While being a conscience buyer helps, more needs to be done to cut emissions and waste. If we don’t, then there won’t be a planet to enjoy in a few decades.
I personally use these 3 sustainability tips to keep the Earth and my wallet lean and green.
1. Energy Eco Tips:
The energy we use at home provides a multitude of ways to cut back on our resources and carbon footprint. Use these simple green tips to save on the cost of your gas and electric while helping save the planet.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Instead of turning up the heat or AC, dress for the weather.
Turn off and unplug electronics when not in use.
Switch to renewable energy by contacting local solar companies that can provide cheaper and eco-friendly energy options.
Use LED lights or open the shades for natural rays of sunshine.
Buy energy efficient appliances like a washer/dryer or gas stove.
2. Reuse and Recycle:
Being thrifty and nifty with your trash saves me from buying new things when I can fix up something old and keeps trash out of landfills when I follow these environment tips.
Use reusable containers for food instead of plastic bags.
3. Healthy Living Sustainability Tips:
Sustainable living also includes our personal health and fitness as they can affect emissions too. From our mode of transportation to our diets, lifestyle choices take a toll on our environment just like our bodies.
These green tips for healthy living should not be left off our list.
Avoid animal products as they increase carbon emissions and use more water.
Begin an organic garden to save food transportation costs, cut grocery bills, and eat a well-balanced diet.
Take a bike to work to save on gas emissions.
Use all-natural self-care products like sunscreen that won’t poison the ocean.
Skip eating out because you can choose the ingredients and save on traveling costs when we cook at home.
Saving the Planet has Never Been Easier:
This may sound like a lot of work, but finding ways to implement these sustainability tips in our daily lives couldn’t be easier or more essential than it is today.
Companies usually an offer green section for recycled or eco-friendly products, organic food has now become the norm in most grocery stores, and renewable energy is accessible in any part of the world.
Share with us your favorite ways to be environmentally friendly in the comments below.
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The traditional greenhouse is experiencing a remarkable renaissance, spurred by a heightened awareness of global environmental challenges and an amplified call for sustainable solutions. Once considered a distinct and standalone structure, the greenhouse has transcended its conventional boundaries to become a transformative force in contemporary architecture.
The evolution is not merely cosmetic; it is rooted in a paradigm shift toward utilitarian design and the integration of cutting-edge construction materials. The greenhouse architecture plan, once relegated to the periphery of architectural discourse, is now at the forefront of innovative thinking. Architects, in response to the pressing need for sustainability, are pushing the boundaries of what a greenhouse represents and how it can positively impact our lives.
Modern greenhouses are emerging as examples of sustainable architecture, embodying principles that extend beyond mere cultivation spaces. They are evolving into dynamic environments that seamlessly blend nature with technology, challenging the traditional typology. Architects are reimagining the very essence of a greenhouse, exploring ways to integrate these structures into urban landscapes, residential complexes, and public spaces.
The conventional distinction between "greenhouses" and other architectural typologies is fading into irrelevance as these structures take on multifaceted roles. They are no longer confined to agricultural purposes but are becoming integral components of urban planning and sustainable living. The once-isolated greenhouse is now a catalyst for rethinking how architecture interacts with the environment.
These modern greenhouses are designed with a focus on functionality, energy efficiency, and resource sustainability. They incorporate advanced technologies such as smart climate control, renewable energy systems, and innovative water management solutions. By seamlessly integrating nature into the built environment, these structures contribute not only to agricultural productivity but also to the well-being of inhabitants and the overall ecological balance.
As architects continue to challenge preconceived notions and embrace the transformative potential of greenhouses, the boundaries between traditional architectural typologies and these nature-inspired structures blur. The result is a symbiotic relationship between architecture and the environment, where the greenhouse stands as a testament to the limitless possibilities of sustainable design in shaping a more resilient and interconnected future.
Benefits Of Incorporating Greenhouses In Architectural Design
Greenhouses, once confined to the realms of agriculture, are now making a bold foray into architectural designs, serving as dynamic and transformative elements that go beyond mere cultivation spaces. As architects increasingly recognize the multifaceted benefits of incorporating greenhouses into their designs, these structures are becoming integral components of modern architectural landscapes. Here are eight compelling reasons why greenhouses should be embraced as essential elements in architectural designs:
Sustainability At The Core
Greenhouses epitomize sustainable design principles. By harnessing natural elements like sunlight and incorporating eco-friendly technologies, they promote energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of buildings. The integration of greenhouses into architectural designs aligns with the growing demand for environmentally conscious structures that minimize resource consumption and contribute to a greener planet.
Biophilic Design For Well-Being
Incorporating greenhouses into architectural designs aligns with the principles of biophilic design, which emphasizes the connection between humans and nature. The presence of greenery within built environments has been linked to improved well-being, reduced stress levels, and enhanced productivity. Greenhouses, with their abundance of plants, provide a direct and immersive experience of nature, fostering a healthier and more enjoyable living or working environment.
Urban Agriculture And Food Security
As urbanization accelerates, greenhouses offer a solution to the challenges of food production in densely populated areas. Integrating greenhouses into architectural designs allows for on-site urban agriculture, promoting local food production and reducing the ecological footprint associated with transporting food over long distances. This contributes to increased food security and resilience in urban communities.
Year-Round Productivity
Greenhouses provide a controlled environment that extends the growing season, enabling year-round cultivation. Incorporating greenhouses into architectural designs ensures a consistent and reliable supply of fresh produce, irrespective of external weather conditions. This sustainable approach to agriculture addresses seasonal limitations and supports a more reliable and continuous food production cycle.
Climate Regulation And Energy Efficiency
Greenhouses serve as natural climate regulators, capturing and utilizing solar energy for plant growth. Integrating greenhouses into architectural designs allows for passive solar heating and cooling, reducing the reliance on artificial heating and air-conditioning systems. This, in turn, enhances the energy efficiency of buildings, lowering operational costs and minimizing their carbon footprint.
Architectural Aesthetics And Innovation
Greenhouses bring a unique aesthetic dimension to architectural designs, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. Their transparent structures allow for the play of natural light, creating visually striking and innovative designs. The architectural integration of greenhouses opens up new possibilities for creative expression, challenging traditional notions of building aesthetics.
Community Engagement And Social Spaces
Greenhouses, when incorporated into architectural designs, become communal spaces that foster social interaction. They can serve as gathering places, educational hubs, or even event venues. By providing a shared space centered around nature, greenhouses contribute to community building and engagement, enhancing the social fabric of neighborhoods and urban developments.
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Preservation
Greenhouses, when strategically integrated into architectural designs, can support a diverse range of plant species. This promotes biodiversity and contributes to the preservation of ecosystems. Architects can design greenhouses as interconnected habitats that facilitate the coexistence of various plant species, creating miniature ecosystems that enhance the overall ecological balance.
Conclusion:
The integration of greenhouses into architectural designs represents a paradigm shift towards more sustainable, human-centric, and ecologically responsible built environments. Beyond their traditional agricultural role, greenhouses emerge as transformative elements that enrich architectural aesthetics, contribute to community well-being, and address pressing issues such as food security and climate resilience. Architects embracing these structures in their designs not only create visually compelling spaces but also actively participate in shaping a more sustainable and interconnected future.
In culmination of the architecture and nature, greenhouses emerge as dynamic partners, weaving sustainability, well-being, and innovation into the fabric of built environments. As architects embrace these transformative structures, they embark on a journey to cultivate not just buildings, but thriving ecosystems that harmonize with the planet and nurture the human experience.
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With increasing urbanization, population growth and the need for reliable infrastructure, it’s not surprising that the need for a diverse set of soil stabilization techniques suitable for a variety of soil and project conditions has seen matching growth. In 2017, the global soil stabilization market reached a massive US $22 Billion, and is expected to reach US $29 billion by 2023. Here we take a look at some of the soil stabilization techniques leading the field in innovation and market growth.
Chemical stabilization through the addition of Lime:
The addition of lime, lime kiln dust or quicklime is a popular form of soil modification and stabilization for all types of soft soils, especially wet, fine-grained and clay soils. Essentially it reacts with clay molecules, which hardens and dries out the soil with which it is mixed, improving stability and soil compressibility.
Lime is the oldest soil stabilization technique still in use today and can be greatly advantageous for particularly muddy construction sites which make accessing the site difficult, and it’s also cheap. It does, however, have several disadvantages too. The production process is very energy intensive, resulting in large CO2 emissions, as high as 1.2 tons of CO2 per ton of lime produced. Achieving homogenous application is tricky, there is risk of environmental toxicity, and application over very soft soil is problematic due to the heavy earth-mixing equipment required for application.
Mechanical soil stabilization through the use of Geocell engineering:
Although geocells have been around since the 1970’s, the increasing global demand for more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective construction techniques has seen renewed interest in their use. Geocells – a type of geosynthetic – are constructed from strips of a novel polymeric alloy called Neoloy, which are welded together to form a honeycomb-like grid when stretched out on site. They are then filled in with local granular materials that are readily available, such as sandy soils or even recycled asphalt paving (RAP).
The main environmental benefits include the ability to utilize local granular materials for infill rather than hauling in high-quality aggregates from quarries, a reduction in the required pavement thickness, improved durability of projects, and the ongoing cost benefit of reduced maintenance requirements.
While awareness of this technology remains its biggest challenge, it is gaining a reputation as a good option for projects with poor soil or challenging environmental conditions. One prime example of this was the construction of an all-weather access road for MEG Energy in the Muskeg peat bog, which made use of geocell engineering in Canada. Some of the challenges facing the engineers on site included moving vehicles and materials around on the saturated, acidic soil, as well as subzero winter temperatures, extremely poor drainage and heavy rains which meant much of the site was essentially a swamp – described, in fact, as an ‘engineering nightmare’.
An example of the less than ideal working conditions – geocell layer visible in back
Because the peat bog soil was too deep and poorly drained for soil replacement, it soon became clear that the use of heavy-duty Neoloy geocells was the only feasible solution. Local geocell experts designed a reinforced road using one to three layers of Neoloy geocells, depending on the saturation level of the area in question. Once in place, the geocells were filled in with sand from locally available borrow pits and then compacted. The geocell layers formed a semi-rigid mattress, or a ‘floating road’ over the swampy soil. The benefits of geocell mechanical soil stabilization include: reducing stress by distributing vertical loads and extending the life of the road – meaning that even heavy rigs and construction equipment could now traverse the peat bog on a regular basis.
Compaction grouting for sinkhole remediation:
Building much-needed apartment housing is one thing but doing so on an area of land which is essentially one giant sinkhole is another matter altogether! This was the challenge facing contractors trying to put up a new five story complex in King of Prussia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Understandably, no work on the apartment building could begin until the underlying dolomite subsoil was stabilized. The solution they arrived at was the use of compaction grouting, which involves drilling columns in a grid-like pattern, and then injecting a low-mobility soil-cement grout into the holes at high pressures. This process compacts coarse-grained soils and displaces fine-grained soils, allowing the construction site to withstand higher bearing pressures and reduce settlement – both very important in an area to prone to sinkholes.
Under normal conditions, a soil profile increases in strength with depth – but on this site, the dense clays were on the surface, with weaker soils above the bedrock – hence the tendency for sinkholes to form. Drilling down to reach the unstable layer was therefore the best solution in this scenario. To complete the stabilization, the contractor - Compaction Grouting Services, Inc. or CGS - needed to drill 626 separate holes, and pump in 820 cubic yards of grout at an average pressure of 300 psi. And despite a number of challenges, including snow, rain and muddy conditions as well as a small sinkhole which opened up in an area which hadn’t been grouted – they managed to finish a day ahead of schedule.
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Proper Waste Disposal And Recycling: Things To Remember
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Proper waste disposal is something everyone must remember these days. Gone are the days of indiscriminately throwing out the trash. Now we need to separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable waste. For example, when cleaning the yard after a party, you’ll have to separate the tissues from the plastic cups and the leftover food waste.
There are a lot of things that can be found in the garbage, and a lot of them can be harmful to the environment. It is essential that you learn to segregate trash so that it can be appropriately disposed of and avoid being detrimental to nature. With that said, here are some things to remember when disposing of your waste:
1. Make sure to segregate your waste properly:
Biodegradable waste like used medical supplies and broken sharp objects like glass are separated from the rest of the trash. Use different colored garbage bags or garbage containers to differentiate the items. This will ensure that contaminated items will be disposed of properly and the sharp objects will be handled properly, so no one gets hurt.
2. You can reduce the biodegradable waste you throw out:
If you have a backyard with some soil or garden, dig two holes and bury biodegradable materials there instead of throwing them away, to create compost. It is a simple procedure: you dig a hole, put biodegradable waste into it, and cover the top portion again with earth. You don’t fill up the rest of the hole with dirt if you just threw in a small amount of waste. Instead, cover the trash with just enough soil to block it from smelling, and you do this until the hole is filled up.
3. Some materials, like eggshells or bones, take very long to become compost or don’t degrade at all:
You may have to crush them into powder before burying them with the other biodegradable waste. If you don’t want to, you may dispose of your chicken eggshells and bones.
4. Recyclable materials must also be sorted out based on what they're made of for easier disposal:
Grouping together aluminum cans separate from plastics will make it easier for the removal services. Also, you may want to find some things that are usable enough to keep, such as glass jars, which make excellent containers if cleaned well. Moreover, if you are looking for a trustworthy rubbish removal company then click here to find the best one.
As an option, you may also want to call a yard waste removal service instead of waiting for the weekly public service to pick up the trash, especially if you have been clearing out a lot of things in your home to get ready for a home improvement project. These removal services will ask for some details regarding the junk that they will be picking up, so if, for example, you have a huge amount of garbage you want to get rid of, you’ll probably need to send them a picture and details about the trash.
Not only will you be helping the removal service if you follow the tips above, but you can also help contribute to a cleaner environment by reducing your waste. It doesn’t take much to act on the suggestions above either, and you can plan on doing these tips in your own time thanks to junk removal services now being available to contact even on the internet.
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