International News

Green Roof Benefits on Energy Conservation

Posted on Thu, 2018-03-01 12:05 by APowell

Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular in many countries. People are starting to realize just how many advantages a green roof has over a standard roof. Households and big companies are recognizing its benefits and incorporating it into their homes and buildings. So, how can you actually benefit on energy conservation from a green roof?

Exposure to greenery staves off depression

Posted on Tue, 2018-02-13 10:46 by APowell

Exposure to trees and other greenery has been shown to stave off depression in adults, and a new US study finds the same may be true for teenagers. 

Researchers looked at more than 9,000 kids aged 12 to 18 and found those who lived in areas with lots of natural vegetation nearby were less likely to display high levels of depression symptoms. The effect was strongest among middle schoolers, the study team reports in Journal of Adolescent Health. 

China will plant new forests covering an area roughly the size of Ireland this year as it aims to increase forest coverage to 23 percent of its total landmass by the end of the decade, China Daily reported on Friday.

Planting trees has become a key part of China’s efforts to improve its environment and tackle climate change, and the government has pledged to raise total coverage from 21.7 percent to 23 percent over the 2016-2020 period, said the China Daily, citing the country’s top forestry official.

Roof gardens and recycling: Indian cities find ways to go green

Posted on Tue, 2018-01-30 12:30 by APowell

CHENNAI — Efforts to bolster Indian cities against climate change and make them greener must include citizens who are being hit hard by rising temperatures and frequent urban flooding, said officials.

Even small measures like rooftop gardens and separating waste for recycling can involve residents more closely, according to experts leading the work in Chennai and Surat.

With research showing the average North American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, Think Wood advocates for the design of our buildings—particularly office spaces—to promote productivity, functionality, creativity and occupant wellbeing. Uses of wood as a structural or finishing material not only offer aesthetic beauty, but enhances indoor air quality, acoustics, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency. Perhaps most notably, it also has biophilic benefits—the innate wellness humans feel towards nature.

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