Author Archives: Salman Zafar

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of EcoMENA. He is a consultant, ecopreneur and journalist with expertise across in waste management, renewable energy, environment protection and sustainable development. 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. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability across the globe Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org

The Window Problem: Why Gulf Buildings Lose the Cooling Battle Before the AC Switches On

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Almost every conversation about building energy in the Gulf starts with the air conditioning. Efficiency ratings, servicing schedules, district cooling, smart thermostats — all of it useful, all of it aimed at the same question: how do we cool this space using less electricity? It is the second question. The first one is quieter and rarely asked: how much heat are we letting in before the cooling system has to do anything at all? Across the region, the answer is usually “more than anyone budgeted for,” and the largest single reason is the glazing. Walls are insulated. Roofs are insulated. … Continue reading →

Prioritising the Health and Safety of Workers Across All Energy Sectors

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

With almost 250 fatalities in the oil industry for every one death of a worker in wind power, the renewable energy sector appears to be a much safer environment in which to work. Of course, the production of oil has a long established history and a much larger workforce; the International Labour Organisation estimates that at least 6 million people work directly for the industry. However as the renewable energy sector continues to grow, it may yet present some of the same health and safety risks as fossil fuel industries. And due to new hazards such as the extreme height of wind turbines, … Continue reading →

إدارة النفايات الصلبة في المملكة العربية السعودية

By | | ,
Leave a comment

تشهد المملكة العربية السعودية طفرة صناعية وزيادة في النمو السكاني وزيادة في عدد المدن الجديدة، مما أدى الي زيادة في معدلات التلوث والنفايات. أصبحت إدارة النفايات الصلبة تشكل تحدياً كبيراً يومياً للحكومة. مع تعداد سكاني يقارب الـ 29 مليون نسمة، تنتج السعودية أكثر من 15 مليون طن نفايات صلبة سنوياً. والمعدل التقديري لنصيب الفرد يومياً في انتاج النفايات 1.5 – 1.8 كج. معدل النفايات الصلبة للمدن الثلاث الكبرى – الرياض، جدة، الدمام – تزيد على 6 مليون طن في السنة، مما يعطي تصوراً عن حجم المشكلة التي تواجهها. أكثر من 75% من السكان يسكنون المناطق الحضريه، مما يوجب على الحكومة … Continue reading →

Sustainable Cattle Farming: Is It Possible?

By | | , ,
1 Comment

Cattle farming is often linked to climate change and pollution. As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations pointed out in a report from 2013, cattle emit the biggest percent of methane out of all livestock. The most evident solution to this problem is for the population to consume less beef and dairy. However, according to statistics, the per capita meat consumption has gradually increased since 1961 and this tendency is not likely to change. As countries get richer, their population will keep eating more and more meat. So, is sustainable cattle farming a possibility? Regenerative agriculture As … Continue reading →

التكسير الهيدروليكي لطبقات التربة وآثارها

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

عملية التكسير الهيدروليكي, هي وسيله لتحفيز استخراج الغاز من الطبقات الغير مسامية عن طريق تدفق سائل بين الصخور في باطن الارض. وقد تمكنت التقنيات الحديثة في الحفر والتنقيب للوصول الي استخراج الغاز الطبيعي من طبقات ارضية كان يتعذر الوصول اليها سابقا باستخدام التقنيات التقليدية في الحفر والتنقيب. وتشمل هذه التقنيات ضخ سوائل غنية بالماء في بئر حتي يسبب ضغط السائل في عمق معين من التربة الي كسر وتشقق هذه الصخور. السائل الذي يتم ضخه يحتوي علي جزيئات صغيرة, مثل الرمال الغنية بالكوارتيز او مواد كيميائية التي تعمل علي خلق الشقوق والكسور في طبقات التربة الغير مسامية. عمليات التكسير الهيدروليكي في … Continue reading →

One-Time vs Permanent Numbers: How to Choose the Right Service for Your Use Case

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Virtual numbers come in two flavors that solve two very different problems, and picking the wrong one is the most common — and most avoidable — mistake people make. A one-time number is a match: you strike it, use it, throw it away. A permanent number is a phone line: you keep it, and people reach you on it. Choosing between them isn’t about which is “better”; it’s about what you’re actually trying to do. This guide walks through both so you can decide with confidence. If you want to browse both options side by side, our virtual number services … Continue reading →

5 Common Types of Mental Illnesses You Should Know About

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Mental disorders are on the upswing around the world and many people feel stigmatized and isolated due to lack of awareness and understanding about this important health issue. To simplify, a mental disorder is the disturbance in an individual’s thinking, feeling, or behavior which causes distress in social, work, or family life and prevents you from living a normal life. Like other physical health issues, mental disorders also need specialized treatment through therapeutic techniques and/or medication. It is essential to know the common types of mental disorders as different kinds of mental illness have different impact of the individual, besides variation … Continue reading →

10 Basic Things Every Car Owner Should Know

By | |
3 Comments

Owning a car is so exciting. The first days are just so thrilling when the car is still new. Wait until you run into mechanical issues and you will know that maintaining a car and owning one are two very different things. In fact, buying a car is cheaper than maintaining one when you do not arm yourself with knowledge on how to maintaining it. Read through these 10 basic things that every car owner should know. It will save you lots of cash, time and give you peace of mind. 1. Regular Car Maintenance For a first-time car owner, … Continue reading →

How To Start Off-The-Grid Living

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

The concept of off-the-grid living is gradually growing, aided with the global campaign for a better and sustainable living environment. This alternative lifestyle choice involves total disconnection from basic public utilities, including power, water, and telephone lines. While it’s an admirable process, it involves thorough preparation for those who want to try it. Here are the basic steps involved in getting an off-the-grid living started. 1. Build A Functional Living Space The first thing you’ll need to practice your off-the-grid lifestyle is a functional housing set-up influenced by your personal preferences. The first choice for habitation concerns whether you want … Continue reading →

Cooling With Less Carbon: Why AC Servicing is Dubai’s Most Underrated Climate Action

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Air conditioning is expensive. Any Dubai summer electricity bill says so. What the bill hides is the carbon. Every kilowatt-hour consumed by a compressor in Al Barsha or Deira traces back to a power station, and for much of the year a large slice of the emirate’s generating capacity exists to keep indoor air cold. How that equipment is looked after, whether it’s a split unit on a villa wall or a chilled-water plant feeding a tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, decides how much fuel the city burns for the same degree of comfort. There is a quiet argument here … Continue reading →

Reading a P&L in a Sustainability Business

By | | ,
Leave a comment

An environmental enterprise is usually judged on one set of numbers and funded on a completely different one. Tonnes diverted from landfill, hectares restored, households connected, jobs created for women in a governorate where there were none: that is the reporting that wins the next grant and fills the annual review. The profit and loss statement is prepared quietly by an accountant, filed, and read by almost nobody inside the organisation. The result is a familiar pattern across the region. Organisations that are doing genuinely good work, with impact figures that hold up to scrutiny, discover in their fourth or … Continue reading →

Eco-Friendly Additions You Can Make On Your House Before You Sell

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s that life is unpredictable. One would think that with the global pandemic, the real estate industry, like many others, would come to a grinding stop. But, according to HomeLight’s Q2 2020 survey, it took a dip in the spring and as of June, it rose back to pre-pandemic conditions! As this is a seller’s market, now would be the perfect time to sell your home. However, if you want to get the most you can for your home, you may want to consider doing some eco-friendly renovations and upgrades. Here are … Continue reading →