Month: August 2020

After time spent in self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the currently limited movement outside the country borders, many have used their time to explore natural resources throughout BiH. The pleasant summer temperatures allow you to spend as much time outside the house as possible and enjoy nature’s benefits. Whether you decide to go for a walk, a hike, or maybe to camp on one of many lakes or rivers, being in nature is beneficial in many ways. But nature requires being treated with caution and respect, while people often forget how they should behave in nature and how important it is to preserve it. Experts from the Bosnia Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), implemented by the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning, emphasize the benefits of staying in nature and remind you to take care of nature, in order for it to take care of you.

In their desire to explore many less accessible parts of the nature, people often don’t think about the consequences and the damage they inflict on both themselves and the nature. By such behavior, they contribute to the disappearance of flora and fauna and forest complexes. Forests are responsible for the production of the oxygen we breathe, and that is the most crucial thing many neglect when they stay in nature. By destroying forests, we contribute to the creation of the greenhouse effect, because forests are the best regulators of greenhouse gas emissions, which is a direct cause of global warming.

Another common problem, when it comes to people staying in nature, is fire. If you decide to light a fire in nature, whether to warm yourself or prepare food, you must keep several things in mind. The fireplace and fire-starting material must be located at a safe distance from any objects and surfaces that could be endangered by fire and smoke. If a stronger wind is blowing, it is mandatory to make an appropriate safety circle around the fire, but you should always be prepared to call the fire department in case of loss of control. Also, be sure to safely put out the fire after use and be careful where you throw cigarette butts. Even the smallest spark is enough to cause a huge disaster.

As you walk in nature, enjoying the beautiful landscapes and breathing the fresh air, pay attention to garbage. Always carry an empty bag for the waste with you, and throw the trash in the designated areas, not on the forest ground. If you see that someone had left some garbage behind, don’t be lazy to pick it up and throw it in the bin. Even the smallest pieces of garbage take a very long time to decompose and harm both the soil and plants, as well as animal species that live in nature. One plastic bottle takes 100 to 1000 years to decompose, chewing gum up to 5 years, apple bites 3 to 6 months and a plastic bag 450 to 1000 years. Respect the home of animals and plants just like you respect yours, and do not throw garbage where it does not belong.

By staying in nature, you reduce the use of cars and thus contribute to protecting the environment. A large amount of carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles has significant consequences for the environment, but also the health of people, animals, and plants. Entire ecosystems are endangered, because the combustion of fossil fuels releases toxic compounds such as CO2, benzene, lead particles and other solids that enter the soil and water from the air, thereby polluting them. In addition, a study conducted by the British Independent Institution for Scientific Research of Traffic Pollution found that the average family car produces 1,289 times more harmful particles while driving than exhaust gases.

Keep in mind that the more time you spend in nature, the less time you spend indoors, sitting at the TV, laptop, or staring aimlessly at your cell phone. Staying in nature contributes to your physical and mental health, strengthens immunity, improves sleep quality, calms and relieves stress, and is a great opportunity for exercise. While you spend time in nature, don’t forget to be careful about what you leave at home. Turn off all lights, turn off appliances and pull them out from the wall, but also leave heating/cooling at a moderate temperature until you return. By staying in nature, you use fewer electrical appliances at home and contribute to energy efficiency.

These are just some tips you need to keep in mind when you decide to spend time in nature, but they will help not only your life but our planet as well.

Every summer we ask ourselves whether this is the hottest one so far. Are summers getting hotter, or are we becoming more sensitive to the heat as we are getting older? Age is not the problem, however global warming is. Research shows the temperature will be one degree higher in the whole BiH by 2030, with a rapid increase during the summer period, with uneven changes in the amount of precipitation.

Many are continually trying to find a way to cool themselves and their living spaces. Air conditioners are certainly one of the most commonly chosen options, but what mistakes do people make when trying to cool down? Experts from the Bosnia Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), implemented by the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning, are bringing you advice on how to cool down as efficiently as possible on hot summer days/nights.

Put shades on your windows

They might not be the shades that first cross your mind, but they protect your windows and therefore living spaces. Shutters, dark curtains or blinds – they all protect the rooms from outside heat and sunlight. For rooms on the lower floors, we advise you to turn the screens upwards to prevent heat penetration. In the evening, when the temperatures are lower, open the windows, remove all the shades from them and ventilate the room. And in the morning, close the windows, put the protection over them again, and leave the rooms darkened during the day.

Reduce the use of household appliances

Try to avoid using devices that further heat your living space during the day. Use appliances such as irons, washing machines, or dishwashers at night. Avoid the biggest source of heat – your oven – and try cooking outside (if you have that option) or wait for the night and then prepare meals for the next day. If there are devices you don’t use during the day, like computers, lights, or even the TV if it’s only turned on to “produce background noise” – turn them off. All these devices additionally heat your space and unnecessarily raise the temperature in your rooms. Cheaper electricity periods during the summer are from 23:00 to 08:00, so grab an iron while the evening breeze cools you. While you sleep, let the washing machine do its job, and you enjoy a pleasantly chilled room.

Save light

While we recommend that you use fewer lights in the rooms during the day, so that the rooms do not heat up more, it’s important to note that there are better alternative options when you need light. The so-called energy-saving light bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) consume less electricity than ordinary incandescent bulbs for the production of same amount of light. At the same time, they have a longer lifespan than conventional light bulbs, by as much as 8-15 times. Mainly due to lower electricity consumption and thus less environmental contamination of fossil fuel power plants, various organizations are trying to increase the use of energy-saving light bulbs in many ways, and therefore to reduce the use of conventional light bulbs.

Less is more!

If you don’t have a fan, a hand fan, or a drink with a lot of ice in the fight against high temperatures, and you opt exclusively for air conditioning, then do it in moderation. We are never comfortable when we enter stores in which the temperature is often 15-20 degrees lower than outside. Therefore, keep in mind that the difference between the outdoor temperature and that in an air-conditioned room should not exceed 6°C. If you leave the place where you are staying, leave the air conditioner at a comfortable 25 degrees.

Think green!

Houseplants look fantastic, but they also consume hot air from the room for their natural processes. Plants can keep your house fresh because they lose water during transpiration, which cools the air around the plants, leaving it purified and clean. If you are looking for a natural and cheap way to keep your house cool, consider purchasing some of these plants, which can lower the temperature: aloe vera, ficus, fern, snake plant, or golden pothos. This way, the rooms will be nicer and more comfortable for you to stay in them. In addition to these tips, don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids during the summer days, wear light and airy clothes, and shower with moderately cold water to cool down.