Greening the Businesses by IRP Publishing

Monthly Magazine Issue 1 - May 2012

Greening the Businesses Environmental Solutions for Industry A monthly Magazine

Editorial

Team Chief Editor Dr. Raza Bhatti Director, Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation, SALU, Sindh Managing Editor Naeem Querashi Chairman, NFEH Associate Editor Rozeen Shaukat Assistant Editor Ammara Asghar

Our world is shaped by the precious few who do wonders for our lives. We have the ability to preserve and maintain our world in a way that no one else can do. Every being, no matter how small, plays a part in this beautiful cycle. We are what we make of our world through the strength of our visions. It is our vision to become that power with which we can shape the green future of this world. NFEH has taken stand on various environmental issues and spreading awareness to the business people and society at large. The consistent sharing of environment friendly solutions and practices within industry will impact at large. I pleasurably announced the initiative of digital magazine “Greening the Businesses” with aim to spread awareness, highlight issues and find out solutions for industry. I hope, my all dear readers of business community will find this magazine a real source of knowledge exchange. I will request to all of your to share your views and thoughts on regular basis.

Contents      

Naeem Qureshi

Waste for Energy- Moving towards Sustainability pg3 More the Awareness - More the Greenery pg5 AWLF Factors – Care for Environment pg6 Things To Do On Earth Day pg7 News of the Month pg8 Call for Write-Up pg9

Waste for Energy- Moving towards Sustainability Engr. Tauqeer Abbas Research Associate COMSATS, Vehari Campus. Energy is an essential part of society and plays a vital role in its socio-economic development by raising the living standard. The state of economic development of any region can be evaluated from the pattern and consumption quality of its energy. Indeed there is a direct relation between economy and energy, and the consumption pattern depends on the source and availability of its energy, conversion loss and end use efficiency. Since the mankind started his life, societies have experimented with various sources of energy ranging from wood, coal, oil and petroleum to nuclear power. In latest years, public understanding and political concerns over environmental issues and energy security have led to advertise the renewable energy resources. Pakistan is an energy-deficient country, indigenous energy sources of Pakistan are strategically important. At the same time, renewable energy sources can make immense contributions to Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy supply mix; there is a need to adopt renewable energies to overcome the shortage of electricity. While confirmed benefits on social aspects and macro-level are associated with local bio energy production, the future supply of biomass energy depends on energy prices and technical progress, both of which are driven by energy policy priorities. Effective use of biomass in Pakistan can meet a variety of energy needs, together with generating electricity, heating homes, fueling vehicles and providing process heat for industrial facilities. Biomass/Waste to Energy has been recognized as a clean, reliable, renewable source of energy. There are a number of processes to transform biomass into solid, liquid, or gaseous secondary energy carriers as shown in (Figure 1): these include combustion, thermo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; chemical transformation by carbonization, liquefaction or gasification, physicochemical transformation by compression, extraction, transesterification, and biochemical transformation by fermentation with alcohol or aerobic and anaerobic decomposition.

Renewable energy sources can make immense contributions to Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy supply mix; there is a need to adopt renewable energies to overcome the shortage of electricity.

Effective use of biomass in Pakistan can meet a variety of energy needs, together with generating electricity, heating homes, fueling vehicles and providing process heat for industrial facilities.

Unfortunately in Pakistan this source of energy has not been utilized for power generation in the past. The growing urbanization and changes in the pattern of life has given rise to generation of increasing quantities of wastes and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now becoming another threat to our environment. However, in recent years, waste-to-energy technologies have been developed to produce clean energy through the combustion of municipal solid waste in specially designed power plants equipped with the most modern pollut io n co nt ro l equipment to clean emissions. Biomass and waste to energy plants are used not only to generate sufficient power but also used to clean up the environment as well by conserving non-renewable fossil fuel resources and reducing the environmental impacts of trash disposal. Biomass and waste-toenergy facilities can also contribute to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy by providing jobs apart from generating electricity.

Biomass and waste-toenergy facilities can also contribute to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy by providing jobs apart from generating electricity.

The Views

More the Awareness - More the Greenery EARTH DAY- A day initiated in 1970 to inspire awareness and caring for the Earth (Wikipedia) The green culture is reducing alarmingly and environmental hazards are negatively impacting the human life. It’s we who can protect our earth and environment. Here the views of different people about “How to go green”. The data has been taken from EPA Conversations. The go green tips are: A.

Communities are making a choice and banning single-use plastic grocery bags. An enormous amount of fossil fuel resources were required to make those bags which consume extravagant amounts of energy and resource to produce. Reducing these single-use items can decrease our resource consumption and energy use. Ljgurley said;

More eco-friendly automobiles by five methods as: 1. Proper tire inflation. 2. Clean air and fuel filters regularly. 3. Run good synthetic oil in your engine. 4. Don’t idle. (Turn off when no need. It becomes cause of CO2 gas emission) 5. Driving under speed‘s limit results less emission and burn. Robert Bruton said;

C. Judiciously use the 5 P's (Petrol, Paper, Plastic, Power, Potable Water). Embrace the 5 R's (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Be Responsible, Refuse). Prof. Rajiv Sinha of Griffith University said; D. Buildings account for 40% of CO2 emissions and 72% of electrical consumption in the US. Buildings should be benchmarked with Energy Star .The passive Application in buildings can save home from heat and save energy.

E. We exceeded the carrying capacity of the earth for human population. Reducing the human population on earth will reduce the demand on natural resources such as fossil fuels and potable water; will reduce contamination of air, water and land; and will reduce waste production. Mary Katherine Parker said; Source with thanks: http://epaconversations.ideascale.com

Avoid plastic bag and use of paper bag can make an impact to protect environment

These tips usage can make our environment more protected

Judiciously use the 5 P's; Embrace the 5 R's rule

Be the part of energy efficient future

Protective measures to control population is an urgent demand

AWLF Factors – Care for Environment There are 100s of variables cause of environment concerns. These concerns vary according to industrial development, population density and level of environment awareness and eco-system in the countries. AWLF factors stand for Air, Water, Land and Forest. Development Framework of National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) objectives and focus are in four core areas 1) Clean air, 2) Clean water, 3) Solid Waste management, and 4) Eco-system management. Environment has turned into global issue now where international standards and practices are developed. The countries around the globe are subject to follow international laws and abide by environment protection practices. Here are Millennium Development Goals which present progress estimation in number of areas of environment protection and improvements. MDG’s Targets and Achievements

There are country specific strategies which correspond to MDG goals and converge into global effort for environment. We recommend that each country must focus on AWLF factors immediately to protect the environmental disaster.

Air  The high rising risk is presence of excessive suspended particulate matter (SPM) in ambient

air.  This problem is largely caused by vehicles industry, burning of solid waste, brick kilns and

natural dust.  Imports of petroleum products is rising adding fuel to the fire in the air.  Increasing transportation burring oil is big enemy of healthy air.

Water    

Water pollution is on the rise. Uncontrolled discharge of municipal is damaging the water. Industrial waste is making earth water unaffordable for human. Waste of clean water is big problem.

Our lives are linked with AWLF factors, so no option of ignorance. 6

Land     

Land degradation is on the rise. Agri-land is highly damaged by excessive usage of pesticides. Growing urbanization has substantially decreased the agri-lands. Natural greenery of land is decreasing . Unproductive land is also increasing at the large rate.

Forests    

Exploitation of forestry to serve energy needs is very dangerous Alarmingly cutting of trees across the rivers is rising Road networks are developed at the cost of Forestry Not adequate attention to plantation of new trees

We strongly invite attention of policy makers to wards AWLF Factors. Environmental activists should run their campaigns to propagate development on AWLF as first priority.

Our lives are linked with AWLF factors, so no option of ignorance.

Things To Do On Earth Day You can do numerous activities as;   



Earth day at home: Planting flowers and trees. Earth day crafts: Crafts using recycled materials. Green & organic food cooking: Eat well and healthfully, Cook a special earth day meal using all non-processed foods- Invite the friends and family over to share a healthy, home-cooked meal. Earth day games- you may make more fun by nature hiking: A. Nature hikes are a great way to appreciate the details of our beautiful earth. B. Cleaning up litter at a local parkParks provide places for everyone in the community to enjoy nature.

Of the Month 1. The Obama administration’s new rules Clean Air and Natural Gas aimed at cutting harmful emissions from natural gas wells are a win for the environment, for the public and for industry. And despite what Republican politicians claim, the rules will not impose major new costs or slow what has been a remarkable boom in natural gas production. 8With Thanks to: www.nytimes.com - April 19, 2012 2. UN institutions launch global media campaign on environment protection on The campaign was jointly initiated by Xinhua News Agency, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Reuters, to coincide with the World Earth Day on Sunday. With thanks to: www.philstar.com - 22nd April, 2012 3. The New U.S. “Bioeconomy”, Industry Trumps Environment. The White House has announced the formulation of the National Bioeconomy Blueprint, aimed at shoring up the U.S. commitment to bioscience-related research. But critics warn that the new programme focuses too much on economic concerns, placing too little emphasis on either social issues or on the environment itself. With thanks to: www. peakoil.com - April 27th, 2012 4. Under the theme “Green Economy in the context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development and the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development,” the Thirty – Ninth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which focuses on the Environment and Sustainable Development will convene in Brazil in June. With thanks to: www.kaieteurnewsonline.com -April 29th, 2012 5. Total of 89 power projects seeking green clearance are pending with the environment ministry. Almost 41 projects are seeking environmental clearance and also 48 seeking forest clearance are pending. With thanks to: Indian Daily News - April 30th, 2012 6. Environment may be factor in cases of rare cancer in limited area. For five years, cases of a rare cancer have been cropping up among children in the Port Huron area. A recent case farther south in St. Clair Shores has added another twist to the mystery. With thanks to: www. detroitnew.com - April 29th, 2012 1. 2. 3. 4.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/opinion/clean-air-and-natural-gas.html?_r=1 http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=799637&publicationSubCategoryId=200 http://peakoil.com/publicpolicy/in-new-u-s-bioeconomy-industry-trumps-environment/ http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2012/04/29/green-economy-poverty-eradication-environmentconfab-to-convene-in-brazil/ 5. http://india.nydailynews.com/business/dabc69b64a2e0f8ce8c0ece765146794/89-power-projectspending-with-environment-ministry\ 6. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120429/METRO/204290310

Call for Write-Up Greening the Businesses Monthly magazine Your write up will enable business community to think and act in the best interest of environment protection. Industry is facing environmental issues as one of the competitive challenges. There are number new procedures and standards regarding industry related environment protection. The businesses having more awareness and education about environment issues can better market their products in national and international market. NFEH has initiated a monthly magazine to promote environment concerns and spread awareness in the business community. Thinkers, policy makers, writers, managers and others are invited to share their thinking through write ups in the magazine  

Share write-ups: research@irp.edu.pk Call us for inquiry: 92-42-35846988

Disclaimer: The Magazine titled as “Greening the Businesses” is solely owned by National Forum for Health & Environment. The content management and publishing is facilitated by Institute of Research Promotion. No responsibility of contents is assumed as contents are provided by original authors.