Green Hajj: How to Make Your Pilgrimage Eco-friendly

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The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is an annual pilgrimage to Makkah. It is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims which must be carried out at least once in lifetime by every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey. The Hajj gathering is considered to be the largest gathering of people in the world whereby Muslims from many countries converge to do the religious rites.  Nearly three million Muslims perform Hajj each year.

Making necessary arrangements each year for the growing number of pilgrims poses a gigantic logistic challenge for the Saudi Government and respective authorities, as housing, transportation, sanitation, food and healthcare needs are to be provided to the pilgrims.

ecofriendly-hajj

Environmental Footprint of Hajj

The Hajj has an enormous environmental footprint. During Hajj, huge quantities of wastes are generated which needs to be appropriately collected, handled and managed. Other impacts are of water use and wastewater generation and treatment, transporting vehicles causing terrible air pollution damaging the health of the pilgrims, littering causing choking of public infrastructures, plastic bottles, used diapers, food packaging etc. are an eyesore.

The problem is compounded due to ignorance, over enthusiasm, illiteracy of pilgrims and lack of commitment to handle the environmental resources.

hajj-carbon-footprint

A vast majority of Hajj pilgrims are not aware of the innate nature of environmentalism within Islam.

Unfortunately, majority of the pilgrims are not aware of the innate nature of environmentalism within Islam and obligations of protecting the environment. According to the Quran, humans are entrusted to be the maintainers of the earth, its ecology and environment. The Hajj can be sustainable if the pilgrims behave in an environmentally friendly manner and avoid different types of pollution.

Towards a Green Hajj

We need to understand that the respective authorities plan, spend and provide facilities to match with the number of pilgrims, but the irresponsible attitude of many people jeopardize the environmental resources. Following aspects will help the pilgrims in making the Hajj greener and help in conservation of resources:

  • Green purchasing, buy what is required and only environmentally–friendly products
  • Using minimum quantity of water for ablution, bath and personal use. Opening water gadgets and tap to allow limited flow. Washing clothes with minimum water.
  • Reporting any water leakages to the authorities.
  • Re-filling and reusing water bottles.
  • Buying food only what you can eat, surplus food should be avoided.
  • Avoiding food packaging.
  • Avoid disposable cutlery, plates, glasses etc.
  • Avoid littering, collecting all waste and disposing it at designated locations.
  • Avoid using plastic shopping bags.
  • Moving and using group transport facilities.
  • Minimize electricity usage.
  • Avoid leaving lights on in empty rooms.
  • Switching off the chargers, once used.
  • Purchase energy efficient appliances, if required.
  • Avoid using electrical appliances on standby.

The recent Islamic declaration on climate change exhorts us to work steadfastly to minimize our carbon footprint and make individual pledges to help our planet. Environment is Allah’s creation and has to be respected.

Let us contribute to eco-friendly Hajj and make a profound impact on the ecosystem, making it more sustainable and manageable and show that Islam is the ideal platform for ecological and environmental preservation.

Impact of COVID-19 on Slums and Informal Settlements

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An estimated one billion people across the globe live in slums or informal settlements. As much of the world is already braced and battling with coronavirus crisis, there are others perplexed as to how this one billion people can possibly deal with the current pandemic. The general recommendations to global population are to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, if sick to self-isolate, and when out and about to practice social distancing of keeping 2 meters away from other persons. Three simple directives or are they?

How feasible are these recommendations for people living in informal settlements and slums?

As the pandemic is on the doorstep, there has been noticeably little discussion of how to combat the pandemic in slums and informal settlements around the world. How can these people groups deal with the looming threat of COVID-19? The answer is simply, they cannot. The virus is invisible but so are the health conditions of the residents along with the social needs of these communities.

coronavirus-slums-developing-countries

The actual common health threats of the people living in these marginalized areas is undocumented and poorly understood by national authorities. Research has been conducted reviewing the post-Ebola urban health of the people in Sierra Leone. A second research initiative has also been conducted looking at the accountability of the informal urban equity information. From these two research projects, some insights have been made into the potential understanding of possible management of COVID-19 in these marginalized areas.

The key findings from previous epidemic studies include:

  1. Paucity of data and detailed information of the people residing in these areas.
  2. People from these informal settlements have strong interdependence with the population of immediately adjacent urban city.
  3. Extreme vulnerability to a wide range of potentially dangerous diseases and health issues.
  4. High levels of vulnerability to disease and undocumented ongoing health issues
  5. The level of order or chaos within the informal settlements would be very ill-defined to outsiders although it maybe very apparent and structured for the local residents.

A lack of demographic data

There are very large data gaps as the slums are very informal in layout and in many instances are illegal settlements. These two factors impede the collection of local data of the population living in such areas. It is so randomly organized that it is difficult to implement effective health and sanitary measures. There are no official population statistics of the number of persons actually living in these areas. Because there is no demographic data, it is impossible for epidemiological models to predict the likely spread of infectious disease.

Interdependence with adjacent urban centers

The informal settlement may even butt right up to a formal urban settlement. The residence of the informal settlement may have very close ties and associations within the formal settlement in terms of employment, both casual and regular in its nature of commitment and financial reimbursements.

This association with very different socio-economic neighbourhoods with a very high level of dependency makes it very difficult to implement and enforce containment and minimization of movement as the hired hands obviously return to their shanty lifestyle at the end of the work day. The dependency of the hired workers is critical for basic survival so quarantine measures are very unlikely to be put into effect and adhered to with any degree of success.

High levels of vulnerability to disease and undocumented ongoing health issues

The occupants of informal settlements often lack general knowledge of the type of illnesses and diseases that frequent these people groups. Health providers will be from within the informal sector and may be mainly traditional and herbal, or the dispensing of pharmaceutical medicines with minimal knowledge of the substances being used. This would be particularly the case for fevers and coughs.

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The majority of people will lack having health issues correctly diagnosed and treated. Therefore, the inhabitants may very likely be living with chronic health conditions. It would be reasonable to assume that there may be very large pockets of highly vulnerable individuals that if a pandemic got into the mix, their lives would be highly threatened with limited support or potential care.

Food security would be a very real problem in such communities at different times depending on natural catastrophes and their highly variable financial means. This could affect their overall state of fitness and general health.

The degree of order or chaos

The level of and degree of internal structure and hierarchy will be concealed from outsider and organizations wanting to offer aid and assistance. Likewise the leadership could be any number of different personalities ranging from traditional healer, council member, business person, youth leader, gang member, and so on.

Therefore, planning intervention measures for the pandemic would be very complex and require time to establish connections, good rapport and understanding between the people within the informal settlement with organizations offering medical advice and services for handing the pandemic.

These living conditions could place the inhabitants at frequent occurrence of natural disasters and life threatening situations such as cholera, influenza, flooding, mudslides, and many other types of life threatening happenings.

Therefore, it is safe to say that community engagement would be essential but requires lead time to establish relationships and levels of trust between local residents and outside organizations wanting to work with the community.

Returning to the Covid-19 pandemic

This may well be a long-overdue turning point in many regions of the globe. Epidemics, and in this instance a pandemic, may be the trigger for the urban elite to reassess the plight of the informal settlement areas. Because there is a symbiotic dependency of both people groups and a potential threat to all lives by the poor levels of health and unsanitary living conditions, on the less desirable sector, action may finally be essential.

The threat of COVID-19 will be better managed in the more developed urban sectors. This means that the risks are both real and very high for these urban poor community groups. It may not be a favourable outcome for the present pandemic but it may open up the need for urban communities to take greater responsibilities for the informal settlement areas.

It may not be until after the passing of the pandemic, that the more structured sector will have to take more responsibility for redefining human redevelopment, ensuring improved and sustainable health conditions and standards of housing and overall living conditions in the present informal settlement area. This would be long-term improvements for the informal clusters that have been ignored for too long and must be addressed if humanity hopes to succeed through the coming centuries.

Is Lockdown a Viable Option to Control the Coronavirus in Africa?

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The African nations have had plenty of recent infectious disease outbreaks such as HIV and Ebola to learn ways of tackling an epidemic. Therefore, they might be better equipped in mental fortitude to handle the current coronavirus crisis. One significant factor that the African people are aware of is that the communities must be actively involved in responding to the virus outbreak.

Some nuggets of truth already learnt from previous experience with infectious diseases is that the outbreaks can be released differently in different communities and environments. This is in part due to the social conditions of the people concerned. The second important understanding is that the control measures implemented need to be applied with the consent and full agreement of the people concerned.  helped end Ebola in West Africa in 2015

From their recent hands-on experience, epidemic control measures will only be embraced and adhered if the local people are actively involved in determining the future destiny of their own lives. This implies that even though Covid-19 is a pandemic that is spreading across almost the entire globe, it can also be considered as a series of localized epidemics that are popping up simultaneously across the globe.

The methods of transmission are the same across the globe but the speed of transmission may vary as well as the overall pattern of spread. These variations can be observed and the differences observed between densely populated lower-income township areas compared with less-dense, mid-level suburban neighbourhoods. Likewise, the spread of infection will be markedly different in refugee and displaced persons camps. The spread will be different again amidst nomadic people.

The social behaviour of the African people are of great importance in their cultural settings. These behaviours include greetings, mixing and mingling across generations as a normal daily practice, as well as the variation in physical distancing and hand washing procedures.

The international recommendations for dealing with the transmission of infectious diseases is largely determined by westernized, middle and upper class people groups centralized in urban dwellings with ample natural resources such as fresh, clean water within their living abodes, personal means of transportation, indoor living and working environments, and so forth.

African nations tackle the spread of disease in their communities in very different ways because the aforementioned socio-economic and spatial factors. There are also very significant differences in the general health conditions of the people, and the type of medical concerns that are more prevalent in the African people.

The immunity of the people on the African continent is much weaker due to the history and prevalence of HIV condition. The fear of infection is more acute because also because many millions of people are with tuberculosis. There is also a high occurrence of malaria and severe malnutrition. Thus, it is reasonable to say that the people on the African continent are likely to be very vulnerable due to their decreased levels of immunity, and their various medical conditions which are life threatening.

In contrast to these negative factors, there is one very encouraging positive factor and that is the populations across the continent are extremely young. The are countries where up to fifty percent of the population are under the age of 30 years. There is a very small percentage of the population, less than 2%, who are over 65 years. This is a good indicator that the mortality rate could be much lower across the African continent when the coronavirus strikes in this part of the globe.

The infectious disease prediction rates and data models have been developed for the more developed westernized regions of the globe. The main epidemic control measure adopted by China, Europe and North America has been the lockdown concept enforcing self-isolation which is in itself a very long-standing traditional approach to managing infectious diseases. There is neither adequate data nor time available for enhancing the models and predictors for the African continent.

The lockdown approach also required some rigorous medical, emergency response and policing systems to already be in existence in the nations (or counties /states) within the region. The lockdown approach also required a centralized operations base which is not possible in many African nations. Nations such as South Africa and Rwanda could operate lockdowns but there would still be areas within these countries where it is not a feasible approach.

There are a number of reasons why lockdown is not a viable option to tackle Covid-19 pandemic in Africa. Many of the people are subsistence farmers so need to work in the fields. The little cash flow comes from regular sales of produce in the local market so a longterm lockdown might control the virus but will lead the people to poverty and potential starvation. The various regions are already subjected to long term droughts, swarms of locusts, and occasional flash floods, as well as long term unemployment due to very limited work opportunities. During these events, individuals and even communities are dependent on extended family members for support. This is their social security system. Therefore, a lockdown would disengage family connections and make the people more vulnerable and destitute.

Many nations are already very dependent on international aid for normal everyday living. With the present pandemic conditions, the financial aid options are threatened and will be severely reduced. Likewise, supply chain systems were also be severely threatened and reduced. The level of medical and health support across the globe is also very weak and vulnerable in comparison with those developed nations which are themselves struggling to maintain adequate medical supplies and equipment.

As significant regions of the African continent have experienced recent epidemics, there is large resources of local knowledge. The medical community and international emergency support initiatives such as Doctors without Borders have medical data for trends and patterning of the spread of disease in these communities while the local communities are able to provide contextual and cultural information. Together, these data sources can be brought together to identify applicable methods used in the recent decades of managing the outbreak of diseases in this region of the globe.

Therefore, the African nations will need to design and tailor their response to the corona virus in such away that it addresses their specific needs based on their demographics and medical conditions of the people.

Climate Change in the Holy Quran: Perspectives

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Imagine being stuck in the middle of the desert, with little or no water and all of a sudden you completely submerged in an Ocean. Covered from more than head to toe in water. Springs gushing forth from where there used to be ovens and all havoc breaking loose, with only one ship. Not a single flood barrier in sight nor the ability to be able to capture the rainwater for use later on. This is a glimpse of what it must have been like for the people of Prophet Nuh (AS). In the process he also lost his own family members. The Almighty told him to build his Ark and the people mocked him, but he listened and obeyed.

Quranic verses about climate change

The story of Nuh (A.S) shows us an excellent example of climate change in the Holy Quran. It also highlights to us the impact which flooding can have on society and focuses on effort and not necessarily results. This is clear in the fact that Nabi Nuh preached to his people for almost 1000 years, yet very few accepted the message.

“We did indeed send Noah to his people and he lived among them a thousand years save fifty. Eventually the Flood overtook them while they were engaged in wrongdoing”. Quran (29:14)

One thing that stands out for sure in the entire lesson is that we need to look at the Ark as a sign of hope. There will always be a tool for us to use if we are truthful and steer the course

One other Flood in the Holy Quran, which also had major impacts, was that of Musa (A.S). This is highlighted in the Quran:

“Then We afflicted them with a great flood and locusts, and the lice, and the frogs, and the blood. All these were distinct signs and yet they remained haughty. They were a wicked people.” Quran (7:133)

This leads us to think about the dynamic interplay between events like flooding and disease and how we really need to examine the way we are studying science. We should actually be taking approaches related to multi and interdisciplinary work with large teams of various scientists from numerous backgrounds tackling big problems to solve them holistically.

The story of Yusuf (A.S) is the only one in the entire Quran which occurs in one surah of the Quran, in order from start to  finish This can be seen in Surah 12 of the Holy Quran. The verses pertaining  to the climate variability could be seen as :

And the king said: Lo! I saw in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean were eating and seven green ears of corn other (seven) dry. O notables! Expound for me my vision, if he can interpret dreams. They answered: Jumbled dreams! And we are not knowing in the interpretation of dreams. And of the two who was released and (now) at length remembered, said : I am going to announce unto you the interpretation,  therefore send me forth. (And when he came to Joseph in the prison, he exclaimed): Joseph! O thou truthful one! Expound for us the seven fat kine which seven lean were eating and the seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry, that I may return unto the people so that they may know. He said: Ye shall sow seven years as usual, but that which ye reap, leave it in the ear, all save a little which ye eat. Then after that will come seven hard years which will devour all that ye have prepared for them, save a little of that which ye have stored. Then, after that, will come a year when the people will have plenteous crops and when they will press (wine and oil) “(Quran 12: 43-49)

The analysis of the dreams occurs in the latter verse with a further analysis suggesting that grain should be stored in the seven good years for the seven tough years. Furthermore, after the seven years of drought a good year will occur with plentiful water and in turn good crops of olives and grapes for people to process oil and wine. This is not in the dream nor part of its interpretation but was used by Yusuf (A.S) to garner hope for the population.

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The Quran shows us, by means of   case studies, what the effects of climate change can be as well as how to minimise the impacts thereof. The stories of Nuh (A.S), Yusuf (A.S) and Musa (A.S) have numerous lessons. These should spill over into our lives and we could make a major impact in terms of saving this beautiful planet of ours and being the vicegerent the Almighty wants us to be.

It also seems as if two distinct patterns of Climate Change could be deduced. The first pattern was a slow persistent change in climate, like the event affecting Yusuf (A.S). The second pattern, in the case of Musa (A.S) as well as Nuh (A.S), was a sudden one in the form of a flood. It also seems as if the modern data favours more intensive climatic changes, but it could also be said that the effects are likely to be erratic.

It should however be noted that the decisions made by human beings in certain instances without proper planning and consultation could have these types of disastrous impacts. This can be seen in instances whereby construction has occurred alongside rivers, knowingly that the river spills its banks on a regular basis.

The Question we should be asking ourselves in a modern context is – What is our Ark in the desert? What do we need to build in order to be resilient to the impacts of Climate Change?

How to Make an Environmentally-Conscious Person

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The public discourse on industrial pollution, climate change, global warming and sustainable development has made environmental protection a top priority for one and all.  Concerted efforts are underway from governments, businesses and individuals to make Earth a clean and green planet.  When it comes to sustainability, everyone has a role to play. We can contribute to the global environmental movement by adopting changes that are within easy reach.

Here are some tips to prove that you are an environmentally-conscious person:

an eco-friendly human being

1. Use Solar Power

Solar power is the most popular form of alternative energy. Worldwide, millions of businesses and households are powered by solar energy systems. A potential way to harness solar power is to install solar panels on your roof which will not only provide energy independence but also generate attractive revenues through sale of surplus power.

Another interesting way to tap sun’s energy is use solar-powered lights for illuminating streets, boundary walls, gardens and other public spaces. Solar-powered lights provide a reliable and cheap source of energy in rural and isolated areas.

2. Recycle Stuff

Recycling keeps waste out of landfills, thus conserving natural resources. The first step in recycling is to buy a multi-compartment recycling bin for separate collection of paper, plastics, food waste and metal. Paper, plastics and metals can be recycled and reused while food waste can be composted or anaerobically digested to produce biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer.

3. Switch to Efficient Bulbs

The traditional incandescent light bulb consumes lot of electricity, and a better alternative is an LED light. LEDs are important because due to their efficiency and low energy consumption, they are beginning to replace most conventional light sources.

A LED reduces pollution by a ton per light per year, with almost 80 percent reduction in energy consumption. Although the price of such a bulb is higher, it will surely cover expenses through energy savings.

4. Unplug Gadgets

A simple method to protect the environment is to remove the power source when you turn off the gadgets. Putting gadgets (or appliances) on stand-by mode consume a lot of power and substantial cost savings can be made by stopping this practice.

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Pull that plug!

Prevent energy wastage by unplugging any gadgets not in use or that are fully charged. You may also use smart power strips that cut the power supply to devices that no longer need it.

5. Use Filtered Water

Buying packaged water in plastic bottles is good for your health but this does create a problem. Plastic waste is something that everyone should worry about. At the same time the water you buy will be transported for a long distance until it reaches the supermarket. This means that precious fossil fuel is used in its transportation.

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An alternative that reduces its environmental impact is to filter your own water and use a refillable water container. Tap water is good for consumption and you can always use filtration systems to increase water quality.

How EV Charging Infrastructure Is Supporting Sustainable Hospitality and Green Tourism

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EV charging has become one of the strongest booking drivers in hospitality. Hilton says it’s now their highest-converting amenity filter, beating pools and free breakfast. But only about 26% of U.S. hotels offer it, which means the other 74% are invisible to a growing, high-spending traveler segment.

This article breaks down why it matters, what it actually costs, and how to get it right without overcomplicating things.

Image by evening_tao on Freepik

The Parking Lot Has Changed. Has Your Hotel?

Electric car sales hit 17 million globally in 2024, according to the IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2025. That’s more than 20% of all new cars sold worldwide. In 2025, sales are expected to cross 20 million.

You feel this at the property level before you see it in the data. A corporate guest pulls in after a long drive and checks for a charger the way they’d check for Wi-Fi. If your property doesn’t have one, they don’t complain. They just rebook down the road. Quietly. Permanently.

An American Hotel and Lodging Association survey of 17,000 properties found that only about a quarter offered EV charging. That’s a massive blind spot.

The EV charging at hotels market hit $1.28 billion globally in 2024 and is projected to grow at nearly 28% annually through 2033. The hotels moving now are pulling demand away from the ones that aren’t.

These Aren’t Budget Travelers

Here’s what changes the math on this investment: the people driving EVs are disproportionately high-value guests.

According to the American Consumer Institute, EV-owning households typically earn over $100,000 a year. These drivers prioritize sustainable brands, book at properties they perceive as modern, and they spend while they’re there.

A 2024 STR global lodging report found that EV guests stay 12 to 20% longer than non-EV guests and are more likely to eat on-site.  A 2024 Nature study found businesses within 100 meters of a charging station saw spending increase by up to 3.2%.

They also search differently. Booking.com’s 2024 Sustainable Travel Report says 75% of travelers actively look for sustainable options. On platforms like PlugShare, Google Maps, and Booking.com itself, EV charging is now a primary filter. If you’re not in those results, you’re not in the consideration set.

The ESG Conversation Has Gotten Serious

Sustainability used to be a towel-reuse card and a line on the website. That era is done. Corporate travel managers, investors, and brand standards teams now want measurable data.

EV charging gives you one of the cleanest metrics in hospitality sustainability. You can report kilowatt-hours delivered, estimate CO2 avoided compared to equivalent gasoline trips, and feed those numbers directly into ESG reports and corporate RFP responses.

What the Big Brands Are Doing

Hilton partnered with Tesla to install up to 20,000 Universal Wall Connectors at 2,000 North American hotels.

By mid-2025, chargers were live at more than 1,400 properties. Marriott has over 7,000 chargers worldwide. Radisson is rolling out chargers at 300 European hotels and piloting 175-kW ultra-fast units. Hyatt, Best Western, and even Motel 6 have entered the race.

If every major chain is building charging infrastructure, the question for independent and regional operators isn’t whether to follow. It’s how fast.

The Business Case (It’s Stronger Than You Think)

business model for EV charging venture

Forget the idea that EV charging is a green expense. It’s a revenue lever with multiple layers.

The dwell-time loop

When a road-tripper plans a route around overnight charging, your hotel becomes a stop by default. They check in, plug in, and spend money at your restaurant and bar while the car charges. Charging creates dwell time. Dwell time creates spend. That loop is the real payoff.

Parking revenue is already booming

CBRE’s Trends in the Hotel Industry data shows U.S. hotel parking revenues grew 23.1% from 2019 to 2023, more than four times faster than total hotel revenues. Parking profit margins hit 61.3%. EV charging plugs directly into that existing high-margin operation.

What goes into the ROI calculation

Session fees alone don’t tell the full story. The real model stacks several layers:

  • Direct charging revenue from per-kWh or flat-fee session pricing
  • Occupancy gains from showing up in EV-filtered search results on OTAs and charging apps
  • ADR lift from attracting a higher-income guest segment
  • Longer stays (12 to 20% per the STR data) and incremental F&B, spa, and retail spend
  • ESG reporting value that strengthens corporate RFP scoring

When you stack those layers, the payback period gets a lot shorter than the hardware cost alone would suggest.

Picking the Right Hardware (Without Overcomplicating It)

EV charging hardware

You don’t need to become an electrical engineer. You just need to match the charger to the guest.

Level 2 is your workhorse

Running on 240 volts, it delivers roughly 20 to 40 miles of range per hour. An overnight stay fully charges most EVs. Hardware costs run $2,000 to $6,000 per port. This is what the vast majority of hotels, resorts, and short-term rentals should install as primary infrastructure.

DC fast charging is the exception

These units push a battery from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes, but they cost $30,000 to $100,000+ per unit. They make sense at highway-adjacent properties or large mixed-use sites open to the public. Most properties won’t need them on day one.

Level 1 is mostly irrelevant for guests

It runs on a standard 120-volt outlet and adds only 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. Fine for staff parking, not useful for guest-facing charging.

The matching question is simple: how long does your typical guest’s car sit in the lot? Airport and highway hotels benefit from a mix of DC fast and Level 2.

Destination resorts with multi-night stays can lean entirely on Level 2. Either way, choose networked chargers with smart load management so you can serve more vehicles without expensive panel upgrades.

Planning It Out

Start with demand. Have your front desk ask during check-in: do you drive an electric vehicle? Run a quick pre-arrival email survey. Count EVs in your lot on peak nights.

Cross-reference with local EV adoption data from your state energy agency, and you’ll have a solid three-to-five-year picture.

Then walk the site with a licensed electrician or EV infrastructure specialist. They’ll evaluate guest parking areas, measure distance to your electrical room, and assess available capacity. Prioritize visible spots near the entrance. It tells arriving guests you’re serious about sustainability, and it makes chargers easy to find.

Two things that save time and money

First, engage your utility company early. They can advise on tariff structures, demand-response programs, and whether your service connection needs an upgrade.

Second, work with an experienced EV installation partner who knows local permitting quirks and has relationships with inspectors and utility planners. Projects genuinely move faster when those relationships exist.

What It Costs and How Incentives Change the Math

Beyond hardware, budget for trenching, conduit, potential panel upgrades, permitting, and ongoing network fees.

A small hotel might spend low five figures for a basic Level 2 setup. Larger properties with multiple lots and DC fast charging will invest significantly more.

But incentives are substantial. In the U.S., the federal 30C tax credit covers up to 30% of installation costs, capped at $100,000 per location.

The NEVI program adds funding for highway-corridor properties. State grants and utility make-ready programs stack on top.

Some operators report that between federal credits, state rebates, and utility programs, 80 to 100% of installation costs were covered. Similar programs exist across Europe, the UK, and parts of Asia.

Build a simple payback model. Project cost minus incentives. Projected sessions per month. Pricing per session.

Then add the indirect gains: occupancy lift, ADR premium, incremental on-property spend. Properties that track quarterly tend to find payback landing between 18 and 36 months, sometimes sooner when incentive coverage is strong.

Making It Work Day to Day

Hardware is the easy part. The guest experience around it is what separates a smooth operation from a front desk headache.

Pricing and communication

Whatever model you choose (free for loyalty members, flat daily fee, per-kWh rate), make it clear at booking, at check-in, and on signage at the stations. Confusion at the charger becomes a complaint at the desk within minutes.

Parking etiquette

Mark EV-only spaces clearly. Set time limits on faster chargers to prevent vehicles from sitting plugged in long after they’ve finished.

Train your staff to enforce rules politely and help guests who are new to the charging process.

Some hotels put a short “how to charge here” card in guest rooms or a QR code in the check-in packet. Small touch, big difference.

Marketing the chargers

Feature EV charging on your website, OTA listings, Google Business Profile, and confirmation emails. List your property on PlugShare, ChargePoint’s map, and Google Maps.

The discovery channel matters as much as the hardware. If EV drivers can’t find you before they book, the investment underperforms.

The Sustainability Story Guests Actually Believe

Image by wirestock on Freepik

Most travelers can spot performative sustainability from a mile away, but EV charging station installation works because it’s tangible. The charger is in the lot, the kWh data is in the system, and the guest plugged in and drove away with a full battery.

Some properties are going further by pairing chargers with rooftop or carport solar panels. Even when the solar doesn’t cover 100% of charging demand, the combination creates a credible decarbonization story that guests and corporate partners take seriously.

It’s the difference between a sustainability page on your website and a sustainability reality in your parking lot.

Talk to your utility about demand-response programs and time-of-use tariffs. Scheduling most charging during off-peak overnight hours (which naturally aligns with guest behavior anyway) can reduce your energy costs and ease grid impact as you scale.

If You’re Still on the Fence

You don’t need 20 chargers on day one. But you do need to start with intention.

Define your goal: guest amenity, revenue stream, ESG asset, or all three. Assess demand with simple surveys and lot counts, then talk to an installer and your utility at the same time so you don’t design something the grid can’t support. Check incentive databases and build a basic payback model.

The three most common mistakes?

  • Too few chargers, which leaves guests competing for spots and kills the experience before it starts
  • Chargers in locations nobody can find, tucked behind the building or buried in a back lot where guests never see them
  • Zero marketing after installation, so EV drivers never know your property has charging in the first place

Install conduit for future expansion from the start, choose open-standards hardware that works with every vehicle brand, and review usage data every six months to adjust as you go.

The guests who drive electric aren’t a niche anymore. They’re a fast-growing, high-spending segment that plans trips around where they can charge.

The hotels that make charging easy, visible, and reliable will earn their loyalty and their wallets, while the ones that don’t will keep wondering why occupancy isn’t climbing the way it used to.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

How many chargers should we start with? Most hotels begin with 4 to 8 Level 2 ports and expand when peak-season utilization consistently hits 60 to 70%. Install conduit for at least double your initial count so scaling is easy.

Free or paid? Both work. Many properties use a hybrid: free overnight for loyalty members or premium rooms, paid for day visitors. Whichever you choose, make the policy visible before guests arrive.

What if our electrical capacity is limited? Smart load management software distributes available power across chargers, serving more vehicles without costly panel upgrades. Phased installation also works. Your utility and electrician can map the best path.

How do we attract EV-driving guests? List chargers on your website, OTAs, Google Business Profile, PlugShare, and ChargePoint. Mention them in confirmation emails and on-site signage. Discovery is half the battle.

How long from decision to live chargers? For a standard Level 2 setup, 3 to 6 months depending on permits, utility coordination, and how fast decisions get made internally.

USDT and USDC Activity on Ethereum Hits 2026 Lows

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Stablecoin flows on Ethereum have noticeably slowed. USDT and USDC usage hit 2026 lows last week, a development that leaves mainnet blocks emptier than expected. Traders and developers alike now face a clear question: does this signal trouble ahead? Far from a sudden exodus driven by fear, the pattern suggests deliberate shifts in where liquidity moves. Users appear to favor alternatives that better match current needs around cost and speed. What follows unpacks the data behind this change, its ripple effects across DeFi and beyond, and the network efficiencies it unexpectedly creates.

USDT and USDC activity drop on Ethereum

Santiment Metrics: The Numbers

Santiment tracked the downturn last week. USDT active addresses on Ethereum dropped to roughly 210,000 daily—about 53% below recent Q1 peaks. USDC followed at around 185,000, down 51% over the same period. Transfer counts moved in step. USDT daily transactions fell from 120,000 to 65,000. USDC volume shrank 48% to 22,000. On-chain supply shows outflows as well: Ethereum’s USDT balance sits at $62 billion (off 12% year-to-date), with USDC at $32 billion (down 8%).

These numbers define 2026’s quietest stretch so far. January brought stronger activity around ETF launches. April tells a different story. Stablecoin supply across Ethereum now totals $94 billion, off 10% overall.

Metric Recent Peak Q1 2026 Avg April 2026 Low
USDT Active Addresses 450,000 350,000 ~210,000
USDC Active Addresses 370,000 300,000 ~185,000
Daily USDT Transfers 120,000 92,000 65,000
Daily USDC Transfers 42,000 35,000 22,000
Total Stablecoin Supply $110B $102B $94B

Users adapt in straightforward ways. Many convert USDT to ETH for L2 bridging, bypassing mainnet constraints. Fewer addresses do not always signal capital flight—wallet consolidation trimmed unique counts by 22% since March. Dips like 2022’s bear phase showed similar surface patterns. Here structural factors lead instead of sentiment alone.

Gas Fee Relief: Ethereum’s Unexpected Efficiency Gain

Lower stablecoin activity yielded an unanticipated benefit. Mainnet gas fees hit rare lows around 6 gwei. Blocks now fill to about 62% capacity, down from near-full earlier this year. Transactions confirm faster. Remaining users enjoy much lower costs.

Network dynamics shift as a result. Developers test ideas once priced out by high fees. Enterprise projects advance without budget strain. Retail traders move freely.

The change extends further than immediate savings. Underused block space creates fresh opportunities. Rollup operators face less congestion strain. Layer-1 sees renewed scope for experimentation.

  • Lower costs pull traditional finance prototypes toward mainnet.
  • Quicker block inclusion aids oracle updates and bridges.
  • Active DeFi positions gain from tighter spreads.

Past cycles showed similar effects. Fees dropped after 2021’s peak, paving way for broader dApp growth. Current stablecoin patterns offer comparable breathing room. Ethereum secures operational flexibility precisely when needed.

Primary Drivers: L2 Migration Dominates

Layer-2 networks now handle the bulk of Ethereum stablecoin flows. Mainnet steadily lost share over this stretch. Users moved for straightforward reasons: L2 costs remain far lower than Ethereum Layer-1, even after recent mainnet fee relief.

Wallet patterns back this shift. Consolidation trimmed unique addresses noticeably since March. Bots cut back on automated stablecoin activity as well. DeFi yields factored in too. Mainnet options lag behind L2 alternatives in most cases.

Other pressures built on these trends. Bitcoin tax-season outflows drained broader liquidity. Ethereum ETF inflows tapered off after early-year peaks. Tether and USDC price predictions show both hold steady near $1—no rush to exit positions. Capital simply rerouted.

Three dynamics drive the change:

  • Scaling networks now manage substantial daily volume without strain.
  • Liquidity pools on L2s draw yield seekers away from mainnet.
  • Bridge infrastructure makes stablecoin transfers across layers seamless.

This differs from earlier downturns. Sentiment ruled stablecoin metrics in 2022. Efficiency takes precedence now. Funds did not disappear. They spread to where conditions suit current demands. Mainnet bears the impact while the wider Ethereum ecosystem adapts.

Market Stagnation and External Pressures

Market conditions amplified the Layer-2 shift. Bitcoin faced tax-related outflows in early April, pulling from overall liquidity. Ethereum ETF inflows tapered after strong January starts. Traders sat tight instead of forcing activity. Stablecoins held their pegs firm—no sudden exits needed.

Competition across chains widened the gap. Tron took clear lead on USDT supply. Solana built USDC share, especially for payments. Ethereum mainnet ceded ground on both fronts. Its Layer-2 networks absorbed much of what left Layer-1.

Chain/Network USDT Share USDC Share Recent Trend
Ethereum L1 Declining Declining Steady loss
Tron Leading Low Gaining
Solana Rising Growing Payments
L2 Networks Increasing Increasing Main absorber

Regulatory developments added friction. Europe’s MiCA rules gave institutions pause. U.S. stablecoin reserve talks prompted similar restraint. Teams eyed compliant alternatives. Pegs stayed intact throughout. Capital chased smoother routes instead.

Together these forces took hold. Mainnet volume dipped from practical choices, not collapse. Stagnation framed the backdrop. Efficiency drew users away. Ethereum’s base layer bore the brunt while its broader system adjusted.

Ecosystem Impacts: DeFi and Developers

DeFi protocols registered the mainnet slowdown first. Uniswap pairs tied to USDT and USDC traded lighter. Aave saw borrowing activity pull back in step. Total value locked across Ethereum held steady without clear momentum. Liquidity providers scaled positions down instead of expanding.

Developers shifted focus accordingly. Layer-2 launches outpaced mainnet ones. Teams weighed deployment choices against user access and fees. Incumbent dApps tuned rewards to retain activity. NFT entry points, built around stablecoin onramps, drew fewer participants.

Day-to-day operations reflected the change. Swaps faced minimal slippage for remaining volume. Oracle updates flowed without delay. Bridges managed cross-layer traffic smoothly.

Main pressure points stood out:

  • Trading depth thinned on core stablecoin routes.
  • Lending saw less borrowing demand overall.
  • Application development leaned toward Layer-2 options.

Adaptation took shape across the ecosystem. Layer-2 expansion balanced mainnet quiet. Builders carved viable paths ahead. Users moved toward lower-friction setups. Ethereum’s multi-layer design absorbed the strain while keeping the network intact.

Outlook: Three Scenarios

Current trends suggest three distinct paths forward. Layer-2 momentum versus mainnet recovery will define Ethereum’s next moves through 2026.

Base Scenario: Layer-2 Lock-In

  • Activity stays muted through mid-year.
  • Layer-2 networks cement their stablecoin volume lead.
  • Mainnet serves high-value settlements only.
  • Price holds rangebound as liquidity remains spread across layers.

Optimistic Scenario: Layer-1 Rebound

  • ETF flows strengthen. Cross-layer bridges improve.
  • DeFi incentives pull activity back to mainnet.
  • Stablecoin usage sees moderate lift.
  • Ethereum tests higher price levels.

Stress Scenario: Mainnet Retreat

  • European regulatory pressure builds. U.S. rules tighten further.
  • Institutions favor compliant alternatives entirely.
  • Layer-1 volume erodes more.
  • Price faces downside tests.

Key Scenario Triggers

  • Base: Layer-2 growth continues steadily; policy stays neutral
  • Optimistic: Capital returns to Ethereum; infrastructure upgrades land
  • Stress: Regulation escalates; caution spreads wider

Base case appears most probable near term. Ethereum’s layered design absorbs the shift. Mainnet evolves toward settlement functions while activity centers off-chain.

Recovery Signals to Watch

On-Chain Indicators

  • Active addresses for USDT/USDC trending higher week-over-week
  • Bridge flows showing Layer-2 to Layer-1 direction
  • DeFi trading pair depth gradually rebuilding

Protocol Signals

  • Yield spreads between mainnet and L2 narrowing
  • Oracle update activity increasing
  • Reward structures aligning across layers

Historical Context

Past fee relief periods saw volume return after quiet stretches. Layer-2 growth now moderates that cycle compared to prior years.

What Shifts the Outlook

Signal clusters outweigh isolated moves. Multiple trends aligning point to momentum. Ethereum’s mainnet awaits this confirmation while Layer-2 networks maintain steady pace.

Conclusion and Action Steps

Layer-2 networks reshaped stablecoin patterns on Ethereum this year. Mainnet activity settled lower as users found better fit elsewhere. The base layer gained breathing room instead of breaking down. Capital spread across a wider system rather than vanish outright.

Practical choices emerge for those navigating the shift. Bridges to Arbitrum or Base cut routine costs sharply. Hardware wallets secure holdings through uncertain stretches. On-chain dashboards track address trends week by week.

Ethereum adapts at its core. Developers build where traction lives. Mainnet carves space for final settlements. Quiet flows today set up tomorrow’s balance—not collapse. Watch the signals cluster before positioning shifts.

FAQ

Why did USDT and USDC activity drop on Ethereum mainnet?

Layer-2 networks better match current cost and yield needs.

How does this affect Ethereum’s price?

Liquidity spreading across layers caps sharp upside moves. Mainnet quiet limits trading depth.

Which Layer-2 networks lead stablecoin volume?

Arbitrum and Base handle the largest shares now. Their infrastructure supports most routine flows.

Are gas fees actually lower now?

Yes, mainnet fees hit rare lows. Blocks fill less completely.

What role did regulation play?

Europe’s MiCA rules gave institutions pause. U.S. reserve discussions added caution.

When might mainnet activity rebound?

Signal clusters matter more than single metrics. Address trends turning higher would point that way.

Disclaimer

This article offers informational analysis only. It does not constitute investment, financial, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency markets carry significant risk. Always conduct independent research before making decisions. Data reflects trends as of April 2026.

How Nature-Inspired Art Supports Sustainable Well-Being at Home

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Most people redecorate to make their space look better. Fewer stop to ask what that space does to their mind, or what their decorating choices cost the planet. These aren’t abstract questions. The surfaces we surround ourselves with genuinely affect mood, attention, and stress levels. And the way we shop for them carries a real environmental footprint.

Nature-inspired art sits at a useful intersection of both problems. It’s not a cure for burnout, and it won’t replace a walk in the woods. But for people living in cities with little daily contact with green spaces, bringing natural imagery into the home is one of the more honest ways to close that gap, without consuming much or contributing to the throwaway decor cycle.

Nature-themed paintings bring calm and color into everyday living spaces

This piece looks at why nature-themed art, and specifically botanical and floral subjects, works so well for mental well-being, how it fits into a lower-impact home, and why DIY painting kits have become a serious option for people who want to make something rather than just buy it.

What Makes Nature-Inspired Art So Effective for the Mind

The pull toward natural imagery isn’t a matter of taste. It’s biology. E.O. Wilson’s concept of biophilia, now supported by several decades of environmental psychology research, describes an evolved human affinity for natural forms, patterns, and living systems. We’re drawn to foliage, water, flowers, and animals not because they’re pretty, but because our nervous systems are calibrated to find safety and rest in them.

A 2025 scoping review published in Frontiers in Psychology found that nature-based art therapy significantly improves stress levels, attention, and self-esteem, with quantitative studies reporting notable reductions in anxiety, aggression, and depression across participant groups. The review covered multiple modalities, but the consistent thread was that exposure to natural imagery during creative or contemplative activities produced measurable psychological benefit.

Separately, a 2025 meta-analysis in Nature Mental Health examined 36 studies involving 3,360 participants and found that group arts interventions produced a moderate reduction in depression, with a Cohen’s d of 0.70 (p < 0.001). That’s not a marginal effect. It’s comparable to effects seen in structured therapeutic interventions.

Flowers, specifically, are worth singling out. Botanical subjects reward slow attention. The detail in a painted peony or a study of wild anemones demands a kind of focused looking that activates the same attention-restoration response as time spent outdoors. You don’t need to create the work yourself for this to function. Looking at well-executed flower art for sale from independent artists brings that same visual richness into everyday spaces, without requiring painting skills or studio time.

This matters especially in contexts where outdoor access is limited. Urban apartment dwellers, people in arid climates, and those with health conditions that restrict mobility all of these groups benefit from nature-adjacent stimuli, even when the real thing isn’t easily available.

The Sustainability Angle: Art That Connects You to Nature Without Consuming It

Combining nature art with living plants reinforces a biophilic, low-impact home aesthetic

Fast-fashion home decor follows the same logic as fast fashion clothing: cheap production, short trend cycles, quick replacement. A mass-produced synthetic print in a plastic frame is designed to feel current for a season and disposable shortly after. That cycle has a real cost in materials, shipping, and waste.

Original nature-inspired art, or art made to last, cuts against that logic. A hand-painted botanical canvas doesn’t go out of style in the way that a trendy graphic print does. Flowers and natural subjects transcend seasonal aesthetics. They tend to age well, wear well with changing furniture, and hold emotional value in a way that mass-produced decor rarely does.

Thinking about art as part of creating an eco-friendly home changes the purchasing frame. Instead of “what’s available and affordable right now,” the question becomes “what will I still want in ten years, and who made it?” That shift in thinking is worth more than any individual product choice.

A 2025 paper in the Journal of Art Therapy (Taylor & Francis) framed it clearly: nature-based art practices have the potential to unite human and planetary health, because they actively cultivate care for the natural world rather than simply consuming its aesthetics. When you spend time with botanical imagery, whether as a viewer or a maker, you build a relationship with what those images represent.

Natural England has estimated that £2.1 billion could be saved annually on mental health costs in the UK if everyone had good access to natural environments. Nature-connected creative activities are a practical, low-cost way to approximate that access for people who don’t have it by default.

Why DIY Painting Kits Are Worth Taking Seriously

There’s a fair amount of snobbery around paint-by-numbers. The assumption is that they’re for children, or for people who couldn’t manage “real” art. That assumption hasn’t aged well.

Mintel’s US Arts and Crafts Consumer Report 2025 found that 71% of US consumers now identify as crafters, and nearly half reported turning to arts and crafts activities specifically to manage stress. That’s not a niche hobby trend. It’s a widespread behavioral response to high-stress modern life.

DIY paint-by-numbers kits make original art accessible without specialist materials or training

The search data supports it. According to accio.com’s analysis of 2024 consumer trends, paint-by-numbers kits saw an 18.22% month-over-month search increase in June 2024, with flower-themed and nature-themed kits leading sales categories on Amazon. People are looking for focused, tactile creative activities that produce something tangible at the end.

The psychological mechanism isn’t complicated. Repetitive, structured creative work, filling in a numbered section, mixing a color, working methodically across a canvas, quiets the kind of mental chatter that drives chronic stress. Psychologists sometimes call this “flow state,” a state of absorbed attention where self-referential thinking drops away. You don’t need to be talented to access it. You need a task that’s specific enough to focus on.

DIY art also fits naturally within simple green living habits because the creation model is inherently low-waste. You make something once, use it for years, and develop a skill rather than consuming a product. There’s no supply chain of seasonal replacements, no trend-driven disposal cycle.

For anyone who wants to start with nature-themed subjects, complete DIY painting kits that feature flowers, botanicals, and landscapes give beginners a structured entry point without the intimidation of a blank canvas.

How to Choose Art That Actually Reflects Your Values

A curated gallery wall of nature-themed works is a low-impact alternative to fast-fashion home decor

Buying art with intention isn’t difficult. It just requires a few different questions from the ones most people ask.

  • Support independent artists over mass production. Original works, or limited editions from independent painters who focus on natural subjects, keep money out of highly industrialized supply chains and support creators doing work they actually care about. This is especially true for botanical and floral subjects, where a genuine knowledge of the subject often shows in the work.
  • Look for longevity over trend alignment. Botanical and floral imagery has appeared continuously in visual art across centuries and across cultures. It doesn’t belong to any particular design moment, which means it doesn’t expire. An original flower painting works in both a traditional interior and a minimalist modern one.
  • Consider the making as well as the buying. The types of art that celebrate the natural world span a wide range, from botanical illustration to land art to ceramics. DIY options sit squarely within that range. Making something yourself, even using a structured kit, creates a relationship with the subject that purchasing alone doesn’t.

The consumer appetite for making art at home is not going anywhere. The US Chamber of Commerce projects the global DIY craft kit market will reach $20.8 billion by 2032, growing at a 7.5% compound annual rate driven by wellness demand and stress-reduction behavior. The research from Frontiers in Psychology confirms there’s a genuine therapeutic basis for that demand, not just a marketing narrative.

There’s also a cross-cultural relevance worth noting for EcoMENA’s audience across the MENA region and beyond. Botanical and floral motifs carry deep roots in Islamic art and design traditions, from geometric tile patterns incorporating floral elements to the detailed botanical illustrations of Ottoman manuscripts. Engaging with nature-inspired art in these traditions is a form of cultural continuity as much as a wellness practice.

Small Art, Larger Impact

The choice to fill your living space with nature-inspired art, whether you buy it from an independent artist or make it yourself with a kit, is a small decision with a reasonable set of downstream effects. It reduces your exposure to the stress that comes with urban disconnection from natural environments. It supports creators who work with intentionality. It resists the throwaway logic of mass-produced seasonal decor.

None of this requires a gallery budget or artistic training. It requires paying slightly more attention to what you put on your walls, and why, than most consumer culture encourages you to.

The science is clear that the effects are real. The practical options are accessible. What’s left is just the decision.

Desalination Membranes as RDF for Cement Kilns: Opportunities and Constraints

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The rapid expansion of desalination through reverse osmosis has significantly transformed global water resource management, but it has also created a growing challenge related to the management of end-of-life membranes. These industrial wastes, mainly composed of engineering polymers such as polyamide, polysulfone, and polypropylene, exhibit physicochemical properties that, while initially optimized for filtration, may become an asset within an energy recovery framework [1-2].

The average lifespan of reverse osmosis membranes ranges from five to ten years, generating substantial waste streams worldwide [1]. As an order of magnitude, a desalination plant with a capacity of 100,000 m³/day can generate between 2,000 and 5,000 discarded membrane modules per replacement cycle, corresponding to approximately 50 to 150 tons of complex plastic waste every 5 to 7 years. Globally, the annual waste generation is estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 tons of end-of-life membranes, with an annual growth rate exceeding 8% due to the expansion of desalination.

an engineer inspecting a desalination plant

RDF from Desalination Membranes – Key Parameters

The analysis of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technical requirements highlights specific thresholds that any waste stream must meet to be valorized in cement kilns. The lower heating value (LHV) is a fundamental parameter, with a minimum requirement of 3,500 kcal/kg [5]. By comparison, end-of-life tires typically exhibit LHV values between 6,500 and 7,500 kcal/kg, industrial plastics between 5,000 and 8,000 kcal/kg, while conventional municipal RDF ranges from 2,500 to 4,000 kcal/kg [5-6].

In this context, desalination membranes, due to their polymeric composition, can reach estimated LHV values between 4,000 and 6,000 kcal/kg after drying and shredding, making them energetically attractive. For instance, one ton of recovered membranes could theoretically substitute approximately 0.6 to 0.8 tons of coal in a cement kiln, depending on operating conditions. In natural gas equivalent, this corresponds approximately to 500 to 700 Nm³ of natural gas, assuming an average calorific value of about 8500–9000 kcal/Nm³.

However, LHV is not the only determining parameter. Moisture content must be kept below 15%, as higher values reduce energy efficiency and disrupt combustion stability [5]. Used membranes generally exhibit low moisture content (typically below 5% after storage), which provides a clear advantage compared to sludge, which may contain up to 70–80% moisture before drying. Nevertheless, in cases of prolonged outdoor storage or contamination, a drying step may be required to ensure stable energy performance.

Ash content is another critical constraint, with a maximum allowable limit of 20% [5]. Ash directly affects clinker composition and may require adjustments in raw material inputs. Membranes, being largely organic, typically exhibit intrinsic ash content below 10%. However, accumulated deposits during operation (salts, silica, carbonates, metal oxides) may increase this value to 15–25% in some cases. For example, membranes used in seawater desalination can accumulate 5–10% mineral salts by mass, requiring pre-washing to meet acceptable thresholds.

The most critical parameter remains chlorine content, with a maximum limit of 0.5% in RDF used in cement kilns [6-7]. Chlorine is responsible for internal recycling phenomena within kilns, leading to deposits, fouling, and operational disruptions [7]. Membranes may contain residual chlorine from chemical cleaning processes or accumulated salts. For instance, membranes regularly treated with sodium hypochlorite may contain chlorine residues ranging from 0.2 to 1% by mass if no washing is performed. This implies that direct incorporation into RDF may exceed acceptable limits. A common strategy is therefore to limit the membrane fraction to 5-15% of the RDF blend or to apply washing processes capable of reducing chlorine content by 50–80%.

Regarding sulfur, the recommended limit is around 1.5% [6]. Membranes generally contain low sulfur levels (typically below 0.5%), unless specific contamination occurs. By comparison, tires may contain 1–2% sulfur, while some industrial sludges may exceed 3%. Thus, membranes do not represent a major constraint in terms of sulfur and may even contribute to diluting high-sulfur waste streams.

Valorization of Desalination Membranes

The integration of membranes into RDF should therefore be considered within a co-processing approach, combining them with other waste streams. For example, a typical formulation could include 10% membranes, 40% plastics, 20% biomass, and 30% textile waste, resulting in an overall LHV exceeding 4,000 kcal/kg while maintaining chlorine content below 0.5%. This approach allows dilution of problematic elements and optimization of fuel properties [5-6]. In practice, European cement plants already use complex RDF mixtures with thermal substitution rates reaching 60–80%.

From a technical standpoint, valorization involves several steps: dismantling membrane modules, separating components, shredding, washing, and homogenization. A standard spiral-wound membrane module (approximately 1 meter in length) weighs between 12 and 20 kg, with more than 80% of the material potentially recoverable for energy purposes. Shredding typically produces particles smaller than 30 mm, compatible with kiln feeding systems. Washing processes can reduce salt content by more than 70%, significantly improving RDF quality [3-4].

Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that end-of-life membranes can be transformed or reused in other applications (ultrafiltration, nanofiltration), reinforcing their potential within a circular economy framework [2,4]. However, these reuse pathways remain limited in scale, justifying the need for energy recovery solutions to absorb larger volumes.

Environmental Benefits

From an environmental perspective, the use of RDF in cement kilns offers significant benefits. Substituting one ton of coal with RDF can avoid approximately 0.8 to 1 ton of CO₂ emissions. Thus, the valorization of 10,000 tons of membranes could potentially avoid up to 8,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, while reducing landfill disposal. In natural gas equivalent, and on a comparable energy basis, such valorization could also substitute several million cubic meters of natural gas (on the order of 5 to 7 million Nm³), thereby contributing to the reduction of emissions associated with the combustion of gaseous fossil fuels The high temperatures in cement kilns (above 1,400°C) ensure complete destruction of organic compounds, while mineral residues are incorporated into clinker [5].

However, this approach also raises several strategic questions. The standardization of membrane waste streams remains a major challenge, with composition variability reaching ±30% depending on sources. Investments required for pre-treatment facilities (shredding, washing, drying) may range between €1 and €5 million for a capacity of 10,000 tons/year. Logistics costs, particularly transportation, may represent 20–30% of total valorization costs. Finally, regulatory frameworks must evolve to support and control this emerging sector.

In countries where desalination is rapidly expanding,  this convergence between waste management and the cement industry represents a strategic opportunity. With multiple large desalination plants, the potential waste stream could reach several thousand tons of membranes per year in the medium term. These membranes could constitute a complementary resource for alternative fuels, provided that key thresholds for chlorine (≤ 0.5%), sulfur (≤ 1.5%), moisture (≤ 15%), and ash (≤ 20%) are respected [5-7].

Conclusion

The valorization of used desalination membranes into RDF represents an innovative and promising pathway, but requires an integrated approach combining technical control, regulatory frameworks, and industrial cooperation. It fully aligns with circular economy and energy transition objectives, transforming a complex waste stream into a strategic resource for the cement industry.

References

[1] Rodriguez-Gonzalez, L., Martinez-Mateo, L., & Pérez, J., 2020. Recycling of reverse osmosis membranes: A review. Journal of Membrane Science, 595, 117513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117513

[2] Khaless, K., Lejarazu-Larrañaga, A., & Ibañez, R., 2021. Recycling of spent reverse osmosis membranes: A review. Minerals, 11(6), 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11060637

[3] Lawler, W., Bradford-Hartke, Z., Cran, M., Duke, M., & Leslie, G., 2012. Reverse osmosis membrane reuse: Opportunities and challenges. Desalination, 299, 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2012.05.006

[4]  Morón-López, J., et al., 2023. End-of-life management of reverse osmosis membranes: Reuse and recycling options. Desalination, 545, 116163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2022.116163

[5] Genon, G., & Brizio, E., 2008. Perspectives and limits for cement kilns as a destination for RDF. Waste Management, 28(11), 2375–2385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2007.09.019

[6] Rahman, M., Rasul, M., Khan, M., & Sharma, S., 2015. Recent development on the uses of alternative fuels in cement manufacturing process. Fuel, 145, 84–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2014.12.029

[7] Werther, J., & Ogada, T., 1999. Sewage sludge combustion. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 25(1), 55–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1285(98)00020-3

The Hidden Cost of Office Paper Waste: Why Businesses Are Printing Money Down the Drain

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Paper accounts for approximately 70% of total office waste, yet the financial cost of that waste rarely features in sustainability conversations. New analysis by plantable paper specialists SeedPrint puts a number on it: with half of all printed documents discarded within 24 hours and 30% never collected from printers at all, US businesses alone are spending an estimated $32.5 billion every year on paper that serves no purpose.

The findings are drawn from EPA waste statistics and industry employment data. Each US office worker is responsible for generating around 323 pounds of paper waste annually from their employer’s operations. The average employee uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper per year, of which roughly 8,000 are either discarded on the day of printing, abandoned at the printer, or never used for their original purpose. For a mid-sized business of 500 staff, that translates to $125,000 in avoidable waste costs annually.

paper waste piled up in office

While the US figures provide useful scale, the problem is global. The world consumes around 300 million tonnes of paper each year, with office environments a significant contributor. In the MENA region, paper and cardboard typically account for 15-28% of municipal solid waste streams, reflecting consumption patterns that broadly mirror those seen in Western markets.

Market demand is moving ahead of supply

The financial and environmental case for reduction is clear. What has been less clear, until recently, is whether consumer demand exists for the alternatives. SeedPrint’s analysis suggests it does. Research indicates 80% of Americans are willing to pay an average premium of 9.7% for genuinely sustainable products, representing $2.7 billion in untapped value across the US stationery market alone. The global green stationery sector is on track to reach $13.70 billion by 2030, adding roughly $1.5 million in value each day.

The challenge, as Tom Willday, Founder of SeedPrint, notes, is one of credibility. “When products deliver visible environmental action, like paper that grows into wildflowers rather than decomposing in landfill, the trust barrier disappears,” he says. “Consumers can see the benefit with their own eyes.”

YouGov’s 2024 research found 55% of Americans doubt most brands’ environmental claims, a sentiment echoed in global surveys. Product innovations that make the environmental benefit tangible rather than abstract are better positioned to meet this credibility gap. Plantable seed paper, which transforms disposal into habitat creation, is one such example. Others include 3M’s recyclable paper-based shipping mailers and BioQ’s fully biodegradable pens.

Reduction starts with awareness

The immediate practical steps available to businesses have not changed: print double-sided, implement default duplex settings, move announcements and internal memos to digital channels, and introduce clearly labelled paper recycling streams. These measures cost little and, at scale, produce measurable results.

What the SeedPrint analysis adds is a financial frame. Sustainability arguments sometimes struggle to gain traction in procurement decisions. A six-figure annual waste figure, calculated per organisation, is a different kind of conversation.

Methodology: calculations derived from EPA waste statistics, industry employment data, and market research on sustainable consumer behaviour

The Impact of School Closure on Marginalized Children

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We are seeing schools close as a protective measure of reducing the potential exposure to the coronavirus across the globe. This is due to the fact that schools could be a major source of transmission from one child to another child within a classroom, from one classroom to the whole school, to within the families and the greater community. And all at a very speedy rate of transmission of Covid-19.

The action of closing schools is an acceptable move in the more developed sectors of the global community as children tend to all have access to the internet, and in many instances have their own ipads, tablets or laptops. So with school closures in the physical sense, it is a very viable option to open up the classrooms to online learning from with the safety of their own homes.

School and university closure has been introduced in over 120 countries. This has impacted around three-quarters of the global student population according to UNESCO. This translates to an estimated 1.2 billion students.

School Closure and Marginalized Children

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, school children around the world could lose out on more than just their education, and at a much more serious level of concern. The issue is not just about education, but their general well-being, especially in developing countries of Asia, Africa and the Americas. The marginalized children are often from low-income households. These children often receive school meals which might be their only source of nutrition for the day.

Even in developed nations, the governments need to include appropriate action to counter balance not just the loss of school lessons but school nourishment for the young learners during and after the pandemic.

Image Source: www.weforum.org

The other challenge is for governments and learning authoritative bodies to provide upskill training for teachers to be able to convert from in classroom teaching and learning to online teaching and learning within a very narrow window of preparation time.

The Fear of Distance Learning

The whole concept of “online”, “remote learning” or “distance learning” has struck fear and anxiety into the hearts of many parents and educators across the developed nations. It may have been speculated and talked about as the way of education in the future. But the future is now. Questions and concerns rose very quickly and were voiced very loudly.

  • How were teachers supposed to transition to digital learning for their students within hours or maybe several days’ notice?
  • How were parents supposed to learn how to teach their children at home, while some are also working from home?
  • How were educators supposed to turn their hands-on, interactive lessons and games into something teachers and students could use on a digital platform?

No answers are given for these questions here. But a translation of what this might mean for education across the globe.

The Scale of the Problem

The number of children who were suddenly out of school or university, was equivalent to the entire population of India. The lockdowns proposed were initially for 2 or 3 weeks. But many of these lockdowns have been extended to 4 weeks, 6 weeks and even 8 weeks.

Even after the lockdown is lifted, there will still be many restrictions and limitations to our lifestyle. Hundreds of millions of students will not be returning to normal classes for months. There will be important exams that are postponed or cancelled altogether. Exams that would determine the future lives of many young people.

Yes, one option would be to cancel out this academic school year and start all over again after Covid-19. Except we do not know the end date of the pandemic, just as we did not know the beginning date.

It is already a known fact that the longer students are out of school, the more likely it is that students will never return to school. Necessities of existence and survival will direct their efforts elsewhere. This is especially true for girls who could be simply married off,  and those from low-income households who could be redirected into low-wage earning situations to help eke out a survival mode of living.

Need for Easy-to-Use Distance Learning Tools

All these reasons and considerations are why it is so critical, so important for governments to put in place easy-to-use distance learning tools with immediate effect. It is also vitally important to ensure that the learning methodologies and technology used do not exclude poor, disabled or marginalized children.

So the pressure is on for education providers to be creative and inclusive, ensuring that educational options are available in the home setting. Some options may sound a backward move but if they are the only option for home schooling, then it is a viable option. Radio and short-wave radio were the modes of education for outback stations in the central desert region and in the Northern Territory of Australia and up in the high country farm stations of NZ in the 1950’s through into the 1970’s. Today, in communities with limited or no access to the internet, for example, radio programs could enable children to continue their learning.

The Most Vulnerable Groups

The children hardest hit of all with regards to any form of learning during this pandemic are the most at-risk children across the globe. They were already marginalized by their circumstances but the current global situation is moving their advancement even further from their reach.

We are referring to homeless, parentless, refugee-status, abandoned and neglected children. These are children who are simply without any semblance of family or communal living existence.  Refugee and displaced children in temporary camps are even more vulnerable than they were before this current crisis.

There are also the young people who are disadvantaged because of physical limitations or intellectually challenged that could be marginalized during these extreme situations.

Low-income families and families with a subsistence lifestyle, may be urgently required to keep their children at home to work on the land, or to work on the streets for their merger funds in order to help bolster an already meager family income. Girls often carry a very disproportionate responsibility of caring for families in such states of deprivation. Their opportunities for any form of schooling could easily vanish totally.

Bottom Line

As in any troubled times, it is those who are marginalized the most, in both the short term and in the long term. Perhaps something good might come out of all this chaos. Maybe countries will be held responsible to care for and provide for their disadvantaged children. Something that really has not happened at a level that lifts the marginalized children out of their level of deprivation.

What Makes a Good Essay and How Can You Get Started?

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Writing a great essay is not as difficult as it seems. With the right tips and guidance, anyone can create a well-crafted piece of writing that can impress any reader. This guide will provide you with essential tips on how to write an essay that will help you get started on your journey to becoming an excellent essay writer.

how to write better essays in college

Writing essays can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little practice and dedication, you can become a great essay writer. By understanding the basics of grammar and composition, developing strong research skills, and honing your writing style, you can craft compelling essays that will impress your readers. Through hard work and dedication, you too can become a great essay writer.

The Basics of Essay Writing

Writing an essay can be a daunting task, especially if you are unfamiliar with the structure and basic elements of an essay. However, understanding the basics of essay writing can help make it much easier to craft a well-structured argumentative or academic essay. This article will explore the various aspects of essay structure, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Additionally, we will discuss the different types of essays and how to effectively use evidence to support your arguments. With this knowledge in hand, you will be able to confidently write any type of essay with ease.

Writing an essay can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the help of modern AI writing assistants, you can create a compelling essay with ease. These tools are designed to understand the structure of language and generate high-quality content quickly, allowing you to confidently tackle any type of essay without breaking a sweat.

Brainstorming and Pre-Writing Your Essay

Writing an essay can be a daunting task, but with the right approach it can be much easier. Brainstorming and pre-writing are two essential steps that will help you get started on your essay. Brainstorming will help you come up with ideas for your essay, while pre-writing activities such as outlining and freewriting will help you organize those ideas into a coherent structure.

how to write a great college essay

In this article, we will discuss some useful tips for brainstorming and pre-writing your essay so that you can start writing with confidence:

  • Create a list of topics to explore: Make a list of possible topics you can cover in your essay. Consider your interests, personal experiences, and things you are passionate about.
  • Free-write: Start writing without worrying about grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Use this time to explore the ideas you’ve brainstormed and see where they lead you.
  • Brainstorm with others: Talk to people who know you well and get their help in brainstorming topics and ideas to write about.
  • Take notes: Write down any interesting ideas that can be used to create compelling and engaging content for a variety of audiences, and explore new methods for utilizing AI copywriting assistants in a professional setting.

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Crafting a Thesis Statement and Introducing Your Argument

Crafting a thesis statement is one of the most important steps in writing a research paper. It is the central point around which the entire paper revolves and sets the tone for your argument. A strong thesis statement can help you make an argument in your essay and provide readers with a clear direction for what you are trying to prove or argue.

In this article, we will discuss how to craft a thesis statement, provide examples of research paper thesis statements, and explain how to make an argument in an essay. By understanding these concepts, you will be better equipped to write a successful research paper or essay.

Research writing can be a daunting task, but with the help of AI writing assistants, it doesn’t have to be. AI writers are equipped to provide students with the tools they need to write a successful research paper or essay. They can generate original content quickly and easily, allowing students to focus on their research and make sure their work is of high quality.

Developing Body Paragraphs with Evidence and Analysis

Writing body paragraphs with evidence and analysis is an essential part of any essay. It is the part where you can show your knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills. To do this effectively, you need to incorporate evidence from reliable sources and then analyze it critically to make your point.