Carbon footprinting in humanitarian construction : what are the CO2 emissions and how to mitigate them?

Climate change has become a key driver of humanitarian disasters and forced migration. Its impacts are seen globally but the greatest vulnerability is experienced in the cities of the less developed countries. Although the built environment is globally accountable for around 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, the research of its impact in humanitarian construction is very thin and recommendations for optimising the carbon footprint of transitional shelters or reconstruction are extremely hard to find. Life cycle assessment is often considered to be the most suitable tool for the science-based evaluation of the greenhouse gas emissions of buildings or building products. However, its implementation in the iterative design and decision-making processes is rather difficult. In order to include carbon footprinting in building design, simplifications are needed, especially in the field of humanitarian operations. In this dissertation, the knowledge gaps related to carbon footprint estimation and simplified methods are presented. First the background is presented: climate-related disasters, environmental assessment in humanitarian construction and the existing, standardised methods for estimating the environmental impacts of buildings. Secondly, a series of case studies from different countries reveal the carbon footprint and primary energy demand of transitional shelters and reconstruction projects. Thirdly, novel methods are proposed for setting the benchmark levels of an acceptable carbon footprint in humanitarian construction and for cross-comparing carbon footprint, energy efficiency and construction costs. Finally, the findings are summarised into practical recommendations and a low-carbon humanitarian construction project model. The carbon footprint in humanitarian construction seems to be very material related. Bio-based materials enable low greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, focusing on energy efficiency seems to be relevant in the refugee camps of cold climates, especially if the energy infrastructure is damaged in a humanitarian disaster. Several further research needs are recognised for improving the reliability of life cycle assessment in humanitarian construction. Embedding environmental accountability into the development of core humanitarian standards and guidelines is recommended

Building within planetary boundaries: moving construction to stewardship

The consumption of materials and energy for construction is a serious challenge to contain global warming below 2°C. Growing population, increasing per capita floor areas, more frequent extreme weather events and related repair needs, and rising sea levels are all accelerating the demand for construction and driving resource use. Rapid and drastic reductions in global carbon emissions and robust approaches to climate-related events are required urgently to remain within the planetary boundaries. Therefore, a new hierarchy for solving spatial needs is required: the Global North should avoid making new buildings, where and whenever possible. Instead, using existing spaces, renovating, adapting or extending the existing buildings would be much preferred. Such a hierarchy must be applied with context sensitivity. Especially the social needs of developing countries or communities recovering from humanitarian disasters should be adequately met, including the option of new construction. However, for most developed regions where populations are stable, new construction should require considerable justification. New design, business models and legislation are needed to successfully implement this approach. Environmental norms and architectural policies can offer a complementary set of approaches for reducing unsustainable consumption of resources in construction. Because of the historical responsibility as well as the current climate leadership, a fair transition should start from Europe. Key findings • The current consumption of resources for construction is a serious threat to limiting global warming below 2°C, as well as to halting ongoing biodiversity loss. • Several trends will push resource use further into the future. These include population growth, increasing per capita floor areas, increasing repair needs due to more frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels. • Decoupling the value of buildings from the environmental harms they cause is advancing too slowly, considering the urgent state of the planet. • A paradigm shift is needed: solving society’s spatial needs without considering new buildings as the first solution. Instead, existing buildings should be used and renovated as far as possible. • Europeans should implement the hierarchy into building regulations first, because of historic responsibility and Europe’s current capacity for reducing emissions

Encountering Change: Job Satisfaction of Sign Language Interpreters in Finland

The organizational system for providing Finnish sign language interpreter services has recently changed, and this change has influenced the whole interpretation service industry. It poses major challenges for the maintenance of job satisfaction among sign language professionals. The level of job satisfaction of sign language interpreters (in this study, N = 135) was surveyed by means of an online questionnaire. While examining this phenomenon, this study mainly addresses the systemic factors in employment conditions. According to the results, the level of job satisfaction among interpreters is quite high; however, it remains clearly lower than the average for Finnish workers. The key factors in job satisfaction are working conditions, changes in the amount of work and the way that it has been organized. Many of these problems are seen to be the result of the recently reformed Kela2-led interpreter booking system and the interpreting service’s bidding system. As a conclusion, we note that, in future, more attention should be paid to the working conditions and job satisfaction of Finnish sign language interpreters. If the level of job satisfaction continues to decrease, not only will interpreters’ health and well-being be at risk, but the quality of service provided to clients may also be impacted

Novel Architectonic Solutions for Industrial Log: Five Examples of Contemporary Architecture

There is a growing demand on using log as a construction material. In addition, production technology and technical properties of log products have undergone rapid changes in the era of industrial production. Examples for use of industrial log, that are architecturally suitable for the requirements of new uses, are few. For these reasons in this paper, it is explored what are the properties of industrial log building, and what kind of novel, structurally characteristic architectonic solutions for industrial log emerge in contemporary architecture. Besides a literature review, a qualitative analysis on five examples of contemporary architecture is conducted. As results, we showcase several novel architectonic solutions for industrial log. The first category of results, overall configuration of logs, includes entireties of logs that are structurally bearing, but also entireties where the logs act in other function than as structurally bearing. Entireties of logs are supported by next two categories – joining of logs and properties of individual logs, which can both be seen as components of the overall configuration. This study creates basis for further research on architectural possibilities of industrial logs. In addition, findings of this research can serve as an inspiration for designing architects and log house industry

Individuality Included

Only a few percent of new detached houses in Finland are designed by architects. Most people planning to build a house use only free design services included in the price of house delivery. This means for example that a building engineer designs the house based on some standard model, which he changes according to discussions between sales person and customer. This often results in seemingly generic houses that do not capture most value of the plot. Log houses make no exception in the Finnish market, even if they are a somewhat luxury product abroad. Why do not people in Finland use architects for designing their log houses? Is it because of the price of the design work? How does the log manufacturer’s system of configuring houses work without architects? Are log house companies satisfied with the current system? Could mass customization strategies be suitable for developing design and production processes of log houses? This paper presents results of studying the need and supply of individuality of log houses, and current house design processes that let users participate configuring their new log homes in Finland. The study was carried out via consumer study and interviews of log house industry’s managing directors and sales personnel. All of these companies are building non-speculative individually-commissioned houses, building houses to meet customers’ individual orders rather than for stock. Based on our consumer study, there is a great demand for individual houses. Only 8,8% of the consumers would choose a standard house model. However only 10% of respondents would prefer a unique house designed by an architect, while 68.9% would prefer a modified standard model. Most important reason for not using architect is the price of the design work. This results in contradiction, since consumers want an individual house, but are not ready to pay for designing. Surprisingly, all interviewed managing directors of log house companies said they produce only individual houses. Customers always want some modifications even in the standard models, and that results in designing each house anew. This has a negative effect on the profits of the companies, since design work is included in the price of the house delivery. What customers might not realize is that when design work is done at the risk of house builders or even sales people, it is done with as little effort and cost as possible. Since the existing design process of log houses produces often seemingly generic but always laboriously planned houses, there would be need for improvement. Systematization of individual choices could benefit log house companies in terms of design resources. And If mass customization approach would bring architectural quality available to a broader group of new log house dwellers, they would benefit, too

Sistem Akuntansi Pembayaran Gaji Karyawan PT. Yasiga Sarana Utama

Pada kehidupan moderen tiap individu dituntut oleh berbagai kebutuhan hidup yang menjadi beban dalam menjalani hidupnya. Manusia dipaksa untuk bekerja demi memenuhi kebutuhan hiupnya. Dan memperoleh gaji dan upah yang dimana akan digunakan oleh tiap manusia tersebut untuk memenuhi kebutuhannya dan memperoleh kepuasan dalam kehidupan yang dijalaninya.. Pada perusahaan manapun Gaji ataupun upah menjadi sebuah hal yang sangat penting karena itu adalah sebuah faktor internal setiap karyawan dan menimbulkan semangat dan performa yang baik dalam bekerja. Dimana kinerja yang bagus dapat menunjang produktivitas perusahaan. Agar upah dapat diterima sesuai dengan hak karyawan dan aktivitas perusahaan dapat berjalan dengan lancar, maka perusahaan atau lembaga membutuhkan sistem dan prosedur yang baik. Salah satu bentuk sistem dan prosedur yang harus diterapkan adalah adanya sistem penggajian untuk membantu melaksanakan kegiatan pokok perusahaan

Procurement criteria for low-carbon building

This guide presents recommendations for Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria to be applied on a voluntary basis in order to reduce the carbon footprint of building projects implemented by means of public funds under the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts. Particular focus is placed on lifecycle thinking, which should be applied starting from the planning stage of buildings with calculations of the building lifecycle carbon footprint. Besides the suitability requirements for tenderers and cost estimates, the criteria include the assessment of energy, material and innovation aspects. Specific criteria relating to these categories have been drawn up for the procurement of design services, procurement of materials and equipment, procurement of building works, Design & Build projects and Design, Build & Operate contracts. The criteria are supplemented by detailed instructions based on standards which enable the environmental assessors involved in the projects to make comparable calculation