12
Oct, 2022
landslide

Infallible Means To Avoid The Risks Of Landslides

When looking for a building plot, prospective owners often prefer flat land. However, sloping land is usually less expensive. If you are concerned about the risk of landslides and rockslides, retaining walls are the solution. What is this? What are the advantages of doing this type of work? What are the types of retaining walls? So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things everyone needs to know about landslides.

How to protect your home from landslides

landslide

Although landslides usually occur without warning, understanding this natural hazard and following some specific rules can help protect your family and your home.

    • Learn about the geology of your area and the possibility of landslides.
    • Avoid activities that increase instability. For example, don’t dig into a steep hillside, build near the top or toe of a steep slope, use fill on steep slopes, drain a pool on a steep slope, or increase the rate of water flow.
    • Learn to identify potential hazards in your area. Examples include: cracks or bulges in a slope, unusual water flow on a slope, and small rocks or sediment falling.
    • Know who to report these hazards to (e.g., the municipal emergency response team and municipal engineers)

What is the purpose of a retaining wall?

A retaining wall supports, contains, and resists the strong pressure of the ground. Typically seen on riverbanks and public roads, this solid block is used to hold back soil and sand that may slip away. It strengthens the foundation of a house, building, or church built on high ground. However, a retaining wall can also be used in the garden of a private individual where the area has an irregular relief.

In addition to preventing the earth from shifting with erosion, the retaining wall provides a usable area for the garden. As it allows rainwater to drain away, it facilitates the garden and lawn maintenance. Similarly, impassable slopes can become a quiet place to sit and talk. A well-made wall also enhances the landscape and increases the value of a property.

What are the different types of retaining walls?

There are three main categories of retaining walls:

    • Self-standing walls: This retaining wall is built in a reverse T-shape built with reinforced concrete and cinder block. The construction is quite solid, as part of the wall is buried under an embankment. Although this type of work is complex to carry out, it is inexpensive.
    • Weighted walls: the installation of a wall made with gabions is the best way to avoid landslides. Since an iron cage is used, it is easy to implement. The stone wall is also a weight retaining wall that serves as a decoration in a garden. Always stable even in the presence of abundant water, it adds charm to a landscape, especially when it does not exceed one meter in height.
    • Riprap walls: to build it, calibrated rocks and natural rocks are placed on top of each other to create an angle.

Concerned about the beauty of your landscaping, a professional can ensure the construction of dry stone walls and vegetated walls or statues.

How to build a retaining wall?

Landslides

Given the importance and usefulness of this wall, its construction must be entrusted to a professional in retaining works. The durability of the retaining wall depends entirely on the quality of the work. Before launching the construction site, a soil study is even essential because it is impossible to build it on the ground made of clay, peat, and mud.

Difficult to build, a retaining wall requires extreme loads and great care. Thus, the mason must prepare the ground by delimiting the location of the walls, digging a trench, leveling the ground, and compacting the soil. He then proceeds to lay the foundation composed of solid, stable, and well-connected cinder blocks. Finally, the team responsible for the support work ensures the construction of the wall itself. It should be noted that when the terrain is too unstable, earthworks and excavation are necessary to level the ground.

Sound off in the comments section below, and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about landslides.

8
Aug, 2022
Top 6 Green Building That Are Redefining Architecture

Top 6 Green Building That Are Redefining Architecture

From California to the United Arab Emirates, these projects show us the way to carbon neutrality in architecture. Fires, melting ice, floods, tornadoes… We know it all too well- and Earth Day reminded us of it last week: committing to the ecological transition is more necessary than ever. Every sector of society is concerned, as is the world of architecture, which is beginning to take measure of the climate emergency, as shown by these 6 innovative structures by major names in the field.

Combining cutting-edge aesthetics and environmental ethics, these “zero-emission” structures have the advantage of being energy-efficient and using and/or producing enough green energy to be self-sufficient. From Singapore to Copenhagen, they are, in fact, laying the foundations for the architecture of the future. Here’s a look at some of the most beautiful contemporary buildings, recently inaugurated or under construction.

1. CopenHill (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Top 6 Green Building That Are Redefining Architecture

The result of a collaboration between several very prestigious firms (including Bjarke Ingels Group, SLA, AKT, Lüchinger+Meyer, MOE, and Rambøll), CopenHill or “Amager’s Hill” is a new kind of waste incinerator. Topped with dry ski slopes, a hiking trail, and a climbing wall, the 41,000-square-meter building primarily processes about 440,000 tons of waste per year and provides low-carbon heat and power to nearly 600,000 people in Denmark. Opening in 2019 in an industrial area in Copenhagen, CopenHill is so far one of the cleanest waste incinerators in the world: its stack emits no carbon dioxide.

2. Marcel Hotel (New Haven, Connecticut)

While most Brutalist buildings date back to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, this architectural movement continues to seduce and inspire. The Marcel Hotel is proof of this. Soon to be inaugurated (on May 12 this year), it is located in a concrete tower designed in 1970 by the father of Brutalism: Marcel Breuer. At the time, it was the headquarters of the Armstrong Rubber Company, a company that specialized in rubber.

But shortly after the departure of this company in the late 1980s, the building remained unoccupied for several years. It began to collapse and was then partially demolished. A sad fate for such original architecture, so in 2020, a local developer and architect, Bruce Redman Becker, scrambled to give the structure a second life.

He bought it and decided to turn it into a hotel as a tribute to its architect. With 165 rooms, the sustainable hotel now has nine suites, an American restaurant and bar, a library lounge, and a 650-square-foot meeting/meeting space. Leed certified (a green certification in the United States) is also known as a “passive” home, designed with energy efficiency in mind.

3. La Jolla Commons (San Diego, California)

Designed by Paul Danna- one of AECOM’s principal architects- this 13-story, 28,080-square-foot building is the only “zero-carbon” building in La Jolla, an upscale neighborhood in San Diego California. With an exterior envelope composed primarily of glass, it features double-glazed windows for significant energy savings and a fuel cell system that produces more electricity than the building consumes. A true marvel of sustainable architecture, La Jolla Commons also features a floor air distribution system (improving air quality) and an extensive recycled water system used to cool and irrigate the tower.

4. BEEAH Group Headquarters (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

This futuristic 2,787-square-meter structure is both the first sustainable project by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and the first zero-energy building of the BEEAH Group, an international holding company. Its sustainability is ensured by its construction materials (mainly recycled), but also and above all by a powerful photovoltaic system, which produces enough energy to meet the building’s energy needs in summer.

Designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid (who passed away in 2016) and led by architect Sara Sheikh Akbari, the project is inspired by the desert landscape in which the building is set. Slightly curved, the roofs resemble windswept dunes. A feat, considering the extremely high temperatures during the hottest months and the need to air-condition the place. Sublime.

5. National University of Singapore

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The SDE4 building (the School of Design and Environment at the National University of Singapore) is the first zero-energy structure built in the country. Designed by Serie Architects and Multiply Architects, SDE4 has been described by its architects as “a prototype of sustainable architecture.”

At nearly 2,800 square meters spread over six floors, the building is intended to become an example to follow in Singapore and embody the country’s commitment to promoting sustainability and supporting education. Combining energy efficiency, elegance, and functionality, SDE4 is a true architectural nugget in the middle of the lush jungle. It features a plaza, outdoor spaces, workshops, research spaces, a café, and a library.

6. Atlassian Tower (Sydney, Australia)

The software company Atlassian has called on the New York firm SHoP Architects and the Australian agency BVN to design its new offices in Sydney. The tower is expected to open at 183 meters high, have 40 floors in 2025, and enrich the city’s iconic skyline. Not only will it be a visual feat and earn the title of “world’s tallest hybrid wood building,” but it will also be powered 100% by renewable energy and produce no greenhouse gases.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about green buildings.

22
Jun, 2022
home

Eco-Renovation: An Ideal Solution To Reduce Your Energy Bill

There are many reasons to renovate your home. The need to reduce the energy bill is one of them because it represents a large part of the expenses for a household. In this case, eco-renovation is the best solution. However, this type of work is far from easy to achieve.

Therefore, it is essential to first define the elements that most affect energy consumption, and the work to be done will then focus on the said elements. On the other hand, the work must be carried out by a specialized company, ideally certified, to ensure a realization in accordance with the environmental standards in force. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn more about eco-renovation.

What is eco-renovation?

solar

The eco-renovation is the set of works that consists in improving a house while aiming, in general, the following points

    • The improvement of the comfort of the occupants of the house
    • The reduction of energy consumption
    • The contribution to the preservation of the environment

The eco-renovation is primarily intended for owners of old houses wishing to improve the energy performance of the house. It is also intended for future owners who wish to benefit from a more ecological house.

We watch our water flow

Energy savings also happen in the bathroom! Before brushing your teeth, think about installing a masseur on your faucet. At around 10 $, it can reduce the water flow by 50%… This is not negligible! Finally, to avoid unnecessary water flow, a toothbrush is a must. And it goes without saying that we prefer showers to baths!

Yes, because we often prefer cool showers to hot baths in summer. So let’s look at the bright side: cooler showers tone up and put you in a “good mood”! For those of you who are a bit chilly, there are intelligent shower heads that help control water consumption. Economical and ecological, they allow you to avoid a cold shower when you receive your water bill!

What are the works to be done for eco-renovation?

In this type of project, many options are available to you. However, each work must meet a specific need of the house. Similarly, the specificity of the work also concerns the choice of materials to be used. This is one of the criteria that attests that the work meets the criteria of eco-renovation.

The energy performance diagnosis

home

Before starting the work, it is essential to define the essential points on which the interventions must be made. This will also allow defining the extent and the nature of the work to be done. To reduce the energy consumption of a house, the realization of an energy performance diagnosis is essential.

Energy renovation

Energy renovation is an essential component of the eco-renovation concept. It allows not only to reduce the emission of harmful gases to the environment but also to reduce the energy consumption of the house, and thus the bill. Energy renovation generally involves several types of work:

Insulation work

To save energy, it is essential to review the insulation of the house. A choice of material also accompanies this. We prefer biosourced and natural materials. In this case, wood fiber is a wise choice for exterior insulation, especially because of its performance. For floor and roof insulation, hemp can be chosen, as this material is sustainable and massively produced.

The choice of heating energy

Heating is a major expense for a household. To optimize heating and reduce its impact on the energy bill, it is necessary to opt for green energies: solar panels and wind turbines (for electricity production), solar water heaters, and, finally, wood stoves or low-temperature gas boilers.

Which company to choose for eco-renovation?

home

To succeed in eco-renovation and benefit from its advantages, choosing the company in charge of the work is essential. To ensure that the work respects the principles of eco-renovation, the company that will carry out the renovation must ideally be RGE qualified. This also allows the owner to benefit from state aid to reduce the bills related to the work. Choose a company that Specializes in general masonry work such as house construction and extension.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about eco-renovation.

29
May, 2022
5 Good Reasons to Become “Zero Waste”

5 Good Reasons to Become “Zero Waste”

 

Tired of the hyper-consumption society, some people embark on the adventure of zero waste. Still unknown, this way of life does not lack arguments in its favor.

Respecting the environment

The current state of nature requires the reduction of household waste. Recycling, composting, and reuse are also on the agenda.

Reducing your waste means:

    – fighting deforestation to produce packaging;

    – fighting against waste;

    Promoting sorting, recycling, composting, and reusing old objects (sale, donation, etc.).

Live more simply

Living as a zero-waste person can bring real benefit to the whole family. Based on healthy and thoughtful consumption, learning and passing on a different lifestyle to your children allow you to live more simply and get rid of the frills.

Reduce your waste to:

    – save money;

    – save space at home;

    – save time (no more queuing in shopping malls);

    – meet other people who share the same ideals.

Make your children aware of ecology.

In the future, ecology will become crucial. Today’s planet is accumulating non-recyclable waste, and greenhouse gases destroy the ozone layer. The adults of tomorrow will probably not have the same life as we have today.

Why educate your children about ecology?

5 Good Reasons to Become “Zero Waste”

Educate your children about ecology to:

    – instill in them ecological reflexes;

    – give them the keys to understanding the planet’s issues;

    – perhaps arouse vocations towards a profession turned towards nature;

    – teach them to respect the environment and to limit waste;

    – show them that it is possible to live more simply.

Save money

If you limit your waste, you also limit your expenses. The two go hand in hand. It can save you a lot of money.

    – You always buy just what you need: no food waste, for example.

    – You prefer to buy second-hand.

    – You recycle and salvage old objects.

    – You take stock and reduce your needs to the bare minimum.

Good to know: if you reduce your expenses throughout the year, you can save enough money for a vacation.

Stay mobile

Transferring, changing careers, and moving frequently, the world of work appreciates mobility. Today in Canada, New York, or Berlin, certain professions are incompatible with major moves and require you to travel light.

Your advantages in owning very little:

    – You will be satisfied with a small, simple, and charming apartment.

    – Your unwanted furniture and appliances are sold or donated to charity.

    – The money earned from the resale of your belongings allows you to buy others in your new city.

Even if “zero waste” in the strict sense of the term does not exist, this way of life is full of attractions. You can adhere to it and pursue the ecological approach in many areas.

24
May, 2022
paint

Ecological Paint To Limit Pollution

When it comes to painting the exterior wall of the house, the choice of paint is more or less complicated. Unlike the interior walls, the facades require special attention since they are always exposed to the weather. Also, you must take into account the weather conditions of your region to choose the paint color to use.

Also, note that in the context of a construction or a renovation, the Local Urbanism Plan (PLU) defines the authorized colors for the façade. Therefore, you should check with the town hall, especially if your home is located in a protected area. In any case, we recommend you choose ecological paint, which is non-toxic and accessible to all budgets.

Why do we talk about organic paint?

paint

Natural paints are environmentally friendly and less toxic than natural paints. Unlike the latter, they are made with natural and biodegradable elements such as lime, casein, or silicate. That’s why they are generally used for interiors, especially in bedrooms and babies’ rooms. Indeed, although these types of paint have a low amount of volatile organic compounds, they do not give off bad odors that cause headaches. Be aware, however, that not all paints that are labeled “VOC-free” are necessarily environmentally friendly.

To qualify as organic, they must contain 95% natural ingredients. There are also natural bio-based paints that are 95% plant and animal-based. To find out, be sure to check the box where the components are listed. You can also rely on the advice of the professionals of the company you hired to do the painting or buy the paint only in stores specializing in the sale of ecological products.

How to choose your eco-friendly paint?

paint

There are different types of ecological paints. In fact, you can easily make paint from lime since you need to get lime and mix it with water. Although no chemical components are used in this type of paint, protect yourself with a mask anyway because lime is a more or less harmful product. In any case, lime-based paint is suitable for any surface and is very aesthetic. However, it is not washable with water.

Therefore, it is not really recommended for bathrooms and kitchens. Choose instead the silicate one, which can be used for both indoor and outdoor use. It is resistant to steam and washout and is easy to maintain. There is also clay paint which is suitable for all types of support and which comes in a wide choice of colors.

However, it is preferable not to use sharp objects or too hard when washing your walls. Silicate paints are particularly sensitive to scratches. However, it is essential to underline that ecological paints do not produce a rendering as satisfactory as that of traditional paints. They are difficult to apply, and the drying time is very long because of the lack of solvent in their composition. In addition to this, they do not offer a wide choice of tints and colors as conventional paints.

Dress for the job

paint

Painting is messy, so we don’t recommend putting on your Sunday best to do this specific job. Put on a long-sleeved shirt, old work pants, a pair of old tennis shoes, and a cap to protect yourself from the paint that will eventually drip or fall on you.

After all, you will always get paint while painting; no matter how careful you are when painting and handling the paint, it’s the nature of the job. By covering yourself properly, you won’t have to rub the paint off your skin at the end of the day. Also, line your floor with plastic or old newspapers to protect your floors from paint drips.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about painting.

9
May, 2022
fast

Top 3 Reasons To Be Against Fast Fashion

Due to the growing population and the internet age we live in, we spend a lot of money on clothes, which is not always good for our planet. Companies like Forever 21, H&M, and even Zara are major contributors to the fast fashion industry, producing fashionable and cheap clothes that cost our environment a lot of money, as mass production of fashion items is not useful for the planet.

Since these clothes go out of fashion and disappear again with a snap of the fingers, most of them are usually thrown away and end up in the fields. So, without further ado, let’s dive further into this blog and learn more about fast fashion and why you should be against it.

What is it?

fast

Fast fashion is a widespread trend in the fashion industry based on an ultra-fast renewal of collections. Relying on a frantic and unsustainable production rate, some ready-to-wear brands renew their collections every two weeks or less. This practice, inherited from the second half of the twentieth century with the emergence of “lean management” at Toyota, has been imposed over time in all industries. This “disposable” fashion produced at a lower cost has disastrous social and environmental consequences.

The aim is to minimize production costs, manufacture just in time, and reduce supply times to increase profitability. The food sector very quickly adopted this organizational model to create the concept of “fast food” and thus offer to the most significant number of people products of lower quality, manufactured quickly and sold on a global scale. Today, this practice has spread to the fashion industry, and most large textile companies operate according to this dominant “fast fashion” model.

1. Human exploitation

The fast fashion industry usually starts in “third world” countries like Bangladesh and China, and the workers in this industry are exploited and underpaid and considered interchangeable objects. These are the aspects of fast fashion that are not usually talked about because we live in a world where there is nothing wrong as long as white bodies don’t have to suffer.

Hundreds of people die every year as a result of the fast fashion industry. The young fashion industry employs mostly young women from developing countries, 80% of whom are between 18 and 24 years old. Some factories even employ underage children, who are naturally underpaid and exploited. To understand the exploitation of these people, let me give you a concrete example: in 2013, an eight-story building collapsed in Bangladesh, killing 1134 workers and injuring more than 2500 others.

That didn’t even make the international news. Why, you ask? Because developed countries have always benefited from the labor of black and brown people. This news did not make a big splash in international waters. After all, it wasn’t seen as something to get upset about because white people weren’t hurt in the process, but they were profiting from this inhumane business.

2. Fast fashion is an ecological scourge

fast

The fashion industry is considered the second most polluting sector in the world, directly after the oil industry. With an average of 52 collections per year for some brands, our fashion is disposable and hardly recyclable. Its production is a heresy for the planet: cotton and polyester, which make up the majority of our clothes, are not biodegradable.

They are very energy-consuming; they pollute water, underwater environments, and consequently, our food chain. Enjoy your meal, of course. Child labor, relocation, extreme working conditions, miserable wages… In the Philippines, for example, textile workers are paid $0.88 per hour, $2 in Bangladesh. Should we really accept that people suffer to produce our clothes?

3. We just don’t need that many clothes!

Fifty years ago, we bought about 25 clothes a year. Today, we buy… 80 every year. Scary, isn’t it? Every year, we buy more than 80 billion clothes in the world. Take 5 minutes and open your closet. Count the number of jeans you own, the number of T-shirts you wear, and all the other clothes you may not have removed the tags from yet. So, what’s the bottom line?

Have you also noticed that even at Zara, prices are going up severely? Fast fashion brands are starting to create their capsule collections, raising their prices and demands. The quality, however, does not change. The conditions of production of these clothes do not change either.

Final thoughts

fast

Personally, I only shop at thrift stores these days, and when I buy clothes at a store, I do my due diligence beforehand and do research, and avoid shopping at fashion brands that profit from the fast fashion industry. Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about fast fashion and its impact on our planet.

29
Apr, 2022
sustainable

5 Most Sustainable Countries In The World

Now more than ever, more and more people and nations are concerned about the future of our planet; as far as most of us know, Earth is the only planet that is habitable to human beings, and we need to start treating it as such. Going green is something that all of us should strive to achieve, and this is why countries are being held responsible for their actions.

It is primordial for all countries to move towards going green and reverse the effect of global warming as much as humanly possible. The counties are ranked according to the EPI or the Environmental Performance Index. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn more about some of the most sustainable countries around the globe.

1. Sweden

sustainable

It is considered by far the most sustainable country in the world and has the highest renewable energy usage in the world, and is among of one the countries that have the lowest carbon emission. Sweden is also known to have one of the best educational systems in the world, and environmental consciousness is one thing that they are taught.

By 2045, Sweden has vouched to reduce their carbon emission by 85 to 100%. More than half of the energy consumption in the country is produced by renewable energy, and it has lowered its emission through the use of electric buses, urban farming, and smart roads. They have also achieved sustainability by having food banks, gender equality, recycling systems, and housing for vulnerable people.

2. Japan

In my opinion, Japan is one of the most beautiful countries out there, and it is known for its innovations. It has planned to have 50% of its new cars produce zero carbon emissions within the next 10 years. Vehicles are one of the main creators of carbon emissions in the world, and this is why more and more countries are turning towards hybrid and electric cars to try to reduce this.

Japan’s biggest cities are also trying to cut down on their carbon emission, and they are aiming to be 100% carbon emission-free by 2050. Japan also has one of the best recycling systems around the world, and it currently has around 10 different categories of recyclable. Japan is slowly paving its way to the top of the ladder when it comes to the sustainability ladder.

3. Canada

sustainable

It is one of the most diverse countries in the world and is currently working to become one of the most sustainable countries in the world. It aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emission by 30% by 2030. It is also committed to researching sustainable living, energy solutions, and environmental sustainability.

One thing about being a sustainable nation also includes treating your workforce and citizens equally and not putting one group on a pedestal. This is seen in Canada’s governance and how it is trying to be a more sustainable nation. Canada is also continuously trying to improve its social sustainability with a decrease in poverty and a push towards sustainability.

4. Denmark

It is one of the more sustainable countries around the globe and is currently the leader in wind power. More than half of the energy produced in the country is thanks to wind power, and this is because you can find wind turbines throughout the country, and it is almost like a landmark of this particular sustainable nation.

Copenhagen is also considered one of the largest green cities in the world, and it plans to be completely carbon neutral by 2025. Denmark also has around half of its energy supplied by renewable sources, and this is due to the usage and rise in popularity of bikes across the nation; thanks to this, the country’s carbon emission has decreased.

5. Norway

sustainable

Norway is another one of the most sustainable countries around the globe, and its parliament has pledged to be entirely carbon neutral by 2030. It also has one of the most efficient recycling systems in the world, second only to Japan, and has even incorporated composting into its agenda. It also uses hydroelectricity to power itself, which works especially well due to its rainy climate.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about the most sustainable countries in the world.