Food Waste and the Spirit of Ramadan

By | | , ,
6 Comments

In recent years, enormous generation of food waste during the holy month of Ramadan has been a matter of big debate in Muslim countries and elsewhere. As per conservative estimates, around one-fifth of the food purchased or prepared during Ramadan finds its way to garbage bins or landfills. This translates into thousands of tons of precious food which could have been used for feeding tens of millions of hungry people in impoverished countries of Asia, Africa and elsewhere. The staggering amount of food waste generation during Ramadan urgently demands a strong strategy for its minimization, sustainable utilization and eco-friendly disposal.

food-waste-ramadan-muslims

Gravity of the Situation

Middle East nations are acknowledged as being the world’s top food wasters, and during Ramadan the situation takes a turn for the worse. The holy city of Makkah witnessed the generation of 5,000 tons of food residuals during the first three days of Ramadan in 2014.

In 2016, around 1803 tons of food waste was produced in Abu Dhabi every day during the holy month of Ramadan. In Bahrain, food waste generation in Bahrain exceeds 400 tons per day during the holy month. Same is the case with Qatar where almost half of the food prepared during Ramadan finds its way into garbage bins.

The scenario in less-affluent Muslim countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Pakistan is not different. According to Malaysia’s government agency Solid Waste And Public Cleansing Management Corporation, more than 270,000 tons of food in thrown into garbage bins during Ramadan.

Needless to say, the amount of food waste generated in Ramadan is significantly higher than other months, as much as 25%. There is a chronic inclination of Muslims towards over-indulgence and lavishness in the holy month, even though the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked Muslims to adopt moderation in all walks of life.

Socio-cultural attitudes and lavish lifestyles also play a major role in more food waste generation in Ramadan in almost all Muslim countries. High-income groups usually generate more food waste per capita when compared to less-affluent groups. In Muslim countries, hotels and restaurants are a big contributor of food wastes during Ramadan due to super-lavish buffets and extravagant Iftar parties.

The Way Forward

The foremost steps to reduce food wastage in Ramadan are behavioral change, increased public awareness, strong legislation, creation of food banks and community participation. Effective laws and mass sensitization campaigns are required to persuade the people to adopt waste minimization practices and implement sustainable lifestyles.

food-waste-ramadan

Super-lavish buffets and extravagant Iftar parties are big contributors of food waste in Ramadan

Establishment of food banks in residential as well as commercial areas can be a very good way to utilize surplus food in a humane and ethical manner. Infact, food banks in countries like Egypt, India and Pakistan have been operating successfully, however there is a real need to have such initiatives on a mass-scale to tackle the menace of food waste.

Dubai has laid down new guidelines to cut food wastage and streamline the donation of excess food prepared at banquets and buffets. The “Heafz Al Na’amah” is a notable initiative to ensure that surplus food from hotels, Iftar parties and households is not wasted and reach the needy in safe and hygienic conditions. In Qatar, Wa’hab is helping in sustainable utilization of leftover food but supplying it to the needy ones.

During Ramadan 2015, Dubai Municipality launched an initiative called ‘Smart Homes,’ which will continue this year. The initiative encourages Dubai residents to reduce waste during the holy month. Smart Homes is a waste gathering technique in electronic containers that measures the amount of waste produced by each home. The initiative mainly targets residential areas dominated by Emirati residents due to their large family gatherings,” he said. Homes that produce the least amount of waste during the holy month are rewarded with cash prizes and certificates that encourage them to reduce waste.

In addition to such initiatives, religious scholars and prayer-leaders can play a vital role in motivating Muslims to follow Islamic principles of sustainability, as mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadith. The best way to reduce food waste during Ramadan is to feel solidarity towards millions and millions of people around the world who face enormous hardships in having a single meal each day.

Benefits of Rotational Grazing + Creating A Herd Migration In Your Farm Pasture

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Rotational grazing is a concept that has similar benefits to rotating farm crops. When an area is constantly sucked of its nutrients, it can have a harder time naturally restoring itself. The same can be said for grazing fields. However, livestock prefer eating premature new crops instead of grazing in areas that haven’t been touched.

That’s why rotational grazing and creating a herd migration in your farm pasture is a great idea. Free range is still a concept, but you may notice that the landscape has continued to change in pastures.

benefits of rotational grazing

When you drive by a farm now and see tons of fences, this is likely to create herd migration. Farmers are taking advantage of the benefits. Here is why you should too.

Benefits of Rotational Grazing

Training cattle to graze is not usually an immediate thought. But the benefits are similar if you train a pet. A healthier lifestyle makes for a healthier pasture. The cattle are typically moved when two to three inches are left. Then they can move on to the next pasture, which should be around six to eight inches.

1. Fresh Food

Having healthy cattle is the priority for any farmer. When you use herd migration tactics, you are constantly moving them to fresh grass. In turn, the cattle will eat grass with the most nutrients, as opposed to an area that is overused and struggling to come back.

The cycle by which an area is grazed depends on the farmer. Some producers prefer for a cycle to last seven days. Others may go every few hours. The latter requires a lot more dedication and nurturing. There will be more soil turnover and watering with quicker cycles which is unideal. Sometimes a quick turnaround can defeat the “green impact.”

2. Environmentally Friendly

A farmer who does rotational grazing right is a farmer who is more environmentally friendly. The earth needs its time to run through its own cycles. Longer rotational grazing cycles can allow that part of the earth to recover naturally.

This is something where technology has also played a heavy role in recent farming strategies. Climates that are unpredictable may not always allow for soil recovery. However, new trends such as food technology and hydroponics offer different solutions. Fencing is not all that different.

When farmers need more water, soil, and other materials to turn the area over quicker, they use more resources. This is less efficient. Keeping your land sustainable is a big part of reducing costs and keeping the cattle healthy.

3. Group Meals

When no fences are in place to help control the migration, cattle can roam wherever. The results lead to difficulty maintaining the land. There are likely to be splotches of overused land while others go untouched. When herds graze together, the likelihood of erosion is much less.

It also allows you to collect more grass because of the abundance you’ll receive from having healthy pastures. With a decent stockpile, you can cut costs by not having to buy more hay.  A double benefit as it comes back to sustainability and cost efficiency.

Erosion can also have an impact on crops. Some land is used for crop rotation and later for grazing to let it recover. Erosion and weeds don’t allow for the area to be easily manicured back to a crop-ready zone. Soil with correct pH levels is key and not always easy to cultivate.

4. Healthy Habits

Cattle in a controlled environment struggle less with portion eating than those who roam free. The fertility of the cattle, regardless of whether it be for dairy or beef, is important. The healthier the cattle are, the better chance for a longer life. This is more profitable for farmers as the longevity of the animal impacts product and sales.

Interestingly enough, cattle who are confined can develop unhealthy feet and legs. This is one of the leading causes of poor longevity in cattle. When they move on a schedule and get exercise, they end up much healthier and happier.

It’s also important for today’s consumers to shop for ethically sourced products. The movement for no animal cruelty has continued to progress. Ensuring that your cattle are happy and healthy is important for humanitarian reasons as well as from a sales point of view.

rotational grazing

5. Easier Tracking

When the cattle eat together, it is easier to monitor the pastures and, more importantly, watch the cows’ health. Weight management is one of the most significant factors to keep track of. Understanding the cows’ weight allows the farmer to add more pasture sections or subtract them.

6. Implementing A System

The first step in rotational grazing is understanding why herd migration positively impacts a pasture. The benefits range from environmentally friendly effects such as using fewer resources and allowing the land to heal naturally. The farmer also has economic benefits, like spending less on resources. And most importantly, the health of the cattle improves with herd migration. Find out more about Sustainable Cattle Farming: Is It Possible?

Finding the right fences and system for the pasture is another story. Technology today has allowed farmers to approach traditional farming with new concepts. Using fencing with migrational herding may be an old trick, but it’s making the rounds. Combining this with new sustainable farming methods such as hydroponics allow room for error in bad crop seasons.

When the cows are healthy, so are the products. Ethically sourced beef and dairy products are at the top of most consumers today. This method plays a huge role in providing that.

Zero Emissions Day: Our Planet is Counting on Us

By | | , , ,
1 Comment

The Zero Emissions Day (or ‘Ze Day’) aims to put the Global 24 hour Moratorium on the Combustion of Fossil Fuels. The day started on March 21, 2008 with the launch of a website calling for “A Global Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Combustion on September 21” in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The message, “Giving our planet one day off a year”, was simple yet profound and was translated into 12 languages for easy reach of people. The idea behind is of giving everything a ‘rest day’ so why not for emissions and environment.

zero-emissions-day

The notion behind the Zero Emissions Day is that stopping, resting, recharging and reflecting was no doubt a mechanism built into many world cultures and traditions. Through the contribution of many environmentalists, the global call to stop the emissions went online at www.zeroemissionsday.org and has been very successful since it is intended to be a temporary respite from using fossil fuels, to increase awareness of this finite resource and how we might change our actions on a daily basis to conserve it.

We need to be aware of our consumption of fossil fuels. Electricity derived from fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to air emissions in the developed and developing countries. These emissions contribute to smog, acid rain, climate change, and other factors. In turn, climate change is believed to create conditions that cause catastrophic natural events like forest fires, disease breakouts, and droughts.

We all know how much energy we are consuming as a nation, community and as an individual. The governments all over the world are spending huge amount of money on electricity generation and transmission and providing this basic utility to its people. On the other hand, more electrical and electronic gadgets are being added to our daily life which all consumes electricity.

carbon-dioxide-emissions

Thus, we have to take care of our resources and develop a genuine understanding that such energy consuming attitude is not good for us and is harming our fragile environment. The message of the day is that “You have the power to benefit everyone and everything on our planet.” The celebration of the Zero Emissions day is a simple call for collective action to take some of the pressure off our dying world. It’s important because it shows us what a day without fossil fuel use can feel like.

The idea is simple – don’t burn oil, gas or coal and minimize your electricity use. Do this for just one day. More and more people, families and communities are declaring Zero Emissions Days whenever they please and just for the fun of it. People who have had the experience have been transformed deeply by it.

The amount of energy consumed by modern society is staggering, with more and more power-hungry devices becoming part of our daily lives and all these devices need to be charged and powered through the bulk of electricity generated globally is still fossil-fuel based, with only a small percentage generated through renewable sources such as solar, water, biomass and wind.

renewable-energy

In actual terms, completely avoiding the consumption of any fossil-fuel generated energy for 24 hours is almost unthinkable. Practically, many people will never contribute, but even if the day just acts as a reminder that we can all do our bit to limit our energy consumption in daily life, it would already be a victory for Mother Earth.

Try it and imagine how good it’ll make you feel about yourself! Remember our world is counting on us! Let us plan and celebrate the day joyfully by avoiding and minimizing the use of energy, electricity and gas, having no cook meal to eat and spreading the awareness to our dear ones. Unplug everything that is not essential, and instead of watching TV, playing on the computer, or doing other activities that involve electronics, socialize with family and friends and spend the day with nature.

Every individual’s effort on Zero Emissions Day is what counts! 

#InspireMENA – Storytelling on Sustainable Development in MENA

By | | , ,
3 Comments

Over 350 million people live in MENA and share Arabic as a common language. To date, there is very little literature in Arabic about sustainable development in general and specifically on the United Nation’s new global goals and the associated agencies and initiatives. More than half of that population is below 25 and is currently going through a lot in terms of political, economic, and social change. Despite all of this, those young people are innovating and making positive change in their communities. It is of utmost importance to support such impact with credible information, more visibility for success stories, and better communication tools.

Today we are excited to announce a special partnership between EcoMENA, a volunteer-driven organization working to raise environmental awareness and foster sustainable development in MENA, and +SocialGood, an international community where digital innovators, thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, change makers, and global citizens come together to share world-changing ideas and catalyze action.

The #InspireMENA Initiative will work to raise awareness and magnify impact on sustainable development issues and projects throughout the MENA region. Each #InspireMENA story will be shared in both English and Arabic on both platforms. Professionals, volunteers and writers are invited through both networks to contribute to identifying stories, writing and translating articles.

What we’re looking for in an #InspireMENA Story

  • Describe the outputs/outcomes from your story (qualitative and quantitative).
  • What makes this a real success story? What change have you contributed to?
  • To which Global Goal(s) would you link the impact(s) of this story?
  • What resources did you use and where did they come from?
  • Who were your partners in implementation? Who was the Champion?
  • What would you do differently if you can go back in time (lessons learned)?
  • Does your story trigger similar stories within your community/country/globe?
  • Sustainable Development is about justice and inclusiveness. How do you tell your story in light of this?
  • How do you measure your impact now and in the future?
  • Give us a ‘Call for Action’ statement to show how relevant this is to the reader.

Guidelines for Submission

  1. Stories should be focused on these core areas – sustainable development, environment protection, green and social entrepreneurship, capacity-building, social inclusiveness, youth empowerment, environmental education, renewable energy, waste management, resource conservation management and related areas. It is advised to refer to Sustainable Development Global Goals for guidance on topics. Please visit this link www.globalgoals.org
  2. Entries can be submitted by project stakeholders, co-workers, industry professionals, domain experts etc.
  3. Preferred length of the story is around 800 to 1500 words.
  4. Entries can be submitted in Arabic or English or both.
  5. Stories should be concise, upto-the-point and meant for a general reader
  6. Stories should be non-commercial and non-promotional
  7. Contributors should be ready to respond to queries/comments by readers
  8. All entries will be cross-verified and reviewed by domain experts. We reserve the right to accept or reject any story.

How #Inspire MENA started

As two entities committed to supporting sustainable development, empowering youth, sharing knowledge and promoting success stories and role models; EcoMENA and +SocialGood are coming together to collaborate on ‘Story Telling for Sustainable Development’. This was initiated by the +SocialGood Connector in Jordan, Ruba Al-Zu’bi, after her participation in the +SocialGood Connectors and Advisors gathering in Washington D.C. – July 2015. Through this partnership, Ruba and Salman Zafar, Founder of EcoMENA, hope to mobilize a story telling campaign in Jordan and the MENA region around impactful and innovative projects and initiatives that advance sustainable development.

To get engaged and share a story, please contact:

Salman Zafar: salman@ecomena.org /salman@cleantechloops.com or

Ruba Al-Zu’bi: rubaalzoubi@gmail.com

Energy and the Climate: Perspectives for Middle East

By | | , ,
2 Comments

Since energy is an absolute necessity for life on Earth, we have utilized many sources of energy to maintain and improve the lives of people around the globe. The ultimate source of energy is the Sun of course, since all living things on Earth such as plants, trees, animals and humans need the Sun’s energy. In addition to the Sun, we have utilized other sources of energy such as oil, coal and nuclear fission.  However, energy has many different forms and we use different forms of energy for different applications. For example, nuclear energy is mostly used to generate electricity, while oil is used to fuel our cars.

Having established the absolute necessity of energy to maintain life on Earth, it is equally critical to understand that energy is also capable of extinguishing life on Earth if misused. For example, the use of oil and coal to generate energy, produces different gases, mostly carbon monoxide, that have negative impact on the environment. Such a negative impact has been identified by scientists as global warming. It has been established that global warming is directly related to the increased level of carbon monoxide in our atmosphere.  As the temperature on Earth continues to rise, the entire climate will start to change as a result of the higher temperature on the surface of Earth. Moreover, any changes in the climate will have a direct impact on life. For example, many plants, trees and even animals may not be able to survive in hotter climate in a specific region of Earth, yet the impact of such change will be felt all over the world.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy has a direct impact on the climate and as a result has direct impact on all living creatures on Earth. It is the responsibility of all people on Earth to preserve our current climate by using clean sources of energy, such as solar and wind, and moving away from oil and coal. Climate has direct impact not only on the food we eat, but on our ability to survive in certain regions of the planet.

Since most people in developing countries do not completely understand the direct relationship between the energy they use and the climate change as a result, while others in the more developed countries put economical gain ahead of the environment, additional laws with larger penalties may be needed to be enforced around the world. In addition, all governments must focus on the research and development of clean energy sources and slowly move away from oil and coal as both sources are considered to be the ultimate sources of pollution to the environment, which may result in permanent change to the climate on Earth. Meanwhile, and until the clean energy sources are fully developed and utilized around the world, maintaining current trees and planting new ones will definitely help offset the effects caused by the release of Carbone Monoxide into the air.  

Difference between China and the Middle East

It has been known for some time now that China has been one of the largest contributors to air pollution due to its significant economic growth which mostly depends on oil, and its large population; however, the Middle East is also on top of the list of countries and regions that heavily depend on cheap oil prices to power the engine of their economies. The main difference however, between China and the rich-oil countries in the Middle East is that in recent years, China has signed several international agreements to reduce air pollution by different means. The Chinese people in addition, have come a long way to better understand the global impact due to air pollution.

The oil-rich countries in the Middle East on the other hand, are still behind very much the rest of the world in this area, mainly due to the lack of education on many of the environmental issues, as well as the lack of any alternative energy sources. However, time has come for all these countries to start looking into other alternative energy sources before it is too late

Pressure on Industrialized Countries

As more and more people on this planet become aware of the deadly consequences of using oil as a source of energy, the internal and external pressure keeps mounting on the industrialized countries to look for alternative energy sources. In fact, it is only a matter of time before these industrialized countries develop alternative energy sources on mass scale, which may eventually cause the death of the oil industry completely. For example, the use of cold fusion as an energy source would make the price of one barrel of oil less than $1.

Most, if not all of the oil-rich countries today believe that there is no need to make the transition to clean energy because the world needs their oil, or at least, they can continue to power their economies using oil instead of clean energy. But the sad truth is that once an alternative clean energy sources have been identified, these oil rich nations would have no choice but to abandon their oil fields and move into the alternatives. One simple fact these nations need to consider is that in the foreseeable future, developed countries would boycott all products and services created and maintained using oil-powered factories instead of clean energy.

Currently, there are many clean energy sources that have been developed, tested and used around the world. Some of these sources include solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, biomass and of course, nuclear (fission and fusion) energies. The use of any of those alternative energy sources doesn’t release any Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere and will maintain the level of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere at acceptable ratio.

Transition to Clean Energy

For the rich-oil countries in the Middle East, the transition from oil-dependent economies to clean energy dependent economies requires three vital ingredients:

  1. Education: people in the Middle East need to first be educated on all environmental issues and why the transition from oil to clean energy source is a necessity at this time. As long as the average man on the Arab street doesn’t understand the imminent danger of climate change and how it is related to the use of oil, then the transition will be difficult, slow and costly. Educating people is the starting point.
  2. Investment: the transition to clean energy will initially require a huge investment in a new infrastructure especially for clean energy. Such infrastructure may not be cheap to build from the ground up, but the return on investment (ROI) will be quit high at the end.
  3. Time: phasing out the oil-dependent economies completely takes time. The transition to clean energy will take many years before reaching the ultimate goal. However, a well-thought out plan to make such a transition is possible provided that these countries are serious, willing and able to make such a move. Starting with one step at a time will definitely lead to the end goal, but someone has to take the first step

Finally, as energy consumption is directly related to climate change, energy conservation is also directly related to environmental issues. Though physics laws show the energy is conserved, yet the form of energy we use is not. Therefore, people around the world, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, need to be made aware of the importance of energy conservation. The Middle East countries in general, and GCC countries in particular, must start educating their citizens on energy, climate change and environmental issues.

Climate Change Impacts in Kuwait

By | | , , ,
5 Comments

Kuwait is facing a wide range of climate change challenges including sea level rise, water scarcity, desertification and loss of diversity. Kuwait is characterized by high temperature, high humidity and arid lands resulting in seriously degraded soil and land damage in addition to salt intrusion in the aquifers affecting the small scale agricultural lands thus enhancing the food security threat in the region. Since 1975, Kuwait has experienced 1.50C to 20C increase in temperature, which is significantly higher than the global average. In recent years, there has been a sharp change in rainfall pattern in Kuwait which may be attributed to climate change impacts. In addition, there has been marked increase in dust storms in last few decades which are noticeable signs of change in climatic conditions in Kuwait and neighbouring nations.

Rise in Sea Level

One of the main climate change impacts is sea level rise on coastal areas of all Arabian Gulf states. Kuwait is highly vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise as it could lead to severe impacts on industrial and socio-economic development. Climate change-induced sea level rise may lead to flooding of low-lying urban infrastructure, inundation of coastal ecosystems and deterioration of groundwater quality. Inundation will severely affect cities, roads, agricultural areas, as well as beaches and salt marshes across Kuwait. Among the most vulnerable sites in Kuwait are Bubyan Island, Qaruh Island and Al-Khiran which are in real danger of disappearance on account of any potential sea level rise.

Water Availability

Continued use of non-renewable water is major factor in depleting groundwater reserves in Kuwait and put it a serious risk of climate change impacts. Being a highly water-scarce country, Kuwait is heavily dependent on desalinated water and fresh groundwater to meet drinking water needs. On a per capita basis, Kuwait has one of the highest per capita water consumption worldwide, apart from having world’s highest per capita production of desalination water. Water resource management is huge challenge for Kuwait as its per capita natural water availability is lowest in the world. With climate change, it is expected that balancing water supply and water demand will become an even greater challenge. 

Biodiversity

Kuwait is endowed with rich biodiversity of terrestrial flora and fauna, however the potential loss of terrestrial and marine biodiversity due to climate change is a major concern in Kuwait. Desert areas contain many species of annuals, which make up about 90% of plant species of Kuwait. Kuwait is also endowed with rich marine biodiversity. Many endemic species can be found including crabs, which are found on biota-rich inter-tidal Sabkha zones. An increase in seawater temperature will affect the reproduction period of fish and shrimp and may result in large-scale migration of fish to other areas which will have serious repercussions for the fish industry in Kuwait and neighbouring countries. Erratic rainfall and sand encroachment may lead to loss in plant cover thereby causing runoff and flooding. 

Agriculture

Agriculture production is directly dependent on climate change and weather. The possible changes in temperature, precipitation and CO2 concentration are expected to significant impact on crop growth. The potential of agricultural development in Kuwait is very limited, as less than 1% of the land area is considered arable. Moreover, only a portion of arable land area is actually cultivated due to a hyper-arid climate, water scarcity, poor soils, and lack of technical skills. Because of the nature of the terrain and water scarcity, it is quite difficult to put new land into agricultural production. Interestingly, agriculture consumes around one-third of groundwater but account for less than 5 percent of the GDP. 

Conclusion

Kuwait is both physically and biologically threatened by the climate change phenomenon. Over the next few decades, Kuwait could be potentially facing serious impacts of global warming in the form of floods, droughts, depletion of aquifers, inundation of coastal areas, frequent sandstorms, loss of biodiversity, significant damage to ecosystem, threat to agricultural production and outbreak of diseases. There is an urgent need to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, adopt renewable energy systems and prepare a strong framework for socio-economic development which may be sustainable in the long-run.

The Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Wastes

By | | ,
3 Comments

Anaerobic digestion is a biological process which stabilizes organic waste in the absence of air and transforms it into energy-rich biogas and biofertilizer. It is a reliable technology for the treatment of wet, organic waste. Organic waste from various sources is biochemically degraded in highly controlled, oxygen-free conditions circumstances resulting in the production of biogas which can be used to produce both electricity and heat. Almost any organic material can be processed with anaerobic digestion.

schematic of anaerobic digestion technology

Anaerobic digestion is particularly suited to wet organic material and is commonly used for effluent and sewage treatment. This includes biodegradable waste materials such as waste paper, grass clippings, leftover food, sewage and animal waste. The exception to this is woody wastes that are largely unaffected by digestion as most anaerobic microorganisms are unable to degrade lignin.

There are many advantages associated with anaerobic digestion technology which may be classified into three groups viz. environment, energy and economic:

Environmental Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion

  • Elimination of malodorous compounds.
  • Reduction of pathogens.
  • Deactivation of weed seeds.
  • Production of sanitized compost.
  • Decrease in GHGs emission.
  • Reduced dependence on inorganic fertilizers by capture and reuse of nutrients.
  • Promotion of carbon sequestration
  • Beneficial reuse of recycled water
  • Protection of groundwater and surface water resources.
  • Improved social acceptance

Biogas_Working-Principle

Energy Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion

  • Anaerobic digestion is a net energy-producing process.
  • A biogas facility generates high-quality renewable fuel.
  • Surplus energy as electricity and heat is produced during anaerobic digestion of biomass.
  • Anaerobic digestion reduces reliance on energy imports.
  • Biogas facility contributes to decentralized, distributed power systems.
  • Biogas is a rich source of electricity, heat, and transportation fuel.

Economic Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion

  • Anaerobic digestion transforms waste liabilities into new profit centers.
  • The time devoted to moving, handling and processing manure is minimized.
  • Anaerobic digestion adds value to negative value feedstock.
  • Revenues can be generated from processing of waste (tipping fees), sale of organic fertilizer, carbon credits and sale of power.
  • Anaerobic digestion plants increases self-sufficiency and foster sustainable development.

modern anaerobic digestion plant

Many industries produce liquid and solid wastes that are suitable for anaerobic digestion, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, paper manufacturing and tannery industries. Some of the wastes might be difficult to digest as a sole substrate, but they can be biochemically degraded in combination with manure or sewage sludge or poultry litter. The combined digestion of different wastes is called co-digestion.

The relevance of anaerobic digestion technology lies in the fact that it makes the best possible utilization of industrial organic waste as a renewable source of clean energy. Diversion of industrial organic waste from landfill sites and taking it to waste management plants which can turn it into clean fuel and biofertilizer will ensure that it is treated in such a way that it becomes a useful product instead of a harmful one.

Build Your Tiny Home From Recycled Materials

By | | , ,
7 Comments

People are turning to tiny living in order to save money. Living simply is about getting back to the earth, leaving a smaller footprint on the planet, and also, for many people, about being frugal. Why create a mountain of debt when you can build a home from recycled materials that can be found for free?

Building your tiny home from recycled materials is not as difficult as you may think. In fact, when you learn what to look for, it’s actually not hard to find the materials and put your imagination to work.

home-from-recycled-materials

Image Source: https://tinylivinglife.com/2019/05/how-much-do-tiny-houses-cost-are-they-worth-the-investment/

What Materials Do You Need?

Most small homes need wood unless you’ve got other ideas. Earthships, for example, are made from used tires that are filled with rammed earth. These are fantastic because they are their own insulation and dirt is free if you’ve got enough property. The tires can be picked up all over the place. People toss them in ditches, in the woods, and dump them in ways that other people are left seeking others to come and get them. You could be that person.

Pallets make great finished floors, walls, decks, furniture, and outbuildings. They are often given away free from industrial plants that don’t want them after receiving their materials on them. They’ll be tossed in huge piles behind businesses and companies that consider them trash.

You know what they say about one man’s trashing being another man’s treasure. Sure, disassembling pallets takes some time, a crowbar, a saw, and a lot of muscle, but it’s free wood and nails. If you are careful, you can save enough nails that you don’t even have to buy them to build your little home.

Places to Find Goodies

Feed stores tend to throw out pallets. Large manufacturers will toss all sorts of pallets in odd sizes and crates too. Quarries that sell rocks have crates that are made from wood and the frames can be used to fashion all sorts of things, such as chicken coops, watering troughs for livestock, small fish ponds with a plastic liner, and a thousand other things.

Tiny-Homes-Salvaged-Material

Image Source: https://tinylivinglife.com/2019/05/how-much-do-tiny-houses-cost-are-they-worth-the-investment/

Old windows are being sold on Craigslist and if you roam that site, look at the “free” section. You can roam around on your day off and pick up all sorts of things that people are just getting rid of. Sometimes you’ll score items that are like brand new.

Look for places that are seeking construction clean-up crews or inquire with insurance companies for jobs cleaning up wreckage after fires, tornadoes, etc. I was lucky to come across a couple of people who had old mobile homes that weren’t worth anything and would cost them a mint to move. They allowed them to be demolished on the property and then burned what wasn’t able to be used.

The aluminum side, wood paneling on the interior walls, insulation, light fixtures, kitchen sink, bathroom fixtures, hot water heater, stove, and more were all salvaged material that could be used. FREE. Old campers are also a great source for axles, a frame that you can strip it down to and create a whole new house on.

The appliances, plumbing, and fixtures are often salvageable materials. This can cost you little to nothing. I’ve seen old campers that are basically junk to others that you can pick up for a hundred bucks and strip $1000 worth of goodies out of. Aluminum siding can be used as roofing material or sold for extra money. The same goes for any copper wiring that you don’t want.

All that is required to find cheap materials for your tiny home building project is to think outside the box and scan through the things that other people consider garbage. This applies to homesteading, prepping, and tiny home building and living. Think outside the box and constantly be on the lookout for new ideas. Join groups, message boards, and use apps like Pinterest for ideas.

Water Management in the United Arab Emirates

By | | , ,
13 Comments

The United Arab Emirates is among the top water-scarce countries in the world. However the country has one of the world’s highest per capita water consumption of 550 liters per day. The country is experiencing a rapid increase in population which has in turn resulted in huge demand for water. In 2009, the total water demand in UAE was estimated at 4.5 billion m3 (BCM) which was met by groundwater (72%), desalinated water (21%) and retreated water (7%).

Water consumption in UAE is primarily divided among three sectors:

  • Private households
  • Agriculture
  • Industries

Private Household Sector

This sector accounts for about 24% of total water consumption in the UAE. One of the largest contributors to water consumption is the use of air conditioning systems which is in widespread use because of high temperatures almost throughout the year. An air-conditioning system not only consumes vast amounts of energy, but also uses large quantity of water via chilled water pumps.

In addition, the country has the world’s highest per capita consumption of bottled water of 285 liters per year. The water used to fill the bottles is mainly desalinated water, which costs approximately 11.8 billion AED annually. In addition, it takes around 3 liters of water in order to make 1 liter of bottled water.

Water misuse is another important factor in slow progress of water management initiatives. An example of misuse is garden or landscape irrigation through spray irrigation which consumes about 12 to 15 liters of water per m2 every day. Some of the urgent steps for promoting water conservation in private households include:

  • Introduction of new tariff system based on a water meter.
  • Mass awareness on water conservation measures.
  • Introduction of new methods of irrigation, such as subsurface drip irrigation.
  • Supply of safe drinking water through taps

Agricultural Sector

Agricultural sector is responsible for two-thirds of all water consumption in the Emirates. Rapid population growth has led to a surge in food demand, which has resulted in additional stress on water resources. One of the largest contributors to water wastage is low irrigation efficiency. As mentioned above, it takes about 12-15 liters to water 1 m2 of land daily, 30 percent of which is lost to evaporation while using traditional irrigation methods, such as spray irrigation.

United Arab Emirates has taken crucial steps to battle this crisis. The government has introduced new irrigation techniques that are more efficient, such as drip irrigation, which use 35% less water than traditional systems. The country has also moved away from crops that are water-intensive, and is also experimenting with use of wastewater for irrigation. A change to less water-intensive crops coupled with a change in irrigation techniques would dramatically decrease the amount of water used in this sector.

Spray irrigation has higher efficiency than traditional methods.

Industrial Sector

Industries consume around 9 percent of all water consumption in the country. Most of the water is used to cool and clean impurities from machinery, which is then transformed into run-offs causing pollution in nearby environments. The wastewater produced is not lost and can be used for irrigation.

The government has taken steps into utilizing industrial wastewater. For example, in Abu Dhabi, a total of 600 million m3 of treated wastewater is produced a year, but only 352 million m3 is used for landscaping and district cooling. Industrial wastewater will need to play a more prominent role in all three sectors if the country is to move forward.

The Way Forward

Water management in the United Arab Emirates can be improved through a variety of measures. The government has made sufficient arrangements for supply of clean and drinkable tap water from desalination plants. However, on its journey to households, the water is contaminated in two ways: The first is through old and rusted pipes. Water flowing through ageing pipelines would become contaminated with bacteria, which makes it undrinkable. The second is through storage tanks. Dead birds, rats, insects and metals can be found in storage tanks, which would eventually cause water to become harmful. This happens because storage tank cleaning, which has to be done approximately every 6 months, is left to the owner of the property. Because there is no law enforcing it, most landlords are not too keen to spend money on it or simply forget to clean them.

To resolve this problem, the government should consider the following:

  • Replace old pipelines to stop water contamination.
  • Enforce a law requiring landlords to clean storage tanks.
  • Hire professionals to assist in tank cleaning.
  • Hire experts to carry out surprise inspections.
  • Incentivize people to use tap water by increasing bottled water prices.
  • Educate people about the benefits of consuming tap water.
  • Water partnerships at local, regional and global levels.

UAE has introduced drip irrigation as a means to conserve water, however its widespread use is yet to pick up. The government should make it mandatory for farm owners to use drip irrigation which could save upto 8 litres of water per m2 every day. Following initiatives are required on the part of the government to promote drip irrigation in the Emirates.

  • Motivate farmers to install drip irrigation systems.
  • Provide subsidy for installation of drip irrigation systems.
  • Educate farmers on how to operate and maintain drip irrigation systems.
  • Educate farmers and general public about long-term effects of water scarcity on agriculture.

In a country where water might one day become more expensive than oil, one cannot ignore the fact that a big crisis is looming ahead. United Arab Emirates is one of the largest consumers of water per capita globally, but is also one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. Management of water is essential due to increasing population, growing industrialization and dwindling natural water resources. The biggest challenge for the UAE is not finding different water sources, but decreasing the demand for it and minimizing water losses. There are currently 100,000 hectares of cultivated land in the UAE and huge amount of water can be saved by making use of basic water conservation measures. Implementation of effective policies/legislations and public support is key to success of water conservation programs in the country.

Water Conservation in Islamic Teachings

By | | , , ,
7 Comments

Water occupies a pivotal role in Islam, and is recognized by Muslims as a blessing that “gives and sustains life, and purifies humankind and the earth”. The Arabic word for water, ma’a, is referenced exactly 63 times throughout the Holy Qur’an and is a recurring topic in many of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

water-conservation-islam

Water is not only praised for its life providing and sustaining properties, but it is essential in the daily life of a Muslim. A follower is required to complete ablution prior to the performance of the prayer, five times a day. This ritual cleansing before the prayer signifies the attainment of cleanliness and purification of the body and soul. According to a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira, no prayer is accepted without ablution (Sahih al Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book 4).

The Holy Quran and the Hadith teach its followers principles of social justice and equity which extends into the practice of preserving earth’s natural resources, particularly water conservation. According to Islam, water is community resource and is a right for all humankind. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) highlights this in the following Hadith:

“Muslims have common share in three things: grass [pasture], water, and fire [fuel]” ( Musnad Vol. 2, Book 22 ).

The Holy Qur’an has set down the foundations of water conservation and demand management by making it known to humankind that earth’s water resources are finite in verse 23:18 of Surah Al Mu’minun (The Believers):

 “And We sent down from the sky water (rain) in (due) measure, and We gave it lodging in the earth, and verily, We are Able to take it away.”

Furthermore, God has instructed humankind not to be wasteful in the following verse: “O Children of Adam! Eat and drink but waste not by excess, for God loveth not the wasters” ( Surah al Araaf, The Heights 7:31 ).

Also Read: Qanats – A Sustainable Water Management Tool for Arid Lands

water-conservation-mosque

تشجيع الناس على عدم تضييع الماء خاصة في المساجد و دور العبادة

Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) exemplifies the “logical approach to sustainable water use” through the manner in which he performed the ritual ablution. The principle of water conservation is beautifully illustrated by the rule which says that while making ablutions (wudu) we should be abstemious in the use of water even if we have a river at our disposal. :

“Do not waste even if performing ablution on the bank of a fast flowing large river” (Al Thirmidhi).

The Prophet himself would perform ablution with just one mudd of water (equivalent to 2/3 of a liter), and take bath with one saa’ of water (equivalent to around 3 liters in modern volume measurements).

As per Islamic law (shariah), there is a responsibility placed on upstream farms to be considerate of downstream users. A farm beside a stream is forbidden to monopolize its water. After withholding a reasonable amount of water for his crops, the farmer must release the rest to those downstream.

Furthermore, if the water is insufficient for all of the farms along the stream, the needs of the older farms are to be satisfied before the newer farm is permitted to irrigate. This reflects the emphasis placed by Islam on sustainable utilization of water.

References:

  1. Naser I. Faruqui, Asit K. Biswas, and Murad J. Bino. (2001) Water Management in Islam, UN University Press
  2.  Abumoghli, I. (2015), Islamic Principles on Sustainable Development, EcoMENA <available on http://www.ecomena.org/islam-sustainable-development/>
  3. Zafar, S. (2016) Environment in Islamic Teachings, Cleantech Solutions <available on http://www.cleantechloops.com/islam-environment/>

Popular Methods for Plastic Wastes Collection

By | |
21 Comments

Plastic consumption has grown at a tremendous rate over the past two decades as plastics now play an important role in all aspects of modern lifestyle. Collection and disposal of plastic waste has emerged as an important environmental challenge and its recycling is facing roadblocks due to their non-degradable nature. There are four basic ways in which communities can offer plastic waste collection services for plastic bottles and containers – curbside, drop-off, buy-back or deposit/refund programs.

Recycling_bins

Curbside Recycling

The first, and most widely accessible, collection method is curbside collection of recyclables. Curbside (or kerbside) collection is considered a low-risk strategy to reduce waste volumes and increase recycling rates. Materials are usually collected in large bins, colored bags or small open plastic tubs specifically designed for content.

Curbside recycling programs are generally the most convenient for community residents to participate in and yield high recovery rates as a result. Communities that provide curbside collection generally request residents to separate designated recyclables from their household garbage and to place them into special receptacles or bags, which are then set out at the curb for collection by municipal or municipally-contracted crews.

Drop-Off Recycling

In this method, containers for designated recyclable materials are placed at central collection locations throughout the community, such as parking lots, mosques, schools, malls or other civic associations. The containers are generally marked as to which recyclable material should be placed in them. Residents are requested to deliver their recyclables to the drop-off location, where recyclables are separated by material type into their respective collection containers.

Drop-off recycling programs are more suitable when residents are taking their garbage to a central waste collection facility or transfer station. Such programs suffer from low or unpredictable throughput.

Buy-Back Centers

Most buy-back recycling centers are operated by private companies and pay consumers for recyclable materials that are brought to them. Buy-back centers usually have purchasing specifications that require consumers to source separate recyclable materials brought for sale.

recycling-bin-dubai

These purchase specifications can greatly reduce contamination levels and allow the buy-back center to immediately begin processing the recyclables they purchase, while providing consumers with an economic incentive to comply with the specifications. Buy-back centers are similar to drop-off centers expect they pay waste generators for their items based on market values.

Deposit/Refund Programs

These programs requires collection of a monetary deposit purchase of a plastic container. When container is returned to an authorized redemption center, or to the original seller, the deposit is partly or fully refunded to the redeemer. These programs are familiar to anyone in the USA who has ever purchased a beverage in a can or bottle.

سيارات تتحدث مع بعضها

By | |
Leave a comment

تعد تقنية السيارة "المتواصلة لاسلكيًا" إحدى التقنيات الحديثة اللاسلكية، التي تمنح السيارة (الصغيرة والكبيرة) بأن تتواصل لاسلكيًا مع بعضها بعضا بواسطة تقنية (كمبيوترية) متصلة بها، بإستطاعتها أن يستطلع (أوضاع) الطريق للسائق (لاسلكيا) قبل الوصول إلى الوجهة المطلوبة، مثال ذلك الطرق المغلقة أو المكتظة، وكذلك تقليل الأخطار المترتبة من تقلبات الظروف المناخية.  كما تهدف السيارات المتواصلة لاسلكيا؛ للاستفادة من الاتصالات اللاسلكية بين المركبات أثناء عملها، وكذلك البنية التحتية وأجهزة اتصال الركاب.

هذا و تُعرّف إدارة النقل الأمريكية هذه التقنية الحديثة " بأنها الحصول على جودة هواء أفضل عبر تقنية وسائل النقل الذكية" ويكون ذلك بالتنسيق مع مصانع السيارات وغيرها من القطاعات المبتكرة العامة والخاصة، وجميعها تتكاتف لتطوير البنية التحتية للاتصالات التقنية بين المركبة والأخرى، من جهة وبين المركبة والبنية التحتية من جهة أخرى، وتلك الجهود"المشتركة" تهدف إلى منع الحوادث المرورية قبل حدوثها. حيث يتم إرسال تلك المعلومات لاسلكيا لضبط حركة السيارات، وتجنب الاختناقات المرورية، وتحسين البيئة، وفي النهاية تمكن هذه التقنية من الحصول على معلومات وقتية عن طريق نظام الكميوتر المحمول داخل المركبات (كالسيارات، والشاحنات، والحافلات) والذي بدوره يقوم بتحليل المعلومات المتوفرة عن أحوال الطريق، وأيضاً التواصل مع أجهزة الشرطة عن طريق البنية التحتية.

المزايا المتعددة للنظام

ويعد الأثر البيئي أحد مزايا هذا النظام، حيث يحد من التلوث البيئي الناجم عن اكتظاظ الشوارع السريعة والفرعية، وكذلك التحكم في معلومات النقل البيئية الوقتية، واستخدامها لاستصدار معلومات ذات أثر نفعي لمساعدة وتسهيل الخيارات النقلية، ويظهر أن هذا النظام المبتكر يتمركز حول تحسين نوعية الهواء بتقليل إنبعاثات الغازات الدفيئة، وكذلك يتمتع بميزة التقليل من إستهلاك الوقود. هذا، وتسهم تقنية المركبات المتواصلة لاسلكيا في تلطيف "هجمة" المناخ المتقلب، والحصول على أهداف خفض انبعاثات الغازات الدفيئة.

ومن مزايا تقنية المركبات المتواصلة -أيضاً- سيحظى السائقون بمعلومات دقيقة عن الاختناقات المرورية وخلافها، والتي ستمكنهم من إعادة جدولة، أوتأخير، أو الغاء، أو تنظيم الرحلات الجماعية. وبهذا التنظيم المسبق يتفادى السائقون خطوط الاختناقات المرورية، واستخدام البدائل المتوفرة، وكذلك استخدام الممرات العامة، وإعادة جدولة رحلاتهم، بهدف حماية البيئة، وتقليل استهلاك الوقود.

هذه التقنية "الثورية" تسعى إلى تطوير القيادة "الصديقة للبيئة" والمدعمة بحزمة من التوصيات المرورية للسائقين؛ للتقليل من استهلاك الوقود، وكذلك ضبط مكابح المكائن مستقبلاُ، بدون تدخل السائقين.

قابلية إستخدام النظام في المملكة العربية السعودية

سيكون لنظام المركبات المتصلة دور في حل مشاكل النقل وتسهيل الحركة المرورية في مدن المملكة الرئيسة: مثل الرياض والدمام وجدة المكتظة بالحركة المرورية؛ وستمكن تطبيق هذه التقنية مستخدمي الطريق من اتخاذ القرارات الصائبة، والتمتع بممارسات مرورية متجانسة. إضافة الى ماتقدم فإن نظام المركبات المتواصلة لاسلكيا سيكون في متناول أيدي الناس عامة، وأداة مثالية للتخفيف من التأثيرات البيئية المتنامية في قطاع النقل. يضاف إلى ذلك، فإن نظام المركبات المتواصلة لاسلكيا يستند إلى معلومات تهتم بالسلامة والحركة، والتي بدورها ستسهم في إنقاذ حياة البشر؛ وتمنع الأضرار الناجمة عن الاختناقات المرورية أينما كانت!