QATAR FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES BEST PRACTICES IN SUSTAINABILITY

The first ever Education City Sustainability Awards Night was held Thursday, April 21, in the Education City Student Center. The activity was connected to a short-film screening, showcasing topics of social, financial and environmental sustainability. The awards recognized distinction various areas such as excellence in the classroom, research and community service as well as best practices by an individual, student group, and department.
The award winners were:

• Excellence in the Classroom: International Systems and Society, International Baccalaureate Course, Grade 11, Qatar Academy School.
• Excellence in Research: Ecologies of Scale, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.
• Excellence in Community Service: Ibitikar Competition, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.
• Best Performance by an Individual: Dr. Naem Odeh of the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies.
• Best Performance by a Student Group: The students of 2nd grade in Qatar Academy School.
• Best Performance by a Department: Qatar Foundation Information Technology Directorate.

The award reviewers were Dennis Busch, Director of the Education City Student Center; Ameena Ahmadi, Head of Architecture of Qatar Foundation Capital Projects and Abdulla Al-Misnad, Commercial Advisor for the CO2 management program of Shell Corporation.

Christopher Silva, Qatar Foundation’s Sustainability Education Coordinator, said that the awards will be a yearly activity, with nominations being available during the early months of 2012. “We hope that this great event will become an Education City tradition, where all practices related to sustainability in EC are highlighted and recognized, so that others can follow on their footsteps.”

Traveling? Calculate your emissions!

Since we are approaching that time of year when most of us are returning to our home countries or vacationing in some nice, beautiful, breezy place, why not take the time to calculate your CO2 travel emissions? A really quick and easy way is by utilizing TerraPass’ calculator here http://www.terrapass.com/carbon-footprint-calculator/

Understanding that most transportation systems have a certain carbon emission is an essential skill – and typically the faster something moves, the more carbon per person they emit ! The goal would be for us to always reduce our emissions, in the hopes of reducing global warming.

So what do you do after you know your emissions? Well, it is entirely up to you. You may choose to reduce your travel (do I really need to go to Dubai this weekend or can I stay in Doha and find another fun activity?) or you may choose an offset system. Offset companies get paid to reduce emissions somewhere in the world, so that you can still emit yours. Various companies are out there, and they can charge a fee per trip or you may choose to purchase an year pass.

Being aware is the first step. Making a change in your behavior to reduce your impact on the environment is your decision. We hope you make a good one!

By: Basra Khalid Bashir

Awaken for the Green Side

We were shown a video recently in our Design History class, called “Inconvenient Truth”. It is a person’s inspirational struggle to spread the word to those who are naive and ignorant about global warming and sustainable living. Many people may have seen this video but I saw it for the first time and I believe there are still many people out there who need to watch it.

The purpose behind watching this movie was a project that we have been assigned to do for class. We are designers and one of the focuses in the design industries is green design and sustainability. Hence, it is our responsibility to find solutions through design and come up with a “green” idea.

After watching the video the professor told us something they do in the U.S. but not in Qatar. He was once replacing the ink cartridge in the professional printers in one of the design studios. He took the old empty cartridge and gave it to the I.T. department so it could be recycled as it was a huge cartridge made up with so much plastic and shouldn’t have been wasted. Unfortunately, the I.T. staff had no choice but to throw it away because according to them, there isn’t a facility in Qatar they could send it to for recycling. If there is one though, it needs to be brought to public attention more.

This stimulated me to think, so what if there is no recycling place here? Does recycling only mean giving old things to factories and having them make something else out of them? Even making something else out of recycled material will need a large amount of energy, electricity, resources, etc. You’ve got an empty cartridge? Cut it open or in half and turn it into a toolbox, a palette, or anything else you can think of if you get creative.

Sustainability in Design

By: Farah Al-Taweel

Sustainability

Sustainability is one of the wide-spread topics in the design industry. It has become an issue of great importance not so long ago; when people started being aware of the harmful products being used, and their effects on the surrounding environment. During the industrial revolution, new products were introduced to several industries. Many of those new products included synthetic materials, but probably the biggest, most important revolution, was the introduction of plastic.

Plastic has been used a lot ever since. It is cheap and easy to make, and people like it because it is disposable. However, they didn't really acknowledge the negative effects of such materials to the environment until the late 1940's, where they began noticing the toxins emitted from the decomposition of those materials to the ground, and the harmful fumes emitted from the process of manufacturing them.

Over time, several philosophies have emerged to support the concept of sustainability. “Cradle to Cradle” (C2C) is one of those philosophies, which says that all designers have to think about the life cycle of their products, and how it could be re-used over and over. “Cradle to Cradle” is now a standard that some companies apply in their design thinking.

Today, sustainability has developed into a much larger concept that is not just concerned about the safety of our planet, but also about saving money, and the well being of the human race. People today have more awareness regarding sustainability and many companies are trying to meet sustainable standards and implant sustainable concepts in their design thinking.

Sustainable Learning Community - Application is OPEN!

Applications to live in the Sustainable Learning Community (SLC) are now available!

Are you interested in a unique living experience for next year? A different housing layout, with a small and close community. Would you like to participate in field trips to the recycling plant, Qatar social development center, possible service trips or volunteer opportunities? Do you want to interact with faculty outside the classroom and learn how the courses you take can be applied to a sustainable future?

These are all opportunities you could experience as part of the Sustainable Learning Community. The SLC is a different type of QF housing located in Villas 1-4 just west of FB2. This Fall, there will be one female community (villas 1-2) and one male community (villas 3-4), each capable of housing 16 residents. Programming and events are specifically planned around environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

Residents who wish to live in the SLC should submit their application by 11:59pm on February 21st, and if accepted will not have to participate in the housing lottery.

Here is the link to the application:
https://sites.google.com/site/qfsustainablelearning/home


Questions about the SLC can be directed to Residence Hall Directors
 Jessica Young jyoung@qf.org.qa or Caleb Keith ckeith@qf.org.qa

Safety Recognition Program

Recycling E-waste!

By: Nabeeha Fatima Haque

In this era of modern electronics, everyone tends to upgrade their cell phones and throw away the old ones and this is apparently considered to be ‘tech savvy’. It’s not just cell phones, but also broken laptops, headphones and cable cords that are simply discarded away. It seems that "out with the old, in with the new" is easier said than done when it comes to electronics. The accumulation of used gadgets like computers, headphones and mp3 players is increasing every day. But have you ever wondered what happens to all this e-junk once it has been abandoned? The refuse from discarded electronic products, also known as e-waste, often ends up in landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled. This means toxic substances like lead, cadmium and mercury that are commonly used in these products can contaminate the land, water and air. This poses hazards for both humans and the environment. Even though e-waste accounts for only about 5% of total waste in Qatar, it is the fastest growing subcategory. Hence, it is necessary that precautions and operational steps are taken during the production of electronic devices to ensure that they are made with more environmentally friendly materials and that people are well informed on the appropriate ways of disposing them. This will reduce environmental damage and the harmful effects of e-waste. Moreover, Qatar is drafting a law on the safe management of the country’s fast accumulating stock of hazardous electronic waste (e-waste). Also, Qtel has already launched Qatar’s first e-waste recycling program, to ensure safe and secure disposal of cell phones and other electronic equipment. This also calls for the need to introduce e-waste recycling programs in QF. Recycling your electronic waste is the only way you can be certain that it has been properly disposed off in an environment-friendly manner.

Sustainable Thoughts

By: Farah Al Taweel

Air is the most important part of the atmosphere because it supports life for human beings, animals and plants alike. It also provides warmth to our planet, preventing it from exceeding the average global temperature as well as allowing water to preserve its liquid state.
Recently, our globe has been under the threat of air pollution that has put planet earth and living creatures in severe danger. Air pollution poses four risks: declining air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion.

The issue of air quality has been growing ever since it started back in the 13th century, when it was detected that burning coal produces a harmful hybrid of smoke and fog. Smog is the collective term that was used to describe this hybrid. Ever since, this issue has gotten worse year after year, as industries as well as motor vehicle emissions all contribute immensely towards the production of smog. This is found to be harmful to the atmosphere.

Acid rain is the term most commonly used to describe all forms of acid precipitation (whether it is in the form of rain or snow). Atmospheric pollutants, particularly oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, can cause precipitation to become more acidic because they get converted into sulphuric and nitric acids. This is what gave rise to the term “acid rain”. Acid deposition, acid rain and acid precipitation all relate to the chemistry of air pollution and moisture in the atmosphere.

The Earth’s temperature has increased by an estimated 0.6°C in the last 100 years. During this period, man-made emissions of greenhouse gases have increased largely as a result of the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, which causes an increase in temperature. In the last 20 years, there is growing concern that these two phenomena are, at least in part, associated with each other. That is to say, global warming is now considered most probably to be due to the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Life on earth is supported by the existence of the ozone layer around it. Unfortunately, a hole in the ozone layer has been detected, which causes penetration of harmful ultraviolet waves brought into the planet’s surface. It is important that we take measures to reduce pollution by taking measures such as reducing our energy and waste consumption or even confining population growth.

Sustainable Learning & Living Community Article

I belong to Pakistan, where most of the time there is no electricity for almost 12 hours a
day or more at times. Due to the electricity staying off for so many hours, the water tube wells donot get enough water for long.

With the past experiences I had while I was back in my country, now that I am a part of the Sustainable learning community, I believe I can educate or learn more myself of how important sustainable living can be to me or my family in future as well as everyone else. I have spent hours without electricity, even days. Opening the windows for fresh airs with no AC turned on when the units got expensive that we couldn't afford. Using the fan, and if not that then using hand fans to refresh. Without water it use to be very messed up. But because water use to run out, we filled buckets and used them efficiently so it doesn't finish before we can get more water. We wore shalvar kameez with dupatta, which is our national dress. The dupatta being like a shawl was not used as much as the whole dress, so we used it to tie clothes in, or tear off and use as dusting pieces, or if it was in good condition we would sew shirts out of it or a dress for little girls.

Even recently, in our Fashion course, I designed a visual merchandise with maximum use of used resources. Newspapers as wallpaper, wood shavings as floor texture, and cardboard as frames. We even used old Abayas to make garment bags. Why throw away what can be reused and utilize more by wasting the previous non-recycled material. By having the privilege to be a part of such an essential learning community, I believe I can learn more of sustainability then I already do and make a better living without being so harsh to the environment. Saving electricity by keeping off what is not used. Why use an automatic orange juice maker when you can use a manual one and save electricity? Washing the dishes by hand as soon as you are done using is much easier than putting in a dishwasher.

We can use recycled paper to design as gift wrappers. Why throw away a sheet which was not suppose to be printed? Use the magazines as gift wrapping paper, by making it an abstract. And if you cannot make it, then buy recycled gift wrappers. Why tear off the wrapper from a gift you received, open it nicely and reuse for any other item or even gift.

Anything from soda cans and lids to perfume boxes, water bottles to cheese bottles, jeans to scarves, etc. All these can be reused in various things. A cheese bottle can be washed and used as a glass when it’s finished and washed. I kept old jewelry and used it in my art project. I have kept wooden pieces from the construction that was going on at our house while renovation and used it to make a beautiful mosaic.

Basra Khalid Bashir

Sophomore – VCUQatar

What is an SLA?

What is an SLA?

So do you all know what the SLA's are? Well first of all, SLA stands for Sustainable Living Ambassador. SLAs engage the student population on various efforts, such as competitions, awareness campaigns and other educational programs. According to Christopher Silva, QF's Sustainability Education Coordinator "The Sustainable Living Ambassadors will educate students on several resource efficiency initiatives such water and electricity conservation, waste reduction and other important issues He went on to say that these students would be tracking the usage of water and electricity within the dorms. The SLAs are in charge of promoting environment sustainability around the resident halls and "will be encouraging students to start making environmentally friendly choices," says Sabrina Alam, a community development advisor. Changes such as plastic and paper recycling, old clothes donations, and teaching residents how to manage their resources, will be the key aims. The SLAs will work on finding out what the residents' want and how they can get those residents more involved in the program. This is one of Education City's initiatives in creating eco-friendly residence halls. "It is a good way to make it interactive, practical and it is an efficient method that yields productive results" says Ismaeel Naar, a community development advisor. So far, this year’s SLAs are Haider Zali from CMU and Farzana Hoque from VCU. If you are interested in becoming an SLA please contact Chris Silva at csilva@qf.org.qa!

Shannon Farhoud

Sustainable Sundays: Tap or Bottled Water

Sustainable Living!

Interested in living in the Sustainability Learning Community?

The academic year is underway and applications to switch rooms are now available! The Sustainability Learning Community (SLC) is a new opportunity available to all women living in the residence halls. This community is designed to promote sustainable practices for those in the community, but also in other facets of life. This community is located in the villas across from FB2. Each villa has a common study space, living room, and kitchen that will be cleaned once a week by QF staff. There are 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and each resident will share a bedroom with one other resident. Programming will be focused around different aspects of sustainability and residents will learn how to apply sustainable practices to their everyday lives.

If you are interested in applying to live in the villas, please contact Jessica Young, Residence Hall Director at jyoung@qf.org.qa. Or, for more information on the Sustainability Learning Community please review and complete the application.

We bleed GREEN... do you?

Sustainable Snacking: This year, all new residents received two items that they will get to use throughout their time in Education City: a reusable corn-based mug (yes, corn, the plant!) and a reusable take away container, called EcoClamshell. These two items are provided to encourage students reduce the amount of waste they produce in their day-to-day activities.

Can you do the math and figure out how many take away containers or throw away plastic bottles we will NOT be sending to the landfill this semester? If 100 Education City students drink 1 bottled water per school day, for 16 weeks (meaning one semester), how many bottles would that be? Send your answer to jyoung@qf.org.qa to win a prize.

Sustainable Learning: This fall semester three courses related to the topic of sustainability are being taught at CMUQ.

(1) "Technology & the Environment" (12-090, taught by KG Karthikeyan, kkarthikeyan@cmu.edu);
(2) "Information Technology & Sustainability" (67-330, taught by Ian Lacey, ilacey@qatar.cmu.edu) and
(3) "Conservation Biology" (03-410, taught by April Conkey, aaconkey@qatar.cmu.edu).

The first two set out to explore major environmental issues and their complex association with technology development. The latter is a course focused on species' habitats, ecosystems and their protection from extinction with a focus on Qatar's natural environment.

Sustainable Living: This semester HRL welcomes its first living-learning community to campus. The Sustainability Learning Community (SLC) will be located in Villas 1&2 near FB2. The community will host 16 female residents and have a special programming focus around sustainability. Members will learn how sustainability relates to their lives, values and how their actions impact issues of sustainability. Example programs include visiting locations around Doha such as the vegetable souq to learn about sustainable farming, and the desalination plant to learn about Qatar’s water usage. Members will also learn how to apply concepts of sustainability in their community by engaging in a community garden project. As a result of participating in the community members of the SLC will earn letters of recommendation and a certificate in sustainability.

An open house to tour the villas for any female resident will take place sometime in the next few weeks. Be on the lookout for more details!

Also, good news! There are still a few open rooms available in the SLC! We will be accepting a second round of applications beginning the 5th of September, after the first two weeks of class. Applicants must be female students who have spent at least one year living in the residence halls previously. Interested applicants may go to http://tiny.cc/ecslc to apply. If you have any questions or would like further details about living in the villas and being a member of the SLC please email hall director Jessica Young at jyoung@qf.orq.qa.


Light Switch Prompt Design Competition Winner

During Spring 2010 our Sustainability Living Ambassadors (SLAs) organized a competition for the best design of a sticker (prompt) to be placed in all the light switches in the residence halls, to remind residents to turn off their lights as living the room. Prompts are extremely efficient at helping reduce our energy consumption. Congratulations to Hanin Bader (VCUQ) for winning the competition!