The Environmental Benefits of a Smart Home

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

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

You’ve got one in your pocket right now. Indeed, lithium-ion batteries are found in small portable electronics such as smartphones and laptops, in addition to being the heart of electric automobiles and vehicles. They are also used extensively in spatial and aeronautical applications. But what exactly are lithium batteries, and why are they so hotly debated today? What role does vacuum technology play with lithium batteries? What exactly are lithium batteries, and why are they so important today? Modern lithium-ion batteries have lately become the focus of today’s key conversations and debates, owing to their popularity as the preferred technology … Continue reading

دليل المبتدئين للطاقة المتجددة

إن الطاقة المتجددة متوفرة في كل مكان حولنا، لكن علينا أن ندرك كيف نستخدمها ونتعامل معها في حياتنا اليومية. جميعنا سمعنا عنها وعن الفوائد المتعددة لاستخدامها من الوقود الاحفوري كالفحم والنفط والغاز الطبيعي إلى طاقة الرياح، والشمس والوقود الحيوي والطاقة الكهرومائية وايضاُ خلايا وقود الهيدروجين. لكن، ماهي الطاقة المتجددة؟ ومن أين تأتي؟ حسناً، نحن نستطيع تسخير واستغلال هذه الطاقة من خلال توربينات الرياح والالواح الشمسية في المنزل او العمل، وأيضاً نستطيع الاستفادة من حقيقة أن الشركات مطالبة بتوليد وتوفير جزء من الكهرباء بإستخدام مصادر الطاقة النظيفة. حتى إن كانت بعض الشركات – إن لم يكن معظمها – لا تقدم برامج … Continue reading

Environmental Impacts of Seawater Desalination

Desalination is a process that removes salt and minerals from seawater and turns it into a potable resource. It is extremely helpful in areas experiencing rising water demands due to water scarcity, droughts, growing populations and increased water consumption. With the ocean covering most of the Earth’s surface, seawater provides a sustainable, long-term solution to a problem that won’t soon dissipate. By 2015, 18,000 desalination plants had cropped up worldwide, producing 22,870 million gallons of fresh water per day. Experts believe desalination, coupled with future advancements in technology, could be the key to establishing drought-proof communities worldwide. A clean source … Continue reading

سبع طرق لتقليل تكاليف التدفئة والتبريد في منزلك

هل تعلم بأنه يمكن لمكيف الهواء  المنزلي أن يزيد استهلاك الطاقة بنحو 50٪؟ وهل تعلم بأنك تستطيع تقليل تأثير المكيف عن طريق إجراء بعض التغييرات الرئيسية أو الطفيفة في المكان وحوله؟ يمكنك تقليل نفقات التدفئة والتبريد في منزلك باتباع الخطوات السبع التالية: 1. استثمر في منظم حرارة قابل للبرمجة ستسفيد  أكثر من الاستثمار في منظم حرارة قابل للبرمجة عندما يتعلق الأمر بتوفير المال، عند محاولة تدفئة منزلك وتبريده، حيث أنه من الممكنأن تنسى إيقاف تشغيل النظام أو ضبط درجة الحرارة إلى درجة معينة وهذا هو السبب في استخدام منظم الحرارة الذي ممكن اضافته او تضمينه في نظام التكييف الهواء لديك. … Continue reading

Renewable Energy in GCC: Need for a Holistic Approach

The importance of renewable energy sources in the energy portfolio of any country is well known, especially in the context of energy security and impacts on climate change. The growing quest for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has been seen by many as both – a compulsion to complement the rising energy demand, and as an economic strength that helps them in carrying forward the clean energy initiatives from technology development to large scale deployment of projects from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh. Current Scenario The promotion of renewable energy (RE) is becoming an … Continue reading

7 Ways Of Reducing Heating And Cooling Costs At Your Home

Did you know that your AC can increase your home’s energy consumption by nearly 50%? And are you aware that you can lessen the impact of the air conditioner by doing some major or minor changes in and around the home? You can achieve reduce heating and cooling expenses at your home by following these seven steps: 1. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat When it comes to saving money when trying to heat and cool your home, you will benefit more from investing in a programmable thermostat. It is not uncommon to forget turning off the system or set the … Continue reading

Eco-friendly Features Of Tankless Water Heaters

If you want to save on energy costs and help in efforts geared towards environmental conservation, then think about installing a tankless eco-friendly water heater. As gas and electricity costs continue to rise, most homeowners are looking for cost-effective alternative sources of energy savings. Tankless water heaters have become increasingly popular because of their energy efficiency. These heaters work by heating and delivering hot water on demand. As such, energy is only used to heat not to store and keep the water hot. Eco-friendly tankless heaters should possess the following features: 1. Efficiency One of the main benefits of a … Continue reading

Solar Energy in Oman: Potential and Progress

Solar energy is a vital and strategic solution for the provision of electric power in the Sultanate of Oman. Given the vast unused land and available solar energy resources, Oman has an excellent potential for solar energy development and deployment. Solar energy is a viable option in Oman and could not only cater to the growing need for energy diversification but also would help in economic diversification. With a total dependence on fossil fuels and increasing population combined with rapid industrialization in cities such as Duqm, Sohar and Salalah, Oman’s power infrastructure and hydrocarbon reserves pose a challenge on the economic … Continue reading

Why Battery Energy Storage is an Unsustainable Solution in a Zero Carbon Future

Batteries rarely come up in discussions about sustainable energy. People tend to think of only solar panels, wind turbines, and other devices that capture energy from the atmosphere. However, the fact is that without a form of energy storage, the vast majority of the captured energy would be wasted. Plus, without storage, the environmental limitations of renewable energy will be insurmountable. If we can only use solar energy when the sun is out or wind energy when the wind is blowing, then we’ll never be able to power civilization over the long run. The unfortunate effect of that common oversight is that people … Continue reading

Solar Energy in Saudi Arabia: Perspectives

Saudi Arabia, the epicenter of global oil industry, has been showing keen interest in solar energy in recent years. Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest solar irradiation in the world, estimated at approximately 2,200 thermal kWh of solar radiation per m2. The country is strategically located near the Sun Belt, in addition to plentiful availability of empty stretches of desert that may accommodate infrastructure for solar power projects. Vast deposits of sand can be used in the manufacture of silicon PV cells which makes Saudi Arabia an attractive location for solar industry. “The resource is stunning; land is … Continue reading

Energy Efficiency Implementation in GCC’s Residential Sector: Actions and Technical Requirements

The huge existing stock of residential units in the GCC region, and the expected growth in residential construction projects, convey different challenges at the time of energy efficiency implementation. New developments require the definition and the enforcement of standards to be included at the design process; while owners and users of existing units require motivation and financial strategies to implement different levels of energy efficiency actions. A set of actions and requirements have been identified to improve energy efficiency in residential buildings, these include core management actions and specific technical requirements; and are defined for new developments and for already … Continue reading