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

Air Conditioning Repair: Important Signs to Watch For

By | | ,
9 Comments

There are plenty of homeowners out there who make the decision to purchase an AC unit for their home, without necessarily understanding how best to care for the unit. After all, it is often as simple as turning it on and letting the AC unit get the job done. While there is generally no trouble with letting a brand new unit cool the air around your home, there is always a chance that something might go wrong. If you do not understand the warning signs, you might end up paying much more than you normally would for repairs to your … Continue reading →

Bridging the Gap: Empowering Farmers with Accessible Patented Technologies

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Mixing cutting-edge technology with good old dirt-under-the-fingernails farming is one of the perfect ways to grow not just plants but the whole industry. We’re talking about bridging the big old gap between high-flying patented tech and the everyday heroes who feed us—our farmers. So, it is only natural for farm enthusiasts to look out for methods to sprinkle some innovation across those fields like it’s fertilizer for progress. The good news is that there are some super cool ways to implement tech upgrades in farming, and here are some of them. Sharing the Tech Wealth with Open Source Imagine if … Continue reading →

Environmental Best Practices in the Cement Industry

By | | , ,
3 Comments

Worldwide, cement production  has almost tripled during the last 15 years, mainly on account of high population growth rate, rapid urbanization, increasing industrialization and large-scale infrastructural development. The growth of cement industry in MENA is marked by factors that are directly connected with sustainability, energy efficiency and raw material supply. Although the factors differ from country to country and cannot be generalized, there are major concerns regarding shortage of raw materials, GHG emissions, dependence on fossil fuels and lack of investment in technological innovations. For the cement sector, key points for an environment-friendly industry are use of alternative raw materials … Continue reading →

Building a Plastic Bottle Village From Rubbish

By | | ,
4 Comments

This is an inspiring true story that demonstrates a solution to the rubbish problem, especially discarded plastic bottles, plaguing our planet! We hope it will encourage and inspire other visionaries to take similar actions around the world! Robert Bezeau moved to the tropical paradise of Bocas del Toro, Panama, after he grew tired of the cold weather in his home country of Canada. He loved Panama, but at the same time, he was dismayed by the rubbish removal left behind by more than 100,000 tourists visiting the area every year. While he walked the beaches, he began collecting discarded plastic … Continue reading →

Buying and Trading Gems in the Middle East – A Brief Guide for Beginners

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Ever felt the pull to dive into the glittering world of gem trading? If yes, you probably aim to explore this shiny universe in the Middle East. But before scaling those jewel-capped peaks, you’ll need some sherpa-level guidance. The good news is that this article will lay down a sparkling path that leads you from “huh?” to “heck yeah!” on begging and bargaining for those precious stones in the Middle East. Do Your Homework Before you dive into the sparkling pool of Middle Eastern gems, the first thing to do is to sharpen your smarts. Swipe through info on sapphires … Continue reading →

Everything You Need to Know About Psychotherapy

By | | ,
1 Comment

Mental health has emerged as one of the most common contemporary health issues, affecting around 13% of the global population. The stigma surrounding mental health problems has made it important to look for effective therapeutic solutions. Psychotherapy has the potential to treat a wide array of mental disorders, ranging from depression to Schizophrenia to personality disorders. Read on to know more about psychotherapy techniques and its benefits: What is Psychotherapy? Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a collaborative treatment process for treating mental health issues through the use of scientifically-validated verbal and psychological techniques. The relationship between an individual … Continue reading →

Green Finance: Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow

By | | , , ,
9 Comments

Green finance provides linkage between the financial industry, protection of the environment and economic growth. Simply speaking, green finance refers to use of financial products and services, such as loans, insurance, stocks, private equity and bonds in green (or eco-friendly) projects. Green finance, which has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, provides public well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks and improving ecological integrity. For example, global interest in green energy finance is increasing at a rapid pace – in 2019, investments in green energy reached the figure of US$ 282.2 billion, which underscores the significance of … Continue reading →

التوصيل الأخضر والتسوق المستدام: دراسة حالة في الإمارات العربية المتحدة

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

في عصر يتصدر فيه الوعي البيئي قائمة القضايا العالمية، يتساءل المستهلكون بشكل متزايد عن استدامة توصيل المنتجات ويبحثون عن طرق لجعل عادات التسوق لديهم أكثر مسؤولية بيئيًا. يتناول هذا المقال مختلف جوانب استدامة توصيل المنتجات ويقدم رؤى حول كيف يمكن للأفراد المساهمة في جعل كوكب الأرض أخضرًا أكثر من خلال اختياراتهم في التسوق. التأثير البيئي لوسائل توصيل المنتجات التقليدية تعتمد وسائل توصيل المنتجات التقليدية، التي تعتمد غالبًا على مركبات تعمل بالوقود الأحفوري وتعتمد بشكل كبير على التعبئة والتغليف الزائد، بشكل كبير على تدهور البيئة. يعتبر قطاع النقل مساهمًا رئيسيًا في انبعاثات غازات الاحتباس الحراري، حيث تنبعث شاحنات وفانات التوصيل ملوثات … Continue reading →

Green Building Trends in the Middle East

By | | , ,
5 Comments

The Middle East region faces a unique set of environmental and socio-economic challenges in the form of water scarcity, harsh climatic conditions, ecological degradation and abundance of fossil fuels. Commercial and residential buildings in the Middle East consume more energy than those in other parts of the world, mainly on account of extremely hot weather, rampant use of glass exteriors and heavy reliance on air-conditioning. The Middle East building industry, in recent years, is actively trying to make widespread use of eco-friendly architecture, traditional building methods and sustainable construction practices. Some of the other drivers for the progress of green buildings sector … Continue reading →

Why Should Kirkland Homeowners Hire Gutter Cleaners?

By | |
Leave a comment

Gutter cleaning is an essential maintenance task for homeowners in Kirkland. Properly functioning gutters are crucial for directing rainwater away from a home’s foundation, preventing potential water damage. Over time, gutters can become clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris, leading to water overflow and damage to both the interior and exterior of the house. Homeowners often overlook this aspect of home care, which can lead to costly repairs in the future. Hiring professionals for gutter cleaning Kirkland offers a practical solution to maintaining the longevity of a home’s gutter system. Professionals have the necessary equipment, knowledge, and experience to … Continue reading →

Eco-Friendly Initiatives for Sustainable Commercial Plumbing

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Voices like those at Coastal Commercial Services, Inc. are spreading the word about the importance of ecologically friendly business practices. One area people can learn more about is how commercial plumbing can meet ecological standards. Now is the time when all domestic units can be outfitted with eco-friendly plumbing. Here are some initiatives that could be helpful: Smart Water Efficiency Water efficiency just may be the diamond standard for sustainable commercial plumbing. Water-efficient fixtures are part of how we make low-flow toilets, urinals, and faucets that don’t leak or run. Advanced technologies like dual-flush mechanisms and smart sensors optimize water … Continue reading →

Things You Should Know About Combined Heat and Power Systems

By | | , ,
3 Comments

Combined Heat and Power (CHP), also know as cogeneration, is the simultaneous generation of multiple forms of useful energy (usually mechanical and thermal) in a single, integrated system. In conventional electricity generation systems, about 35% of the energy potential contained in the fuel is converted on average into electricity, whilst the rest is lost as waste heat. CHP systems uses both electricity and heat and therefore can achieve an efficiency of up to 90%, giving energy savings between 15-40% when compared with the separate production of electricity from conventional power stations and of heat from boilers. CHP systems consist of … Continue reading →