Month: December 2018

Last month, students between the age of 10 and 18 from FBiH had the opportunity to prove their knowledge in energy efficiency by participating in the Beepomania quiz.

 

The fastest in answering the 5 questions correctly, out of a total of 228 participants, was Jusuf Bukva, a student from Kulin Ban Elementary School in Visoko, who won main prize the iPod Touch 32 GB.

 

The consolation prize, the Beepster JBL speakers, was awarded to the 10 best-ranked participants. They are:

 

1. Safet Zumić (High School for Metal Occupations, Sarajevo)
2. Sara Drino Coutinho (Second Gymnasium, Sarajevo)
3. Mensur Bahtanović (High School, Sarajevo)
4. Fatiha Bihorac (Avdo Smailović Elementary school, Sarajevo)
5. Zubejra Mrkalić (Hazim Šabanović Mixed Secondary School, Porječani)
6. Dino Imamović (Harmani 1, Bihać)
7. Merjem Hurić (Kladanj Elementary School, Kladanj)
8. Iman Affaneh (Fifth Gymnasium, Sarajevo)
9. Edvin Sirovica (Novi šeher Elementary School, Maglaj)
10. Enis Divović (Hilmi ef. Šarić Elementary School, Tarčin)

Congratulations to the lucky winners and best of luck to everyone in next years quiz!

 

This year, like every other, was full of many important events. Through the Bosnia Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), a number of subprojects have been implemented, making public buildings more comfortable for thousands of students, teachers, doctors, patients and other public institution users.

 

We still have a lot of work to do in the 2019, but we are extremely happy that the topic of energy efficiency has become better known. We also hope that awareness about the importance of this topic will be even greater, not only in the public sector, but amongst individuals as well.

 

That is why we bring you some New Year’s wishes that prove that caring for the environment, means caring for ourselves.

 

Therefore, let the New Year be…

 

1. The year you live your life to the fullest!

In addition to breathing freely in all of lifes situations, do so in all environments as well. Life without smog and greenhouse gases is much more pleasant and healthy. Therefore, reduce CO₂ emissions in your home by implementing some simple tips, such as using LED lightbulbs, regular maintenance of heating and cooling systems, installation of suitable insulation, etc.

 

2. A year in which you do not spend your most important resources!

Although it is often treated as if it has no end, we are all aware that human energy, as well as the Earth’s, is actually limited and irreversible. It is up to us to reduce excessive and unnecessary consumption that has a detrimental effect on the environment. Although this is usually considered quite impossible, the implementation of simple measures, such as turning off devices that aren’t being used, including those on stand-by mode, turning off the faucet when washing hands or teeth, etc.

 

3. The year in which we learn to apply our knowledge each and every single day!

Learning makes one feel safer, more confident, and better. Knowledge is indeed power and the best proof of successful learning is the application of the acquired theory in practice. Applying what is learned about energy-efficient behavior will not only have a positive impact on the environment it will also set a positive example and act as a source of knowledge for others.

 

4. The year in which you finally achieve goals outlined long time ago.

Walking or riding a bike more often, being physically active, consuming healthy, organic food… these are all goals that we wish to achieve year in and year out. “Goals can be achieved only through plans that we firmly believe in and work hard on. There is no other way to success.” said Pablo Picasso. Therefore, be honest with yourself: Which days can you walk, either to the workplace or to the store? How can you motivate yourself to recycle? Make a plan and stick to it!

 

5. A year spent enjoying with loved ones in beautiful nature!

Even today, the effects of human activity on the environment are evident. It is precisely because of this that the question arises whether future generations will have nature in which they can enjoy, as we do today. The answer will definitely be negative if current environmental pollution continues.

 

Therefore, let us be friends with nature and direct our habits in a positive direction. So why not start from the upcoming New Year’s Eve party?

 

In addition to the magical atmosphere, New Year’s Eve also means closing a chapter in our lives while beginning a new one. This is usually the time when we make all those traditional resolutions that mark new beginnings and motivate us, at least partially, to improve our lifestyle.

 

This year, instead of the standard albeit never realized goals, such as weight loss and traveling the world, we advise you to make resolutions that will be useful for both you and the environment.

 

We aren’t talking about clichés, such as world peace or any other overly ambitious goal, but about simple advices whose implementation can help achieve drastic changes to the environment. In order to avoid tips you have surley heard before like “avoid using cars” or “close the faucet while brushing your teeth,” we talked to Jasmina Katica, Head of the Energy Efficiency Department in Federal Ministry of Physical Planning, which, taking into account the importance of this topic, implements the Bosnia Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP).

 

1. Bring your own shopping bag

Plastic bags are one of the largest polluters of the environment. At the same time they are responsible for the deaths of more than a million birds, hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other animals. Their main ingredient is petroleum polyethylene and in order to produce them, huge amounts of oil – a non-renewable resource that increases levels of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere – is used every year. At the same time, the process of producing plastic bags requires economic resources, which means we are paying for the production of products that are ultimately going to be throw away.

 

2. Boil only as much water as you really need

Even though this might initially sound a bit ridiculous, it is actually a very important tip. Considering the fact that the amount of water you boil determines the speed of the boiling process itself, more water means more energy consumption. That is why it is important to heat only as much water as you need in order to prevent wasteful energy consumption.

 

 

3. Avoid fast fashion

The fashion industry has climbed to the very top of the world’s largest polluters list and is also blacklisted right behind giant oil corporations. Brands of ‘fast and cheap fashion’ have changed the fashion industry but also the planet itself. Critics of this industry emphasis its negative impact on the environment, water pollution, the use of toxic chemicals and the increase in the level of textile waste.

 

Therefore, although it may be difficult, we must resist buying yet another sweater or that ‘little black dress’ that we really do not need.

 

4. Avoid chemical based cosmetics

Did you know that everything you put on your skin gets into your bloodstream? This should be the biggest motivation for the use of natural cosmetic products. At the same time, the chemicals from these products are also causing water pollution and effecting the flora and fauna. The reason behind this are the microparticles found in its content, which are usually made of polyethylene or other petrochemical plastics, such as polystyrene and polypropylene, whose production also have a devastating effect on the environment.

 

5. Use your water bottle

Do you remember the beautiful water bottle you once bought and stored somewhere after a couple of days? It’s time to use it again!

 

Just like plastic bags, the production of plastic bottles requires a large amount of non-renewable resources – oil. Usually this is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), because the material is strong and light. However, its decomposition takes up to 500 years.

 

 

The Earth is in a more critical situation every day, and its future, no matter how cliché it may sound, is in our hands. So let’s make sure that the upcoming new year is happy for Earth as well.

 

To the general satisfaction of its students, the Fifth Elementary School in Ilidza was visited by the super hero Beepster who, having heard that the Energy Efficiency Project for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BEEP) continued educating the younger generations, decided to come and talk about this topic in his own, unique way.

 

In addition to an animated film adapted to this age group, this super hero also presented the students his Beepomat – an interactive educational device that illustrates the consequences of ineffective behavior on our environment in a simple way. At the same time, it shows how the irrational use of energy from fossil fuels leads to global warming. In addition, Beepster educated schoolchildren about energy-efficient behavior, and shared simple tips to help achieve it. As technology takes a special place in the everyday life of new generations, the use of this interactive tool played a key role in gathering their attention and making a pleasant atmosphere that later resulted with the students asking interesting questions.

 

In addition to the Beepomat, Beepster also used other interesting devices. In order to demonstrate the importance of shutting down electronic devices after use, he used a special camera through which the students could see what the device looks like while using energy, thus comparing it with the one that is turned off.

 

Impressed children were even happier when they heard they now also possess the super power – knowledge of energy-efficient behavior, with which they can save the world. They then promised Beepster to start immediate implementation of his simple advices and in that way help him in his mission.

 

Realizing that he had found his new helpers, Beepster continued his journey through Bosnia and Herzegovina with the aim of accomplishing his mission of raising awareness and spreading knowledge about energy efficiency in our country.

 

 

If you are between 10 to 18 years old, live in the FBiH region and think that you know everything about energy efficiency, play our quiz and prove your knowledge!

 

The rules are simple, answer the 5 questions correctly in the shortest time period possible and win amazing prizes. The quiz is scored based on the number of correct answers and time spent to answer all the questions asked.

 

A total of 11 participants will be rewarded. The participant who has the most points on the ranking list will win the main prize, the iPod Touch 32 GB, and the next 10 best ranked participants will win consolation prizes, the Beepster JBL GO speakers!

 

Each participant can only register once and only win one prize.

 

You can take part in the quiz up until the 26^th of December and the lucky winners will be announced on December 27th, 2018. What are you waiting for? Go to beepomanija.beep.ba!

 

 

Maglić, Bjelašnica, Zelengora and Prenj are just some of the many elevated parts of the Earth’s crust that are located in our mostly mountainous country. Being located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, BiH and its mountains have been subject to various civilizations throughout history that have surely left their mark . Up until modern times however, not a single generation has left an indelible mark on our planet’s climate much like ours.

 

As the increase in average temperatures has a direct impact on the melting of snow and ice caps, this leads to changes in flora and fauna as well as changes in ecosystems of mountainous areas. As a matter of fact, the mountains are considered the earliest indicators of climate change. That’s exactly why, for the past 15 years, International Mountain Day has been celebrated on December 11^th as a method of increasing global awareness about the importance of mountains and their potential.

As one of the consequences of climate change, glacier melting threatens mountains as well as their populations which is up to a billion people worldwide. In addition to the population, high areas are home to a large number of plant and animal species, not to mention 70% of the worlds fresh water.

 

Just as the world’s mountains are being threatened by climate change, so are the mountains in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

One of the consequences felt in our area is certainly an increased risk of floods, especially in the northeastern part of BiH, where during May 2014, the most catastrophic floods in the history of the country were recorded.

In order to protect our mountains and future generations and leave Earth in the same state in which we enjoyed it, we need to reduce our carbon footprint and the amount of CO2 emissions we produce on an annual basis.

 

Contrary to popular opinion, achieving this goal is not necessarily troublingly or demanding. Reducing electricity consumption, walking or biking instead of driving cars, using renewable energy sources and recycling are just some simple habits that our planet can significantly benefit from.

 

The situation is rather alarming, and we would not want global warming to ruin some of Bosnia’s most beautiful gems, right? That is why we need to act now!