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.

Top Tips To Create A Strong Sustainability Culture And Set A Good Example For Employees

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Sustainability has become a key element of doing business in any industry. However, running a sustainable business can be challenging and involves engaging employees in your sustainability mission. Developing a strong sustainability culture allows employees to commit to sustainability and implement the environmentally friendly initiatives that best suit the company. Your organisational culture refers to the company’s mission and vision. However, there is much more to consider, such as the daily interaction between employees and managers or your team’s attitude to their daily responsibilities. Today we will provide you with our expert tips to cultivate a culture of sustainability and ensure that your company is striving for a greater purpose other than profit.

How To Create A Strong Sustainability Culture

Create A Sustainability Vision

Establishing a sustainability vision will help your company determine the direction in which it wants to move in. Therefore, it is critical to develop a picture of the future that is easy to communicate. As new challenges arise, you should adapt the sustainability vision accordingly. Then you will need to ensure that your company’s sustainability vision is remembered and celebrated in different ways.

For example, this might involve organising events, such as sustainability weeks, team competitions, as well as communication campaigns. It might also be a good idea to involve employees’ families, encouraging them to introduce sustainable practices at home.

Explore Effective Solutions

You will need to develop a solid understanding of your company’s impact and potential for sustainable growth. This can be done by exploring effective solutions and strategies to tackle environmental issues, such as climate change.

Take a look at this Business and Climate Change online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, which is designed to show you how to combat climate change in your context and, through the process of decarbonising your business, identify new opportunities for innovation. It delves deep into the importance of this topic, providing you with guidelines on how to create a positive impact within your sphere of influence. You will also learn more about real-world examples of low carbon initiatives.

Get Involved In Local Initiatives

No matter how much effort you put into designing a sustainability strategy, there might be a few employees who might not want to get involved straightaway. It is advisable to provide them with a sense of relevance by looking for local community initiatives that your company can support.

Following successful involvement with community initiatives, these employees can witness the tangible results, which can increase their motivation to get involved again. To ensure success, focus on achieving goals related to employees’ daily lives and personal values.

Participate In Sustainability Forums

There are many issues that your business might want to learn about. However, nowadays, it can be challenging to always keep up with the best practices out there.

Consider participating in sustainability forums where public, private, and third sectors meet to discuss innovative sustainability practices. This can provide you with ideas on how to develop a culture of sustainability that will show your employees that you are committed to making positive changes. You may also have the chance to make new business connections and partnerships.

Implement Green Practices

Think about creating a more sustainable office so that you can save money and energy. For example, you may consider using renewable energy, as green power sources are now more accessible than ever. Also, you can try going paperless by printing less in general and using e-statements and invoices instead of paper documents.

There are also many benefits of choosing LED lighting in your office, such as providing a better work setting for employees and increasing energy efficiency. Where possible, you should try to maximise natural light as well.

Provide Sustainability Training

Employees should not only understand the idea of sustainability and developing a green culture, but they should also be aware of the reasons why the company is focused on sustainability. This means that your message needs to be clear so that employees feel more aligned with the company’s mission. Sustainability training can take place in a variety of ways by using a combination of internal and external resources.

climate change in sustainability reporting

For instance, you can start by hosting monthly meetings with the aim of discussing different topics related to business sustainability. Also, it might be helpful to establish a training budget that enables employees to attend seminars or conferences.

Put Together A Green Team

If you are looking to truly engage employees and establish a sustainability culture, you will not only just need leadership from management, but at all levels of the organisation.

It can be helpful to set up a green team made up of passionate individuals across all levels and departments of the company. These people should be eager to contribute to the organisation’s sustainability efforts. This will confirm the idea of a greater movement happening and will encourage participation from other team members as well. You will find that many employees will be interested in participating in something that aligns with their core values.

Organise Regular Meetings

Holding meetings on a regular basis is a great way to allow cross-collaboration between different departments and areas of the business. It will also enable you to track progress and communicate results with the rest of the team. Keep employees fully informed about company updates when it comes to broader sustainability goals. Explain how company initiatives are benefiting the environment  and your local community.

You may also want to include general news about eco-trends or worldwide sustainability activities that might interest your employees. Regular meetings will help you stay on track with your goals, ensuring that every employee can feel like a sustainability champion.

Be Open To Suggestions

When employees are empowered with education and the tools they need to make a positive environmental impact, they are more likely to embed sustainability into their daily routines. This means that you can avoid unwanted disruption to regular business culture. Instead, you can focus on making gradual changes and moving towards a culture of sustainability.

It is crucial to ensure that employees feel confident to share their ideas and suggestions, which may influence company actions. As a result, all employees can gain common ground on sustainability strategies.

Share Success Stories

It is important to show appreciation to employees who have adopted this culture by featuring their stories in a visible or public manner. If you are looking to promote employee engagement, you may also want to organise competitions with attractive incentives, such as a paid company volunteer day.

Remember to celebrate your employees’ success and show them that the company is committed to helping all stakeholders, including customers, partners, and the local community. For example, you can share awards, pictures, videos, and quotes on social media so that you can get more people involved.

Embed Sustainability In Employees’ Minds

Sustainability should become part of everyday interaction between employees and managers, from senior board meetings to sub-department lunches. When it comes to adopting new habits and getting accustomed to new ideas, repetition is key. Therefore, it might be beneficial for managers to mention sustainability during important speeches and presentations. This will portray sustainability as a main personal and organisational goal.

Managers can demonstrate that the company’s sustainability vision is not empty words but rather a top priority. As a result, the concept of sustainability and a green workplace culture will be embedded in employees’ minds.

4 Ideas to Redesign Your Kitchen Units in a Sustainable Way

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Whether the trends have changed or you’re tired of seeing the same old design in your room, it may be time for a change. However, redesigning your kitchen units (and maybe the whole kitchen) can be costly, especially if you purchase too many supplies or need to stick to a budget. Even so, you can change whatever you like through sustainable practices that will allow you to buy affordable things. A penny saved is a penny earned, so let’s get into it.

redesign kitchen units in ecofriendly manner

1. Try sustainable paint

The easiest and less pricey option for redesigning your kitchen units is to paint them. Green products are accessible, but first, you need to consider a few things. To keep the paint on for a longer time, you must be careful how you strip off the old paint. For example, you might want to get a lead-based paint remover that will safely alter it. Removing and cleaning the waste won’t be a hassle anymore, and you’ll be able to dispose of it properly.

Secondly, when looking for sustainable paint, the best options are products with low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds). For durability, check if the paint is oil-based or water-based with 100% acrylic resin. You may also add a clear sealer top on the paint for more protection. Finally, regarding the sealer, you’ll find polyurethane products that will care for your cabinets against fingertips and other strains.

Know that sustainable paint is not only good for the environment but your health too. If you don’t choose protective equipment, your lungs may be affected by the fumes and chemicals, and in the worst cases, those paints can even contribute to respiratory diseases and cancer. So, besides choosing sustainable paint, make sure you properly ventilate the room and wear a mask to minimise the risks.

Look for sustainable materials

When choosing sustainable materials for your cabinets, you’ll have two options: either purchase high-end products that will last forever or look for recycled countertops. The expensive materials will surely last for a longer time, but depending on how much you want to invest in your house, they might not be the best solution if you’re not already settled in your own household.

Then, if you choose recycled products, they might not look that good so they may need another repaint, but the prices are more accessible, like:

  • FSC-certified and bamboo plywood;
  • FSC-certified wood
  • Wood Veneer
  • Renewable wood like lyptus (made from two species of eucalyptus)

Still, if your budget allows it, look for these high-end materials:

  • Maple
  • Cherry
  • Alder
  • Red birch

The less expensive products are not less durable, they’re only not that fancy-looking, but you can still change their appearance. Salvaged wood and reused wood pallets are better than having furniture containing certain toxins that can affect your health. For example, some semi-volatile organic compounds found in such materials have been found to contribute to asthma and wheezing.

3. Shop from local manufacturers

One great way of being a sustainable customer is to support your local businesses and purchase their products. By doing this, you’ll offer them the opportunity of creating new and better products and also provide qualitative furniture to their clients. What’s best about local manufacturers is that they can make custom kitchen units that will suit your tastes better. They may cost you a little bit more, but the investment is worth it.

However, if there are no local businesses in your area and you have no choice but to buy from regular suppliers, you can at least check their ethical and eco policies to ensure they respect the environment and don’t waste resources. Be aware of greenwashing and check if there are rumours around the company’s practices because, most times, if other people sense there’s something wrong with a business, it might be true.

Greenwashing happens when companies invest more in advertising and promoting their intentions and practices. Still, in reality, they don’t implement sustainability into their culture to minimise their impact on the environment. So, if one of your suppliers seems to insist too much on green products and such, make sure you research them thoroughly before purchasing their products.

4. Buy second-hand

Second-hand shops are not only great for reusing clothes but also for furniture. Some showrooms will work by displaying used units, cabinets and such at a discount price. The only disadvantage is that you may find cracked or broken things, so they will need reparations, repainting and much more. Still, the advantage of such showrooms is that you’ll find plenty of unique products, from vintage units to some of the latest designs that you may not find on the internet anymore. Plus, some of these products are made with high-end materials, which is why some of them are very heavy.

Regarding the design, if you’re lucky to find a furniture auction near you or selling online, you might be able to get your hands on:

  • Mid-century modern furniture with organic and geometric shapes, minimal ornamentation and neutral and bold colours;
  • Modern furnishings, with smooth surfaces, straight lines and warm neutral colours;
  • Art deco furniture, with angular lines, bold patterns and prints and animal themes;
  • Chippendale furniture that has wooden lattice-shaped curves and elaborated ornamentation;
  • Rocco furniture brings the 18th century into your kitchen with lighter woods and pastel colours;
  • Victorian furniture is represented by heavy fabrics, ornate carvings and inlays;
  • The mission-style furniture features include straight lines, squared legs and durability;
  • The Queen Anne design involves curving shaped-furniture, delicate fan or shell patterns made from maple or mahogany woods;

Wrapping up

What do you think about these ideas? We believe anyone can redesign their kitchen units and furniture by making a small effort to look for something more than you’d typically find at the regular supplier. Painting furniture is also a sustainable method of caring for and changing your cabinets. Make sure you choose the proper paint and product and equip yourself with masks. So, what’s your next plan for transforming your kitchen units?

5 Intriguing Ideas That Help the Environment

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It’s hard to believe that only a few decades ago we fell into the trap of thinking “disposable” equated to “cool.” We also had an attitude that nature was inexhaustible, messy, and probably needed to be tamed. Times certainly have changed, and from engineers to householders, to small businesses, doing what we can to go easy on the environment has become something we all wished we’d started doing long ago. This awareness has led to some pretty ingenious solutions and ideas. Let’s explore some examples that range from the super-serious to the cute and fun.

Ideas That Help the Environment

1. Tunnels Without the Disturbance

Have you heard about microtunneling? Modern-day life means having access to a great many infrastructure services, most of which come from tunnels that run for miles beneath the surface. Not too long ago, the solution was diggers and a huge mess – not exactly good when sensitive areas were traversed. Now, specialized machinery can dig microtunnels with very little need for surface disturbance. It’s one of those jaw-dropping technologies that few of us are aware of but that are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

2. Trawling Away The Oceans’ Garbage Patches

Massive “islands” of floating plastic are threatening sea-life and the health of the planet is heavily dependent on the health of its oceans. A non-profit organization has come up with a simple yet effective way to clean up floating debris in rivers and in the sea. Will this huge cleanup come cheap? Sadly, it won’t. Support their work if you can.

3. Edible Water Bottles

Stopping the plastic problem at its source would certainly be a big advance. One of the top culprits in plastic pollution, water bottles, may be taking on an edible spin. For now, they consist of coated spheres of water. Pop one in your mouth, bite down, and enjoy a fresh, guilt-free draught of water. Now, we just need to see a similar level of ingenuity being applied to other types of food packaging.

4. Chewing Gum Sneakers

Continuing our journey from the large-scale engineering project to the products that ordinary people use almost every day, we have a truly intriguing idea from the Netherlands: chewing gum sneakers! Instead of using plastics and newly manufactured synthetic rubber, one company has found a way to make rubber from used chewing gum. While the global impact will likely be a small one, this type of ingenuity deserves a big thumbs up!

rubber from used chewing gum

5. Drowned Bicycle Bottle Openers

Another rather fun idea from the Netherlands, we have drowned bicycle bottle openers! It seems that the Dutch, or at least some of them, have been disposing of old bicycles in canals. A local gin producer has decided to cash in – and clean up the canals – by using bicycle parts to make its own eco-friendly bottle openers.

From Mega-Projects to Upcycled Products: Every Bit Helps

Can you add your two cents to global efforts that benefit the environment? Whether you’re an inventor with grand schemes or an ordinary citizen, you can help to make a difference. Reduce, reuse, recycle – and do a bit extra on top of that. Looking for an idea? Why not organize a riverside cleanup or hit the beach with your garbage bags and a few friends. Every bit helps!

How to Declutter in an Environmentally Friendly Way

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Decluttering and organizing is an excellent opportunity to get rid of non-essential items, update those needing attention, and start afresh. It also presents a perfect time to evaluate your consumption and purchase habits to find ways of living sustainably. How you manage your home and live your life significantly affects your carbon footprint. Therefore, if an opportunity to declutter presents itself, you should leverage various eco-friendly options to protect the environment.

Tips to Declutter in Eco Friendly Way

Why is a Conscious and Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Important?

Climate change and reducing natural resources have become major problems in recent years. Buying and using more household items significantly contributes to landfill waste, which increases carbon emissions. This is harmful to human life and the environment.

Several agencies have developed strategies that encourage individuals to make environmentally-conscious decisions. This mitigates environmental damage and ensures that humans live a brighter and more sustainable life. While there are several ways to reduce environmental impact, changing your activities at home has significant effects.

Creating a zero-waste life significantly reduces individual carbon footprint. As such, the benefits of conscious decluttering go beyond getting rid of household junk. Through this, you can make healthier, more efficient, and eco-friendly lifestyle choices.

Sustainable Ways to Declutter Your Home

While decluttering benefits your physical and mental health, decluttering sustainably is better for the environment and prepares you better for the move. The following are sustainable decluttering tips:

1. Repurpose

Before discarding any item in your home, consider repurposing it. Most people are quick to dispose of clothing and other things, which can be beneficial in several ways. For instance, old CD cases can be used to store cables, Kleenex boxes are excellent plastic bag holders, and empty toilet rolls can hold cluttered wires together. Fortunately, the internet is awash with endless ways of repurposing various household items.

2. Donate

Donating is an eco-friendly method of disposing of non-essential items that are in good condition. The adage “one man’s garbage is another’s treasure” surely holds. Just because you don’t need or use some items doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy having them. Old blankets, sheets, clothes, and other household items can benefit homeless shelters and needy families. You can also sell these items to thrift stores to make them accessible to individuals who can’t afford expensive items.

3. Recycle

Recycling is another popular and environmentally-friendly method of decluttering. The best way to protect the environment is to ensure that appliances, electronics, and other items don’t contribute to landfill waste. Reducing landfill waste is a direct way of minimizing your carbon footprint.

You can leverage several recycling options available. The most common option is donating items in good condition to charities, listing them on websites dealing with second-hand items, or dropping them off at recycling centers. Choosing either of these options is better than dumping them in a garbage truck.

4. Digitize where possible

You can also take advantage of advancing technologies to minimize your carbon footprint. Computer technologies are beneficial in many ways, including enhancing responsible decluttering. Like most people, you might be dealing with a collection of official documents, old bank statements, paper records, photos, and ATM slips. These items can quickly accumulate without knowing.

Fortunately, you can declutter and organize your home better by digitizing these important documents and embracing cloud technologies. Digitizing ensures that you reduce paper waste that contributes to landfills. Documents and files that are no longer essential should be shredded and discarded.

5. Dealing with mattress waste

Surprisingly, more than 20 million mattresses are discarded to incinerators and landfills annually. Mattress donation isn’t a popular option as many people don’t prefer sleeping on pre-used mattresses. That said, recycling is the best way to deal with old mattresses. Though rarely found, mattress recycling centers can recycle up to 85% of mattresses. Use platforms like Earth911.com to find mattress recycling centers in your locality.

6. Adopt green cleaning methods

Bottles of shampoo, lotion, makeup products, and soap are packed and wrapped in individual boxes. This contributes to significant recyclable waste lying in your cabinets and cupboards. As you clean and declutter, you should find eco-friendly cleaning alternatives to minimize air pollution and release of toxic elements into the environment.

spring cleaning and anxiety

Start by replacing paper towels, which are America’s number one discarded item, with reusable clothing made from renewable and sustainable material with little environmental impact. You should also replace common spray cleaners with agents that don’t have harmful chemicals. You can purchase several products online or follow online tutorials to make them at home.

7. Upcycle items

Upcycling is another excellent option for recycling most household items. Instead of discarding items such as shovels, wheelbarrows, and old buckets, you can use them to decorate your garden. You can repaint containers, make a water feature, or plant flowers and herbs. There are endless upcycling ideas for household items available online.

The Bottom Line

Decluttering in an environmentally friendly way also includes making prudent choices. For instance, evaluate if you really need a product before purchasing a new item. You should also consider buying from second-hand stores to encourage the culture of recycling.

How Can Launder Covers Help Water Environments

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The conservation of water, its proper flow, and assured safety for home or industrial use can be achieved by reusing water through renewable energy. However, algae control is challenging even for modern wastewater treatment plants. One of the best ways of resolving this problem is by installing launder covers.

Aside from this concern, water ecosystems also face other issues, the most notable being water and wastewater treatment facilities. So how can launder covers be of any help in such a scenario?

The discussion that follows will serve as a useful reference point when choosing the right launder cover for your water and wastewater treatment facility. Let’s get up to speed on how launder covers can help water environments.

Prevent Algae Growth

Algae growth has a proven tendency of developing in water and wastewater treatment facilities. It causes changes in the hydraulic dynamics of clarifiers, which leads to obstruction of design features found in weir configurations. Once launder covers are installed, they provide an attractive and extremely low maintenance structure to help eliminate algae growth problems.

Also, larger algae can dislodge and move around in plants that utilize ultraviolet disinfection technology. If the floating algae ends up covering UV bulbs, this may cause bulb failure and render UV bulbs ineffective, which are unfortunately very expensive to replace.

That’s why the installation of reliable launder covers, like IEC Covers, is recommended to help prevent algae growth in water and wastewater treatment plants. This would save money on repairs and UV bulb replacement at the same time.

Control Gas And Odor Emissions

Launder covers are useful in providing a continuous protective environment above the effluent stream. They can contain odor and gas to prevent environmental pollution and protect the health of workers in the area.

A reliable and corrosion-free launder cover system prevents direct sunlight from reaching the elevated growth areas of the weir and clarifier launder. Since launder covers serve as odor control hoods, they trap noxious gases that are generated during wastewater treatment processes.

Provide Essential Value To Water Environments

Custom designed launder covers can be placed in rectangular and round tanks, providing essential value for different water and wastewater operations. This page will teach you everything about wastewater treatment.

Here are the advantages of installing launder covers in water environments:

  • Continuous inhibition of algae growth
  • Lightweight and cost-effective solution for water problems
  • Operable access for safety inspections and preventive maintenance

Maintain Weir Structural Integrity And Function

Eliminating direct sunlight inhibits algae growth, which also enhances the flow consistency of weir and reduces the need for maintenance. Launder covers shield other openings where access is normally required, but for safety reasons they need to be covered when not being used.

You can request custom-designed launder covers according to your preferred requirements. Custom-designed launder covers can be used in both round and rectangular clarifiers, as well as channels, sludge thickeners, and other openings.

Acts As Debris Barrier

Plastic bags, leaves, dead tree branches, and other windblown debris often lands in water environments. Launder covers help prevent such waste materials from ending up in your water and wastewater plant.

Also, aside from preventing debris from entering the water stream, launder covers can also be helpful in containing localized odor emissions if present in the weir area (effluent trough). Choosing fiberglass launder covers helps seal water environments in order to control odor.

Protect Launder From Weather

Strong winds, storms, snow, or heavy rainfall may introduce debris to water environments. Installing launder covers helps protect them against debris and damage caused by natural disasters. Choosing high-quality launder covers will ensure that they can withstand harsh weather conditions while protecting water and wastewater treatment plants.

Here’s a quick guide for when you are choosing launder covers:

  • NSF/ANSI Certified: Choose launder covers that are NSF or ANSI 61 certified. Also, opt for launder covers made of AWWA F101 compliant materials. NSF/ANSI Standard 61 or NSF-61 refers to a national standard relating to water treatment, establishing strict requirements and controls for equipment coming in contact with potable water or other products supporting the potable water production.
  • Quality Make: Select launder covers with superior strength and corrosion resistance that use FRP components to ensure long and maintenance-free service life. Choose clarifier launder covers that utilize fiberglass and stainless steel hardware, specifically made for municipal or industrial wastewater treatment purposes. These launder covers are easy to use, ensuring smooth operation and meeting the required NPDES effluent levels of Total Suspended Solids or TSS.
  • ISO Certified: Choose an ISO 9001 certified launder cover for manufacturing facilities.

Conclusion

Launder covers provide great protection against debris, harsh weather conditions, and direct sunlight. They further help protect weir structures, prevent algae growth, and are handy in avoiding the potential damage that algae can do to UV bulbs in treatment facilities using UV disinfection technology.

Choosing high-quality launder covers would mean having long-term peace of mind that your water quality is preserved and wastewater treatment operations can function smoothly.

The Importance of Biomass Energy in Energy Mix

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Biomass energy has rapidly become a vital part of the global renewable energy mix and account for an ever-growing share of electric capacity added worldwide. Renewable energy supplies around one-fifth of the final energy consumption worldwide, counting traditional biomass, large hydropower, and “new” renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels).

Traditional biomass, primarily for cooking and heating, represents about 13 percent and is growing slowly or even declining in some regions as biomass is used more efficiently or replaced by alternative energy forms. Some of the recent predictions suggest that biomass energy is likely to make up one third of the total world energy mix by 2050. Infact, biofuel provides around 3% of the world’s fuel for transport.

biomass_feedstock

Biomass energy resources are readily available in rural and urban areas of all countries. Biomass-based industries can foster rural development, provide employment opportunities and promote biomass re-growth through sustainable land management practices.

The negative aspects of traditional biomass utilization in developing countries can be mitigated by promotion of modern waste-to-energy technologies which provide solid, liquid and gaseous fuels as well as electricity. Biomass wastes encompass a wide array of materials derived from agricultural, agro-industrial, and timber residues, as well as municipal and industrial wastes.

The most common technique for producing both heat and electrical energy from biomass wastes is direct combustion. Thermal efficiencies as high as 80 – 90% can be achieved by advanced gasification technology with greatly reduced atmospheric emissions.

Combined heat and power (CHP) systems, ranging from small-scale technology to large grid-connected facilities, provide significantly higher efficiencies than systems that only generate electricity. Biochemical processes, like anaerobic digestion and sanitary landfills, can also produce clean energy in the form of biogas and producer gas which can be converted to power and heat using a gas engine.

Advantages of Biomass Energy

Biomass energy systems offer significant possibilities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to their immense potential to replace fossil fuels in energy production. Biomass reduces emissions and enhances carbon sequestration since short-rotation crops or forests established on abandoned agricultural land accumulate carbon in the soil.

Bioenergy usually provides an irreversible mitigation effect by reducing carbon dioxide at source, but it may emit more carbon per unit of energy than fossil fuels unless biomass fuels are produced unsustainably.

Biomass can play a major role in reducing the reliance on fossil fuels by making use of thermochemical conversion technologies. In addition, the increased utilization of biomass-based fuels will be instrumental in safeguarding the environment, generation of new job opportunities, sustainable development and health improvements in rural areas.

The development of efficient biomass handling technology, improvement of agro-forestry systems and establishment of small and large-scale biomass-based power plants can play a major role in rural development and sustainable utilization of biomass. Biomass energy could also aid in modernizing the agricultural economy.

Consistent and reliable supply of biomass is crucial for any biomass project

When compared with wind and solar energy, biomass power plants are able to provide crucial, reliable baseload generation. Biomass plants provide fuel diversity, which protects communities from volatile fossil fuels. Since biomass energy uses domestically-produced fuels, biomass power greatly reduces our dependence on foreign energy sources and increases national energy security.

A large amount of energy is expended in the cultivation and processing of crops like sugarcane, coconut, and rice which can met by utilizing energy-rich residues for electricity production.

The integration of biomass-fueled gasifiers in coal-fired power stations would be advantageous in terms of improved flexibility in response to fluctuations in biomass availability and lower investment costs. The growth of the bioenergy industry can also be achieved by laying more stress on green power marketing.

How Companies Can Streamline Energy Consumption

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Recent projections show that the world’s energy demands are about to increase by close to 25% between now and 2030. Population and wealth growth are the leading factors behind the increased need for energy. Additionally, issues related to pollution and climate change are compelling companies and investors alike with respect to how they produce and use energy.

energy-company

Grs a global resource solutions company offers a plethora of services that could help industries reshape and streamline their energy consumption.

Energy efficiency is playing a vital role in helping the world achieve its power needs and progress.

Increase in Fuel Prices

The prices of energy have kept rising over the years even when oil prices have dropped as was the case in 2014-2015. Such sudden fluctuations can be difficult for businesses to deal with. Also, declines in energy prices have called into question whether the efforts in energy conservation and efficiency are worth it.

According to various financial analyses, energy costs form a considerable chunk of operating expenses. Worldwide, cement, chemical, mining and metal companies, for instance, spend almost 30% of their operating budget on energy. Additionally, the percent of the budget spent on energy is higher in developing nations due to the cheap cost of labor.

Also Read: Why Industrial Property Owners Should Own Their Own Transformers

Energy Efficiency

Statistics and research show that operational upgrades can cut energy consumption by approximately 20%. Nonetheless, investment in energy efficiency technologies can reduce energy usage by even 50%.

The reports and findings show that it is not a pipe dream for manufacturing entities, which account for almost half of the world’s energy usage, to meet energy requirements in a way that is environmentally friendly and economical as well. Advanced technology could substantially reduce energy usage and save companies more than six hundred billion dollars per year.

reduce-energy-use

There are technologies currently in place that can help companies reduce energy consumption. The ideas cover a range of manufacturing and production companies like cement, mining, oil refining and chemicals. Nonetheless, firms are facing the challenge of how to put energy efficiency technology in place how to renew the technology so that it stays relevant year in and year out.

1. Think Circular

Consider your product to be a future source that can be used many times. In other words, when developing a product, strive to move away from the traditional linear supply chain. Take, for example, a data services provider. Put in place the think circular standard by using an analytics system to develop a facility that restructures energy to its core function. This results in more capacity and less operational expenses.

Circular-Economy

2. Profit Per Hour

Whenever making any changes, remember to create a comprehensive review of the full profit equation. During the study, evaluate aspects such as yield, throughput and energy. Nonetheless, profit should be of the highest priority before effecting any changes.

3. Think Lean

It is vital for an organization to create a resource productivity plan. Lean thinking and green manufacturing are based on similar principles and will blend in together well.

4. Think Holistic

When making changes, ensure that they not only focus on a specific aspect. Instead, you should also focus on the management system, behavior and mindsets.

How Cash for Car Service is Recycling Old Vehicles?

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Is your car damaged beyond repair and occupying the space in the garage or backyard? Removal the old or damaged car for free while getting paid cash in exchange is now a reality. Whether you want to upgrade your old car or create space for a new car, car removal services help with excellent disposal service teamed with usable parts recycling.

The scrap car removal services help transport and remove vehicles from your compound and pay immediate cash for it. Ever wondered how the service works and what the removal services exactly do with the cars? Read on how the scrap dealers successfully provide cash for cars in Wellington and buy all types of car models.

removal and recycling of old vehicles

Advanced technology used for recycling vehicles

Recycling is an effective way to contribute to adopting sustainable and environment-friendly practices. With the get cash for cars Wellington offers, the scrap dealers or car removal services buy cars in any condition with the motive of recycling. The car body or metal is recycled for the production of metal sheets. The usable spare parts or OEM components are refurbished, quality-checked, and used for replacing faulty parts. However, the companies use an array of innovative technology for successful recycling:

  • The electronic scales are primarily used for measuring vehicle weight. The vehicle is weighed to estimate and provide a fair quote to the seller. Based on weight, cash is paid for purchasing the vehicle.
  • Management software for keeping track of purchased vehicles, recycling progress, sales process, and managing incoming or outgoing vehicles is important. With multiple purchases on a single day, the software helps in easy documentation and precise access to data.
  • Recycling facilities or technology is a boon for recycling vehicle parts or bodies. Most car removal services either have their recycling facility or dismantle the parts to send to a recycling facility.

Removal and recycling of a range of vehicles

Most people want to sell their car to a removal service because it is unusable or an old model. The removal services have no criteria for purchasing the cars, but professionals do a careful inspection to quote the cash to be received by the seller. Most car scrap or removal dealers deal with the following types of cars:

  • Junk cars are quite old and might break down anytime or already have broken down. This is a win-win situation as the seller gets instant cash, and dealers recycle the parts.
  • The scrap dealers pick up the damaged vehicles. If the car is lying in your garage or yard and is beyond repair because of an accident, it’s best to get it towed and send it to a junkyard.
  • Old cars are not fuel-efficient, decreased mileage, and are known for toxic emissions. The car removal service helps remove the old car, makes space for a new car, and gives you some quick cash. The completely useless scrap cars are also purchased for recycling the metal.

old car disposal

How to get hold of the right car removal service?

When selling your car to a scrap dealer, connecting with only reputed dealers that offer a fair price is crucial. Once you have decided to get rid of the vehicle, connect with the removal service and request a pickup. A team of experts inspect the vehicle to give the cash quote. Once the agreement is done, the vehicle is transported, and the company manages all the logistics. After inspection and valuation, the car removal company pay in cash.

If you want to get rid of your junk or damaged car, it is time to contact a removal service and get free pickup of the vehicle. Not only that but the vehicle is also inspected and fairly valued for handing over instant cash for the car.

How To Write a Good Research Question?

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An excellent research question is crucial to guide your dissertation, research paper, or thesis. It shows writers what they want to research and gives their work a clear purpose and focus. Research questions should be researchable, complex, focused, relevant, specific, and feasible.

You’ll usually write one research question to guide your thinking and reading in an essay or paper. The exciting answer you come up with becomes the thesis statement – the position or central assertion the piece will argue for.

tips to write a good research question

For more significant tasks, you might need several research questions, such as a dissertation or thesis. However, they should all be related, focused, and connected around the main research question. We’ve discussed everything you need to know in this article.

Sometimes it’s challenging to get into the writing spirit and develop effective research questions or interesting topics for your study paper. There are many reasons you might struggle to produce good research questions for an essay. The good thing is writing services such as do my research paper can help when you are stuck. Customer reviews suggest that these companies are good at writing about different topics. The process of hiring is easy. You only need to send instructions, choose a writer, deposit payment and revise the paper.

What is a research question?

A research question is a question around which writers center their research. It should be:

  • Focused – It should be narrow enough that you can answer it thoroughly in the space the enjoyable task allows.
  • Clear – It offers sufficient specifics so your audience can quickly grasp its purposes without needing more explanation.
  • Complex – It should not be answerable with a simple “no” or “yes” but should have analysis and synthesis of sources and ideas before you compose an answer.
  • Concise – You need to express it in the fewest words possible.
  • Arguable – The possible answers can elicit debates instead of accepted facts.

Writers need to write a research question about a topic they’re passionate about or/and curious about. The types of research questions you ask should be created for the area of study. For example, a question that is good for Physics differs from a good one in Sociology or Political Science. If you’re creating your query for a course other than 1st-year composition, discussing your ideas with your lecturer might be wise.

Tips for Writing a Research Question

When writing your paper, there are specific characteristics that it should have. We’ve listed them below:

  1. Be specific and give details to help your readers understand your purpose without struggling.
  2. Always focus on its scope. It would be best if you narrowed it enough to ensure that it fits in the space provided in the paper.
  3. Be concise and relevant in a way you can express the main ideas in the fewest words possible.
  4. Be testable or arguable so that answers to your chosen question are open to counterarguments, scrutiny, and specific queries.

Some of these features might be hard to grasp in the list form. Our experts have gotten into more detail about what a compelling research question needs to have.

The Research Question Should Be Specific and Focused

It’s hard to address queries that are too broad in one study. One reason for this is there are multiple variables or factors to consider. Additionally, a large sample information set or a long timeline might suggest that your question lacks enough focus.

When your question is specific, it means that the collective observations and data combine to deny or confirm the chosen hypothesis understandably. If the query is vague, the information might create an alternate theory or research problem you failed to address in your Introduction.

Consider Your Audience

The most crucial characteristic of composing a great research question is to figure out if there is an audience who wants to know the answer to the question you’re proposing. Additionally, knowing your audience will help you refine the paper and focus on features that relate to specific groups.

Conduct Preliminary Research

Before writing your query, it’s wise to study several reliable academic sources. Limit the studying to recently published materials and several influential tasks on the subject. The aim is for the writers to familiarize themselves with the central debates in academic writing.

Note that reading to create research questions differs from studying to develop an answer to them. Focus on the main arguments and ideas because these are mainly found in your introduction and conclusion. You don’t have to read each word and write down many notes because there is a high possibility, you’ll get back to the text later.

ecology research paper

Research Question Examples

Below are several examples of questions examples that can inspire you to create your own:

  1. What are the effects of playing video games daily on the engagement levels of teenagers aged below 16 years?
  2. What educational techniques help encourage good driving among young people?
  3. How does playing sports help in focusing on your studies?
  4. How does living with grandchildren enhance the quality of life for older people?
  5. What factors affect human’s beliefs in religion?
  6. What teaching methods can tutors use to engage learners in an online classroom?
  7. What features make a grocery store simple for buyers to navigate?
  8. How does banning smartphones in school help encourage socialization in teenagers?
  9. How have increased streaming services transformed how people watch sports and TV shows?
  10. How do working night shifts affect a parent’s and child’s relationship?
  11. What factors have inspired more suppliers to provide eco-friendly packaging for their deliveries?
  12. How can playing video games enhance creativity in kids?

Wrap-up

Questions lead us to answers. On the other hand, research is the process of looking for answers. The questions don’t need to be vague if you want to attract an audience. They should be focused so that they can define the research. Because of this, it’s always good to ask an appropriate question for it to become an essential topic of discussion.

A research question that begins well should have a good research question. It creates a good direction for investigation and offers a precise aim to focus on. Understanding a significant research question’s features will help generate new ideas and enhance your research methods.

5 Small Things You Can Do To Help The Environment

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It’s no secret that the world is in trouble. We see the effects of climate change all around us, and it’s clear that something needs to be done. But what can we do? It seems like such a daunting task, especially when we feel so powerless.

But there are things we can do. Small things, everyday things. Things might not seem like they’ll make a big difference, but when added up they can make a real impact. Here are five small things you can do every day to help the environment and fight climate change.

small things to help the environment

1. Use a reusable water bottle

Saving water is not only good for the environment, but it can also save you money. When you use a reusable water bottle, you don’t have to buy bottled water anymore. This is good for the environment because it reduces the number of plastic bottles that end up in landfills. It’s also good for your wallet because you’ll save money on water bills.

There are many different types of reusable water bottles available, so you can find one that suits your needs. Some bottles come with filters, so you can drink clean water even if you’re not near a source of fresh water. Others have special features like insulation, so you can keep your water cold for longer.

No matter which type of reusable water bottle you choose, you’ll be making a positive impact on the environment and your wallet. So start using a reusable water bottle today!

2. Use a cloth napkin instead of disposable ones

Disposable napkins or paper towels can create a lot of waste. Bringing your own cloth napkin or towel is a great way to avoid creating unnecessary waste. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll also save money in the long run!

Disposable napkins may seem like a convenient way to avoid getting your hands dirty, but they can actually be quite damaging to the environment.

For starters, they require a lot of resources to produce and often end up in landfills where they take centuries to decompose. Additionally, using disposable napkins contributes to the problem of microplastics – tiny pieces of plastic that are polluting our oceans and waterways. By bringing your own cloth napkin or towel, you can help reduce the number of disposable napkins that are used each day.

2. Bring your own utensils to avoid using disposable ones

It is no secret that our world is facing an environmental crisis. With the human population booming and more people than ever before living in cities, the amount of waste we produce is unsustainable.

One way to help reduce our impact on the planet is to stop using disposable napkins and paper towels. By bringing your own utensils, you can avoid using these items altogether.

Not only will this save you money in the long run, but it will also help reduce the amount of waste produced each year.

Think about it – if every person in America stopped using disposable napkins and paper towels, we could potentially save millions of trees! And that’s just one small change we can make to help the environment.

So next time you’re packing your lunch or headed out to a picnic, remember to bring along a cloth napkin or towel. It’s a simple way to save money and help the planet at the same time!

4. Buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste

Americans discard more than 33 million tons of plastic each year, most of which is not recycled. This amounts to about 120 pounds of plastic per person.

packaging waste

Packaging that adorns your product can have serious environmental impact.

If we want to make a real dent in this problem, we need to start making changes at the individual level. One way to do that is by buying our groceries in bulk.

When you buy in bulk, you reduce the amount of packaging waste produced. And since most bulk items are packaged in recyclable or reusable containers, you can further reduce your impact by recycling or reusing those containers.

You should also consider the differences between compostable & biodegradable packaging. Buying in bulk will help you make a larger impact.

Buying in bulk is also a great way to save money. By buying larger quantities of items, you can often get them at a discounted price. So not only are you helping the environment, but you’re also saving yourself some cash!

The next time you’re at the grocery store, try buying some of your favorite items in bulk. You may be surprised at how much money you can save – and how much less waste you produce.

5. Educate yourself and others about environmental issues

In order to make a real difference in the amount of waste we produce as a society, it’s important that we start taking small steps at the individual level. One way to do this is by educating ourselves and others about environmental issues and ways to help the planet.

top environmental quotes

If every person in America became more environmentally conscious, we could make a real difference in the amount of waste we produce each year. And that’s just one tiny step in the right direction!

There are many ways we can help the environment, and it’s important that we educate ourselves on as many of them as possible. By doing this, we can start making small changes in our own lives that will have a big impact down the road.

So if you’re passionate about helping the environment, don’t be afraid to spread the word! Talk to your friends and family about the issues, and share articles and videos you come across online. The more people who know about these issues, the more likely we are to see change.

Conclusion

Every little bit counts when it comes to helping the environment, and by making small changes in our everyday lives we can collectively make a big impact. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your environmental footprint, start with some of the tips we’ve shared in this article. And don’t forget to spread the word!

Talk to your friends and family about environmental issues and ways they can help make a difference. Together, we can make the world a cleaner and more sustainable place for future generations.