Author Archives: Salman Zafar

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the CEO of BioEnergy Consult, and an international consultant, advisor and trainer with expertise in waste management, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, environment protection and resource conservation. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biogas technology, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Salman has participated in numerous national and international conferences all over the world. He is a prolific environmental journalist, and has authored more than 300 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. In addition, he is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability through his blogs and portals. Salman can be reached at salman@bioenergyconsult.com or salman@cleantechloops.com.

Renewable Energy is the Future for Humanity and This is Already a Trend

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Throughout the entire contemporary age, human beings have been using fossil fuels to meet their energy needs and requirements. Natural gas, oil, and coal have made it possible for people to receive power in their homes as well as power machinery for many years, thereby pushing civilization forward. However, human development has undergone a steady acceleration, thereby making the unsustainability of such energy ostensible or apparent. There was deterioration of global fuel supplies which have had a major contribution in polluting the atmosphere. So, to guarantee a sustainable future, the search of renewable energy sources took effect.

The civilization of today stands at a precarious moment. People are on the verge of embracing clean energy at a level which has never been seen before. However, before people choose to adopt clean energy and renewable power continuing its hasty advancement, right decisions have to be undertaken. By the stats of essayzoo.org, the introduction of clean energy in the worldwide scenario has raised questions regarding its stability and scalability.

Unsteady guidelines and procedures for influencing future growth at a macro level underwent exacerbation because of lack of funding and technological immaturity. Nevertheless, there has been a vast growth and development of clean energy installations, irrespective of the slow pace, until a histrionic hike some few years ago.

The cost of alternative energy systems has dropped sharply in recent years

Today, a significant proportion of the globe’s electricity comes from renewable energy. Many countries have thus set up sheer volume installation targets to ensure they reduce the causes of pollution in their environment. Embracing various types of clean, renewable energy such as solar power, hydropower, and wind power help lessen the causes of pollution in a particular region. Thus, it is advisable that as many countries as possible choose to adopt renewable energy trends and get to enjoy and benefit from its merits.

Renewable energy is a warranty for human survival

As aforementioned, renewable energy helps reduce cases of pollution in an area. Traditional sources of energy such as kerosene lamps and diesel-run generators, cause air pollution as they generate huge volumes of pollutants, thereby creating poor air quality. This can lead to respiratory conditions among people as well as early deaths. In fact, it’s been found that millions die worldwide every year due to this, with them developing lung cancer and respiratory diseases like emphysema. However, it’s not limited to this as air pollution has been known to develop heart disease too. Alongside this, it’s especially known to cause long-term damage to other people’s organs such as their nerves, liver, kidneys, and more.

However, renewable energy provides an ecological alternative. It offers one wherein humanity doesn’t have to extract and emit toxic harmful particles into the environment along with using unsustainable methods for the sake of gaining energy.

Also, industries emit gases which pollute the air, thereby putting human life at risk. Aside from this, the extraction of energy from fossil fuels has been known to harm the environment aside from just polluting the air. One prime instance of this would be a history of major incidents regarding oil spills occurring on the ocean that harm marine life and contaminate the water. But, renewable energy helps improve the situation.

Renewable sources of energy such as wind power, geothermal power, and solar power enable people from different communities to utilize natural resources in the production of green, clean energy. Hence, this enables people to manage their energy in an independent manner. In fact, you can now transition to depending on renewable energy sources more. For instance, if you wish to utilize this, you can now use sustainable solar power solutions such as solar panels that can be installed in your home.

Renewable energy development also helps reduce global warming. Human activities overload the air with carbon dioxide and other emissions from global warming. Renewable energy does not produce global warming emissions, albeit the processes it undergoes to produce clean energy. Hence, this helps keep the atmosphere clean and does not put the lives of many people at risk.

Renewable energy is also a warranty for human survival as it helps generate job opportunities for many people and other economic benefits. Renewable energy industries are more labor demanding, unlike fossil fuel technologies. Solar panels involve human beings for installation. Also, wind farms entail technicians for efficient maintenance. Hence, this implies that there is the creation of jobs during the generation of each electricity unit from renewable sources of energy.

Clean, renewable energy can improve the future

The future of clean energy shows a better environment and living conditions for many people. Human beings will not have to rely on other sources of energy to get their activities running. They will not have to ensure certain types of ailments, such as heart disease, cancer, and bronchitis, among other health conditions. Adopting renewable energy helps minimize the likelihood of these disorders happening.

Additionally, they will be able to create job opportunities for themselves when they embrace renewable energy rather than rely on fossil fuels for energy. Fossil fuels are not only capital intensive but also mechanical. Human beings will have to spend a lot of money on such a form of energy. Also, it does not require much of their effort to be put to use.

On the other hand, renewable energy requires a lot of labor. There are various solar panels which require installation and wind farms which need maintenance from professional technicians. Thus, adopting renewable energy helps them to have jobs which can generate some income for them, thereby helping them to improve their living conditions.

Solar panels are becoming more accessible, for homeowners and businesses

Clean energy is also ideal for the future in that it helps reduce global warming. Human activities contribute to the overloading of the air with carbon dioxide and other discharges from global warming. But, renewable energy industries do not produce any global warming emissions. Hence, this makes the atmosphere safe and conducive for people to live in. It does not expose them to certain health conditions. Thus, they do not have to worry about their health now and then when using renewable energy.

Main types of clean energy

The energy trend shows that renewable energy is the future for humanity. Hence, this has had a major contribution in the discovery of various types of renewable energy. Some of them are as follows.

1. Geothermal energy

The production of this energy comes through the drilling of geothermal systems into the earth’s crust to reach deeper resources of geothermal power, thereby allowing broad access to geothermal energy. Geothermal plants are different in relation to the type of technology they use to cool and the one they use to transform the resource to electricity.

2. Wind power

Channeling power from the wind is one of the most maintainable and hygienic methods to generate electricity. This is because it does produce any global warming discharges or toxic pollution. Additionally, the wind is affordable, infinite, and profuse. Hence, this makes it a feasible and all-encompassing substitute for fossil fuels.

3. Solar power

Same to wind power, the sun offers a remarkable resource for generating fresh and maintainable energy.

4. Hydroelectric power

Hydroelectric power incorporates small run-of-the-river plants and massive hydroelectric dams. Increasing capacity at these dams and river projects help generate some energy.

5. Wave and Tidal Energy

Similar to hydro energy, wave and tidal energy is a more recent and emerging form of  renewable energy. Additionally, just like energy extracted through dams, it also uses   a turbine generator. However, while this isn’t constant, it can be predicted allowing for the use of other methods to compensate during low tides.

Nowadays the question of renewable energy is heard more and more often. It’s getting closer to us. Research work is being conducted in universities, students are preparing dissertations on this subject and even third part services can write your dissertation paper in short time with no compromise in quality. So the future of renewable energy shows to be promising. People will no longer have to rely on fossil fuels to get energy. They can embrace the utilization of renewable sources of energy, such as hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power, and geothermal power.

Furthermore, this proves to be a guarantee for human survival on the basis of the points above. Adopting renewable energy is an ideal choice many people and nations need to embrace. Moreover, this will help them identify and recognize renewable energy developments and how they can adopt them in their day-to-day activities hence improving their living conditions.

The Troubling Trend of Greenwashing

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Greenwashing, also known as green sheen, is a troubling trend that deceives consumers into thinking what they’re purchasing is sustainable or eco-friendly when the opposite is true. With climate change gaining attention, most people are trying to be more conscious of their environmental impact.

Read on for information on how to measure sustainability, in what ways we can fall victim to greenwashing, and how to avoid it.

how to avoid greenwashing

Measuring Sustainability

Measuring how sustainable something or someone is can be challenging. It’s necessary to use quantitative methods to measure indicators of sustainability, including social, environmental, and economic factors. ESG (Environmental Social Governance) has created a framework in which sustainability’s defined and measured. It’s a holistic approach in which every aspect is taken into consideration. This is a great way of creating a standardized framework to deal with the complexities of measuring sustainability.

Falling Victim to Greenwashing

It’s easy to fall victim to greenwashing in all aspects of life. This can range from the car you drive, the clothes you buy, and even the way you drink.

The fast fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, after the oil industry. The impact fast fashion has on the planet is destructive. However, brands such as Monki claim their clothes are environmentally friendly, when in fact, they are not.

Another greenwashing example is buying a brand new electric car instead of carrying on with your well-used car. With claims of having low emissions and being eco-friendly, it’s easy for consumers to buy into this trend. However, there’s little thought given to the pollution caused at the factory when these cars are made or even the air miles used in transporting a car across the world.

If you don’t yet feel like a victim of greenwashing, consider your kitchen cupboards. How many reusable water bottles do you own? The idea of using a reusable water bottle is that it’s only necessary to own one. However, most people own a handful of bottles.

Companies have realized and grown with the concept of people no longer wanting single-use plastics. In this way, they have developed a need for consumers to continue buying their brand in the name of being “eco-friendly.” For example, they need to have a variety of sizes and various materials from glass to stainless steel. This is to continue to stay relevant and have the customer come back to buy the brand again. This is a classic example of falling victim to greenwashing.

green entrepreneurship

How To Avoid Greenwashing

Greenwashing’s very difficult to avoid. As discussed, it’s easy to fall victim to something if you think you’re doing the right thing. Here are some ways to try and avoid it:

  • Only buy what you need: this is the easiest way to make sure you don’t consume more than you need to and the quickest and easiest way to avoid buying into greenwashing.
  • Remember, style is eternal: It’s easy to get caught up in the latest fashion fads. Remember that key pieces last forever and if it’s a trend – be sure to avoid it. If you’re in doubt, ask a friend to borrow their clothes or buy the item second-hand.
  • Be wary of buzzwords: if something is surrounded by nature and greenery, look for more details and be aware of the fact the company’s trying to highlight how eco-friendly it is.

Overall, remember to question where things are coming from and be more mindful of the choices you make. While it’s difficult to measure sustainability, it’s easy to try and live a more eco-conscious lifestyle.

Things to Consider While Hiring a Waste Management Company

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Whether talking about recycling for a home or business, this type of service is extremely important for the environment. Waste has a negative impact on the environment and can cause pollution of many kinds. Most companies that offer both garbage and recycling services are very organized, and consumers are expected to be equally organized in sorting their waste and separating it from recyclable items.

Because the process of figuring out what can be recycled, many individuals and business owners find it is much easier to simply hire a waste management company.

Below are some questions to consider when looking for recycling services and reasons why hiring a waste management company can take the guesswork out of recycling.

What Kind of Recycling Service is Required?

This can mean anything from home to office to hazardous waste to syringe collection services.  Some companies offer all types of recycling and provide the different skip bins necessary to mitigate these needs. It is important to contact the company and find out as much information that is needed to make an informed decision on how recycling is handled.

However, most companies will only offer a general list of items that can be recycled, including plastics, cardboards, glass, etc. This list will not be exhaustive, leaving many consumers to wonder what to do with items such as plastic bottle caps, milk cartons and the like. A waste management company will know the specific regulations for what can and cannot be recycled, eliminating the hassle for you.

What Can Be Recycled?

Bricks, wood, paper, metals, cardboard, plastics, concrete, and green waste can all be recycled.

  • Bricks – These are broken down and crushed in order to be made into new bricks.
  • Wood – Wood can be used again as a building material or can be processed into pulp or mulch. Recycling wood can limit the number of trees that are being cut down.
  • Paper – The process for this material mixes old paper with chemicals and water to break it down. It is then chopped, heated and broken down further into strands of cellulose.  This substance is then called slurry or pulp and is further recycled into new paper.
  • Metals – Recycling metals will not alter its properties, the most common metals recycled are steel and aluminum.
  • Cardboard – This uses a process that reuses thick sheets of multilayered papers (cardboard) that have been discarded.
  • Plastics – The recycling process for plastics recovers waste or scraps of plastic and reprocesses them into useful products.
  • Concrete – This type of recycling is becoming more common and uses a process of reuse of the rubble for new construction endeavors.
  • Green Waste – This can be anything from leaves to grass trimmings to flower cuttings that can be decomposed and then recycled. This will in turn produce what is called green waste.

There are a number of items that can be recycled, but it is important to note that not all recycling pickup services will be able to process all the items mentioned above. Certain materials, such as concrete or wood, must be disposed of at specific facilities.

plastic-wastes

Recycling has unending benefits

For the average homeowner, this can mean having to locate the specific facility and transport the recyclable materials to them. A waste management company will have the contacts in the industry to know where to take any type of recyclable item and can take care of the transportation for you.

What Recycling Techniques Are Used, and Are They Legal and Ethical?

  • Concretes and Aggregates – This process would involve using a crushing machine and combining the concrete with bricks, asphalt, dirt and rocks. The smaller pieces will be used as gravel, crushed concrete can all be used as dry aggregate, which in turn can be used to make new concrete that will be free of contaminates.
  • Batteries – This type of recycling can be very difficult; all batteries must be sorted into groups of similar kinds and require. Older batteries contain cadmium and mercury, which are very harmful and must be handled very carefully.
  • Biodegradable Waste – This type of waste can be made into reusable material via the process of biological decomposition. The two mechanisms that help this to occur are composting or converting it into soil improver and biogas. The latter uses anaerobic digestion where organic wastes are broken down by microorganisms in a biogas plant.

Again, a waste management company will be able to guarantee that your recycling ends up in the right processing facilities and to ensure that it does get processed according to government regulations and ethical means. When the wrong items end up in recycling, this can lead to an entire batch being thrown out. A waste management company will make sure that the recyclable items are properly sorted, helping to ensure that your efforts to recycle do not go to waste.

What Are the Benefits of Recycling?

There are many benefits to using a recycling service. For instance, recycling conserves energy, reduces greenhouse gases, reduces water and air pollution, and conserves natural resources by reusing recycled materials. Protecting the environment is one of the most important things a home or business can do. When an individual or business chooses to recycle all different kinds of waste, it makes the world a better, less toxic place to live.

Not only does recycling help protect the world, it also reduces the need for extraction such as mining, logging and quarrying. It also reduces the need for processing and refining of raw materials. All these processes can contain harmful, substantial amounts of water and air pollution. Recycling will save this energy while reducing the amount of greenhouse gas, which in turn helps to attack climate change.

Looking for Cheap Business Electricity? Tips to Get the Best Tariffs

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Every business person knows that making a profit from an enterprise is not easy. Reducing expenses is among the best ways to ensure profitability. However, it requires identification of all your costs and expenses. One area of concern for most businesses is the ever-rising cost of electricity. Indeed, cheap business electricity is a factor that can make or break your business. We guide you through some of the best techniques that’ll help you to get the best electricity tariffs for your business.

Compare the prices

The electricity sector has many suppliers. Each one of them is in it to make money. The competition is stiff, and so every supplier continually looks for the best ways to beat the competition.

Also, the tariffs differ among different industry players. Hence, you should endeavor to compare the prices among various suppliers. In case you get another provider with the best deal, it’s time to switch.

Know when your contract ends

When the electricity contract expires, and you are not aware, it can automatically renew because such a contract requires formal termination. The worst case scenario is where the contract rolls-over to higher prices. Knowing when your contract ends provides you with the perfect opportunity to switch suppliers.

Consider using a broker

The process of finding the electricity supplier with the most competitive tariffs is tedious and time-consuming. As a business owner you have many other essential engagements hence it would be better to use an electricity broker.

Brokers deeply understand electricity matters. They know all the suppliers and the tariffs they offer. They may also know the secrets of the trade that you might not be aware of. To crown it all,brokers in most cases will not charge you for their service as they get a fee from the electricity partner you choose.

Discuss with your supplier

When your contract ends, it provides you with a stellar opportunity for negotiating with your current supplier for tariff reduction. Most suppliers won’t want to lose you as their customer, and so they may be willing to listen to you.

Even where you have a quote from other electricity suppliers or also using a broker, it does cost you anything to try and negotiate with your current supplier. When you call them, let them know that you are considering switching if they do not lower the tariffs. Also, at the time of contract renewal, you get the opportunity to request for discounts.

Change Tariffs

Many people don’t even know their existing electricity plan. It is an excellent idea to look at your electricity bill or contract to discover your plan. Your tariff could be based on a flat-rate, or it could vary depending on the amount of usage.

It is also possible that your tariff depends on the time of usage. Selecting the best tariff can enable you to save a lot in electricity bills. Negotiating with your supplier for a customized tariff is another excellent strategy for reducing your business electricity.

Think It’s Too Early for Maternity Insurance? Read This

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Childbirth is a beautiful experience, and it is a joy for parents to welcome new life into this world. However, the process comes with its set of financial hurdles in the form of hospitalizations, birth complications, among other things. A maternity insurance is the best way to ensure that expectant mothers and their new-born children get the care they deserve.

Before you choose the maternity insurance policy you want to take, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. If you are thinking about getting a maternity insurance policy, then this article is for you. We will look at why you need an insurance policy, some tips you should know about, and what maternity insurance covers.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying A Maternity Insurance

What is Maternity Insurance?

Maternity insurance helps to ensure that the expecting mothers and their families enjoy the smooth journey of motherhood. It is advisable to get a pregnancy scan first to check your pregnancy. The progressive rise of medical expenses and soaring hospitalization costs could cause financial hardship for expecting couples if they have not taken out a policy.

As a parent, you want a maternity health plan that would help you cover the costs of childbirth and pregnancy. With rising medical inflation and skyrocketing hospitalization charges, you know you are faced with lots of financial hurdles in your journey as a parent.

Why Is Maternity Insurance Important and When Should You Buy One?

Women must have access to good healthcare facilities before and during delivery. However, rising healthcare inflation presents a challenge. That’s why health insurance with maternity coverage is essential.

There is often a waiting period for health insurance with maternity cover, so ideally you should opt for it a few years before you wish to start your family. The maternity insurance policy by Care Insurance has a waiting period ranging from 9 months to 24 months, depending on the type of policy you choose.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying A Maternity Insurance

Before you decide which maternity insurance you want to take, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Let’s take a look.

  • Select a maternity insurance plan that protects you not only against hospitalization costs but also against other important medical expenses.
  • Check out the cashless network hospitals so you’ll be able to access them easily in case of an emergency.
  • There are a few benefits you need to look for in maternity plans, including coverage for new-born babies, day-care procedures, and new-age treatments.
  • Get information about how to file a maternity insurance claim, so that you will not face any delays or hassles.
  • Look out for ways to save money. For instance, you may be able to save money by buying a multi-year policy.
  • It is important to understand the policy inclusions, sub-limits, and waiting period in the policy documents.

What Does Maternity Insurance Cover?

Health-related complications during delivery are a cause of concern in expectant mothers. So, it is important to know the extents of the maternity insurance coverage to avoid any disappointments in a time of need.

Maternity insurance covers expenses both before and after birth. Some policies also provide insurance for new-born babies until 90 days after birth. Furthermore, you can also get a tax benefit on the premiums paid for the maternity insurance. They help you reduce your tax liability and plan for medical expenses- so it’s a win-win!

Some maternity insurance policies also give you easy settlement options by providing cashless service. All you have to do is present your card at partner hospitals and your expenses are taken care of. Even if you opt for a non-partner hospital, you can provide the right documents and get your claim processed.

Plan Your Family’s Future

Hospitalizations and medical expenses during childbirth can be a major hurdle for parents. To ensure a healthy pregnancy, you should make sure that the financial aspect is taken care of so that you can take care of your family.

Maternity insurance helps you prepare for medical expenses, take care of hospital bills, and prepare for complications. You should get a head start and look at policies that suit your needs.

3 Ways to Effectively Manage Your Medical Waste

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All of the items that are used in healthcare must be disposed of correctly in a way that is environmentally safe and also responsible. This includes syringes, needles, and expired pills.

There are a lot of used syringes, dirty needles, pharmaceutical waste such as expired or contaminated drugs, and even infectious waste such as blood, used dressings, bacterial cultures and wastes from accelerated clinical trials. Of course, all these things pose massive health and contamination risks and if they’re not disposed of properly, they can lead to even bigger health and environmental risks.

healthcare-waste-india

Luckily, we have some information that will undoubtedly help you. Here are three effective ways to manage your medical waste.

1. Correct disposal

Correct disposal means everything when it comes to keeping our environment safe and healthy, which is our priority. Before items are disposed of, they must go through a thorough treatment process to minimise health threats and reduce damage to our environment.

The terms of treatment realistically depend on the facilities, but the most common terms of medical waste treatment are:

  • Steam sterilisation: A great decontamination method that is simple but highly effective. Pressurised steam operates at a high temperature and kills off microorganisms.
  • Mechanical treatment: Grinding/shredding.
  • Chemical treatment: The use of disinfectants.

It is of the utmost importance that all staff are educated on the significance of disposal of medical waste correctly.

2. Develop a plan

Developing a plan could be considered one of the most important things when it comes to the management of medical waste. Every great facility will have an effective and proper plan in place regarding the management of their medical waste. The responsibilities and roles of each member as well as the waste management plan should be laid out as soon as possible with hospitals and will usually be the first thing you learn.

biomedical-waste

It is also of great importance that every staff member understands knows how much waste is generated and to what extent it does or does not fluctuate. It is up to the hospital to effectively teach this to their staff.

3. Introduce reusable items

Surprisingly, one of the worst ways to deal with waste items is to dispose of them. The most effective way to avoid waste is to not produce it in the first place. Understandably, waste is unavoidable in some circumstances, however, where possible it should be avoided.

A big way to make a change is to make the switch to reusable products where it is possible. Opting for greener alternatives could make the biggest difference to the environment and hospitals themselves. It is insanely easy to use reusable items in hospitals and it will be a godsend to the environment should hospitals consider reusable items.

In some cases, hospitals already use reusable products but for the sake of patient safety, some things just simply can’t be reusable. For example, any sharps containers and some specific medical instruments can actually be reusable! They will simply need to be sanitised and disinfected before/after each use and voila!

Before buying a product, it is always a good idea to check if it may be reusable. This will not only save money, but it will also save medical waste.

It is important to take care when disposing of your medical waste, see how to do it here.

Role of Environmental Engineering in Continuous Environmental Improvement

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Learn more from here to see how the world has changed over the years. Obviously, the world is developing at a rapid pace. Infrastructures are built day by day to meet the demands of a fast-changing and evolving world. Every single day gives birth to a new technological advancement.

Unfortunately, as industries become technologically advanced and globally competitive, they forget about the environment. As companies join in the rat race, they focus more on the competition for being the best. However, they fail to pay close attention to the environmental damage they incur along the process.

As the environment greatly suffers from these companies’ negligence and irresponsibility, environmental engineering is in place to solve the damages. Different systems and processes are in place to counter the harmful effects of pollution brought about by factories, plants, manufacturing complexes and the likes.

environmental-engineers

Learn more from here to know what Environmental Engineering is all about

What is Environmental Engineering?

According to Live Science, Environmental Engineering is a branch of engineering which mainly deals with protection of people from dangerous environmental effects. These effects are contributed by pollution which decreases environmental quality altogether.

Environmental Engineering is especially omnipresent and essential especially in developing countries with poor sanitation and garbage disposal. As such, environmental engineering also contributes to the overall health and safety conditions of an entire population. With proper sanitation and waste disposal treatment, people somehow live a more conducive and safer lives.

modern-waste-disposal

AI-based waste management systems can help in route optimization and waste disposal

With the help of environmental engineers, proper waste disposal and recycling initiatives are reinforced. They are also in charge of public health and water and air pollution control. They ensure that pollution levels are in check. They do so by constantly formulating environmental strategies and processes which take thorough testing before implementation.

What are the benefits of Environmental Engineering?

Aside from the improvement of health and safety conditions of people, environmental engineering significantly helps in controlling climate change. According to Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering also deals with the potential effects of climate change and other environmental infrastructure factors.

As per AECOM, Environmental engineering makes use of analytical skills to provide strategic direction particularly for sustainability initiatives. Such initiatives deal with low-carbon generation of energy. Environmental engineering also paves the way for development of new technologies to minimise carbon footprint.

With the help of environmental engineers, they develop solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells. These tools aim to increase the efficiency of manufacturing. With better use of alternative energy sources, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions are reduced.

ecofriendly-manufacturing

 

What is the future of Environmental Engineering?

With the help of engineers, environmental engineering shall continue to aid in continuous environmental improvement and environmental management. Different environmental engineering companies also painstakingly improve their offered services to improve the following:

As Environmental Engineering improves these services one step at a time, people are guaranteed a better quality of life. New scientific discoveries pave the way to further the improvement of different environmental processes in place. Engineers are quick to adapt to changes, especially those that are geared towards improving the environment.

Is Environmental Engineering the answer to environmental decline?

The environment has significantly been damaged as one gets to learn more from here. Environmental Engineering takes the cue from this obvious problem. Thanks to the tireless work of experts and practitioners, we are assured that something is always brewing to make things right.

However, it is important to note that no matter what advances are in place, the environment shall continue to deteriorate if discipline is not practiced. Think of Environmental Engineering as delaying the effects. It is not the solution to the worsening global environmental condition. It all depends on the discipline, commitment and environmental awareness of each and every citizen of this planet.

5 DIY Plumbing Basics Every Homeowner Should Learn

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Plumbing failures like leaking faucets, clogged pipes, and broken fixtures are a few common issues homeowners face that require regular maintenance. In the event of a breakdown, the initial response is to seek professional help. However, luck may not always be on your side, and you might not be able to get a maintenance specialist for emergency services.

Or worse, the issue crops up on holidays or other times when your plumber is unavailable. Such a predicament would cause a significant amount of delay, and this may not only be an inconvenience, but at times, such delays could further create complications. Additionally, plumbing repair and replacements are generally an expensive affair. Thus, to protect yourself from such adverse situations, it is helpful to know standard plumbing basics.

Read on to learn about five common plumbing problems and what you can do to fix them.

1. How To Mend A Broken Pipe

Pipe bursts are a casualty that can happen without warning. If it happens during the working hours of the repairman, consider yourself lucky, else you would be in trouble. The plumber charges extra for emergency or after-hour services. Unless you have a home warranty covering your plumbing system’s repair cost, you will have to pay a hefty fee. However, if you know how to fix the issue temporarily, you might be able to save a few dollars.

DIY Plumbing Basics Every Homeowner Should Learn

In such a situation, the first thing to do is locate the shut-off valve to cut off the water supply. Once done, you can inspect the pipe to locate the leak. You can cover the leak with electrical or duct tape to prevent water leakage as a temporary fix. For holes bigger in size or damage in fittings, an epoxy putty is a bankable option as a temporary fix.

2. Adding Pipe Insulation

Are you tired of having to wait to get a hot water supply from the tap? It tends to cause inconvenience, especially when you are running behind schedule. Or during winters when you aren’t a fan of cold showers. An easy fix for this problem is to add a layer of insulation to the supply pipes to keep the water warm. By doing so, you prevent any wastage while waiting for hot water to arrive. Additionally, it helps reduce your energy bills as you need not heat the water every time you need it.

Now, you need not hire a plumber to take care of this job. All you need to do is locate any exposed areas in the hot water supply pipes. Take note to find any exposed critical areas that are on the exterior of your house. You can further mark the exposed pipes in unheated garages and attics. Adding a layer of protection to these pipes helps to prevent frozen pipes during winters and reduce energy bills in general.

To add a layer of insulation, use pipe wraps around the area in spiral loops to cover the pipe completely. Another option is to use foam pipe sleeves that cover the pipe completely. Use duct tapes to seal the ends of the pipe sleeves entirely and finish the installation. Voila, your pipe is now insulated.

3. Change Your Showerhead

Are you not feeling upbeat after a good shower because the water flow from your worn-out showerhead is irregular? You might consider calling a plumber. However, it is not entirely necessary. You can follow these simple steps and can replace the showerhead on your own.

The first step is to close the faucet to stop the water supply to the shower. Now, remove the showerhead by turning it anti-clockwise. If it is rusted, you will need a wrench to remove the fitting. Upon removing the fitting, clean the area for any dirt or dust on the threads using an old toothbrush or paper towel. Once done, cover the threads by wrapping around the thread sealing tape in a clockwise manner.

To smoothen the tapes, apply pressure between the tape and the thread with your fingers. Before you install your showerhead, read the product guidelines to find out whether you need a wrench or not. If you don’t, then you can quickly fix the showerhead by rotating it clockwise. Else take help of a wrench. Post installing, check for any leaks and tighten the head to make it stop. Make other adjustments that are required, and you’re good to go!

4. Fixing a Clogged Garbage Disposal

 The garbage disposal unit is prone to get clogged due to a variety of factors like not flushing enough water, grinding potato or banana peels, and even eggshells. When the clog occurs, you will find that the issue lies in the waste discharge area of the disposer. Over some time, the food waste might get accumulated at the waste line and form a blockage. The clog can cause significant disruption in the functioning of your kitchen. Hence, it needs to be fixed immediately. Luckily you can do so yourself! Here’s how you can do it.

With the help of pliers, you can remove the P-trap located beneath the disposal unit. Keep a bucket beneath the trap to allow all the contents, generally food waste and water, to fall in the bucket. Paper towels will be handy to clear any spillage. Clean any clogs, if present, with the help of a small brush. Check the trap arm and clear out any clogs in a similar manner. Once you are sure that the trap is clean, reassemble the drain pipe and tighten the fittings with your hands.

5. Replace/Install The Faucet Aerator

A faucet aerator is placed at the end of the kitchen sink or bathroom faucets. This device is a helpful addition to the faucet as they make the water stream easier to use by making the flow smoother. The faucet aerator may get worn out or get clogged with age, thereby requiring a replacement.

plumbing tips to save money

All you need to do is remove the aerator by rotating it counterclockwise. You might see the clog due to sediment deposition once you remove the device. Clean up the clog with the help of a brush or wire, and install the new aerator by rotating it clockwise.

Conclusion

Hiring a professional to take care of your plumbing projects in the house is always a good idea. However, these fundamental plumbing issues require simple fixes that you can do yourself. As a homeowner, you must be aware of these plumbing basics. It will surely make your life easier.

How to Improve the Efficiency of Business Waste Management

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When you consider any macro-level activity, every small step counts. The same is true for waste management too. You can reduce the amount of waste reaching the landfill if you can encourage the best practices for your establishment.

The increased amount of waste disposal, mishandling of the waste, or ill-treatment of the discarded waste lead to many complexities for us. The air we breathe in or the water available to drink gets contaminated because of such activities.

California is home to thriving startup culture. There are several offices from Silicon Valley to San Jose. Waste disposal and treatment becomes specifically crucial for such an area. Improper business waste management can not only affect the surface but contaminate the air too.

This article highlights the various ways you can increase the efficiency of business waste management initiatives to cut down such an impact on the environment.

ways you can increase the efficiency of your waste management initiatives

1. Quantifying the Generated Waste

The first step for any waste management activity is assessing the waste. A quick visual waste assessment can help you understand the amount of waste present in the bins before collection.

It is ideal to opt for the various sizes of the bins to address the different quantities of waste generated from your business premises. You can define the system’s efficiency by tracking how often the waste collection bins get full or the collection intervals.

You may have a standard 240 L bin to collect all the waste generated from your office. If you observe that the bins get 75% filled and the collection happens once every week, it translates to your premise generating around 180 L of waste every week.

Once such information is available, you can ideate how much waste your business will produce for a given period.

2. Reduction of Waste Going Out

When you consider the waste management of a particular area, you need to keep track of the local happenings that impact the environment. The latest wildfire in San Jose, California, led to an aggravation of the level of pollutants in the air of the local area.

Being a resident of such a place or having your business premises at such a location needs higher awareness. Checking the air quality in San Jose can be your first step to understanding the prevailing conditions.

You can get an idea of the air quality that you have an office in by checking online, but it is crucial to maintain and keep the pollutant levels low. It often happens that the waste effervesces gases in the atmosphere. You should ensure a reduction of the waste going out of your premises to landfills to curb the escaping gases that it can contribute to later.

For this, you can pursue:

  • Reduction – can you avoid or reduce the waste your business generates by its operation?
  • Reusing – can your waste serve as the input material for another local industry?
  • Recycling – what are the materials that you can keep in the list of recyclables?

3. Identifying a Well-Equipped Local Collector

Once you have a quantity of waste that your business generates in the datasheet and the options to reduce the generated waste, you can identify the ideal local waste collector for your establishment.

waste reduction in businesses

Identifying a suitable recycling and collection contact is crucial for your business. Although, the California startup culture warrants driving the business growth and not indulging in how the waste gets disposed of after collection. You need to identify a well-equipped California collector with a facility to properly ensure measures to treat the waste that you are asking him to collect from your premises.

4. Keeping Efficiency at the Core of Waste Management Contract

When drafting the recycling and waste collection contract with your local vendor, you should delve deeper and understand its key nuances. Do your research to understand what part of the waste that your establishment generates can be recycled.

If the collection happens once a fortnight, you should have proper bins to stop the waste from disturbing the surroundings. You can increase the efficiency of the waste management techniques by writing the effective ways of waste management in the proposal document.

waste-management-sweden

You can also define the key here is where your waste can get disposed of and how you want it to undergo treatment. You should always keep in mind that the recycling contract is legally bound. Therefore, the contract should have well-defined catchment areas putting forth the scope of work of the contractor.

You can review the offers of all the California contractors who meet your criteria. You should look at the condition of the facilities in which your waste will get processed. Although the above is not an exhaustive list, these can increase the waste management contract’s efficiency.

6 Common Reasons Why Sidewalks Are Seldom Used

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One of the common neighborhood problems is how people walk on the streets instead of sidewalks. Going to and from work or school, they find it more convenient to walk on the streets because it is free from obstruction. At the same time, the space is wider compared to the human traffic experienced in walking on sidewalks. Sidewalks are often dominated by vehicles limiting the volume of people they can cater to.

Not using the sidewalks may provide convenience at some point but it compromises the safety of the people. In building a community, one of the most important considerations is easy and safe means of transport. Allow the sidewalks to give the people a reason to walk instead of hopping on a bus or taking a cab. These 6 reasons will give you a clearer view on why people seldom use sidewalks.

(Image Source: https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/04/las-vegas-gamble-with-pedestrian-powered-streetlights-solar-kinetic-energy/476292/)

1. The Lighting Design is Poor

Lighting design is one of the considerations in order to maximize the utilization of sidewalks even at night. This does not just make them visible at night. Lighting also helps in making the people feel more secured. There are a lot of people who walk home at night. Walking in a dark sidewalk makes a person more cautious about the surroundings. There is the feeling of worry about how walking in a dark sidewalk alone will compromise their safety.

Most urban designers think highly of the lighting design of the streets. Apart from the fact that it compromises safety, this is the most common reason why few people choose to walk on sidewalks at night. There are a lot of all-in-one solar street lights with an innovational design that brings out the essence of well-lit sidewalks. Apart from the fact that it is energy-efficient, these street lights are also providing direct and vibrant light on the streets.

2. The Vehicles Dominate the Sidewalk

Instead of being able to pass through smoothly, small vehicles are parked on the streets. Being able to dominate the sidewalk limits the space where people can pass through. Spaces designated for small vehicles should be provided for the people to maximize the space designated for them. Most people park their bikes and motorcycles on sidewalks because there are limited spaces for them. This may seem like a small issue but it constitutes to why people choose not to walk on sidewalks.

3. The Space is Limited

In planning urban or rural sidewalks, the designated space depends on the volume of people. This is the primary consideration making it possible for the sidewalk to cater to the population. Know that not all have the means of transporting through bus or cab. Most people choose to walk block by block. When the space is limited, it will take time to walk from one block to another because you keep bumping on people.

Sidewalks with limited space are more likely not to be prioritized by people. This is one of the urban and rural issues which should be provided with a long term solution. Most people choose to walk on the side streets. Apart from the fact that it’s convenient, the human traffic is manageable compared to the ones in the sidewalk. Convenience and walkability feature is what the sidewalk should feature.

4. The Obstructions Affect Human Traffic

One of the best examples of sidewalk obstruction are trees that are too big for the sidewalks. With the limited space provided for the sidewalk, the growth of trees become uncontrollable. In choosing the landscapes for the sidewalks, the space it should be consuming ten to twenty years from now should be taken into consideration. Most landscape architects and designers choose large-scaled landscapes not for aesthetic purposes but for the natural sun-shading feature it provides.

5. The Sidewalks are Poorly Planned

When a sidewalk is highly utilized, they are more likely to undergo several planning and research for development. Not because there is a space designated for a sidewalk doesn’t stop the responsibilities of the planners. They have a lot of design considerations for sidewalks to consider before building, designing, and landscaping. These sidewalks are a life-long solution to people violating the rules and regulations.

6. The Sidewalks are Unfriendly for Pedestrians

Unfriendly sidewalks result to poor utilization. They are not used based on their fundamental function. Instead, they are used as an alternative designated for parking, portable toilets, alfresco for restaurants, and other means. When pedestrians find sidewalks friendly, they tend to maximize its utilization. They should be designated for people and not for any other purpose. This will not just manage the human traffic but most people will comply with pedestrian rules and regulations.

Conclusion

In order to come up with a walkable sidewalk, they should be designed according to what the users need. They need convenience and assurance that these are safe for utilization at any time of the day. Sidewalks should be friendly for people for them to consider walking instead of using public transportation. Moreover, a highly utilized sidewalk will constitute to less vehicular and human traffic.