How to Reduce Ecological Footprint Using Traditional Materials on Home Renovation

By | | , ,
1 Comment

Environmental responsibility has become a huge market over the last decade or so. Businesses, homes, products and practices are all being affected by the desire to produce environmentally friendly policy, which is ultimately a good thing for everyone. Not only are we creating better practices to show consumers, competition, and collaborators that we care for the environment, but we are also doing a good deed for our planet. The end goal is a way to shift our actions towards sustainable, or less wasteful lifestyle in every area of life. This is surprisingly evident in how we use materials in home renovations.

Not many of us consider how a home renovation can be impact on an ecological level. Why would we? It does not seem to be as impactful as massive solar farms, windmills, or electric cars. Well, the fact is that the small impact we make in our everyday life adds up. Sometimes we do not consider how those little things we can do add up. Throwing out a recyclable piece of waste, leaving lights on, leaving the tap running, having our car running. We can’t possibly stop every little indiscretion from happening, it’s just part of life. However, some of the things we do in our actions can be managed. This brings me back to my point about home renovations.

When we commit to a home renovation, there is a great deal of waste, products, residue, and other material that we kick up or use. The building materials we use are also impactful in ecological footprint terms (footprint being how much of an impact on the environment an action is). Asbestos, dust, various liquids, runoff, chemicals are all examples of materials or byproducts that can get reabsorbed into the environment and cause problems for water tables, wildlife, plants or any number of natural neighbors we may have.

Before committing to a lengthy or extensive renovation, we should consider issues of cost to our environment and how much we are affecting it, not just how it will affect our budget. Like I said, while some things we can’t control in our daily lives, others we can. Such is the case for home renovations.

With that being said, here are ways to achieve a minimal ecological footprint when using traditional materials for your home renovation:

Designing Your Home

From the beginning, the design of your home is the framework for all the things you do in terms of the renovation. How much material you need, home size, and types of material you will be using (this point I will get to later on in the article). All of these considerations for your home renovation are also considerations you must make when considering your ecological footprint and how you will be trying to achieve a minimal one.

  • First, your home design will play a huge role in achieving a minimal, or reduced, ecological footprint. Consider how natural light can help you reduce the use of traditional lighting. Light bulbs and other sources of light that run on electricity will waste a lot of light in your home and is generally not that great for environmental impact. One traditional material that people do not consider when trying to create a well lit home is their glass windows.
  • Glass windows can create a vast amount of natural light that will illuminate your home without relying on electrical power. This technique reduces your energy consumption, saving you money, and creating a home that feels alive and welcome. An overabundance of lightbulbs, like fluorescent or incandescent, can often feel like our home is flush with artificial lighting. Combining glass windows with polished concrete floors can also create more light as the light bounces off of the glossy finish and creates a natural glow in the room. The specialists over at Carrcrete have come up with a good method for achieving this technique. You can even pick certain levels on how glossy the end results will be. Using windows to allow more light in is a great way to introduce natural light, reducing energy consumption for our ecological footprints, and can even help heat our homes with the amount of sun gets in which reduces our reliance on home heating and energy.
  • Consider how much material you will need beforehand so that you do not end up buying or making too much and having to throw it out afterwards. The amount of excess or wasteful material that goes into a renovation is staggering. Cutting a piece of plywood that is inches long out of a 4 x 4 foot piece seems redundant. Try to reduce this waste by selecting what you need in smaller portions and get it when you need it, rather than too much at a time.

Reusable or Recyclable Materials

Traditional materials do not always have to be wasteful. When you are committing to a home reno, materials like glass, siding, brick, concrete, etc. can all be found in reusable or recyclable forms. Material can be reused to make new ones for your needs when doing a home renovation while lowering your ecological footprint. Reclaimed flooring is a big way to reduce impact.

Flooring makes up a massive chunk of the space in our homes, during a renovation you may be looking at a new wood or concrete floor for an interesting new look and that is smart for these reasons:

  • Reclaimed wood is widely available and can minimize your ecological footprint. Wood flooring is one of the most common desires for those who want to renovate or buy a new home. It is beautiful and it is a solid option. Even if you choose to renovate again you can recycle or reuse wood flooring for something else later on. You can even consider making it into wall siding, cabinets, countertops or any number of options. Wood is also easily recyclable if you do not use it for a new project or reno. Other friends, family or home owners may want to acquire it from you and you would be keeping more materials out of landfills. Recycled or reused wood also has less of a chance of being covered in volatile organic compounds (VOC) which can run off into the water or soil.
  • Concrete is surprisingly very recyclable or reusable, being crafted from a composite material of metals and other material that was reused for environmental reasons. One of the benefits of concrete is that, like I mentioned earlier about the polished floors and light, that the process to that technique is environmentally friendly because it emits no VOC’s, new raw materials are not produced as its water-based, and of course, they reduce lighting needs in the home.
  • Other examples of reusable materials to achieve a minimal ecological footprint are bamboo, cork, sheep’s wool, and recycled wood are all excellent options for other areas of your renovation.

Replacing Older Materials With Smarter Options

While there are areas of your renovation that are not so easily replaceable with reusable materials or recycled materials, you can still make small contributions to your existing materials. Even traditional materials found in every home can be at least managed so that they are using less resources and leaving less of an ecological footprint as their more wasteful counterparts.

Here are some ways you can reduce your footprint with existing traditional materials in your home:

  • Microcement is a good replacement for traditional cement as it is very adaptable for your needs. This product can be used for flooring, walls, older concrete, metal, plastic, and many more. The advantages in using microcement for your home renovation is that it saves cost and waste because it can be applied over existing surfaces quickly and easily, giving new life to surfaces in the home.
  • Change out your light bulbs for more cost effective, and energy saving ones. Examples of lightbulbs that are better options for cost and energy are LED or fluorescent. I know earlier that I said lightbulbs create unnatural light which isn’t ideal, but I also did preface this subsection by stating that some materials in your home can only be managed, and not fully replaced. Incandescent light bulbs use more energy compared to fluorescent and LED, these can easily be replaced for a quick fix. LED lights have a slight edge over incandescent not only for the cost and energy benefits, but also for the fact that they can be placed in tight spots and afford more flexibility to light those tricky spots of a house during your reno.
  • If you are fully committed to a reno and can make it happen, try reposition windows to allow for a better flow of air throughout your home so that you can reduce the need for air conditioning in the house during the summer months. If your reno is not that extensive, there are other solutions to do so. Vinyl stripping windows or using wood frames with double glazed glass will prevent heat loss as well as any loss in A/C if you choose to stick with a traditional A/C unit. Sealing windows is a big reason for a spike in energy use which is bad for minimizing our ecological footprint. This also applies to insulation (wool’s sheep is a good reusable material). You may also consider installing a whole-house fan.

Deconstruct, Not Destroy

While renovating, you should always try to opt for deconstructing any of your own materials that you are going to be getting rid of in or on your home. Demolishing parts of your house will create waste that is unusable for others. By deconstructing the houses parts you can recycle those parts for others use.

If you want to minimize your ecological footprint and reuse traditional materials in your house, you do not have to keep adding more to your house. Using recycled or reused materials for your own renovation project will allow you to take apart your house and give those pieces to someone capable of refurbishing them for others use. This creates a positive feedback loop of responsible waste management.

Even dust particles, asbestos, mold, and mildew can be dispersed into the air when you demolish parts of a house, or the whole thing. This is a health hazard for the environment and other people. Taking apart the house piece by piece saves these health concerns. Run off chemicals are also easier to detect when you dismantle parts of the house during renovation and can be disposed of or contained much easier than if you had just smashed the place to bits. Keep this option in mind when starting, or finishing your renovation.

We are always trying to find ways to go green, or at least we like to tell ourselves that we do. The fact of the matter is that sometimes it can be hard to stick to our goals of committing to a better lifestyle, better activities and more conscious effort to develop green habits. Focusing on how we can improve our ecological footprint should be a consideration that we have in mind when involving ourselves in as many aspects of our lives as we can. One such way is in home renovation.

Before you started reading this article I am sure you asked yourself how home renovations can be such a big impact on your ecological footprint. It seems odd, or at least like a question you would not ask yourself day to day. Now after you have read this you should be a master of knowing the ways to minimize your ecological footprint with traditional materials in a home renovation.

Consider how your lighting increases energy consumption in the home and implement design strategies like large glass windows to reduce the need for lightbulbs. Use polished concrete floors to reflect light through the house. Adopt reusable and recyclable material building strategies so you do not waste products like wood, concrete, vinyl and other building materials.

If you cannot replace materials entirely with recycled material, you have options too. Consider changing out incandescent light bulbs with LED or fluorescent ones to cut down on energy consumption, as well as utilizing air flow techniques like sealing windows properly to reduce the loss of cold air, loss of hot air, and running up the energy bill. Remember to deconstruct your home renovation materials so they can be reused for someone else so they do not get stuck with an abundance of waste either.

That’s about it. Hopefully this list of techniques will help your ecological footprint decrease to a level that you feel comfortable with, and your home renovation project is a success with the added bonus of being an environmentally sustainable achievement.

Will Ethereum Flip Bitcoin?

By | |
Leave a comment

Ethereum and bitcoin have been at the forefront of the other 20,000 plus cryptocurrencies available in the global market today, thanks to their massive global adoption. They are the first two cryptocurrencies to be formed; however, it isn’t the sole explanation behind this.

The two major cryptocurrencies have been around for more than ten years and are still holding onto their market supremacy with no signs of slowing down.

How can Ethereum Flip Bitcoin

The question of the Ethereum price prediction — of whether Ethereum will outperform the most valuable crypto asset, Bitcoin, has, however, generated a lot of debate among cryptocurrency investors. It is crucial to first be aware of the present status of the market from both sides before assessing the likelihood of this happening and making a rough Ethereum price prediction. While Bitcoin presently has a market cap of over $435 billion, Ethereum currently has a market worth of nearly $197 billion.

Another thing that favours one cryptocurrency over another is the presence of competing factors. For instance, the fixed pool of Bitcoin boosts the price of BTC, as a commodity with a limited supply is bound to increase over time. In the case of Ethereum, the blockchain’s capacity to enable smart contracts may lead to fresh ideas that broaden the platform’s potential applications and raise the rate of Ether, the platform’s native cryptocurrency.

Ethereum Merge

Many assume that the approaching historical event of the Ethereum Merge will significantly influence the platform’s growth despite the interesting argument between supporters of each project on whether Ethereum will finally flip Bitcoin.

The world recognizes the Merge as the most significant improvement to the Ethereum network ever. The network will move to the less expensive proof-of-stake consensus technique, replacing the costly proof-of-work mechanism. To ensure a secure transition to proof-of-stake, they claim that thorough testing and bug bounties are currently being conducted.

Will Ethereum overtake Bitcoin

Source: blockchaincenter.net

The following and last significant trial test for the merge is slated for August 6–12. According to the Ethereum developers, the genuine integration is anticipated to take place the week of September 19 if everything goes according to plan. Up to that point, there will probably be more price fluctuation and a greater influence on derivatives while making the Ethereum price prediction possible.

The project was initiated in 2013; as mentioned above, this event is the most significant one in its history. This leads some individuals to predict that, once Ethereum reaches the milestone later this year, it will probably overtake Bitcoin in market capitalization.

Although supporters of Bitcoin insist that the actual “flipping” won’t take place for a long period, the options market has a different take. According to reports, the “bullish enthusiasm” around the Ethereum integration caused Ether open options to “flip” Bitcoin open options for the first time on the well-known exchange – Deribit.

Even yet, the buzz around the “flip” in the Ether options market may just be meaningless sound for the time being; nonetheless, if it persists, the so-called “flippening” may be more likely than previously believed.

The following are the existing and upcoming Ethereum upgrades;

  1. The Beacon Chain (which is live already)
  2. The Merge (to be launched before the end of 2022)
  3. Sharding (Estimated for 2023 – 2024)

How can Ethereum flip Bitcoin?

This flipping may occur in various ways and for various causes. Since there is a limited amount of Bitcoin, some of its value stems from its rarity, a quality akin to that of antiques and works of art, and can also serve as an inflation hedge.

However, compared to cash processors like Visa, which can handle further than 60,000 transactions per second at their worst, Bitcoin’s blockchain is currently only able to handle roughly seven transactions per second. As a result, Bitcoin is now too reluctant to function as a valid means of exchange – forcing people to look for a more efficient and faster system.

On the other side, Ethereum has made it feasible to build and develop new, valuable products and services even while these render its smart contracts susceptible to attack. As a means of exchange, these developments on the Ethereum blockchain will require some ether coin, which raises the price and demand for the cryptocurrency.

The Ethereum blockchain is now the foundation for most NFT projects and several other web3-focused platforms, and more are being added daily. Decentralized finance (Defi) applications like Uniswap and Aave are also among the significant inventions existing, although not experiencing the same rapid development as the ICO craze of 2017. With the help of these programs and others, it is now practical to trade and lend Ethereum-based tokens anonymously, without using centralized exchanges.

Also, some people who choose to invest in Ethereum also stake ETH in order to generate a return and weather short-term price volatility, with the expectation that this yield will eventually be worth more in the long run if and when “The Flippening” occurs, or something similar like a pump to 0.1 for ETH/BTC.

Before losing stream, history proves that ETH’s market cap in 2017 reached almost 75% of that of Bitcoin. It has generally risen over the past year and reached its highest level in January 2022. From its present level of 0.07, ETH/BTC should reach highs of 0.1-0.15 during the following bull market (likely in 2023–2024).

For a market cap to flip, ETH/BTC needs to reach a value of 0.177 or above. If ETH maintains its speed over the next four to five years, there is a good probability of this. At this time, ETH will likewise become independent of BTC’s movements and set a new benchmark for altcoins to imitate.

Closing Thoughts

Many analysts have already shared their thoughts on the Ethereum price prediction-– believing that Ethereum will overtake Bitcoin, including Bitmex CEO Arthur Hayes, who forecasted the cryptocurrency’s price would reach $10,000 by the end of 2022 or early in 2023. Of course, it would at that price.

The value of Bitcoin and its market cap could potentially decline; some predict it could reach as low as $14,000; additionally, if ETH outperforms Bitcoin following the ETH 2.0 merge and holds more of its value, it may be possible to flip BTC at a lower price in the future.

World Wetlands Day – Celebrating Our Wetlands

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

azraq-wetland-jordanWorld Wetlands Day (WWD) is celebrated on 2nd February every year. It marks the date of the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on 2nd February 1971. WWD was celebrated for the first time in 1997. Every year there is a different theme and the theme for World Wetlands Day 2018 is “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future”.

What is a Wetland

A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, natural or artificial, static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty and include areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters. The unique feature of wetland is its characteristic vegetation and soil conditions. We need to know that more than a billion people make a living from wetlands. Livelihoods from fishing, rice farming, travel, ecotourism, and water provision all depend on wetlands. They are vital to us in many other ways.

Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands play an important role in the processes that keep our landscapes healthy and productive. They support industries such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism by supplying water for crops, stock and people, maintaining water quality, providing habitat for commercial species and having cultural and recreational values. Wetlands host a vast variety of life, protect our coastlines, provides natural defenses against river flooding or storm surges and store carbon dioxide to regulate climate change.

Wetlands cover less than 10% of the earth’s surface, but are the source of almost 25% of the world’s productivity. Wetlands play a major role in the environment, mainly water purification, flood control and shoreline stability in addition to recreation. Wetlands are home to a wide range of plant and animal life and are called the sponge of the natural world as they absorb much of the pollution we produce. They filter out pollutants and slowly release clean water and oxygen back into the ecosystem. Unfortunately, wetlands are often viewed as wasteland, and more than 64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900.

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is an annual opportunity to raise public awareness and promote the value of wetlands. To celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD) event, variety of programs like seminars, lectures, nature walks, sports, competitions, poster exhibitions, video films screening, slide shows based on the wetland, art and quiz competitions, painting competition, photography exhibition, community cleanup, interviews on radio and television are organized at the area, locality, city and national level at many places.

The event celebration plays a great role in making the healthy wetlands in order to deliver the worth ecosystem service to benefit the common people. The demands of water required for growing crops, energy supply and various needs of the industry are also focused during the WWD celebrations. It is mainly celebrated to promote the proper use of wetlands and their resources.

Flamingos at Dohat Arad marine reserve in Bahrain

The Ramsar Convention offers an international structure in order to globally support the conservation and sustainable management of the wetlands. It is celebrated to make aware the public, discus the value of wetlands, its beneficial aspects as well as to promote its conservation and use for enhancing the overall level of the human health, growth and development.

Wetlands in Bahrain

Bahrain is very keen in the protection of biodiversity and natural heritage and has established Al Areen wildlife reserve in 1976. The principal wetlands in Bahrain are coastal mudflats. The country became a party on the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1996, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1997. There are six protected natural reserves, the Al Areen park being terrestrial reserve others are marine protected areas namely Ras Sannad in Tubli Bay, Hawar Islands, Mashtan, Dohat Arad and Hayr Bulthama. The protection of the biodiversity is incorporated in Bahrain National Environment Strategy.

Conclusion

We need to appreciate the wetlands and avoid littering and discharging any hazardous effluents into water bodies including pesticides, fertilizers, detergents, soaps and chemicals as it will change the nutrient levels and may kill fish and destroy wetland ecosystem.

Let us spread the message and enhance awareness on wetland conservation and protection. The Ramsar Convention Secretariat has developed a number of downloadable World Wetlands Day materials for 2018. These materials can be found on the website. Groups and individuals are encouraged to adapt these materials for their own World Wetlands Day events and activities.

Introduction to Composting

By | | ,
7 Comments

The composting process is a complex interaction between the waste and the microorganisms within the waste. The microorganisms that carry out this process fall into three groups: bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. Actinomycetes are a form of fungi-like bacteria that break down organic matter.

The first stage of the biological activity is the consumption of easily available sugars by bacteria, which causes a fast rise in temperature. The second stage involves bacteria and actinomycetes that cause cellulose breakdown. The last stage is concerned with the breakdown of the tougher lignins by fungi.

Compost_Schematic

Central solutions are exemplified by low-cost composting, as discussed here by GardenDIY, without forced aeration, and technologically more advanced systems with forced aeration and temperature feedback. Central composting plants are capable of handling more than 100,000 tons of biodegradable waste per year, but typically the plant size is about 10,000 to 30,000 tons per year.

Biodegradable wastes must be separated prior to composting: Only pure food waste, garden waste, wood chips, and to some extent paper are suitable for producing good-quality compost.

The methodology of composting can be categorized into three major segments—anaerobic composting, aerobic composting, and vermicomposting. In anaerobic composting, the organic matter is decomposed in the absence of air. Organic matter may be collected in pits and covered with a thick layer of soil and left undisturbed six to eight months. The compost so formed may not be completely converted and may include aggregated masses.

Aerobic composting is the process by which organic wastes are converted into compost or manure in presence of air and can be of different types. The most common is the Heap Method, where organic matter needs to be divided into three different types and to be placed in a heap one over the other, covered by a thin layer of soil or dry leaves. This heap needs to be mixed every week, and it takes about three weeks for conversion to take place. The process is same in the Pit Method, but carried out specially constructed pits. Mixing has to be done every 15 days, and there is no fixed time in which the compost may be ready.

Berkley Method uses a labor-intensive technique and has precise requirements of the material to be composted. Easily biodegradable materials, such as grass, vegetable matter, etc., are mixed with animal matter in the ratio of 2:1. Compost is usually ready in 15 days.

Vermicomposting involves use of earthworms as natural and versatile bioreactors for the process of conversion. It is carried out in specially designed pits where earthworm culture also needs to be done. Vermicomposting is a precision-based option and requires overseeing of work by an expert. It is also a more expensive option (O&M costs especially are high).

However, unlike the above two options, it is a completely odorless process making it a preferred solution in residential areas. It also has an extremely high rate of conversion, so quality of the end product is very high with rich macro and micronutrients. The end product also has the advantage that it can be dried and stored safely for a longer period of time.

The composting plants consist of some or all of the following technical units: bag openers, magnetic and/or ballistic separators, screeners (sieves), shredders, mixing and homogenization equipment, turning equipment, irrigation systems, aeration systems, draining systems, bio-filters, scrubbers, control systems, and steering systems.

The composting process occurs when biodegradable waste is piled together with a structure allowing for oxygen diffusion and with a dry matter content suiting microbial growth. The temperature of the biomass increases due to the microbial activity and the insulation properties of the piled material. The temperature often reaches 65 degrees C to 75 degrees C within a few days and then declines slowly. This high temperature hastens the elimination of pathogens and weed seeds.

Advantages of Using an Organic and Eco-Friendly Mattress

By | | , ,
4 Comments

With the number of options available in the market today, choosing which mattress to buy can be challenging. This is especially true if you don’t have any experience in buying one. If you’re looking for a mattress that can provide more than just comfort, consider buying an eco-friendly and organic mattress. Although new to some, you’ll be surprised how this type of mattress can improve the quality of your life in the long run.

All mattresses can be used for sleeping. However, there are some advantages that are only unique to an organic and eco-friendly mattress. Here are some of the benefits you can experience once you start using an organic and eco-friendly mattress:

1. It Doesn’t Harm The Environment

As the name suggests, an organic and eco-friendly mattress doesn’t harm the environment in any way. Unlike other types of mattresses, the materials used in creating and producing organic and eco-friendly mattresses are biodegradable and sustainable. This means that the product—from its creation down to its manufacture—doesn’t leave any negative impact on the environment.

And it doesn’t just end there: when you decide to dispose of an organic and eco-friendly mattress, you can be at ease knowing that this product will naturally break down without causing harm to the environment or the habitat of animals.

2. It Only Uses Hypoallergenic Materials

It’ll be hard for you to sleep at night when you suffer from itching, sores, and allergies. You’ll spend your evenings thinking about how you can relieve the discomfort and reach out for remedies. If you don’t want to experience any of these things, use an organic and eco-friendly mattress.

Because this type of mattress is made from organic cotton and wool, you can be sure that this mattress will not cause any allergies or rashes. This is one of the reasons why organic and eco-friendly mattresses are the perfect choice for people who are suffering from allergy problems and respiratory issues.

Regular mattresses, on the other hand, are full of chemicals and antimicrobials, which can trigger allergies or breathing discomfort.

3. It’s Extremely Comfortable

The comfort you can experience from your mattress can make or break the quality of your sleep. When your mattress can provide optimal comfort, it’ll be easier for you to lose yourself to sleep and stay asleep for hours.

You can achieve extreme comfort once you buy organic and eco-friendly mattresses, which are made from natural cotton and latex—materials that are very comfortable to sleep on. These materials will give your body the support it needs so you can sleep without interruption.

4. It’s Not Susceptible To Mites And Other Bed Bugs

Even if you bought the most expensive mattress from your city, if you don’t exert time and effort in taking care of it, don’t expect that this mattress will last for very long. How you clean and maintain your mattress can affect its longevity.

If you had problems with mites and bed bugs with your old mattress, switching to an organic and eco-friendly mattress might do the trick. The materials used in creating an organic and eco-friendly mattress are resistant to mites and bed bugs. These materials are dense and thick, making it hard for these germs and bacteria to penetrate it.

sleep-improvement-guide

5. It’s Free From Molds

Aside from mites and bed bugs, certain types of mattresses are also prone to molds. Molds occur whenever sweat from your body seeps into the mattress. Over time, this can cause molds to grow. This is something that you will never experience once you use organic and eco-friendly mattresses.

Unlike conventional mattresses, organic and eco-friendly ones wick moisture away from the body. This feature ensures that your body stays cool, and that the mattress stays dry and fresh longer. A mattress that is moisture-free is also mold-free!

6. It Can Regulate Temperature

The temperature of your sleeping environment can also influence the quality and longevity of your sleep. It’ll be hard for you to achieve a good night’s sleep when you’re in a humid environment because instead of sleeping, you’ll be spending a lot of time fanning yourself. Over time, the humidity of your sleeping environment can become the reason why you’ll lose sleep every night. The solution? Switch to using organic and eco-friendly mattresses.

An organic and eco-friendly mattress is made from materials that are natural temperature regulators. If you use this type of mattress, you’ll feel cool even during summer or warm nights. An organic and eco-friendly mattress also has special insulation capabilities and can provide warmth during the cold weather.

Scout For Options

Now that you’re convinced that an organic and eco-friendly mattress is rewarding, start scouting for manufacturers that sell this product. Weigh your options so you’ll end up buying from a manufacturer that sells high-quality organic mattresses at a reasonable price.

Bonus Tip: If you are looking for ways to repurpose your old memory foam mattress, check out this article.

Extreme Weather Resulting From Present-Day Climate Change

By | | ,
Leave a comment

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

By | |
3 Comments
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

By | | ,
Leave a comment

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

By | | , ,
1 Comment

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

By | | ,
21 Comments

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

By | | ,
1 Comment

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: Affordable Housing for One and All

By | |
Leave a comment

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.

housing for poor

The WHD is aimed at drawing the people’s attention towards the need of poor people for an adequate 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 and affordable 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 purpose of celebrating the World Habitat Day is to pay serious attention towards the need for better shelter all over the world, to share the priority of affordable 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.

world-habitat-day

Providing and improving housing is a gigantic task and cannot be dealt only by the governmental authorities. It require involvement of all stakeholders 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 World Habitat Day 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.