Friday, September 4, 2020

Health Beliefs in Modern Society

The instrument of fantasy creation is fairly particular. Rather than checking the coherent clarification of a specific marvel, individuals will in general follow a particular schedule that has no undeniable impact. For reasons unknown, it has been accepted for very long that sugar causes hyperactivity in children.Advertising We will compose a custom report test on Health Beliefs in Modern Society explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More subsequently, guardians will in general confine the measure of sugar devoured by their kids so as to address the conduct gives that, truth be told, request a totally extraordinary treatment. To comprehend the instruments of the given conviction, one ought to apply the ideas of sociological creative mind to the issue. As indicated by the thoughts recommended by C. Wright Mills, sociological creative mind happens when routine activities begin achieving sociological significance for individuals (Mills, 1959). As Mills put it, sociological c reative mind can be characterized as the â€Å"s the capacity to see one’s own general public as an outcast would, as opposed to just from the point of view of individual encounters and social biases† (The sociological view, n. d., 2). Plants likewise indicated that sociological creative mind has four key measurements, i.e., auxiliary, recorded, social and basic ones. Applied to the system of formation of the legend referenced over, the given measurements can be deciphered in the accompanying manner: Structural Even however there is no reasonable proof that can demonstrate the fantasy being referred to, individuals despite everything keep trusting it. The given marvel may have been brought about by the weight that most guardians experience from the sources that are generally viewed as definitive, i.e., their family members, neighbors, companions, and so forth., who, in their turn, have likewise been under the effect of others (Harris et al., 2010). Recorded When it com es to breaking down the past occasions that have prompted such a typical fantasy being made, one must concede that there have been very barely any investigations that have distinguished the connection among sugar and conduct changes. In any case, the various contentions that showed up in broad communications at that point appear to have affected parents’ minds (Comisarow, 1996). Social The explanations for the industriousness of the given legend are very various, yet the impact of the conclusions customarily viewed as legitimate is by all accounts the definitive point. Since the fantasy has been accepted to be valid for very long, it has put on an impressive weight. Therefore, the conviction concerning desserts and changes in children’s standards of conduct stays conceivable for various people.Advertising Looking for report on wellbeing medication? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Critical Approaching the issue fundamentally, one should address the well known cui bono, cui prodest issue. For sure, for a fantasy to have kept going so long, it must be bolstered by the individuals who were keen on its advancement. In the given case, the scientist known as Benjamin Feingold appears to have buckled down on ensuring that the given legend should continue. In his investigation, he offered his Feingold Diet, which recommended that hyperactivity in youngsters can be treated by taking care of the last with the dinners that don't contain counterfeit seasoning, sugar, salt, and other food added substances (Galaway-Patrick, n. d.). In spite of the way that the association between hyperactivity or any social change at all and the utilization of falsely seasoned food, or food with sugar in it, so far as that is concerned, was rarely demonstrated, Feingold figured out how to plant the seed of uncertainty among guardians. In this way, there is no confirmation that social changes and sugar utilization are c onnected. Be that as it may, guardians keep tending to their children’s conduct changes by precluding kids from eating desserts. To change the given situation, wellbeing experts should spread mindfulness concerning sugar and social changes in kids. When guardians perceive their mix-up, the legend will be busted. Reference List Comisarow, J. (1996). Will sweet treats make kids insane? Sugar and hyperactivity in kids. Sustenance Bytes, 2(1), 1â€4. Galaway-Patrick, B. (n. d.). Sugar and children’s conduct. Web. Harris, J. L. et al. (2010). Impacts of serving high-sugar grains on children’s breakfast-eating conduct. Pediatrics, 127(1), 71â€76.Advertising We will compose a custom report test on Health Beliefs in Modern Society explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mills, C. W. (1959). The sociological creative mind. Section one: The guarantee. Web. The sociological view, n. d. Web. This report on Health Beliefs in Modern Society was composed and put together by client Colin Taylor to help you with your own investigations. You are allowed to utilize it for examination and reference purposes so as to compose your own paper; in any case, you should refer to it as needs be. You can give your paper here.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Section B pre 1914 and post 1914 poetry Essay Example

Segment B: pre 1914 and post 1914 verse Essay 22. Look at the manner in which the writers present family connections in two sonnets from List An and two from List A. Family connections are obvious in a considerable lot of the sonnets in the treasury, they are vital to most people groups lives, and the sonnets present how these connections can change with age, and how they regularly full of contention. I have chosen to examine: Digging by Heaney, Baby-sitting by Clarke, The Affliction of Margaret (TAOM) by Wordsworth and On my first Sonne (OMFS) by Jonson. In Digging, Heaney presents a relationship that traverses three ages; the creator, his dad and his granddad. The regard, esteem and love with which the youthful Heaney feels for his older folks appears differently in relation to the writers conceded disregard and briskness towards an irrelevant kid in Baby-sitting: I dont love/This infant. In TAOM, Wordsworth utilizes ground-breaking fanciful to depict a moms tormented anguish over her divided relationship with her child. Seven years, too bad! to have gotten/No news of a lone youngster, she mourns. In OMFS, the writer composes just as he is conversing with his much-cherished child, and proposes that his most prominent accomplishment, his best bit of verse; is the kid. The two sonnets include solid, incredible feelings: the adoration that a parent feels for their kid, the two guardians lament for their youngsters, despite the fact that in Affliction of Margaret the specific destiny of the kid, presently a grown-up, is obscure. We will compose a custom article test on Section B: pre 1914 and post 1914 verse explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom article test on Section B: pre 1914 and post 1914 verse explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom paper test on Section B: pre 1914 and post 1914 verse explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer Burrowing, contrasts the hard real lives of parent and grandparent to the to some degree simpler existence of an essayist, in spite of the fact that the writer is contemplative of their skilful works. Toward the beginning, the artist sees his old dad delving in the nursery, and this helps him to remember how talented and solid his dad and granddad were at burrowing; By God, the elderly person could deal with a spade. In any case, the writer seems to feel coerce that he has not emulated their example, while his dad is outside burrowing; he is inside composition. He says, Ive no spade to follow men like them as though he realizes he comes up short on their quality and diligence. When I conveyed him milk in a jug/Corked carelessly with paper. He fixed up/To drink it, at that point tumbled to it immediately. The expression stopped carelessly with paper proposes that the creator feels lacking, he brings reward yet his dad is so caught up with his undertaking that he just delays quickly to drink, ignorant of the young men nearness. Before the finish of the sonnet, Heaney feels increasingly triumphant and would like to pick up a similar pride and feeling of worth with the utilization of a pen as past ages did with a spade; The squat pen rests. /Ill burrow with it. The sonnet closes with this enthusiastic expression as the writer accommodates himself by drawing similitudes from the pen and the spade. So also, TAOM and OMFS are sonnets in which the hero adores a relative. In TAOM, a lady brought Margaret stresses over her child who vanished 7 years prior, and despite the fact that the peruser never meets the child, he is a significant character in the sonnet. Margarets recollections of her child are warm, adoring and positive, she says He was among the prime in worth,/An article beauteous to observe. Be that as it may, Margarets love seems to verge on fixation, and the peruser ponders whether Margarets choking out love of the youngster offers a trace of the genuine purpose behind the children nonappearance and absence of contact. Margaret says, Of Him I sit tight for day and night, the capital H reflects Margarets captivation and love of the missing youngster, as a god. Jonson likewise communicates forceful feelings like Margarets in OMFS. Jonsons relationship with his child was to such an extent that; upon the childs passing, Jonson really says he begrudges his child, in light of the fact that in paradise you don't need to manage all the crimes that occur throughout everyday life: For why/Will man regret the state he ought to envie?. The sonnet is composed as if Jonson is talking straightforwardly to his child: thowert loaned to me, and I thee pay. This is an exceptionally close to home notion, and the peruser truly feels how close he and his child were, as if the sonnet is proposed to be his childs commendation. Jonson additionally utilizes language discovered as a rule on headstones, for instance: here doth lye; this implements the way that the artist is composing a discourse in recognition and tribute of his as of late expired youngster. A sonnet which portrays a broken, irregular parent/youngster relationship, is Baby-sitting; in the sonnet, Clarke skilfully utilizes language to introduce her emotions as a mother caring for somebody elses kid, in a house which isnt hers. Clarke nearly sounds aloof now and again, and depicts the infant in a heartless, efficient way: She is a completely adequate kid. She feels segregated from the young lady and appears to consider her to be an item and a bother, as opposed to a human. Clarke even uses the common semantic field of black magic with phrases like: charm and recognizable, to recommend that the youngster is extraordinary.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Cuban Revolution The Battle Worth Fighting for, the Results Worth Grieving about

In 1953, Cuba took after very little of a glad and OK state; destroyed by the debates and clashes inside, it was in urgent requirement for help. Both the prudent and the political state were stunning without a doubt; with a despot in charge and defilement inside the state framework, there was minimal left for individuals to seek after. As Strange, Oyster Sloan (2011) clarify, â€Å"Before the insurgency, the travel industry helped the Cuban economy and prostitution was common† (366).Advertising We will compose a custom article test on The Cuban Revolution: The Battle Worth Fighting for, the Results Worth Grieving about explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More As one must have most likely speculated, there were all that could possibly be needed explanations behind Cubans to be baffled in the political system of the 1950ies. Be that as it may, the reasons for the revolt to happen were not the urgent phase of the economy and the expanding levels of prostitution. As Cernak (2011) clarified, the key factor that generated the Cuban Revolution was the terrible fascism of Batista: â€Å"In Cuba, progressive pioneer Fidel Castro drove a guerilla armed force against Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Batista was a merciless tyrant who controlled the pres and Cuba’s Congress† (Cernak, 2011, 54). Like most transformations that the history has ever known, the Cuban one was, indeed, headed by a solitary chief, Fidel Castro. While hit sibling, Raul, took part in the unrest also, Fidel is yet the most critical individual and the main man in charge of the upset procedure. Hugo Chavez, the then leader of Venezuela, additionally added to the Cuban Revolution, while renowned Che Guevara directed the soldiers (Farber, 2006). At last, the USSR was additionally intrigued by the consequences of the Cuban Revolution, which made the previous help the Cuban progressives (Blight Benner, 2007, 259). With respect to the specific date at which the unrest began, the re are different thoughts on the issue. Actually, the outfitted revolt began on July 26th in 1953, when â€Å"Fidel Castro’s guerilla power assaulted the Moncada Barracks† (Chomsky, 2010, 18). Be that as it may, delving somewhat more profound into the history, one can see particularly the premises for the Cuban Revolution in Taino Indian Hatuey’s conflicting with the Spanish settlers in 1511 (Chomsky, 2010, 18). Be that as it may, the date when the fight at last finished has been set up plainly; as Chomsky asserts, this is January, 1, 1959 (Chomsky, 2010, 48).Advertising Looking for article on history? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It abandons saying that the unrest had extraordinary effect in transit Cuba created. To be increasingly accurate, the changes concerned the field of agribusiness †each rancher got 170 hectares of farmland, as Socialist Workers Party (1984) claims. What's more, the circles including â€Å"health care, training, childcare, lease and dinners at work† (Socialist Workers Party, 1984, 46) were completely improved. Be that as it may, a portion of the issues were left unsolved, e.g., the possibility of majority rules system has been transformed into a one-men rule. What's more, the HRM methodologies could have been exceptional †as Spencer clarifies, Cuba relies profoundly upon outside HR (Spencer, 2010, 16). In this manner, it tends to be viewed as that the upset led to the significant outcomes. It must be conceded, however, that these outcomes failed to impress anyone and that the country’s financial matters was demolished totally over the span of the insurgency; nonetheless, out of these remnants, something new and dynamic would show up, and the entire country heaved in the expectation of changes. In any event, understanding the way that in the present globalization process Cuba needs to turn to the industrialist affordable methodology, Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s replacement, asserts that the nation advancement is going full speed ahead. Reference List Blight, J. G., Benner, P. (2007). Pitiful and brilliant days: Cuba’s battle with the superpowers after the rocket emergency. Lanham, MD: Rowman Littlefield, Ltd. Cernak, L. (2011). Despotism. North Mankato, MN: ABDO. Chomsky, A. (2010). A background marked by the Cuban Revolution. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on The Cuban Revolution: The Battle Worth Fighting for, the Results Worth Grieving about explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Farber, S. (2006). The starting points of the Cuban Revolution reevaluated. Church Hill, BC: The University of North Carolina. Communist Workers Party (1984). The Cuban Revolution and its eradication: Resolution of the Socialist Workers Party. Australia: Pathfinder Press. Spencer, R. (2010). Advancement the travel industry: Lessons from Cuba. Burlington, VT : Ashgate. Peculiar, M. Z., Oyster, C. K., Sloan, J. E. (2011). Reference book of ladies in today’s world. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. This paper on The Cuban Revolution: The Battle Worth Fighting for, the Results Worth Grieving about was composed and put together by client Aisha Little to help you with your own investigations. You are allowed to utilize it for research and reference purposes so as to compose your own paper; be that as it may, you should refer to it as needs be. You can give your paper here.

Information Studies on Volkswagen Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data Studies on Volkswagen - Case Study Example Inferring that the key objective of making mass tweaked items is to give an item that clients needed and when they needed to utilize it. The upside of assembling an item, for example, a Volkswagen from a customer’s point of view is that a client appreciates their preferred result for quite a while. The other bit of leeway is that there are nothing unexpected costs for the client while purchasing. Ultimately, clients likewise get the chance to purchase vehicles that address their issues. The drawback is that the organization needs to sell it at more significant expenses which are costly for clients. The vehicle may at the time not be modified the manner in which a client needs and one needs to pay for charges for having the vehicle conveyed to your goal. VW’s mass customization approach faces issues from different contenders in light of the vendor in light of the fact that the seller can recreate the methodology utilized by VW to offer their own particular manner of â€Å"designing and building your own car†. What's more, VW mass customization procedure likewise requires the coordination of data frameworks. Data frameworks at the strategic and operational level in selling assume a significant job on internet business sites in light of the fact that the frameworks permit clients to present their determination and alternatives through the website. The internet business site additionally contains an application where all figurings are made and sent to the customer. With regards to the job of the data framework at a strategic and operational level the application and business choices incorporated at the online business site depend on the profile examination of customer. The profile investigation is just empowered through client relationship the board. Preceding the usage of the CRM, SCM and internet business framework, I would have proposed 3 fundamental advantages to the CIO at VW.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Anatomy And Biomechanics Of Thumb Health And Social Care Essay

In rugger, the pace of hurt is multiple times higher than affiliation football and football. More figure of damages looked by the youngster of matured 10-18 mature ages. 90 % of the damages to male childs, adults old enough 25-34 mature ages other than are at high risk. The damages typically happen during lucifer than arrangement, 40 % of damages are strong strain and wound and 30 % of damages are strain created by break, over utilization, gash and disturbance. Around 57 % of damages happen during high pacing of the lucifer, as often as possible in second 50% of the lucifer. Visit damages will be in upper appendage especially in pollex. Thumb will twisted regularly while undertaking and go throughing the ball. Players who are in decompression sicknesss and sledges will procure harms in pollex with slash and scratch from spikes ( Facts on Rugby harms, 2009 ) . Thumb plays a significant capacity in human natural structure. It starts 50 % of manus map all in all. The pollex is separated from everyone else from different fingers in both anatomically every piece great as bio-precisely. ( Ashkenaze, et Al, 1992 ) Anatomically, thumb comprises of a metacarpal and two phalanges ; in the distal column of carpal castanetss, trapezium with this bone. ( Donald, 2008 ) . The thumb offers restriction to different fingers and thenar while making getting a handle on and exactness. Thumb is working like a mechanical constituent unique tendon and solid musculuss ( Imaeda.T, et Al, 1992 ) . â€Å" The trapeziometacarpal explanation is conceivably the most precarious however has adjusted to its alone place by specific joint geometry and, in impossible to miss, a mix of help tendons that license a wide extent of motion yet stableness † ( Imaeda.T, et Al, 1992, The metacarpophalangeal enunciation has six-degree opportunity of movement, expansion and flexin, adduction and snatching, supination and pronation. The extent of movement in thumb metacarpophalangeal enunciation is non standard for everybody, the change is relies upon the span of arch of the metacarpal caput. Occurrence of hurt increments, when there is a limitation in extent of motion inside the enunciations. The inborn stableness is least in metacarpophalangeal explanation ; legitimate and accessary aberrant tendon renders the sidelong help. The start of appropriate roundabout tendon is from the sidelong condyles of metacarpal, which lies sidelong and infix on the palmar aspect of proximal phalanx. This tendon is tight during flexure and unwinds during augmentation. The accessary guarantee begins from cervix of metacarpal and embedded into the palmar command post and sesamoid bone. This tendon is tight during augmentation and unwinds during flexure ( Donald, 2008 ) .Carpometacarpal articulationThe verbalization of carpometacarpal enunciation is among trapezium and base of metacarpal. It is saddle arrangement of verbalization, which interlocked in kind with opposite longitudinal pivot ( Donald, 2008 ) . Kidnapping and adduction, this movement happens in the inward plane of carpometacarpal explanation. The metacarpal hub turns and semivowels in inverse manner during kidnapping and adduction of carpometacarpal explanation ( opposite to deal with ) . Flexure and augmentation, this movement happens in swelling plane of carpometacarpal explanation. The metacarpal pivotal revolutions and semivowels in same manner during flexure and expansion of carpometacarpal enunciation. ( Norkin, et Al, 1992 ) The foremost volar and back slanted tendon, the front tooth and back intermetacarpal tendon and dorsal outspread tendon give the ligamentous stableness to trapeziometacarpal explanation. The start of front ( palmar ) sideways is from trapezium and embedded into palmar part of the pollex metacarpal. This is the chief tendon for stableness of carpometacarpal verbalization. The dorsal tendon is reenforcing by front back tendon on the grounds that dorsal tendon is non adequate as palmar tendon ( Donald, 2008 ) .Common INJURIES IN THUMB FOR RUGBY PLAYERSThumb Metacarpal Fracture:Metacarpal caput of thumb break is phenomenal, circuitous to portability of CMC enunciation of pollex. Component of hurt is immediate injury. Shaft break of pollex metacarpal is other than remarkable, aberrant to portability of CMC explanation, because of the nearness of solid cortical bone of pollex. High vitality is required to fall in the pole of pollex metacarpal than shaft of metacarpal of other finger. Short ening and mal rotating movement prompts crack of this bone, which occurs because of slackness of intermetacarpal tendon and because of modified power of the characteristic musculuss. Crack base of pollex metacarpal is normal in rugger. Instrument of hurt is because of the pivotal weight on halfway flexed shaft of metacarpal. The versatility of the CMC is significant, minor to the life systems of trapezium and base of metacarpal. Two sorts of seat verbalizations are topographic point in propinquity whose hub is opposite to one another ( Donald.R.L, 2008 ) . ‘Ligamentous stableness at the trapeziometacarpal enunciation is kept up by the front tooth ( palmar ) and back sideways tendons, foremost and back intermetacarpal tendons, and the dorsal spiral tendon ‘ ( Donald, 2008, p-5 ) . Crack of metacarpal base separated into intra articular and abundance articular. The intra is articular partitioned into Bennett ‘s break and Rolando ‘s break. Cracks in overabundance articular segment of metacarpal base are normal. The breaks doubtlessly happen in slanted or in cross way, which takes topographic point proximal to metaphyseal-diaphyseal intersection. Because of the drawing power of adductor pollicis and flexor pollicis brevis and criminal pollicis brevis ; the distal part adducted and flexed ( Donald.R.L, 2008 ) .Bennett ‘s FractureFracture disturbance of first metacarpal with subluxation and carpo metacarpal articular surface break. This break interruption is normal in rugger members. Bennett ‘s break is an intra articular break with subluxation, the subluxation is because of the withdrawal of profound ulnar tendon which is the solid stabilizer for carpo metacarpal enunciation. During break, the break sections reposition the joint surface. Th is in twist causes disturbance henceforth it known as break interruption. The system of hurt is immediate blow on mostly flexed pollex while the member attempts to embrace a restriction. Inability to deal with can take to disablement through hold in squeezing, bitching and opposition movement of pollex. ( Priano SV, Baratz ME, 2008 )Rolando ‘s Fracture:It is same as Bennett ‘s break with comminuted break at the base of first metacarpal. It is other than called three bit break. There will be in Y or T formed intra articular break at base of metacarpal. The three shred break parts are base of dorsal metacarpal, ox-like spongiform encephalitis of palmar metacarpal and shaft of metacarpal. This break is non normal yet the gauge is most exceedingly terrible than Bennett ‘s break. Instrument of hurt is expanded hub strained quality to the mostly flexed pollex, which burst and intrude on the articular surface of first metacarpal. ( Priano, Baratz, 2008 )Fracture of thumb phalanges:The pollex has two phalanges ; distal and proximal phalanx. The most widely recognized site of break in pollex phalanges is shaft and caput. The break of distal phalanx separated into intra articular and overabundance articular break. The overabundance articular pack break, ordinarily went with delicate tissue harms like loss of delicate tissue, hurt to nail bed and posttraumatic neuromas. System of hurt is because of direct blow or direct hit. Intra articular break is because of separation harmed of the ligament. There are two sorts of intra articular breaks viz. , hammer break and New Jersey break. Separation of extensor ligament is hammer break and flexor digitorum profundus is shirt break. Proximal phalanx breaks are basic in phalangeal caput and shaft. ( Laub, Priano, 2008 ) .Ulnar circuitous hurtThe ulnar aberrant tendon of metacarpophalangeal verbalization harmed because of the strong snatching of metacarpophalangeal explanation. There will be halfway or full tear o f the tendon related with separation break of palmar base of proximal phalanx. ( Leggit, Meko 2006 ) . In uncomplete crack, legitimate ulnar insurance tendon bursts yet the accessary ulnar security tendon still indispensable. In complete break, there will be finished burst of both the best possible insurance tendon and accessary roundabout tendon. The ulnar circuitous tendon typically bursts from the introduction of the distal bit, over the proximal phalanx base ( Donald, 2008 ) . At the point when, the distal bit lies shallow and proximal to adductor apponeurosis. This change called as a Stener injury. The inconsistency does non patch because of the contribution of the adductor aponeurosis among distal and proximal tendon terminals ( Donald, 2008 ) . ‘Gamekeepers endured ceaseless hurt due to reshaping the cervixs of game between their pollex and pointer ‘ ( Foye, et al 2007 ) . Subsequently, it other than called wildlife superintendent ‘s pollex. It is other than normal in athleticss individuals who play with ball ( rugger, baseball ) . Nearness of growing and contusing on the joint with the thumb sprained and digressed along the side. Difficult over the ulnar part of MCP explanation related with diminished capacity of gratefulness and squeezing ( Foye PM, Raanan J, Stitik TP, 2007 ) . After the prohibition of break, gauge the tendon adjustment by giving adversarial power per unit zone to the other side and utilizing snatching power per unit territory to the opposite side of UCL. Assess with unharmed manus ( Donald, 2008 ) .Mallet pollexAvulsion of the extensor ligament makes the pollex be fixed in fractional flexure with the nearness of gaunt section. This separation happens because of the high effect flexure of the interphalangeal verbalization. Ligament break will be available in loosened hammer pollex brought about by lacera

Thursday, August 6, 2020

My Last First Month

My Last First Month Thoughts on September: Me, now that its October: It feels weird to be a senior. It feels weird to be a senior while excited freshmen are just beginning their MIT journey and everyone is asking what are your plans for next year??? and I internally scream I DONT KNOW but manage to smile and say um, maybe taking a gap year before applying to grad school or possibly working if I find a cool company who wants to hire me. A whole month of school has already passed, people suited up for the Fall Career Fair and are interviewing with companies, classes are settling into a rhythm, the pumpkin takeover is underway, and I am nowhere closer to having an answer. This Monday I put on a nice sweater and got my photo taken for the yearbook. For my senior quote, I submitted: ¯\_(?)_/ ¯ I hope they publish it. These days, I spend about half my time off MIT campus and am only 3 units above the credit cutoff to be considered a full-time student. Im busy, but also happier than Ive been in a while. Sometimes Im afraid that Im not MIT enough to blog anymore, because Ive spent the last year extracting myself from student clubs and responsibilities so that I have the energy to dip my toes into this mysterious Real World. I also know that its a silly excuse. And that what Im more worried about is letting my whirlwind of stressful thoughts spill over into blogs and vlogs. So, this is a warmup post, a mixture of self-aware rambling and MIT things to exercise my Internet writing muscles. Heres what Im doing this semester: CLASSES 7.30AB Fundamentals of Ecology i.e. everything Ive ever wanted in a biology class here, focusing on how organisms relate to each other and their environment instead of laboring over details about cellular/molecular processes. While I understand the value of learning about all the biochemical mechanisms that keep us alive, especially when it comes to medicine/research/etc., its no longer my cup of tea. Also we get to grow microorganisms in mud and water from the Charles River â€" how cool is that? CMS.307 Critical Worldbuilding i.e. Junot Diaz reveals the lifeblood of stories and gives us the tools and vocabulary to dissect them ourselves. Weve only had a month of class and it feels vaguely like Ive emerged from The Matrix. My perspective on storytelling has been so radically honed in the past year (first by comic book writing, now by this) and Im able to look at media through a more thoughtful/critical/informed lens. Several friends (and bloggers) have said this is one of the best classes theyve taken at MIT. Theyre not wrong. 21M.851 Drawing for Designers i.e. figure drawing for free (as opposed to the Student Art Association classes which, while appealing, are too expensive for me to justify registering) with a fantastic costume designer as a teacher. I dont know if its offered regularly, but its welcoming of students of every skill level â€" from people who have taken many art classes to those who have never touched a charcoal stick before. Art is taken seriously, and I can feel my observation/drawing skills improving every week.     7.20 Human Physiology i.e. the first time Ive dropped a class at MIT because 1) the amount of information presented (both in lecture and in pages upon pages of practice questions) was overwhelming, 2) that information was deeply uninteresting to me (I think this was the straw that broke the camels back of MIT molecular/cellular biology classes for me), and 3) I fear I might be doing too much this semester and dropping this class made me feel relieved instead of guilty (which is weird for me because guilt is a default emotional reaction). JOBS MITx Biology UROP i.e. continuing to work with the wonderful MITx Biology team (who taught my summer class a year ago) on Part 2 of 7.28x, MITs Molecular Biology Massive Open Online Course or MOOC. Ive talked about my work a little bit in a vlog, although not with too much detail. Right now, Im helping record/animate/produce Deep Dive videos on topics like Reaction Rates and Protein Motifs to supplement the lecture videos. Figuring out how to teach molecular biology is, for some reason, far more interesting than just learning it. NOVA Digital Team Internship i.e. on Wednesdays and Fridays I take a bus to the WGBH (PBS) offices and work on episodes of Gross Science (you can even see me in the credits in a couple videos) and short-form videos for the NOVA website. Its the closest thing Ive had to a Real Job where I have an ID card and my own cubicle with a computer and a not-horrible commute. Plus everyones been incredibly welcoming despite me being the youngest person there.   Monstress Internship i.e. Marjorie Liu (my professor from comic book writing last Fall) is releasing a new comic called Monstress (the first issue comes out November 4th) and she invited me to help out! My tasks range from research to brainstorming promotion ideas to administrative stuff, and Ive been learning so much about the comic publishing process and getting sneak peeks along the way. Shes amazing, the story and art and lettering are incredible, and everyone should definitely read the series. MIT+K12 Videos i.e. even though Im not technically a Multimedia Fellow anymore, Ill still help Elizabeth out this semester with little projects like #askMIT videos once in a while. I love the style of videos she produces, so getting to play around with hosting or editing or PA-ing or animating is always fun. OTHER THINGS Kickboxing PE i.e. I have way too many PE credits but need to be motivated to exercise, and 3 friends are in the class with me. Mostly we just jump and punch and kick and laugh a lot, so its a pretty swell break on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. MedLinks i.e. even though I dont want to do anything medicine-related with my life, I enjoy being able to help people out with bits of medical advice and first aid supplies. I was the Residential Director for MacGregor last year, but realized how much I dislike scheduling meetings and planning dorm-wide events. Just helping is so much better. So, mostly Im trying to figure out how to put my voice into everything I do, whether its videos or art or writing or physically talking (where I am most prone to mumbling and second-guessing my thoughts). For many years I focused on everything but myself, like school or other people or how to chameleon in various social situations. I have a lot of work ahead of me. But things are good, I think.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Natural Sustainability Housing - Free Essay Example

Problem Specification If everyone on the planet were to consume natural resources and generate carbon dioxide at the rate we do in the UK, we would need three planets to support us. Sustainability is becoming a central concern for all of us. It is a concern that has grown out of wider recognition that rising populations and economic development are threatening a progressive degradation of the earths resources. The construction, maintenance and use of housing impacts substantially on our environment and is currently contributing significantly to irreversible changes in the worlds climate, atmosphere and ecosystem. Housing is by far the greatest producers of harmful gases such as CO2 and this eco-footprint can only increase with the large population growth predicted to occur by 2050. What sustainability means is adapting the ways we all live and work towards meeting needs, while minimising the impacts of consumption, providing for people of today and not endangering the generations of tomorrow. A Government report on the economic impact of climate change has criticized the training and organisation of the construction industry. The Stern Report, by Sir Nichols Stern, the World Banks former chief economist, says the lack of co-ordination between elements of the industry creates poor quality, energy-inefficient housing. It says architects and other consultants require more traini ng on the principles of sustainable design and efficient technologies, and that policies need to be put in place to inform decisions made at the design stage of a building. As a result of the report, the government has set legally binding targets of a 26 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 32 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by the year 2020 and an independent body will be introduced to advise on and monitor the Governments policies on the subject. The drive for more sustainable development is one of the defining issues of the early 21st Century. It is often said that the costs of todays lifestyles are such that future generations will pay a high price through reduced environmental quality and living standards. However, it is also perceived that the short term costs of more sustainable practices are too high to justify their application in a competitive property market. Government plans for sustainable housing applies to both new builds and existing dwellings. The construction industry as a whole is responsible for finding new materials and building methods, and the Government is tasked with educating the general public on the sustainable features they can add to their homes to ensure sustainability. Despite substantial advances in best practice, there is a lag in the application of more sustainable solutions that improve building performance beyond that required by Building Regulations. There are many reasons for this, not least a lack of client/customer demand; however, one of the most cited is that more sustainable alternatives are prohibitively expensive. Typically, cost consultants can add a significant margin of as much as 10% to capital costs to allow for more sustainable solutions. (Cyril Sweett) Often the most powerful and direct driver for addressing sustainability is that the client, funder or planning authority has made it a key project requirement. In order to meet this requirement, everyone involved in a construction project must re-thin k their operations in areas such as energy, materials, waste and pollution. For the purposes of this essay, choosing, using, re-using and recycling materials during design, manufacture, construction and maintenance to reduce resource requirements and essentially lower the costs of a project. The design of a sustainable home and the materials used during construction are key factors in reducing CO2 emissions from transport and operational energy, reducing mains water consumption, reducing the impact of materials used, reducing pollutants harmful to the atmosphere and improving the indoor environment. It is claimed all of these can be done with an increase in capital costs of just 3% (John Shore). The aim of the essay, therefore, is to examine the need for sustainable construction and to identify the real costs of sustainable solutions and thereby tackling a key barrier to the industry in advancing the sustainability agenda. Literature review There are many articles, journals and reports that look into sustainable housing in the UK, many of which begin by explaining the extent of the problems global warming will bring and how the construction industry has contributed to this. It has been well documented in the national news on a regular basis. The Climate Change Bill, which was included in the 2006 Queens speech was the beginning to the Government acting upon the information they were being given which indicated a strong need for change sooner than later. This led to reports including Low Cost Homes: economical eco-options on the rise (Hall 2007) and articles such as Green construction costs dramatically lower than believed (World Business Council for Sustainable Development 2007). This article was produced on the back of findings from a survey conducted by the WBCSD that green construction costs were being overestimated by 300%. Respondents to a 1400 person estimated the additional cost of building green at 17 % above conventional construction; more than triple the true cost difference of about 5 %. At the same time, survey respondents put greenhouse gas emissions by building at 19% of world total, while the actual number of 40% is double this. As a reaction to the article on the report on the Euractiv website, the RICS has emphasized its Green Value study, which shows that while there are signs of an increasing market value of green housing, industry stakeholders still seem to be failing to get the message across that the main beneficiaries are the housing occupants. Halls report identified the issue of the Government insisting that all new homes in Britain must be carbon-neutral by 2016, putting pressure on developers to come up with good design that doesnt cost the earth à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" financially or environmentally. Hall went on to say, at the moment, going green costs money and most private sector developers are reluctant to see beyond their profits. But eco-friendly i nnovation is coming from elsewhere à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" namely social housing. Costing Green: A Comprehensive Database (Matthiessen Morris) used extensive data on building costs to compare the cost of green housing with housing comparable programs, which do not have sustainable goals. The report concluded that many projects achieve sustainable design within their initial budget, or with very small supplemental funding, which suggests that home owners are finding ways to incorporate project goals and values, regardless of budget, by making choices. The Stern Report, published by Sir Nicholas Stern Head of head of the Government economic service and advisor to the Government on the economics of climate change and development is a report that suggests that global warming could shrink the global economy by 20%. The review coincides with the release of new data by the United Nations showing an upward trend in emission of greenhouse gases à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a development for whi ch Sir Nicholas said that rich countries must shoulder most of the responsibility. The study is the first major contribution to the global warming debate by an economist, rather than an environmental scientist. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who commissioned the report, has also recruited former US Vice-President Al Gore as an environment advisor. However, the report has sparked furious debate among economists. An example of why the report has sparked such debates is; if the economy grows at current levels, the cost of mitigation will be less than Stern estimates à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" therefore we would be paying more to act now. It is said that we could save money by addressing the issues as and when they erupt. By forecasting how global warming is to affect the environment, Stern has set himself up for criticism such as this from the many people who fail to share his views and concerns. Gathering relevant information on the true costs of sustainable housing is not a probl em with so many government and independent studies/articles/journals being produced. This data can be compared against the price of housing without the sustainable goals which are found in construction pricing books such as Spons Architect and Builders Price Book (Davis Langdon). In comparing the prices the essay will either prove are falsify the hypothesis: sustainable construction can be attained with very little additional costs to that of construction without sustainable characteristics. For the purpose of this hypothesis, very little additional costs is defined as ranging from 0% 10% additional costs. Methodology Chapter 2 of this essay will be a review of the literature on sustainable construction in regards to the principles of sustainable construction, sustainable construction policies and practices in the UK and the economic benefits of sustainable construction. The results of this research show that the business benefits have been made and can be illustrated by many pioneer projects in the UK. However, the misperception of higher capital cost and the lack of awareness of market value are still significant barriers to the implement and demand for sustainable construction. It is critical, therefore, to establish the economic performance of sustainable construction in order to motivate stakeholders to consider methods of sustainable construction. This subject has been the attention of mass media in recent years meaning that existing literature such as numerous Government and independent reports as well as the Climate change Bill introduced to help prevent the situation we find our selves in environmentally from becoming worse, will be excellent sources of information to explain thoroughly why there is a need for change and what sustainable construction entails from a economic perspective. Chapter 3 will be researching the various sustainable construction materials and methods that are available to the industry. Each one of these will be looked at in detail to explain how they work, what exactly is involved with them and how they are deemed sustainable. Although they are still not widely used, there are plenty of companies offering sustainable building materials and construction services. A lot of these companies are available through online websites promoting sustainable construction and offering their services. These companies will be good ways of gathering the information needed in order to give a comprehensive review of the sustainable materials and methods that are available. Using the information gathered in chapter 3, this essay will then b e finding out the costs incurred when using these sustainable construction materials and building methods and comparing them against the non-eco-friendly methods that most contractors currently choose to incorporate. This information will make up chapter 4 and will ultimately go on to either verify or falsify the hypothesis: sustainable construction can be attained with very little additional costs to that of construction without sustainable characteristics. This structure has been carefully chosen to gain as much relevant information as possible and comparing two methods of construction against one another. In chapter 2, a review of existing literature will be used. Reasons for this are that the subject of sustainable construction and its financial factors have already been investigated and numerous authors have wrote their findings and ideas on the subject. These findings will be reviewed in order to pull out the relevant parts for this essay. Chapter 3 will consist of an in depth look into the types of sustainable materials and building methods that are available to the construction industry. This will take the form of a mix between a review of existing literature and a survey of the service providers views, feelings and attitudes towards sustainability. Chapter 4 will be a comparative analysis of sustainable building and material costs and the costs of materials and building methods without sustainable characteristics. The information found in chapter 3 will be the argument for sustainability. The argument for construction without sustainable characteristics will come from pricing books used throughout the industry. Once both sides costs have been discovered, they will be weighed up against each other which will verify or falsify the hypothesis. If sustainable construction can be provided with an extra cost of 5% or less, then the hypothesis will be verified. Introduction of Sustainable Construction In 1987, the Brundtland Report, also known as Our Common Future, alerted the world to the urgency of making progress toward economic development that could be sustained without depleting natural resources or harming the environment. It was headed by the Norwegian Prime Minister at the time, Gro Harlem Brundtland. The report was primarily concerned with securing a global equity, redistributing resources towards poorer nations whilst encouraging their economic growth. The report also suggested that equity, growth and environmental maintenance are simultaneously possible and that each country is capable of achieving its full economic potential whilst at the same time enhancing its resource base. The report also recognised that achieving this equity and sustainable growth would require technological and social change. The report went on to highlight three primary areas where sustainable development should come from, these were, protection of the environment, economic growth and social equity. It is imperative that our environment is protected and our resource base enhanced, by gradually making the necessary changes in which we develop technologies and put them to use. Developing nations must be allowed to meet their basic needs of employment, food, energy, water and sanitation. If this is to be done in a sustainable manner, then there is a definite need for a sustainable level of population. Economic growth should be revived and developing nations should be allowed a growth of equal quality to the developing nations. The Brundtland Report has often been subject to criticism, on the grounds that many of its forecasts have not come true. However, such criticisms are perhaps missing the significance of the report and the fact that despite inaccuracies in forecasting, the Brundtland Reports premise of the need for global environmental action has not been invalidated. Back in 1994, the first sustainable construction conference was held in Tam pa, USA. This conference is seen as the starting point for the whole eco-friendly building to become a global issue. The UK construction industry has so far used sustainable construction as a way to respond to the criticism that fell upon the industry, as it were seen to be one of the main contributors to greenhouse gases. There are numerous examples of housing in the UK that have been constructed with sustainable characteristics to help provide a healthier way of living for the occupier and constructing for the developer. However, these examples tend to be bespoke designs for clients who choose themselves to build and live in a sustainable home. The idea of sustainable developments is still yet to catch on in the UK. Perceived higher risks and extra costs are the main factors in this lack of incorporation into the industry. It is becoming clear that the whole concept of sustainable construction is going to face some barriers in regards to economic justification. Incurri ng higher risks and costs is not the only issue. The market value of sustainable construction is also not being considered by clients and developers. Zhou and Lowe (2003) said: The current economic measuring too (life cycle costing), is very effective at illustrating the long term value of sustainable construction, but at the same time is limited when showing the initial cost reduction. If those involved in the UK construction industry continue to be encouraged by short term financial gain as opposed to the consequences of their actions in the long run then the future does not look too bright for the sustainable construction idea. Hydes and Creech (2000) said, Sustainability is a holistic concept that holds economic social and environmental factors in balance, moreover it is a complex concept, which is hard to define in simple terms. This statement recognises that clients and developers should not only take their financial rewards into consideration, but also they shou ld consider the consequences the environment and our society is reportedly beginning to see. Pearce et al (1989) concluded that: There have been over 200 different definitions of sustainability, making it extremely difficult to determine practical ways to support sustainability. This statement could also outline the problem that the industry has still not come to an agreement on the actual definition of sustainability, therefore, making its inception into recognised practice unlikely, as people simply dont know or dont want to know what their role could be in reducing the problems of global warming. In July 2005, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown announced that he had asked Sir Nicholas Stern to lead a major review of the economics of climate change, to understand more comprehensively the nature of the economic challenges and how they can be met, in the UK and globally. The main conclusion from the report were that 1% of global gross domestic product pe r annum was required to be invested in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, and that failure to do so could risk global GDP being up to 20% lower than it otherwise might be. Sterns report suggested that climate change threatens to be the greatest and widest ranging market failure ever seen, and it provided prescriptions including environmental taxes to minimise the economic and social disruptions. Stern stated, Our actions over the coming few decades could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, later in this century and in the next, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century. It was the findings in this report that prompted the UK Government to introduce the Climate Change Bill. It was introduced to: Combat climate change by setting annual targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide emission until 2050; to place duties on the Prime Minister regarding the reporting on and achievement of those targets; to specify procedures to be followed if the targets are not met; to specify certain functions of and provide certain powers to Members of Parliament with regard to ensuring carbon dioxide emission are reduced; to set sectoral reduction targets and targets for energy efficiency, the generation of energy from renewable sources, combined heat and power and micro-generation; and for connected purposes. This Bill was outlined in the Queens speech, and would also see the setting up of a Carbon Committee to ensure the targets are met. Announcing the Governments planned legislation for the forthcoming parliamentary session, the Queen told MPs and peers: My Government will publish a Bill on climate change as part of its policy to protect the environment, consistent with the need to secure long term energy supplies. The construction industry uses vast quantities of natural resources such as energy, water, materials and land, and p roduces large amounts of waste in the region of 70 million tonnes per annum to landfill. The Brundtland definition of sustainable development; Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs informs us that this cannot continue. There is a big difference between the environment impacts of a poorly performing building compared to what is achievable using current practice. If we are to deliver the legally binding targets set by the Government we must ensure that todays housing meet best practice (BREEAM). BREEAM is the worlds longest standing and most widely used environment assessment method for housing. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable development and demonstrates a level of achievement. It has become the vocabulary used to describe a buildings environmental performance. The BRE Sustainable communitys team is involved with aiding local authorities, land owners and developer s to identify the relevant sustainable development opportunities available to help deliver sustainable communities. They work with them to provide assessment framework to guide the sustainable developments, and to allow developers to demonstrate the sustainability features of their proposals to the local planning authority. The benefits are said to be enormous, and cost effective. Developers can assess the sustainability of proposed designs iteratively, and understand its strengths and weaknesses. Expensive reworking is avoided by considering issues in the right stage of the design issues. The value in this approach for developers and land owners is that sustainability credentials are presented to both the local planning authority, and importantly to potential purchasers. Our homes account to some 27% of the UKs CO2 emissions and for this reason, in order to meet its targets for cutting carbon emissions by some 60% by 2050, the Government has announced that, as part of th e new Home Information Pack which all homes sold after June 1st 2007 must make available, every home should have an energy rating. The so called Energy Performance Certificate will give home buyers A to G ratings for their homes energy efficiency and carbon emissions. They will tell them current and average costs for heating, hot water and lighting in the home. This helps the Government meet the EU target for all homes having energy ratings by 2009. Changes to a currently constructed dwelling or additional features on a new build are always going to give an immediate impression of extra costs. And getting people to dig a little bit deeper into their pockets is always going to be a difficult task whatever the reason being, and the fact that the public are generally over pricing the cost of these new construction methods and features, increases the difficulty the Government have of achieving their targets. This chapter has looked into how and why sustainability has become such a big issue in recent years. The Brundtland report which is said to have started it all off was published over 20 years ago, outlined the potential problems that have begun to arise. And although a lot of what was said in the report did not happen, it cant be said that the potential environmental problems it predicted have not materialised. Chapter 3 will now go on to look at the sustainable construction methods and materials that are available to be implemented into the industries everyday life. Sustainable Construction Materials and Methods There is an urgent need to address the great challenges of our times: climate change, resource depletion, pollution, and peak oil. These issues are all accelerating rapidly, and all have strong links with the UK construction industry (SustainableBuild). There is a growing consensus from scientists and the oil industry that we are going to reach peak oil within the next twenty years, and that we might have reached this point already. Global demand is soaring, whilst global production is declining, and oil is set to become increasingly expensive and scarce. The building industry is hugely dependent on cheap oil, from the manufacture and transportation of its materials, to the machinery and tools used in demolition and construction. In the UK, it uses vast quantities of fossil fuels, accounting for over half of total carbon emissions that lead to climate change. The built environment is also responsible for significant amounts of air, soil and water pollution, and millions o f tonnes of landfill waste. This is a situation that clearly needs to change (SustainableBuild). Sustainable construction is not only a wise choice for our future; it is also a necessary choice. The construction industry must adopt eco-friendly practices and materials that reduce its impacts, before we reach a point of irreversible damage to our life supporting systems. The UK Government is beginning to recognise this urgency, and is committed to integrating green specifications into building regulations and codes, but the process of developing policy is slow. The industry needs to take its own initiative and find alternative ways to build, using green, renewable energy resources, and adopt non-polluting practices and materials that reduce, recycle and reuse, before it is too late (SustainableBuild). In the previous chapter, this essay examined current literature on sustainable construction in terms of the principles of sustainable construction, sustainable constructio n policies and practices in the UK and the economic benefits of sustainable construction. In this chapter it will now investigate the various sustainable construction materials and methods available to the industry ranging from very large complex items to small simple items. These are: Biomass roofing Solar Water and Electric Wind power Cob building Insulation materials Non-toxic paints Heat pump Green roofs Reclaimed materials Lime Using locally sourced materials Biomass roofing The use of plant materials to build the roof on a building is known as biomass roofing. Vegetation that was found locally and in abundance has been used to build roofs all over world for many years. This cultural and environmental diversity has led to a range of roofing materials and styles, from simple and short lived to the more durable and complex. Although hundreds of different plants have been used to roof houses, these can be classified into two main types: thatch and wood tiles. Thatch is one of the oldest forms of roofing, dating back thousands of years. It is found in almost every country, from savannah grasses in Africa to coconut palm fronds in the Caribbean to banana leaves in the Amazon. It was the predominant roofing material in Britain up until the 19th Century and thatched cottages remain a hallmark of the English Countryside. All sorts of plants have been used for thatching in Britain: oats, reeds, broom, heather, bracken and various grasses. But today o nly three main thatching materials are used: water reed, wheat reed and long straw. Water Reed is the most popular thatching material. Both water reed and wheat reed (actually a straw but cut with a binder and combed to give the appearance of reed) give a compact and even texture when applied to a roof. This is in contrast with long straw (wheat straw that has been threshed so that the ears and butts are mixed up together), which gives a shaggy, rounded appearance. The lifespan of thatch is around 30 to 50 years, although this varies widely depending on the skill of the thatcher, the pitch of the roof, the local climate conditions and the quality of the materials. The technique for thatching is basically the same for all materials. First the thatch is fastened together in bundles about 25 inches in diameter. Each bundle is then laid down with the butt end facing outwards, secured together to the roof beams, and pegged in place with wooden rods. Successive layers are adde d on top of each other, working from the bottom of the roof up towards the top, with a final layer used to reinforce the ridgeline. Thatch roofs can withstand high winds and heavy rains, provide good thermal insulation and are easy to repair. Thatch is light and needs only a simple support structure, and is flexible so it can be used for any roof shape. On the downside, thatching is labour intensive and a certain level of skill is required. The materials can be expensive as reeds are increasingly imported from Europe to keep up with demand. Like all biomass materials, thatch is flammable which means that building restrictions may apply and home insurance can be high. Wood tiles have been used since medieval times in Britain. They are traditionally made by hand-splitting logs into small wedge shaped pieces, but today most are manufactured by machine. There are two basic types: shingles, which are sawn, and shakes, which are split. Shakes are thicker and have a more rusti c, rough look, whilst shingles are thinner and smoother. Both come in a variety of lengths and are made from the heartwood of unseasoned wood. Hardwood is best, with cedar being the most popular, although any straight-grained wood can be used. Split bamboo can also be used to create Spanish-style tiles, and are popular in some countries, but bamboo has the disadvantage of decaying fast in wet conditions unless chemically treated. Wood tiles are laid from the bottom of the roof to the top, with each row overlapping the previous one. A cap is placed at the roof ridge. Typically tiles are nailed onto wood strips spaced a few inches apart between the roof beams, to allow air to circulate and prevent decay. Wood tiles last between 25 50 years. Like thatch, they give good insulation and are flexible so can cover any roof shape. They are highly resistant to wind, heavy snow and hail, but must be regularly cleaned of vegetative debris. They are also flammable, and building regul ations may prohibit their use in urban areas. The recognised need to use renewable resources has led to a revival of traditional, natural building methods, along with a growing market for biomass roofing. Thatch and wood tiles are not only aesthetically appealing, but are durable and biodegradable. But their sustainability value is diminished if the materials have been imported or produced and treated with chemicals. Biomass roofing is only a true sustainable solution if the materials are obtained from a local, renewable source, and are grown, harvested and manufactured in an environmentally sensitive way (SustainableBuild). Using the sun to provide energy is split into two areas, solar panels which are used for heating water, and PV cells, which are used for creating electricity. A heating system tends to cost around  £2,000 installed and can usually provide enough hot water all year round, the problem from a value point of view is that it only costs around   £100 a year to provide this anyway. 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