The industrial revolution, which began in Europe in the 18th century, has been substantially transformed the relationship between nature and the human. At first, human as any other living beings was a natural component of the ecosystem, fit in her circulation and lived according to nature’s laws. The situation began to change rapidly with the beginning of the industrial revolution. The main reasons for these changes are the production and the use of hydrocarbon fuels – coal, oil, shale, gas, then the production of metals and other minerals in large numbers. To the circular flow were added substances located in sediment, substances that were already out of the circular flow. It is what we call water, air, soil pollution.
The 21st century is a time to break the system, the time to live in harmony with nature, not to fight one. So, can just one person make a difference? Sure. Let us show you how.
Minimalism
We can start with a simple thing, such as our closet, and then move on to eco-friendly buildings.
According to the research, 8 billion new pieces of clothes are purchased in one year. That is up 400 percent from 20 years ago. We buy more clothes than ever. It concerns also beauty products, foodstuffs that do not get eaten. And the way out of it is minimalism. It is about living with things that you actually use. If we sort out our closet, half of the clothes will be thrown away because we have a different style now or something does not really fit us anymore. The same thing applies to our college life. If there is a chance to get research papers for sale from the Ph.D. writer and do not waste your time on unnecessary assignments, take advantage of it. So, throw away all of the useless things and see how much space and time you actually have.
Let us dig deeper and take a look at the concrete buildings. What can we do about them?
Net Zero Buildings
Waste and the scope of the waste is a newly emerging field, right at the intersection of human health and how it is affected by the space that we live in. We spend 90% of our time indoors. Some people spend 95% indoors because they go from their condo into the garage, into their car, into their office, never leaving outside. So, all of those spaces should be really healthy, but our car is off-gassing, our house is off-gassing, fumes we’re breathing in are off-gassing and everything has an interplay in it. So, people need to understand the process of building construction, people need to navigate issues of sustainability and human health.
First example – zero-energy buildings. The idea behind the building was to be a shining example of what other people can do. The intent behind it was to make it replicable in the way that it does not have to cost more. It is not a science project, where only certain people could do it, it has to be simple. This is the Tesla of buildings. So, how do we create zero net building that is beautiful, accessible and most importantly, valuable for people and the environment?
This kind of buildings has solar voltaic, which is producing energy. It has geo-exchange, which is using the constant temperature of the Earth to help us heat or cool. It has heat pumps that help in that transition of taking the heat and making it to a higher grade or a lower grade. And then the mechanical system itself is just heat pumps and fan coils that move the energy around the building. So, if one part of the building, like the kitchen needs cooling and another part of the building need heating, we can just move the energy around. Move the energy around. That is the core concept.
Eco Houses
Another way to deal with the environmental problems are the eco-houses and the eco-workplaces.
What is the difference between eco-houses and our flats? First of all, the roof and the walls are built in a completely different way. Eco houses have a totally airtight membrane that comes all the way down the roof and all the way down the walls on both sides from the inside and the outside. So, no air can penetrate at all. Moreover, there is no humidity inside with a special air system. All the joineries of that building have been specially made. The designers just put a face seal all the way around the door. The result is that a property has no loss of heat through air change.
The rain uses as an additional source. It runs off the roof and comes down the pipes instead of disappearing into the ground. Later that water will be put in the tank and then it pumps back into the house to feed washing machine. It massively reduces the water consumption of the property. It is low cost and anyone can do it.
In the garden of the eco-houses, you can see approximately 20 large solar panels that produce heat all the year round at different times. Every little drip that has been produced, will stick it in the ground and store there. So, there is a possibility to take it out whenever you need it. And what is so amazing is you can actually store it in the ground in the summer and use it in the winter. All the heat comes from these solar panels.
You can build a property like this at exactly the same price that you build any other property. You can improve the quality of how you live in it by using rainwater. It is your call. Actually, we do not need any technologies to help our environment and ourselves.
Does it sound too unreal? Let us take a look at the living example.
Eco-Friendly City
Copenhagen is consistently ranked as the number one ecological advanced city in the world. Considering the city intense to be carbon neutral by 2025, it is likely that the city will retain their spot at the top for many years with its many bike paths and clean cobbled streets.
The Danish capital is considered one of the greenest cities in the world and most favorable for cyclists. 50 percent of its inhabitants prefer bicycles to cars. This is the main mode of transport in Copenhagen. As a result of Danes love to ride a bike, the city has a very low level of carbon dioxide emissions. Biking and walking tours are the best way to explore this beautiful city. The city is trying to achieve a zero balance of carbon dioxide emissions by 2025. Danes are also known for recycling and composting. This reduces energy consumption and environmental pollution. Copenhagen is focused on increasing the number of coastal windmills, which help to reduce the use of oil and gas.
So, why do not we start with an eco-friendly closet to end up with an eco-friendly city?