Author Archives: Salman Zafar

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the Founder of EcoMENA, and an international consultant, advisor, ecopreneur and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biomass energy, biogas, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. He has participated in numerous conferences and workshops as chairman, session chair, keynote speaker and panelist. Salman is the Editor-in-Chief of EcoMENA, and is a professional environmental writer with more than 300 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability in different parts of the world. Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org or salman@bioenergyconsult.com

The Current State of the Solar Industry

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It is projected that in the near future, solar power might actually overtake other sources of electricity generation. Notably, a lot of concerns has been raised concerning the defects that are brought about by fossil fuels. These encroaching dangers that negatively work against other fossil fuels have led to the rejuvenation of the solar energy industry. The solar industry is now working on their policies to come up with a more realistic and achievable form that will see the industry emerge the best energy provider in the whole world. All this is achievable when the environment and the investors are … Continue reading →

Production and Applications of Crumb Rubber

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Tens of millions of tires are discarded across the Middle East every year. Disposal of  waste tires is a challenging task because tires have a long life and are non-biodegradable. The traditional method of waste tires management have been stockpiling or illegally dumping or landfilling, all of which are short-term solution.  Crumb rubber is a term usually applied to recycled rubber from automotive and truck scrap tires. There are two major technologies for producing crumb rubber – ambient mechanical grinding and cryogenic grinding. Of the two processes, cryogenic process is more expensive but it produces smoother and smaller crumbs. Ambient Mechanical Grinding In ambient mechanical grinding process, … Continue reading →

NatHERS – A Rating System for Thermal Performance of Buildings

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The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, or NatHERS, uses a 10-star rating system which is able to easily assess the thermal performance of buildings within Australia. Though a NatHERS certification is required for all new developments with multiple dwellings, it is essential for all residents to obtain an assessment to be able to easily evaluate the thermal assessment of their development. Why is NatHERS assessment required in my house? NatHERS as outlined above is the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme which is able to evaluate the thermal performance of any dwelling. Though this may seem irrelevant and unnecessary when outlining the … Continue reading →

Modern Greenhouse Design Ideas For Your Future Home

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Greenhouses have definitely evolved through time. It has come a long way from its plain and simple designs to the now high-tech structured architectures. The location, weather, and the availability of materials have a lot to do with the never ending innovations. Consider these modern greenhouse design ideas that will complement your home, lifestyle, and passions in life if you plan to build your own greenhouse in your backyard. Strong and Sturdy Foundation Having concrete and dug-deep foundation will keep the structure in place and could last longer as compared to bamboos or soft wood which are susceptible to pests … Continue reading →

Easy Ways to Make Organic Liquid Fertilizer

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Many organic farmers struggle to find natural ways of enhancing their soil. While organic fertilizers are readily available, it makes more sense to produce them as only then can one be sure of the components used. When produced appropriately, homemade organic liquid fertilizers can be as good as their commercially made counterparts. There are different types of organic liquid fertilizer available. For instance, compost tea is a powerful fertilizer while coffee grounds are said to provide sufficient nitrogen to plants. A huge percentage of organic fertilizers are made from kitchen waste. However, there are many more things one can convert … Continue reading →

Green Career Tips by Salman Zafar

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Salman Zafar, Founder of EcoMENA, talks to Bhavani Prakash of Green Collar Asia about cleantech industry trends, and offers tips for professionals trying to enter renewable energy and waste management sectors. This interview was originally published on www.greencollarasia.com .  Green Collar Asia: How did you become so interested in renewable energy and waste management technologies? Salman Zafar: I am a chemical engineer by education. After completing my Master’s degree program in 2004, I got the opportunity to work as a Research Fellow on large-scale biogas power projects which initiated me into waste management/bioenergy sector. During the course of my fellowship, I was involved in the design, operation and … Continue reading →

Water Line Maintenance: Importance and Benefits

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Regular water line maintenance is essential as it ensures continuous water supply and prevents pipes from bursting which is costly to repair and replace. Water is vital to every home and hence the need to ensure that there is a good flow of water into your home. Some homeowners prefer to inspect their water lines to cut down costs but, in the long run, it will be costly if you do not get professional services. Various plumbing service in Singapore offer these services to homeowners, and you can use the internet to find the most reputable. Below are the importance … Continue reading →

Food Wastes Disposal Methods

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Food waste is one of the most prominent waste streams across Middle East, especially in GCC region.  The mushrooming of hotels, restaurants, fast-food joints and cafeterias in the Middle East region has resulted in the generation of huge quantities of food wastes. The proportion of food waste in municipal waste stream is gradually increasing and hence a proper food waste management strategy needs to be devised to ensure its eco-friendly and sustainable disposal in the Middle East.  Food waste is an untapped energy source that mostly ends up rotting in landfills, thereby releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Food waste includes organic … Continue reading →

Your Key To A Cozy, Ecofriendly Home

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If you want to make your home greener, there are simple modifications that won’t require much effort at all. Making your home ecofriendly is as simple as changing a light bulb or investing in a dish towel that won’t require you to work very hard, but together they will help to create a complete eco-friendly home remodeling. Below are 4 important guidelines for creating a cozy, eco-friendly home. Save light It is known to all of you that LEDs are better for the ecosystem as compared to incandescent bulbs, but have you ever thought they can reduce your energy bill and … Continue reading →

Why You Need an Eco-Friendly Water Filter at Home

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There is no doubt that water plays a vital role in our daily lives. Come to think of it, there must be a reason as to why it’s often referred to as ” life”. Basically, everything we do revolves around it. You cook with it, use it to shower, drink, clean, water plants and the list is endless. Therefore,  weighing all these uses, it’s apparent that we need to pay close attention to the source and state of the water we use to avoid contaminates. From the famous chlorine, pesticides to the less known prescription drugs, there is so much … Continue reading →

Organic Industrial Wastes in the Middle East

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Organic industrial waste includes a wide range of organic materials obtained from industrial and commercial operation. Industries in Middle East countries produces a large number of organic residues and by-products whose disposal is a major problem for stake-holders. In recent decades, the fast-growing food and beverage processing industry has remarkably increased in importance in major countries of the Middle East. Since the early 1990s, the increased agricultural output stimulated an increase in fruit and vegetable canning as well as juice, beverage, and oil processing in countries like Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. There are many technologically-advanced dairy products, bakery … Continue reading →

Air Conditioning Maintenance: Why It Matters

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The lack of maintenance and cleaning in the air conditioner can cause a lot of problems. These can affect since the operation of the equipment and imply in a greater consumption of energy, and even favor the occurrence of health problems like migraines and irritation in the mucous membranes. Preventive maintenance and proper cleaning of the air conditioning equipment helps reduce the emission of pollutants in the environment, decreases the energy consumption of the appliance, increasing its life. Why Preventive AC Maintenance is Important? In order to have a good functioning of the air conditioning system, it is important to … Continue reading →

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