in Ohio area and check for the differences in terms of pricing. That way, you can choose the right energy provider that offers a lower rate.

Takeaway

Taking the time, money, and effort to switch to energy saving appliances and devices might be costly, but it will be worth it in the long run. Most of your bills come from the use of electricity, and it will be a great help in budgeting if some of it will be shaved off. Thus, switching to energy saving appliances is an excellent investment for your household.

6 Top Green Ways for Tidying Your Home

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Home cleaning is a routine that you should perform regularly so that you can always live in a comfortable environment. However, some methods used for cleaning homes can negatively impact the environment in different ways. To prevent this, you can consider green cleaning methods.

As such, you can double-check the 6 green ways for tidying your home below:

1. DIY cleaning products

Homemade cleaning products with natural ingredients such as lemon juice, white vinegar, baking soda, and olive oil are perfect for cleaning your home since they do not negatively impact the environment. These products are safe, and you can also use them for various purposes like cleaning the kitchen, the windows, as well as the bathroom.

If you want to get rid of insects and other unsightly creatures, you can also consider green methods to do so. Seattle, for example, is a beautiful city consisting of a warm and oceanic climate and relatively dry summers. Insects and other substances like molds can thrive in this climate, so you need to find green methods of eliminating them. Other treatment methods consist of chemicals that can be hazardous to the environment, to pets, as well as to humans, so you must always prioritize safety.

2. Avoid cleaners that contribute to pollution

The other option of home green cleaning is to consider cleaners that do not cause air pollution. For example, instead of vacuuming your floors, you can sweep manually using a broom. This can be time-consuming, but it is much better for the environment.

3. Use water for cleaning

You can also consider using clean water only especially when cleaning ceramic floor tiles. If there are no dirt stains on the tiles, you can simply mop them using clean water and avoid detergents with chemicals and other artificial components.

4. Use soda to clean carpets

When your carpet is dirty, it can be unsightly, and it can also produce a bad smell. You can use baking soda to clean the carpet, which is great because it is free of toxic chemicals. Soda can also freshen your carpet.

Also Read – Rug Cleaning Sector: A Venue for Innovative Business Practices

5. Use boiling water for cleaning

When cleaning surfaces with oil residues like kitchen tables and sinks, you can use boiling water since it can melt the dirt so that you can easily wipe it with a clean cloth. Using boiling water can also help unclog the drainage system in the kitchen instead of using chemicals that can be toxic and cause a negative impact on the environment.

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6. Clean indoor air naturally

You can clean the indoor air naturally by opening the windows as much as possible. This option is safe instead of using artificial air fresheners with fragrances that can affect the environment. However, you should first check if there is no strong wind that can blow dust particles inside.

Conclusion

Environmental concerns are increasingly gaining recognition across the board, so you must also play your part. You can do this by adopting green methods for tidying your home. These methods are clean and are very environmentally-friendly.

How Biomass Helps with Sustainability

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The world is increasingly looking for ways to become more sustainable, and one of the most promising solutions is the use of biomass. Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from organic materials such as plants, animals, and their byproducts. It is often seen as a more sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. In this article, we will explore the benefits and challenges of using biomass for sustainability.

why use biomass for sustainability

What is Biomass?

Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from organic materials such as plants, animals, and their byproducts. For example, wood, paper, crop waste, manure, and other organic materials can be used to generate energy. Biomass can be used to generate electricity, heat, and transportation fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, and biogas. It can also be used to produce plastics, fabrics, and other materials. As you can see, there are many advantages of biomass. It’s powerful enough that it can change the world.

The amazing thing about Biomass has the potential to be a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. It is renewable, carbon-neutral, and more cost-effective than traditional energy sources. Additionally, it is abundant in many parts of the world, making it a readily available energy source.

The use of biomass for sustainability is becoming increasingly popular as more people recognize the potential benefits it can offer. Biomass is a renewable energy source that can be used over and over again, making it a sustainable option. It does not produce carbon dioxide when burned, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Additionally, it is often cheaper than traditional energy sources, making it an attractive option for many businesses and individuals.

Despite the many benefits of using biomass for sustainability, there are still some challenges associated with it. For example, the production of biomass requires land, which can lead to deforestation and other environmental issues. Additionally, burning biomass can lead to air pollution, including the release of particulate matter and other pollutants. Lastly, the production of biomass can be expensive, making it out of reach for many individuals and businesses.

Even though there are challenges to deal with, biomass is an important renewable energy source that can help us achieve a more sustainable future. With the right policies and investments in place, we can ensure that biomass is used responsibly and efficiently. This is key to ensuring that we can move towards a more sustainable future.

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is often seen as a way of living responsibly with regard to our environment and natural resources. Sustainable practices aim to reduce the environmental impact of our activities and ensure that resources are used in a way that is equitable and efficient. This includes reducing waste and pollution, using renewable resources, and protecting ecosystems. Sustainability is an important goal for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to strive for in order to build a more sustainable future.

Sustainability involves making decisions that are mindful of the current and future impacts of our actions. This includes considering the environmental, economic, and social impacts of our activities. For example, choosing to use renewable energy sources like biomass can reduce our environmental footprint and create more jobs in the area. Additionally, investing in sustainable practices can help build a more resilient and equitable society.

Ultimately, sustainability is about making choices that are beneficial for both the present and future generations. By investing in renewable energy sources like biomass energy and making other sustainable choices, we can work towards creating a better future for all.

Benefits of Using Biomass for Sustainability

  • Renewable: Biomass is a renewable energy source that can be used over and over again, making it a sustainable option.
  • Carbon-neutral: Unlike fossil fuels, biomass does not produce carbon dioxide when burned, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
  • Cost-effective: Biomass is often cheaper than traditional energy sources, making it an attractive option for many businesses and individuals.
  • Abundance: Biomass is abundant in many parts of the world, making it readily available for use.
  • Versatile: Biomass can be used to generate electricity, heat, and transportation fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, and biogas. It can also be used to produce plastics, fabrics, and other materials.
  • Clean: Burning biomass does not produce the same air pollutants as burning fossil fuels, making it a cleaner energy source.
  • Jobs: The biomass industry can create jobs in the areas it is used, helping to boost local economies.
  • Local: Biomass can be sourced locally, reducing the need for long-distance transport of energy resources.

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Challenges of Using Biomass for Sustainability

While biomass is a promising renewable energy source, there are some challenges associated with using it for sustainability. Below you can find a list of the most common challenges that come with using biomass for energy:

  • Land use: The production of biomass requires land, which can lead to deforestation and other environmental issues.
  • Pollution: Burning biomass can lead to air pollution, including the release of particulate matter and other pollutants.
  • Expense: The production of biomass can be expensive, making it out of reach for many individuals and businesses.
  • Availability: Biomass is not available in all parts of the world, making it difficult to access in some areas.
  • Storage: Biomass is more difficult to store than other energy sources, making it challenging to use on a large scale.
  • Technology: Using biomass requires specialized technology, which can be costly and difficult to access.

Conclusion

Biomass is a promising renewable energy source that can help us move towards sustainability. It has many benefits, including being renewable, carbon-neutral, cost-effective, abundant, versatile, clean, and job-creating. Additionally, it can be sourced locally, reducing the need for long-distance transport of energy resources.

Despite some challenges, biomass is an important renewable energy source that can help us achieve a more sustainable future. With the right policies and investments in place, we can ensure that biomass is used responsibly and efficiently, helping us to move towards a brighter and more sustainable future.

How Could Urban Planners Contribute to Social Cohesion in Cities?

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While most of the implemented programmes that promote social cohesion are based on people’s ideology, perceptions, and social behaviours, the impact of the physical built environment, that hosts people’s lives and their social interactions, remains less tackled. In the context of urban planning, to what extent do our cities affect the advancement of social cohesion of communities? And could elusive and complex social concepts – like social cohesion – be tackled in a practical spatial planning approach that yields concrete actions?

The fostering of social cohesion gained intensive focus in the literature of urban planning and sustainable development studies, especially in cities, which include complex socio-economic fabrics and experience big demographic changes. Cities, that involve a diverse mass of the population of different backgrounds, interests, religions, ethnicities, and social statuses, would constitute more than two-thirds of the world population by 2050.

Opportunities and challenges of diversity come hand-in-hand. Providing equal opportunities and basic needs to all citizens, regardless of their background or social status is a pressing concern of planners and decision-makers in cities, where the income gap is more likely to get wider. Moreover, preserving unity and social solidarity among different social groups is a hard challenge that needs more than providing material needs to everyone.

Amman provides one case in point. Historically, the city received immigrant and refugee waves including Circassians, Palestinians, Iraqis, and recently the Syrians. The city, which is populated with 4,327,800 million residents which is 42% of Jordan’s total population, stands as a unique cultural and ethnic melted mixture, while presenting an example for peace and tolerance in a charged and unstable region. Yet socio-spatial division is still perceived in some areas of Amman, mostly based on the economic and wealth distribution, evidently between east and west Amman.

The eastern areas of Amman is poorer, hillier, more crowded, less fertile, and people are younger and receive services of lower quality than those in the western areas. Moreover, the recent unplanned Syrian refugee influx was an unprecedented demographic change that Amman planners could not have detected.

Cities for people

According to the Encyclopaedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research, “social cohesion refers to the extent of connectedness and solidarity among groups in society” and is based on two main dimensions. The relationships among members within the community and their sense of belonging to the city.

Social cohesion between different social groups depends on many factors. Although urban planners cannot independently provide the complete solution to the social problems of the city, yet their role would be facilitating the interaction and social mixing in the community by ensuring well-connected and liveable urban patterns. Therefore, urban planners tend to apply the human perspective to their cities when planning “cities for people” or “people-friendly” cities, where public spaces are occupied by people of different statuses.

For planners to provide equitable opportunities and services, the following needs to be taken into consideration: planning for suitable proximity between facilities, transportation, places of employment, and housing, while keeping accessibility and mobility within suitable range for all citizens. In addition to providing different affordable housing types for different social groups.

Achieving low-carbon, sustainable growth in Arab cities is a complex task.

On the other hand, fostering social cohesion requires maintaining social values like justice and equality, which are connected to the distribution of wealth, and current and future opportunities among individuals. Also, critical to fulfilling equality and justice among citizens is people’s participation in the process of shaping their cities. In this regard, participatory planning is a key approach to enhancing the sense of belonging and social inclusion of all members of society.

The right to the city and the spatial justice

Fostering social inclusion in planning cities implies concepts like “the right to the city”, which is the right of the residents to full and equal access to the resources and services in cities. This right includes the concept of “Autogestion” (self-management), where people are free to make and remake their cities and themselves. In that sense, the right to the city is a continuous process shaped by people’s needs and challenges and based on “social solidarities”.

Another urban concept that explores justice in cities is the “spatial justice”, which have been broadly discussed by Professor Edward Soja in his book “Seeking Spatial Justice”, 2010. The term states that “justice has a geography, and the equitable distribution of resources, services, and access is a basic human right”. The term highlights the spatial dimension of justice, which explains hidden aspects and new perspectives for action.

Both concepts fall under urban social movements and complement each other to create the just city, which implies equity and distribution of resources on the one hand, and supports the full development of the individual and the society as a whole, on the other. Furthermore, the concepts are linked to the notion of citizenship, which requires people’s social mobility and participation in decision-making.

Social exclusion and marginalisation in cities

Preserving social cohesion and spatial justice among citizens raises their sense of belonging, while inequalities and injustice in distribution wealth and rights would lead to marginalise some social groups that are the least represented in the city or deprived of their basic needs. Subsequently, the society’s stability and security would be threatened, while conflicts, poorer social relationships, and violent crime rates would increase.

In most cases, the poor and the most vulnerable sense the injustice and inequality impact more than wealthier social groups, therefore, “the call for a “real” right to the city comes from the oppressed and alienated”. It comes also from “the most marginalised and the most underpaid and insecure members of the working class”.

Integrated approaches for complex contexts

Fostering social cohesion in the urban planning context requires action plans that intersect and work in parallel with different layers of development; social, economic, political, and cultural. The traditional tasks of urban planners in managing land use to provide services and needs are no longer enough to cope with the complex and massive growth of cities. Furthermore, anticipating shocks in an unstable part of the world, that is constantly changing, is a difficult task, therefore, proactive and resilient planning that responds to possible future scenarios is a necessity in this struggle.

This process must consider the participation of different social groups to foster the inclusivity and to preserve the sense of belonging and active citizenship within the community. Finally, while grievances and injustices could take several forms, linking them to the spatial dimension is a contemporary and practical approach that provides evidence and facilitates forming concrete actions, where both, the urban planner and the sociologist work together for a common agenda, in a collaborative manner.

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