• Vehicle-themed murals offer unique and dynamic decor options for various spaces.
• Understanding where and how to use these murals can enhance interior design quality.
• Creative applications extend beyond traditional home decor to commercial and recreational spaces.
• Proper installation techniques ensure longevity and visual impact.

What Are Vehicle-Themed Murals?

Vehicle-themed murals are large-scale wall decorations featuring imagery of various types of vehicles, from classic cars to modern motorcycles. These murals can transform any space into a vibrant and dynamic environment by bringing energy and excitement to the decor. With their broad appeal, vehicle wall murals are perfect for adding personality and customization to any room.

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these murals can serve as a unique talking point in your home or business. Whether you prefer the sleek lines of a race car or the rugged look of a heavy-duty truck, the artwork captures the essence of vehicular beauty and motion, becoming a canvas of constant inspiration. In essence, vehicle-themed murals juxtapose art with passion, reflecting the owner’s unique taste and admiration for automotive excellence.

Why Choose Vehicle-Themed Murals?

Vehicle-themed murals add a unique touch to interior design, making them suitable for car enthusiasts and individuals looking for dynamic decorating solutions. They create a focal point in any room and are perfect for adding personality and style to an interior. Additionally, they can be an excellent choice for professional decorators looking to offer something distinctive to their clients.

The versatility of these murals means they can fit into various design themes, from industrial and modern to retro and classic. This adaptability allows them to seamlessly blend into any room’s existing decor while still making a significant impact. Imagine entering a room where a beautifully detailed mural of a vintage car transports you back to a nostalgic era, or a fast-paced racing car mural ignites a sense of thrill and speed. Such powerful imagery can transform the atmosphere, making these murals both functional and artistic statements.

Popular Vehicle Themes

There are several themes within the realm of vehicle-themed murals, each offering a unique vibe and aesthetic:

• Classic Cars: Perfect for a vintage touch, these murals evoke the golden era of automobiles, characterized by the elegance and timeless design of iconic models.
• Motorcycles: Ideal for adding an edgy element to any space, featuring iconic bikes and scenic routes that capture the spirit of freedom and adventure.
• Racing Cars: Bring the thrill of the racetrack into your home with high-speed imagery that exudes energy and excitement, making it captivating for both young and old.
• Heavy-Duty Trucks: Great for an industrial or rugged look, showcasing powerful machines in action that symbolize strength, endurance, and reliability.
• Planes and Boats: Offering a touch of adventure and wanderlust, perfect for travel enthusiasts who dream of exploring the skies and seas.

Each theme provides not just a visual spectacle but a personal connection, tapping into the viewer’s aspirations and memories. Whether it’s the nostalgic charm of classic cars or the adrenaline rush of racing vehicles, these murals cater to varied tastes and preferences, making them truly versatile and universally appealing.

Creative Uses for Vehicle Murals

Vehicle murals aren’t just for the home. They can be perfect for businesses such as auto shops, restaurants, and recreational spaces. A racing car mural in a kid’s playroom or a vintage car mural in a living room can create an immersive experience that’s both entertaining and stylish. Moreover, they are an excellent way to personalize commercial environments, contributing to a unique brand identity and creating an engaging atmosphere for customers.

In commercial settings, these murals can enhance the theme of the establishment, making it more appealing to customers. For instance, an auto-themed restaurant can benefit significantly from vehicle murals, providing an immersive dining experience that aligns with its brand identity. From waiting lounges in car dealerships featuring sleek sports cars to cafes decorated with retro vehicle images, the possibilities are endless. Even in spaces like garages or mancaves, vehicle murals can exude a cool, personalized touch that reflects the owner’s passion.

Installation Tips and Tricks

To install a vehicle-themed mural, follow these steps:

1. Clean the wall surface to create a secure adhesive bond.

2. Accurately measure the wall and mural to cover the desired area without wastage.

3. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for adhesive to avoid mistakes and ensure longevity.

4. Smooth out bubbles or wrinkles with a dry cloth, starting from the center and working outwards.

5. Allow the mural to set before decorating to avoid damage.

These steps ensure a professional finish and a seamless transformation of your space. The careful application reflects the attention to detail that car enthusiasts often show towards their vehicles. The meticulousness of the application mirrors the meticulousness that car enthusiasts often demonstrate towards their vehicles.

Maintenance and Care

To maintain the vibrant look of your vehicle-themed mural, regularly dust it with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid using harsh chemicals or excessive moisture, which can damage the print. Periodically check for any peeling and reapply adhesive if needed. Proper care ensures the mural remains a stunning focal point in your space for years to come.

Understanding the material composition and the specific care instructions provided by the manufacturer can also prolong the life of the mural. Simple regular maintenance, akin to routine maintenance for vehicles, can preserve the art’s vibrancy, ensuring the mural remains a show-stopper indefinitely.

Make Your Space Stand Out

With the right vehicle-themed mural, your space can be transformed into an extraordinary environment. Whether for personal enjoyment or to appeal to visitors and clients, vehicle murals offer a visually appealing method to enhance the aesthetics of any room. Implementing these murals can breathe new life into otherwise uninspired spaces.

The murals can significantly enhance not just the visual appeal but also the emotional ambiance of the room. They can invoke feelings of nostalgia, excitement, or adventure, making them more than mere decorations. Instead, they become integral components of the room’s character and charm, making lasting impressions on anyone who steps in.

Conclusion

Vehicle-themed murals are an innovative way to personalize and modernize various spaces, from homes to commercial environments. With the right approach to selection, installation, and maintenance, they can offer a long-lasting and stylish solution for interior decor. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or simply looking to add a unique touch to your space, vehicle murals are an excellent choice.

The murals serve as a dynamic fusion of art and personal passion, allowing you to celebrate your love for vehicles while enhancing the room’s aesthetic appeal. In essence, vehicle-themed murals are more than just wall art; they are transformative elements that breathe personality and excitement into any space they adorn.

However, the local bee population has been drastically affected. Just between 2014 and 2015, 42% of colonies from that year died. Some areas have also reported honeybee losses of 75% or more. What is happening is that the bees simply leave their hive and don’t come back, making it even more challenging for scientists to figure out what’s wrong. 

As research aims at getting to the bottom of the problem, you can play an important role in helping your local bees. 

Keep your landscape natural

Many homeowners strive for the perfect lawn; a lawn that is evergreen, free of weeds, and has colorful flowers. This has led to people replacing natural landscapes with many exotic (or modified) breeds that don’t favor the local bee population. For example, homeowners who no longer plant dandelions, trees, and clovers are unknowingly limiting the food supply of local bees. In addition,genetic changes are limiting the effectiveness of pollination- by reducing nectar content. 

You can create a more welcoming environment for local bees by keeping your landscape as natural as possible. Limit your use of pesticides and plant species such as Clovers, Lavender, Dragon head, and Yarrow plants (among others). 

Create habitats for local bees

Many people mistakenly think that all bees live in hives. However, many species of bees are solitary or colony bees that live within the natural habitat. They turn dead trees, hollow branches, and abandoned barrows into their homes. 

You can help the local bee population by not only leaving natural habitat areas unperturbed but by also creating more areas for the bees to thrive. For example, placing bee blocks around your property can create extra space for bees to form colonies. 

Keep the flowers blooming

Flowers lead to pollen, and pollen leads to bees. By keeping the flowers blooming in your yard, bees will have plenty of nectar to suckle on during warm months.Take care of all the flowers, plants, and trees that bees love so they can bloom at the correct time.

You can also visit your local greenhouse to receive advice on which crops are best to plant, and how they can attract bees. You often need to consider sun exposure, soil nutrients, and any other species-specific accommodations that your plants may need. 

In addition to the bee-friendly plants already mentioned, you should also consider planting Sunflowers, crocus, Asters, and Horse mint flowers. 

Master the art of bolting 

Many bee species try to survive through the winter as they wait for warmer temperatures. You can help your local bees survive through cold weather by letting your vegetables bolt.

During bolting, veggies seed until after the harvesting period. These seeds allow bees to stock up for winter- instead of the colony dying out. And with the reducing bee populations, keeping colonies alive all year round can help increase their numbers over time. 

Leave some open space in your yard

If you’re a fan of covering every piece of open ground with mulch, try to cut back for the sake of your local bees. Leave some bare sections of earth in your yard to allow bees to dig their nests. Not all bees live in hives, and many species dig underground nests so they can raise their offspring. These open sections of earth can serve as the perfect bee habitat. 

Keep the queen safe

If you already have an existing colony nearby, you can take steps to keep the queen safe throughout the year. Remember that queens are responsible for producing eggs and growing the colony over time.

To protect the queen, make sure there are enough blooming flowers, trees,and shrubs in close proximity. This will make it easier for the colony to find food and keep the queen healthy. Bolting your veggies can also help the colony stock up for winter.

Another step you can take is to protect the colony from invaders. Watch out for any bluejackets (or other foreign species) that may attack the queen and her guards. 

Don’t forget the hardworking beekeepers in Southern California

When looking for honey, strive to buy it locally. Supporting small beekeepers is the best way of increasing the number of local colonies. Furthermore, local honey is often natural and healthier than processed honey and can help those suffering from allergies. Attend your near by flea markets and farmer’s events to find more local honey in California.  

Sustainability is in everyone’s mind and can be a priority for buyers and renovators of new homes. Using renewable or recycled floors reduce the demand for the environment and make buildings healthier to live. In addition to these benefits, the floors do not need to look “rustic” and are available in many options that are also attractive. If you’re thinking about updating your plan or building from the beginning, you can consider some sustainable options for ecological options. There are many options available friendly with the environment. What Types of Sustainable Flooring Options Can You Choose from?

1. Bamboo

Bamboo is the most popular among the wood flooring options installed at home. A bamboo floor can be strong and resistant like maple and oak and is significantly more resistant to scratches and marks than pine. Moreover, it has a quite special appearance that is very attractive. A good reason to use bamboo flooring is the possibility of picking up trees every 5 or 6 years, which is significantly different from traditional trees, which can take up to 100 years to be ready for harvesting. For many reasons, bamboo is today one of the most used renewable resources. As anyone with a group of bamboo in his garden can testify, bamboo grows faster than any other woody plant on earth. Interestingly, there are even bamboo species that grow so fast that you can see them grow. Many environmentally-conscious decorators consider bamboo the most eco- friendly product and use it in almost everything, from wall coverings to carpets. An example is bamboo rugs that can be found in all possible sizes and shapes and can add different dimensions to the room, depending on the choice.

2. Cork

Cork has not been used as much as it’s potential when looking at building materials. Cork floors are beginning to slowly increase in popularity, mainly due to the ecological nature of this type of material. This material is taken from the regenerative cortex of the cork trees, which means that the real tree is allowed to grow naturally and reproduce more of its cork material. In addition, the cork floor is an insulated and hypoallergenic material.

3. Hardwood

Hardwood trees can be harvested sustainably by managing the forest to foster the spiritual, cultural, ecological, economic and social needs of the local environment. Any wood obtained using sustainable techniques will receive the stamp of the Forest Stewardship Council (FCS). By choosing to buy the apartment with an FCS stamp, you are getting the wood that is obtained using the most ecological methods possible.

4. Reclaimed Lumber

A completely green option to source wood for flooring or building projects is reclaimed lumber route. This is the easy process of recovering lumber from old structures (barns, warehouses, factory buildings, etc.) that are no longer in use.

5. Resurface Existing Flooring

For people with old flooring already installed in the home, the perfect thing to do would be to invest the time and effort into sanding and refinishing the existing wooden floorboards and this is the least expensive option. Another similar procedure of repair and replace can be completed with laminate and carpet damage.

6. Linoleum

Linoleum is fire resistant and non-porous that makes it great for people with allergies, and it’s made from natural materials and is biodegradable.

7. Rubber

Natural rubber made from a rubber tree is renewable but synthetic rubber isn’t unless it’s recycled.

8. Recycled Flooring

This is any type of flooring that’s been used before is seen as ‘recycled’ for example carpet, tiles, timber. Instead of throwing away old flooring, refurbishing and recycling it saves it from the landfill.

9. Natural Carpet

Carpet made from non-synthetic materials like coconut husk or wool is a great option but make sure to also use an eco-friendly adhesive and underlay.

10. Engineered Wood

Engineered wood flooring comes from the wood fibers or veneers treated with phenol formaldehyde. Examples of engineered wood are Oriented Strand Board (OSB), hardboard and plywood. Compared with solid wood flooring, engineered wood is more affordable but is not as durable as solid wood. Engineered wood should be maintained regularly with repainting. There is also engineered wood flooring certified by FSC to be urea-formaldehyde free for the green homes. This kind of engineered wood ensures durability, quality and little to no off-gassing of harmful substances.   In conclusion, the process of installing renewable and sustainable flooring is a great option for your environment. Any of these options would be beautiful in a business or home. Choosing an eco-friendly floor gives you an elegant look without sacrificing your environment.

It’s the principal aim for any homeowner; the ability to add value to your home as you continue to live in it. In truth, all homes will rise in value, but it’s those renovations which reap the biggest rewards.

Unfortunately, some are more flattering than others. In other words, you might make a monumental change to your property, only to see the value nudge upwards by just a percentage point or so.

The aim of this guide is to prevent the above. As such, if you’re in the market of releasing more money from your property, here are the best ways to achieve it.

The roof space conversion

Let’s start with one of the biggest you can consider – the roof space conversion.

The scale of this change should not be underestimated. While the space might still exist, it needs some major structural changes to be fit for purpose as a habitable room. Often homeowners forget the smaller bits, such as waste removal, materials and even water supply – which makes the final cost much higher than initially expected.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to put a figure on just what you will reap back from such work. It will differ depending on the neighborhood as in some, extra bedrooms will be more desirable, while in others it might be an extra living room. The trick is to research your area and find if there is a need for additional space. If there isn’t, this won’t be a worthwhile way to add value to your property.

The extra bathroom

Once again, a caveat needs to be added here. Extra bathrooms are only going to work in some cases or specifically, when your home only has one to start with. If you do fall into this category, you could reap as much as 130% of your investment.

In terms of space budgeting, it’s worth pointing out that you’ll need at least 30 square feet if you are considering a full bathroom. This can increase to as much as 35 square feet if you want the all-inclusive bathroom (basically, you’ll have a bath tub as well).

The outside decking

This next suggestion might prompt a few raised eyebrows. After all, decking doesn’t have to be a drastic change – in some cases you might only be paying as little as $1,200 to install such a feature.

However, the effect that outside decking can have can be drastic. As we all know, we live in a world where time is precious, and the use of decking means that we don’t have to spend hours and hours cultivating greenery.

Additionally, outdoor living is just becoming much more fashionable. It’s for this reason that you can really go to town with your creation, with some people going as far as installing in-built seating and staircases. Of course, you don’t have to go quite as extravagant as this, but the point remains that decking is proving to be very appealing to prospective homebuyers and can subsequently boost the value of your property.

The labelling sector is one of the field with the highest environmental impact. Just think about the amount of paper and chemicals employed to produce labels rolls, and the percentage of waste produced after the labels are used. Fortunately, innovative technologies are being developed to guarantee greener products also in this field.

The leading technology is called Linerless and consists in an innovative way to produce labels rolls. We talked about it with Errebi – Rotolificio Bergamasco, one of the European companies that pioneered the introduction to the market of Linerless products. What is exactly Linerless technology?

Thermal paper rolls and labels produced with Linerless technology are made without the Liner, the traditional support deriving from chemicals and silicones, until now the fulcrum of the production of all articles related to professional labelling. Eliminating the Liner guarantees a host of economical and environmental advantages, that we are now going to list in more detail.

The advantages of Lineress technology

1. Less material is used: with the thermal paper rolls used so far, the Liner was essential to make the adhesive part. With Linerless thermal paper rolls, the adhesive is automatically applied directly to the back of the paper surface, making the Liner no longer necessary.
2. Space savings: by removing the Liner, much of the bulk of the new thermal paper rolls is reduced. Thanks to the elimination of the Liner almost half of the printable surface is available in addition. This means that, for example, in the space where traditional thermal paper rolls could host about 100 labels, Linerless rolls can print about 200 labels. In addition, a significant number of labels with different sizes can be replaced by a single roll. All these elements lead to increased productivity and major consequences such as longer roll life, a reduction in storage and transport costs and in the work needed to manage these processes.
3. No more Liner disposal costs: disposal of the chemical support requires appropriate and controlled processes and increase the environmental impact of the labelling activity. Obviously, all of these have a cost, and they subtract time and resources to the business. On the other hand, Linerless paper rolls completely eliminate these costs and bring great benefits to the environment.
4. Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions: thanks to the items listed above, one of the greatest advantages of Linerless products is to guarantee a massive reduction in CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere. Much of this reduction is due to the elimination of complex Liner disposal processes, the cut in transport and storage operations, the savings related to the production processes and, finally, the small quantities of material necessary to produce Linerless rolls.

A growing number of experts think the solution may include 3D printing.

3D printing is the action or process of making a physical object from a three-dimensional model, typically laying down many thin layers of material in succession.

“3D printing is a household term now,” according to Konrad Malik, CEO of RapidMake 3D Printing. “The technology is becoming more accessible to everyday users. That sort of access is important — it’ll allow consumers to participate in the 3D printing wave just as much as big companies, like those already taking advantage of this new tech in areas of sustainability efforts.”

And while the technology behind 3D printing is still evolving, the future looks bright in terms of the positive impact it could have on the environment, especially when compared to conventional manufacturing processes.

There is less waste associated with 3D printing, effectively eliminating the need for excess cutting, drilling, and milling. Less refining and assembly also means a reduction in storage before sales and distribution. And the plastics used to make 3D products are more environmentally friendly as well, making them a better choice for all stages of their lifecycle – from the initial printing stage to eventual disposal.

Konrad Malik is excited to see how 3D printing will increasingly impact every part of our lives. His company caters to both large-scale manufacturers, as well as those seeking small 3D printers for individual or home use, and he knows that the day is coming when everyone will have access to the technology.

“It’s mind-blowing to see the kinds of things people are doing with 3D. Prices for printers for the consumer market will continue to come down, so we’re going to see more and more great creative stuff happening with the technology down the road. I’m confident about that.”

Could 3D printed electric cars, televisions, homes, and computers really be on the horizon?  Many experts think that they are.

“3D printing is set to change a great many business models and everyone needs to speed up their research into this technology,” Peter Sander, manager of emerging technologies & concepts at AIRBUS Industries, noted at a METSTRADE show. “There is also a direct impact on the way new products are developed. Instead of having to have the entire design parameters ready before going into production, you can make a 3D version in 48 hours, see how the design works in practice and then make a new one based on those experiences.”

With an array of downloadable patterns available, the sky’s the limit in terms of what people can make with 3D printers. Now that the technology is in the hands of everyday people, Malik says it will be interesting to see what kinds of projects and inventions they will use it for. The evolution of the technology has already come so far, he says.

“When I first got into 3D printing, it seemed the technology was strictly for large manufacturing. Companies were quick to jump on the technology because it cut production costs. Over the past couple years, 3D printing has exploded into all kinds of applications — medical devices, machine parts, you name it.

The technology has become accessible to individuals, as opposed to large businesses, and that’s really exciting.”

Today’s farmer is a true business man (or woman). Farmland costs a lot more than it used to, and it is becoming quite scarce in some developed areas. In order to make the farm pay for itself, a farmer has to be very careful with his – or her – budget. Don’t have the money for a brand-new, shiny, deluxe, air-conditioned tractor?  Maybe you are still ‘making do’ with your old Massey Ferguson with the headlights barely hanging on. Here’s how to update your old farm equipment cost effectively (and it doesn’t involve a big roll of duct tape).

Balance your accounts

Ideally, you have more money coming in than going out, but most farmers would tell you they are happy to just break even. Technology plays a big part on the farm today but the newest in cutting-edge equipment can be cost prohibitive. You have to do the math. If buying the new high-tech equipment will allow you to increase productivity and sales, it might be worth it to go into debt for the big purchase. It will pay for itself in a matter of time. If on the other hand, the equipment won’t bring in enough profit to justify its purchase, you may need to look at other options. There is a big market for refurbished and used farm equipment aftermarket.

Keep an eye on the auctions

You can often get a really good deal on farm equipment if you attend agricultural auctions. Some of these auctions are estate sales, where a family is attempting to liquidate the property and contents of a farm after the passing of an elder farmer. Many times you will find farm equipment that is new and barely used at auctions like these. The other type is the regional agricultural equipment auction. Organizations like Ritchie Bros. host these sales in rural areas across North America in the spring and again in the fall. Do a search online and find out where the next equipment auction will be held in your area. Often you will see the equipment beginning to accumulate in the temporary sale lot weeks ahead of the date. This gives you the opportunity to check it out and plan your bid before the auction date. A bulk of the sales at these regional farm equipment auctions is done online on sale day. You don’t have to be there in person to place the winning bid on a new-to-you farm tractor or other piece of equipment.

Make your upgrade an investment

If every new farm purchase has to serve a purpose, why not make your new equipment work for you? End dump trailers are essential pieces of heavy equipment for transporting any number of materials. Most farms do not own their own dump trailer, but they need one from time to time. Farmers will be looking to hire someone with this piece of equipment so it may make financial sense for you to own one and rent it out. The same goes for hay baling equipment, a tractor that can plow snow, or a heavy duty combine to harvest your crops.

Barter your products and services

A farmer is not an island. You can’t go it alone. Chances are you will need the help of another farmer at one time or another. Why not get yourself organized so that you are taking full advantage of the existing farm network in your region? Post an ad at your local feed store or join a swap-and-sell page on social media. If you have a hay baler but not a combine, you may consider contacting another farmer and doing a bit of work for each other. Consider trading services whenever it is time to prepare a field, bring in your crops or move livestock to and from the market. You don’t have to own every piece of farm equipment; you just have to know people who own the pieces you need.

The life of a farmer has certainly changed over the decades, but one thing remains the same. The farming community is a close-knit network of like-minded people dependent on the weather, the market and a reliable piece of farm equipment. Make your connections and watch your budget. Every farmer has something to lend, rent out, sell or trade. Gone are the days of the totally self-sufficient farm. You need to be a contributing, active part of your local farming community in order to make the best cost-effective decisions in your own farm business.

Isabel Lambert is a business consultant. She enjoys sharing her experiences with helping businesses grow by posting on a number of business blogs.

We all know how important it is for your air conditioning to function well, especially on a hot summer day. Since summers seem to have become hotter and hotter lately, more and more people decided to invest in an AC. However, it’s not enough only to make the initial investment, you will also have to invest periodically in order to maintain it working properly for a long period of time. Naturally, everybody wants the machine to work perfectly, but what do you have to do for this?

More Practical Reasons

But you should clean your air conditioning device not only for your own comfort. The more important thing here is the fact that the HVAC system, which stands for ‘heating, ventilation and air conditioning’, is probably the main energy consumer in your entire home. That’s right, not the TV, not the computer, not the refrigerator, but the AC. As such, it is extremely important for the AC to use energy in an efficient manner, so that your bill won’t be huge. This means that you will pay less, plus you will enjoy your AC for a longer period of time, as long as you clean it often.

Many experts explain that cleaning your AC is just like going to the doctor for regular check-ups. If you go in time, you have the chance to prevent serious problems. It is essential to get regular checks for your AC too, if you want to maintain a quality service. Many specialists in the field keep underlining the importance of this step, which many people seem to ignore.

What Happens If My AC Is Dirty?

Besides the fact that it won’t function as it should and you will have to pay more for the energy, there are some other reasons why you should clean your AC. For example, the machine can keep in its coils debris, dirt and mold. Not only that this is unhygienic in itself, but think about the fact that all this ends up in the air you are breathing in.

However, this is not the only danger. If the electrical components are not taken care of properly, they can even start a fire, which is extremely dangerous. Besides, if you know that everything is going well, you can be at peace without too many worries.

How Do You Clean It?

Of course, you can start dismantling the AC whenever you want or have the time. However, it is always better to call for a professional instead of risking damaging anything. Thankfully, there are special companies, such as National Air Warehouse, which can help you carry on this necessary, yet unpleasant task.

What You Need to Know about Indoor Air Quality

From what it seems, governments are taking more and more important steps towards regulating the indoor air quality. For example, in the Fairbanks, Alaska, region, the EPA set up some quality standards that were approved and implemented. However, this is not the only region that is subjected to such changes, and this comes after more and more community members are concerned with this aspect.

Pressures from the Public

The topic of the indoor air quality has been often raised by the state on more than one occasion. At the same time, the public is pressuring the authorities to rush with the regulations regarding this subject. One of the examples mentioned on the bill is what is allowed and forbidden for burning indoors. As such, fireworks, barbecues and other similar things that release lots of harmful gas when lit were banned from being burned inside.

Don’t Waste the Air

Indeed, air is everywhere, but not cool air, and especially not during summer. Cool air should only be inside your home, and not outside, so one of the simplest things to do in order to avoid wasting money and energy with the AC is to see if there are cracks or poor insulations throughout your home. It happens often if the house is not a new one, so it’s a good idea to manually check windows, doors, insulation in the attic or any other cracks you spot. Alternatively, you can also call for a home energy audit, if you’re willing to invest in this.

Choose the Right Place for the Thermostat

You might not guess it, but it’s extremely important to place the thermostat right. For example, if you choose to place it on a wall right next to one of the hot windows in the house, the AC will work much more, thinking that the temperature is higher than it actually is.

The role of the urban planner’s team is made much easier when they have the right tools in place because they help with collaboration and workflow. And, in today’s business world that’s moving at an increasingly fast place, this is key.

Sustainability

A community’s sustainability can be improved when planners use the right tools to establish the best ways of doing this. For example, they can calculate the number of calories a person will burn by getting from one place to another and how long this journey will take by using an app like the Environmental Impact Calculator. Having this data to hand enables planners to work out how they can create an urban space that’s more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians, thus being less reliant on vehicles that are using fossil fuels.

By reducing how reliant a city is on cars, energy consumption and pollution are decreased. It also helps to make life more convenient for people living in the city, developing more of a community feel in the process.

Connectivity

A better level of connectivity can be achieved for commercial and residential settings by incorporating technology into the design of an urban space. It can enable people to work from different locations, including their home, which will improve traffic conditions and reduce commuting times. Equally, as they develop Internet-based clubs and co-working spaces, more people can be brought together.

Planning

Before technology and data were developed, poor planning and haphazard buildings were often found in urban centers. However, with the use of open data and innovative technology, urban planners can now determine the best ways of putting together a range of different elements within the space.

Using tools like Metro Pulse and National Equity Atlas, designers and planners can make sense of economic benefits, racial equity, and demographic data. By using these, architects, urban designers and planners can spend more time planning things, creating a space that will be in demand, vibrant and inclusive for businesses and residents alike.

Collaboration

Using a city as a platform for collaboration and sharing is an emerging concept that’s very powerful, and is gaining traction through the increased number of people working remotely, open governments and open data. Work is no longer based in one single location.

New applications and technologies are providing collaborative and participatory platforms for planners to access resources from all over the world. And they can use these to make the most of the space their working with.

For example, they can learn how to meet the needs of their population with the space they’re given by looking at Hong Kong, they can cultivate a local culture by looking at those in San Francisco and they can create a city that’s easily navigated by pedestrians by looking at New York. All of this information is being shared by data, and the Internet is the tool that’s carrying this data to urban engineering firms.

What’s in Store in the Future?

It’s worth taking a minute to consider this transition in urban places, pondering what shifts cities are witnessing and how cities can individually and collectively make sure the benefits are shared and based upon the majority of urban citizens in the world.

Therefore, a number of questions need to be asked. In future urban development, what’s the appropriate role for technology and who should it be aimed at? What are the motivations for people who are leading this rush, and who is responsible for this? How can we make sure the right balance is established between technological innovation and the values we share as human beings? What are the implications for planning and housing sectors as these technologies (which some may say are disruptive) become increasingly prominent?

Answering these questions will help make sure technology is being used in the most efficient way possible because it’s clear technology is paving the way for urban city planners. It helps when they’re laying out and designing urban centers, while also boosting their creativity. It also helps to increase the trust felt within the local community, as more connections are made than ever before.

Harrison Thorpe is a retired civil engineer who worked closely with the city planning office over the many years in his career. Today he enjoys sharing some of his knowledge online with his articles.

The environment is a very delicate structure. When a foreign, unnatural object is not disposed of properly it enters the environment and can leave lasting effects. There are countless types of waste that can negatively impact the environment.

There is simply no way around rubbish. Every single person in the world produces some form of rubbish each and every day, and with the rising population, this means that there is physically more rubbish than ever before that needs to be removed and disposed of properly. The World Counts explains that so far in 2017, the global population has dumped over 500 million tons of waste.

Rubbish removal is a very serious matter because if rubbish is not disposed of properly, it has the potential to make irreversible changes on the environment. The problem we have as a society is that people either don’t know how to properly remove rubbish, or they simply don’t care. Either way something has to change because every piece of rubbish that is not properly disposed of is leaving lasting impacts on the environment.

Almost all the types of rubbish take a fair amount of time to breakdown. Below are some of the most common forms of rubbish that people will see simply laying in the street and not disposed of properly:

• Paper is the fastest to decompose in 2 ½ months.
• Orange peel (even though it is organic) still takes 6 months to breakdown.
• Milk cartons will take around 5 years to decompose.
• Plastic bags will start to break down after 10 years.
• A can of beer will take more than 400 years to decompose.
• Glass bottle will never properly decompose.

It is important to think twice before disposing of rubbish because your negative impact on the environment could be felt long after you are gone. Still, illegal dumping and the burning of rubbish is taking place. This makes the impact of rubbish far greater and it can have immediate impacts on both the environment as well as humans.

The impact of improper waste disposal

There are three key impacts that poor rubbish removal has on the environment. People have been incorrectly throwing away their rubbish for generations which has certainly caused detrimental impacts on the environment. Also, the physical place people dispose of rubbish can certainly impact different sections of the environment.

Below are the most problematic impacts improper waste disposal has on the environment:

1. Pollution – This is probably the most obvious one and pollution directly effects the environment and can lead to issues such as climate change, etc. When waste is poorly disposed of it can produce harmful odours which can impact the hygiene and overall health of those living close by. As well as this, when someone dumps waste, it attracts pests such as rodents, houseflies, cockroaches and many more. These animals have the potential to contaminate the food humans eat, which in turn, makes them sick. This also produces more harmful odours which can contaminate the air and when people are continuously breathing it in, it can result in adverse health effects.
2. Soil becomes contaminated – When waste such as damaging chemicals make their way into the soil, it has the potential to contaminate nearby plants. Local animals that feed off these plants will also subsequently be affected and become sick.
3. Water becomes contaminated – All drains lead to the ocean. Therefore, significant amounts of waste tend to make their way into water. This water then becomes contaminated as the waste changes the water’s chemical composition. This also affects the humans and other animals that drink the water.

The impact of poor rubbish removal on the environment can be felt far and wide for many years to come. However, in recent years, more and more people have been better educated about the proper means of disposal and they are taking action.

A light has been cast on the issue of rubbish removal and there is now more being done to protect the environment for future generations. More countries and government understand the benefits of recycling and Planet Aid explains that Austria is leading the way. Austria currently recycles more than 60% of the total waste they produce. As well as this, more large corporations are turning ‘green’ and putting steps in place to dramatically reduce the waste they produce.

While the impacts of poor rubbish removal on the environment can be quite catastrophic. It is promising to see governments as well as multi-national corporations put in the commitment to limit the amount of rubbish that is improperly disposed of. As well as this, many small businesses and individuals are enlisting the assistance of a rubbish removal company that specialise in the proper disposal of waste if they don’t have the necessary skills and resources to do it themselves.