Thursday, November 28, 2019

5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas

5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas 5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas 5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas By Mark Nichol 1. â€Å"Students write a third essay regarding the impact of geography on history and culture.† The implication of this sentence is that students produce three essays on the topic in question. But if the preceding text refers to differing topics for the first two essays, the sentence suffers from insufficient differentiation. This revision specifies that the third essay’s topic differs from those of the others: â€Å"Students write a third essay, this one regarding the impact of geography on history and culture.† 2. â€Å"Students participate in a workshop on learning to research effectively and refine their search with a professional researcher.† The relationship between the verb phrases in this sentence is unclear: Do students first participate in a workshop and then refine their research, or do they participate in a workshop about researching effectively, during which they also refine their search? Either way, the sentence, because of the ambiguity, is erroneously organized. If the former meaning is intended, the sentence should read, â€Å"Students participate in a workshop in which they first learn to research effectively and then refine their search with a professional researcher.† If the latter meaning is the correct interpretation, it should read, â€Å"Students participate in a workshop on learning to research effectively, and then refine their search with a professional researcher.† 3. â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith, only Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† Because of the paucity of punctuation in this sentence, the sentence could be read as containing a comma splice, an error in which a comma is incorrectly employed in place of a more substantial punctuation mark. But if a semicolon or a period separates the two clauses, and the second element (depending on which punctuation mark is used, an independent clause or a separate sentence) seems to imply that no one other than Jones has been more successful than Smith, a non sequitur results. It’s much more likely that only serves as a less formal synonym for however. However, just as when that word is used, the sentence still requires stronger punctuation to clarify its function: â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith; only, Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† The semicolon seems too formal for the casual only, though; a dash seems more appropriate. Either way, however, only must be set off from the following statement by a comma: â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith only, Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† 4. â€Å"She also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation; motion detectors; barometric-pressure monitors; and thermometers.† This sentence, containing four listed elements only one of which, the first, is modified is hampered by the notion that because of that extra phrase, the usual commas must be promoted to semicolons to bear the burden of supporting the sentence’s structure. When used with such short phrases, however, the semicolons seem overbearing. The simple insertion of the conjunction plus, which serves to provide more distance between sentence elements than the standard and, obviates the complicating semicolon solution: â€Å"She also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation, plus thermometers, motion detectors, and barometric pressure monitors.† (Notice that, for euphony, I’ve reordered the additional list items according to the number of syllables in each item.) 5. â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole, not by relying on an expansive reading of the commerce clause, but on Congress’s firmly rooted power to tax.† The initial proposition in this sentence, â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole not by relying on an expansive reading of the commerce clause . . .,† is a continuous thought, and there is no reason to include punctuation within it. But there’s a larger problem: The sentence is not parallel. Relying should be repositioned to serve both propositions (those beginning â€Å"not on† and â€Å"but on†), because the structure of the two phrases, in the original sentence respectively headed by â€Å"not by† and â€Å"but on,† is discordant. The solution, which (like â€Å"not only . . . but also† constructions), requires no internal punctuation: â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole by relying not on an expansive reading of the commerce clause but on Congress’s firmly rooted power to tax.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business Letter44 Resume Writing TipsOne Scissor?

Monday, November 25, 2019

Quotes From Florynce Kennedy, Black Feminist Activist

Quotes From Florynce Kennedy, Black Feminist Activist Florynce Kennedy, African-American feminist activist, daughter of a Pullman porter, graduated from Columbia Law School in 1951. She handled the estates of Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday. She was also known as a social activist, a feminist who was one of the founders of the National Organization for Women and a participant in the 1967 Atlantic City Miss America protest. She founded the National Black Feminist Organization in 1975 and published her autobiography in 1976. Motivational The biggest sin is sitting on your ass. Dont agonize, organize. When you want to get to the suites, start in the streets. Freedom is like taking a bath: You got to keep doing it every day. On Flo Kennedy I’m just a loud-mouthed, middle-aged colored lady with a fused spine and three feet of intestines missing and a lot of people think I’m crazy. Maybe you do, too, but I never stop to wonder why I’m not like other people. The mystery to me is why more people aren’t like me. Our parents had us so convinced we were precious that by the time I found out I was nothing, it was already too late - I knew I was something. Women and Men If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. There are very few jobs that actually require a penis or vagina. All other jobs should be open to everybody. On Being an Activist Countermovements among racists and sexists and Nazifiers are just as relentless as dirt on a coffee table...Every housewife knows that if you dont sooner or later dust...the whole place will be dirty again. Youve got to rattle your cage door. Youve got to let them know that youre in there and that you want out. Make noise. Cause trouble. You may not win right away, but youll sure have a lot more fun. Grass-roots organizing is like climbing into bed with a malaria patient in order to show how much you love him or her, then catching malaria yourself. I say if you want to kill poverty, go to Wall Street and kick - or disrupt. Funny Lines Are you the alternative? (In response to a heckler asking if she was a lesbian) Sweetie, if youre not living on the edge, then youre taking up space. Why would you lock yourself in the bathroom just because you have to go three times a day? (About marriage; her husband, Charles Dye, died a few years after their 1957 marriage) Sources Barcella, Laura. Fight Like a Girl. Zest Books, March 8, 2016. Burstein, Patricia. Lawyer Flo Kennedy Enjoys Her Reputation as Radicalisms Rudest Mouth. People magazine, April 14, 1975. Joyner, Marsha. Florynce Kennedy (1916Â  - 2000). Civil Rights Movement Veterans, 2004. Kennedy, Florynce 1916–2000. Encyclopedia.com, Thomson Gale, 2005. Martin, Douglas. Flo Kennedy, Feminist, Civil Rights Advocate and Flamboyant Gadfly, Is Dead at 84. The New York Times, December 23, 2000. Steinem, Gloria. The Verbal Karate of Florynce R. Kennedy, Esq. Ms. Magazine, August 19, 2011. Woo, Elaine. Florynce Kennedy; Irreverent Activist for Equal Rights. Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2000.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How you worked as a team member Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

How you worked as a team member - Essay Example However, we were all united by one task: to complete the requirements of this module. Due to that that, we had to meet all the task objectives and work extremely hard to adjust and get things to run and attain the results we needed. Armstrongs view that teams are formed for the attainment of specific results (2011) was really applicable and significant here. We had a common goal of using the team as an end to meeting all course requirements. Due to this, the team was a convenient system for cooperation, problem solving, decision making, interpersonal relationships, diagnosis and debating (Armstrong, 2008). In relating our experience in the team and its distinctions from individuality and groups, I think that the team was a convenient platform for the attainment of the results that were specified in the course. In this context, the group involves all the students taking this Masters Degree program. We all have individual goals and are not united by specific goals. However, the formation of the team gave us a specific obligation and responsibilities on how to carry them out. This is what separated us from working as individuals who only study to pass individual assignments and also the wider group which was a loose connection of students. From my experiences with the team, I will define a team in my on words as a collection of people for the attainment of a specific end within a specified period of time. A team is more definite than a group. And the common objective and common goal, makes a team different from a group. And the synergistic results from the team makes it different from individual efforts. Once the team was formed, we were just a group of individuals who sought to get things done and get out of this institution. However, the fact that we needed to work together meant that there were some important elements that needed to work

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

History- World War I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

History- World War I - Essay Example Since we consider these aspects as the reasons why WWI is worthy to be called a world war let us examine what was recorded and evaluate them relative to other great wars. Foremost, WWI was fought in different areas and has involved, either directly or indirectly, more countries than any other wars in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. Main action of the war occurred in Europe but parallel events also occurred in Africa, Middle East, and the Pacific. The main actions of the war were in the Western Front which stretched in an unbroken line of trenches from the English Channel to the Swiss frontier. The other side, the Eastern Front is fought between the Russians and German forces. Unlike any previous wars where only warring countries were involved, WWI included about sixteen countries with considerable armies mobilized to participate in the wars on either sides of the conflict. More than sixteen countries supported the Allied Forces lead by Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and the United States who joined the conflict later. In the other hand, the Central Powers included Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria. The war unfolded during the height of the Industrial Revolution in the beginning of the 20th century and the contribution of the advancement in science and technology added up to the magnitude of the war. As Badsey stated in his article â€Å"The Western Front and the Birth of Total War† published in the BBC website the war made possible the mobilization of large troops due to the advancement of railways and steamships. The use of automatic machine guns, advanced explosives, and chemical warfare were unveiled for the first time. The aircraft technology was also fully used for air raids and bombings. Unique to WWI is also the application of trench warfare for the first time, which was considered one of the reasons for greater war casualties since position and lines of forces were heavily

Monday, November 18, 2019

Are The Degree Programs In Business Administration Sufficiently Essay

Are The Degree Programs In Business Administration Sufficiently Rigorous Academically, Compared To Other Programs - Essay Example Whereas the word, "doctoral" is in most cases used only to describe a PhD program, there are several other degrees which are doctoral degrees, and this include the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and Doctor of Education (EdD). Although the degree is a platform for the advancement in careers relating to research, consulting, or business administration, most students who undertake the PhD programs promote specializing in a critical dimension such as accounting, finance or marketing (Cass 8). Students wishing to improve their academic careers because, the PhD is the doctorate that is commonly pursing this. On the other hand, the Doctor of Business Administration, also known as DBA, is formulated to equip business executives with skills required in pursuing business, as well as public administration careers, which entails enhanced research skills, along with their qualifications. Apart from that, some of these programs can serve as go between in careers within academia. The Doctor of Business Administration is intended to present business executives with requirements needed to succeed in conducting business, as well as public administration careers that require more developed research skills, along with their qualifications. On the other hand, some of these DBA programs may serve as pathways into careers within academia (Cass 9). The comparability of these two programs is more than their diversity, however, the main difference between a business PhD program and a DBA program originates in the way the two programs are oriented, along with the desired outcome. A PhD program focuses on the development of a new theory, while, on the other hand, DBA, focuses on applying theoretical knowledge in order to make progression of a business practice. Another stunning difference between a PhD and a doctoral is that, although all PHD degrees are doctorates, not all doctorate degrees quali fy to be PhDs (Crocker 45). PhD programs are meant to describe programs whose priority is on research, while, on the other hand, the purpose of doctoral programs is to master research program, as well as professional practices. Even so, both DBA and PhD programs require innovative research in the formation, as well as defense of a thesis. However, there is a difference in the DBA program, with some of them being more driven towards knowledge application, while others are driven towards knowledge creation. The same reasoning applies to PhD programs whereby some programs in business like Doctor of Management and Executive Doctor of Management follows this path (Crocker 46). The designation "doctor," denoting mastery of a certain subject, came from Italy in the early 1100s. However, the current form of the PhD came from the Germany university system in the 19th century, which was established to demonstrate that the student with a degree had accomplished original research in a field wor k; and this was incorporated by Americans in its own universities in the late 1800s. Contemporary PhD students are expected to spend an average of eight and half years in graduate school, making theses which are hundreds of pages long, while at the same time, performing research and mastering the literature of his or her field, regularly in preparation of a career in teaching in the university

Friday, November 15, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building

Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building Green building was developed in the 1970s, during the energy crisis, when people finally realised that they needed to save energy and alleviate environmental problems. The idea originated on the United States, as they were one of the largest contributors of pollution in the world. Due to the fact that Buildings account for a large amount of land, energy and water consumption, and also contribute hugely to air pollution, green building aims to reduce the environmental impact buildings have on the environment. Practices and technologies used in green building are constantly improving. Many are different from region to region, however there are fundamental principles that must be followed. Green building is an outcome of a design philosophy, which focuses on increasing the efficiency of 4 main resources: Energy Water Materials Health Along with increasing efficiency, green buildings also aim to reduce the impact buildings have on human health and the environment during the buildings lifecycle. This is achieved by improved design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of waste materials. It is generally agreed that green buildings are structures that are sited, designed, built, renovated and operated to energy-efficient guidelines, and that they will have a positive environmental, economic and social impact over their life cycle. Green specifications provide a good set of guidelines for the building industry, but these are still in the process of being formalised into UK regulation and many are open to interpretation.† (Source: www.sustainablebuild.co.uk) Green building requires a holistic approach that looks at each component of a building and how it relates in context with the whole building. This allows us to look at the impact the building will have on the wider environment and community around it. Green Building is a difficult approach, which needs builders, architects and engineers to think creatively, and increase the level of integration throughout the project. There are several resources and published guides that can help builders with the green building process, such as BREEAM (Building and Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), the Code for Sustainable Homes, and EcoHomes. In Conclusion: â€Å"Green Building is not simply about protecting the biosphere and natural resources from over-exploitation or over-consumption, nor is it simply about saving energy to reduce our heating bills. It considers the impact of buildings and materials on occupants and the impact of our lives on the future environment.† (Source Tom Woolley, Sam Kimmins, Paul Harrison and Rob Harrison 1997. Green Building Handbook. Oxford: Spon Press . 5.) Green Building Essentials There are four main criteria that need to be considered in green building. They are: Materials. Energy. Water. Health. Materials The materials used in Green Building projects need to be: From a natural, renewable source that has been managed and harvested in a sustainable way. Obtained locally in order to reduce the embedded energy costs of transportation. Sourced from reclaimed materials at nearby sites. Materials are graded using green specifications which look at their life cycle and analyse them in terms of their embodied energy, durability, recycled content, waste minimisation, and their ability to be reused or recycled. Some examples of building materials that are considered green include: Renewable plant materials such as straw. Timber from sustainably managed forests. Recycled stone Recycled metal. Products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable eg. linoleum, sheep wool, compressed earth blocks, rammed earth, clay, flax linen, cork, sand stone, and concrete. Building materials should be sourced and manufactured locally to the building site where possible in order to minimise the energy used through transportation. It is also desireable for building elements to be manufactured off-site, then delivered when needed. The benefits of this include minimising waste and maximising recycling as manufacturing is in a set location. Energy Energy consumption is a major issue, which green building principles aim to address. Nearly all UK houses are extremely inefficient when it comes to heating and lighting consumption. One method of reducing heating and ventilation costs for a building is to incorporate Passive Solar Design. This is when the suns energy is used for heating and cooling various living spaces. These passive systems are extremely simple in design, having very few moving parts and usually require no mechanical systems therefore they have a minimal maintenance issue. Common features of passive solar heating include windows that can be opened and closed. Passive solar design incorporates the use of thermal mass also. This is when materials such as masonry, concrete and water actually store heat for a period of time this can prevent rapid fluctuations in temperature. High levels of insulation and energy-efficient windows can help to conserve a lot of energy from escaping through the buildings envelope. In regards to lighting a building, natural daylight design reduces the need for electricity in a building while improving the occupants health and productivity. Green buildings also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, low energy appliances, and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels. Water Reducing water consumption in a ‘Green’ House is an important aspect in many of the green building rating systems. It is therefore essential that water can be recycled around the house. This can be achieved by installing greywater and rainwater harvesting systems which will re-use water for tasks like watering plants or toilet flushing. Incorporating water-efficient appliances in kitchens and bathrooms, such as low flow showerheads, self-closing or spray taps, low-flush toilets, or waterless composting toilets, will all aid in reducing the amount of water required for the day to day running of the house. Health This aspect of Green Building refers to the health of the buildings occupants. Using non-toxic materials in construction will help to improve indoor air quality, which can reduce the rate of respiratory illnesses such as asthma. The materials and products used in a green design need to be emission-free and have very little or no VOC (Volatile organic compound) content. They also need to be moisture resistant in order to prevent moulds, spores from growing inside the house. Indoor air quality can be improved through ventilation systems and using materials in the construction of the house that control humidity and allow a building to breathe. A major factor which isnt included in the main four topics I have discussed above is what happens after the construction of the building has been completed. It wont matter how sustainable the design and construction stage of the project was if the building is not maintained responsibly. This needs to be considered at the planning stage of construction and the occupant must be briefed on the green building concept. They should also be informed that in order to keep the ‘green’ status the building will have, careful and considerate maintenance methods will need to be employed, with the possibility of the need to upgrade aspects of the building to keep up to date with changing regulations and standards. It is also important that the occupier continues green practices such as recycling throughout the life-cycle of the building. A green building should provide cost savings to both the builder and occupant. It should also benefit the community through the use of local labour. Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building I am going to first outline some of the disadvantages of green building, as most people tend to focus only on the positive aspects. Considerations such as cost, funding, material availability and location restrictions must be taken into account when planning a green build project. One of the most common disadvantages of Green Building is the additional cost incurred. This is due to the increase in the quality of construction methods and materials used. Although energy savings can balance the extra costs out, it is still seen as a disadvantage the fact that extra money needs to be spent at the construction stage. Eco-friendly building materials are often difficult to find in many areas of the UK, which can lead to prices being much higher than standard building materials. While projects close to larger cities may have no difficulty finding green building materials, suppliers may be scarce in other areas. Many materials require special ordering, which could increase costs. Some other materials may only be available through Internet orders, which will increase the cost due to shipping and handling. The green building market is becoming much more competitive due to the increase in demand for this type of construction, and Green Building costs are predicted to decrease in the near future. Apart from the initial cost of green building, finding a mortgage company or bank that offers loans for a building that is not built in the traditional way may be difficult. The time taken to complete a green building can also be viewed as a disadvantage. Green building projects encourage the use of recycled materials and trying to source these can add to the time to complete a certain stage of the build that the contractor and client haven’t allowed for in the project. One overlooked disadvantage is the fact that in recent years houses have become more airtight, which has added to the problem of indoor air quality. Houses have become so sealed that there is now an increase in indoor pollution. An example of how this can occur is if a builder decides to use some recycled material but is unaware of any chemicals that may be contained in it. The chemicals may give off volatile organic compounds, which have in fact been found toxic to humans. Most green building guides have a section on Indoor Air Quality, ventilation, filtration systems, and suggestions for low or no VOC products in the building process to address this issue. The benefits of green building are what most people want to know nowadays, and below are some of these advantages. They have been categorised into three main areas, Environmental, Economic and Social Benefits. Environmental Benefits: Reduction of Emissions: Using green building techniques such as solar power and daylighting increase the energy efficiency of the building, and also cut down harmful emissions released by fossil fuels. This can help reduce air quality issues such as smog and acid rain. Conservation of Water: Significant water savings can be created by introducing methods such as rainwater and greywater harvesting. These methods use and recycle various water sources, which can then be used for irrigation in gardening and for flushing toilets. Stormwater management can also be helpful to the environment by reducing localised flooding, which can carry pollution into water sources, and erosion. Rainwater harvesting and using building materials that are permeable for driveways can help reduce this risk. Waste Reduction: Green building promotes increased efficiency both during and after the construction phase. Recycling and reusing waste materials will lead to a decrease in the amount of waste that needs to be dumped in landfills. Economic Benefits: As I mentioned above, some people believe green building to be too expensive. Previous studies have shown that costs are not substantially higher than traditional developments. As long as the designer and client have decided to go down the route of green building, the high construction costs can usually be avoided. Although the costs may be higher at the beginning of a projects life cycle, they can be recouped throughout the life of the building. Due to the increased efficiency from green design and new technology, operation costs from heating, electricity and water can all be reduced dramatically, resulting in a low payback time on the money invested at the beginning of the project. Green buildings can also be sold or rented quicker, and at a premium rate because of the low maintenance and utility bills. This will prove to be a unique selling point if the cost of fuel continues to rise. Social Benefits: Another very impressive advantage of a green building is its ability to improve the occupier’s health. Conditions such as respiratory problems, skin rashes, nausea and allergies, which can result from insufficient air circulation, poor lighting, mould, toxic adhesives and paints, can be significantly reduced in a green built house. This is because green building emphasises the need for proper ventilation and the reduction in use of toxic material, which will create a healthier living environment. Another key element of green building is the need to preserve the natural environment. This can provide a variety of recreation and exercise opportunities. Green buildings also seek to facilitate alternatives to driving, such as bicycling by awarding points for providing bike docks (In the Code for Sustainable Homes), which eases local traffic while increasing personal health and fitness. Summary of Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building Below are the disadvantages and advantages summarised in point form. Disadvantages: Initial cost. Funding for projects from banks hard to get. Location Factor. Availability of Materials. Timescale. Implications on air quality due to the use of some recycled materials. Advantages: Environmental Benefits. Reduction of Emissions. Conservation of Water. Reduced localised flooding. Waste reduction. Economic benefits. Low utility bills. Increase in likelihood for the property to be sold or let. Social Benefits. Improvement to the occupant’s health. Preservation of the natural environment. Increased recreation and exercise opportunities. As you can see there are significantly more Advantages than Disadvantages of Green Building. Green Building Rating Systems In this section of my report I am going to give a brief introduction to the main Green Building rating systems used in the UK. These systems review a building or construction project, and score it on different sections. Points are usually awarded for issues addressed and an accreditation is awarded depending on the amount of points scored when the project is completed. Although I have focused on Green building in houses, I will look at some systems that are used for commercial building and civil engineering works. Below are some of the systems I will be discussing: BREEAM BREEAM is an abbreviation for the ‘BRE Environmental Assessment Method’. BREEAM is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the primary measure used to describe a buildings environmental performance.† (Cited from the BREEAM website – www.breeam.org) BREEAM was established by the BRE in the UK in 1990 as and aid to help measure the sustainability of new buildings. BREEAM has grown since then with reular updates according to changes in building regulations and government legislation. The BREEAM guidelines cover many different types of building, including Industrial, Residential, Education, Healthcare and Retail. The BREEAM guidelines were last updated in 2008. In this upgrade, a new two stage assesment process was introduced. This means that the building will be assesed at the design stage and also after the completion of construction. Mandatory scoring credits were introduced and a new rating level of BREEAM Outstanding was created. The BREEAM standard is not only being used in the UK, it is fast turning into a global accreditation. The BRE have set up a new division called BREEAM International. This division has already created versions of BREEAM for Europe and the Gulf, adapting them in accordance to local regulations. The information below is also from the BREEAM website. This information outlines the reasons why BREEAM should be used: BREEAM provides clients, developers, designers and others with: * Market recognition for low environmental impact buildings. * Assurance that best environmental practice is incorporated into a building. * Inspiration to find innovative solutions that minimise the environmental impact. * A benchmark that is higher than regulation. * A tool to help reduce running costs, improve working and living environments. * A standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental objectives.† (Cited from www.breeam.org) BREEAM addresses wide-ranging environmental and sustainability issues and enables developers and designers to prove the environmental credentials of their buildings to planners and clients. * BREEAM uses a straightforward scoring system that is transparent, easy to understand and supported by evidence-based research * BREEAM has a positive influence on the design, construction and management of buildings * BREEAM sets and maintains a robust technical standard with rigorous quality assurance and certification† (Information sourced from the BREEAM website – www.breeam.org) CEEQUAL CEEQUAL stands for, The Civil Engineering Environmental Awards Scheme. It is a scheme for improving the sustainability of civil engineering and public sector projects, in the UK. The aim of CEEQUAL is to encourage civil engineering companies to achieve improved environmental and social performance in the specification, design and construction areas of their projects. Launched in September 2003, CEEQUAL was mainly developed by the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) and various government departments and agencies also gave their support to the idea and helped to finance the initiative. Since 2003, CEEQUAL has grown to be the main scheme for assesing the sustainability of civil engineering works. In 2008 CEEQUAL was included in the Government report â€Å"Strategy for Sustainable Construction† as a scheme to be used that can comply with the governments design agenda for civil engineering works. Just like the BREEAM assessment, CEEQUAL uses a credits or points to score various aspects of a civil engineering project, including environmental aspects such as, water, energy and land usage, as well as other categories such as nuisance to neighbours, waste minimisation and management, archaeology, community amenity and ecology. A project that has achieved an award from CEEQUAL will show the public that the designers, contractors and clients, have completed a project that is above the minimum environmental standards, which will portray that they care about sustainability in the construction industry. Benefits of CEEQUAL: * Provides a benchmark standard for environmental performance; * Demonstrates the commitment of the civil engineering industry to environmental quality; and celebrates the achievement of high environmental standards in civil engineering projects A CEEQUAL Award for a civil engineering project identifies an organisation that: * Measures and compares standards of performance; * Respects people and the society in which it operates; * Undertakes its work in an ethical and sustainable manner; * Acts in a socially and environmentally responsible way; * Protects and enhances the environment; and * Is concerned about the major impacts of construction on the environment and the earth’s resources. Source http://www.cpdni.gov.uk/index/guidance-for-suppliers/ceequal.htm There are several different CEEQUAL Award levels that a project can achieve, depending on the percentage number of points scored against the scoped-out question set. These are: * more than 25% Pass * more than 40% Good * more than 60% Very Good * more than 75% Excellent Five types of award can be applied: * Whole Project Award, which is normally applied for jointly by or on behalf of the client, designer and principal contractor(s) * Client Design Award * Design Only Award, applied for by the principal designer(s) only * Construction Only Award, applied for by the principal contractor(s) only * Design Build Award, applied for the designer(s) and constructor(s) of a project. Irish CEEQUAL Certified Projects Below are some examples of the Civil Engineering projects that have achieved CEEQUAL Awards in Ireland in the last few years: 2008 – 2009 Awards: * Custom House Square, Belfast Award: Excellent  § Derry City Centre Public Realm Award: Excellent  § Armagh Environmental Improvement Scheme Award: Very Good  § Downshire to Whitehead Sea Defences Boneybefore to Edenhalt (section 3) Award: Good  § Balloo Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Centre, Bangor Award: Very Good  § Moneymore Flood Protection Scheme Award: Excellent  § N229 Newtownards Road Environmental Improvements Award: Excellent  § Belfast City Centre Streets Ahead Award: Excellent  § Knockmore Lurgan Track Upgrade Award: Excellent 2006 – 2007 Awards  § N7 Naas Road Widening Interchange Scheme Award: Very Good  § Carran Hill water treatment works Award: Excellent 2003-2005 Awards: * abbey Kircubbin Wastewater Treatment Works Award: Excellent * Newtownstewart Bypass Award: Very Good (Source http://www.ceequal.com/all_awards.htm) LEED LEED stands for ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED in 1998. The scheme was created to offer an American equivalent to BREEAM, a green building scheme that was created in 1990 in the UK. Aswell as being a US equivelant to BREEAM, LEED was invented to help define what green building was, by recognising environment leadership in the construction industry. By doing this LEED also hoped to raise awareness of the benefits of green building and try to create some competition in the green building market. The LEED evaluation method is voluntary and covers all types of buildings such as, homes, offices and retail space. The main division of the LEED initiative is ‘LEED for New Construction’. This LEED assessment is also used on some international building projects. LEED has eight key categories where LEED points can be achieved. 1. Location and Planning 2. Sustainable Sites 3. Water Efficiency 4. Energy Atmosphere 5. Materials Resources 6. Indoor Environmental Quality 7. Innovation in Design 8. Regional Priority In each of these six categories, multiple points can be achieved when specific needs have been met. The more points achieved, the higher the LEED rating will be. LEED has also introduced certain criteria, which is mandatory in each level of LEED. The LEED assessment is a two-part process, involving a design phase review and also a construction phase review. After these reviews, a LEED certificate can be presented if the project is up to standard. This table compares the old LEED v2.2 points system with the new LEED v3 system. (Table has been sourced from the Reed Construction Data website – http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/articles/read/leed-rating-system/) Below is a table showing the nine different rating systems and also the five overarching categories to correspond with the specialities available through LEED. A comparison between BREEAM and LEED More and more organisations are realising that having green credentials is a must in todays society. This is because the public are more sustainably aware thanks to the increased coverage for the subject of sustainability in the news and papers. Having a Green Building as part of your companies assets will show that you want to reduce the impact you have on the environment, as well as cutting utility bills and increasing the occupants health. With this increase in green buildings, there is now competition between the method of assement. For years, BREEAM has been the main environmental assessment method for UK buildings. Now with the expansion of LEED out of America there is increased competition. The principles of BREEAM have also spread worldwide, and while similar assesment methods have been created for other countries, BREEAM and LEED are the main methods used today. The way in which projects are assesed is the main difference between BREEAM and LEED. BREEAM uses assessors that have been trained by the BRE, who check for evidence in the building and score it against the specified criteria. The BRE then check the assesors report and award a BREEAM certificate. LEED on the other hand does not require a trained assesor, however points are awarded if a LEED Accredited Professional is used. Evidence from the project is gathered and submitted to the USGBC who will review it and award the appropriate certificate. Both BREEAM and LEED help to keep the market to improve building design. Both also regularly update their scoring criteria to keep up with changing regulations. BREEAM is more relevant in the UK as it uses UK policies, however LEED can be used as a global accreditation. BREEAM will more than likely be the favoured system in the UK, as it has backing from the government as they require BREEAM ratings for all of their buildings. Below is a table that compares the similarities of BREEAM and LEED: (Table sourced from http://www.bsria.co.uk/news/breeam-or-leed/) Code for Sustainable Homes The ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ is an environmental impact rating system for houses in the UK. The Code was launched in December 2006, and addresses new standards, above current building regulations, for energy usage and sustainability issues. The aim of this new code is to try and decrease the impact that housing has on the environment. The code was created to try and help relieve the problems we have brought upon ourselves through climate change. Buildings contribute nearly half of the UK’s carbon emissions. In order to reduce these emissions by 80% by 2050, housing needs to become more sustainable. Following this code can help minimise the environmental damage that has occurred during the construction process in the past. It also gives homebuilders the chance to create a revolutionary design for new homes to be put on the housing market, promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. Adopting the code for sustainable homes is a major step in reaching the Government target of all new homes being zero carbon from 2016. A house that is built in accordance to the code for sustainable homes will be more energy efficient, use less water and create less carbon emissions. This in turn is better for the environment. Houses that follow the code are built in a more efficient way as they use materials that are from sustainable sources. Because they are built in a more efficient manner, less waste is created, and the use of recycled materials is promoted. Due to the increase in quality and efficiency, running costs will be lower than that of a traditional build. This way of sustainable building also encourages the occupier of the house to try to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The Code for Sustainable homes has 9 separate categories with set scoring points covering: 1. Energy/CO2. 2. Water. 3. Materials used in the home. 4. Surface water run-off. 5. Waste. 6. Pollution. 7. Health and Well-being. 8. Management 9. Ecology When the client incorporates a specific feature they are awarded points. At the end of the build these points are added together, and the total score forms the basis of a 1-6 star rating system. The code for sustainable homes uses a ‘star’ rating system, which ranges from 1 to 6. Level 1 equates to a 10% improvement over current Building Regulations energy standards, Level 3 is a 25% improvement on building regulations, and level 6 is a Zero Carbon house. A home rated as 6 stars will have achieved the highest sustainability rating. Diagram showing the points scoring to achieve each code level: (Source – The Code for Sustainable Homes) In February 2008, the Government decided that all new homes must have a rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes by May 2008. Also whenever houses are sold it has been made madatory that they have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If a house has not been assessed for an EPC then it will receive a rating of zero. This was brought in as an incentive for builders and developers to aim to score higher ratings in the Code for Sustainable Homes as home buyers could now easily see a house’s performance from the EPC. Below is an copy of the EPC carried out for my house: Diagram explaining 1*, 3* and 6* energy requirements: Diagram sourced from â€Å"Greener Homes for the Future†. In 2006 the Government made publ

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrals Essay -- Architecture History Essays

Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrals The Romanesque style transformed into the Gothic style during the Middle Ages. This happened for many reasons. The Romanesque period was a time of trial and error while the Gothic period was a time of advancements in inventions. Religion was an important factor in the shift between Romanesque and Gothic. The locations of the two types of cathedrals also contributed toward the change between Romanesque and Gothic, as well as the power of the relics and the community to raise funds for the Gothic cathedrals. There are several reasons the architecture of the cathedral changed from Romanesque to Gothic in the Middle Ages. The Romanesque period lasted from 1000 to 1200 AD. Today's France was the center of Romanesque architecture and the birthplace of one of the most beutiful features of medieval architecture, the ambulatory with radiating chapels. "Romanesque is the name we give to christian architecture in Western Europe from the end of the Roman Empire to about the close of the twelfth century. It is the architecture of a long period of struggle, suffering, and invenion leading to two centuries of glorious achievement." There are many reasons that the Romanesque cathedrals were built. They were built not only as a place of worship, but also to house the shrines of the relics brought back from the Holy Land by the Crusades. The remains of saints and martyrs attracted thousands of pilgrims seeking pardon from sins or miraculous cures or wished simply to pay homage to a favorite saint. The Romanesque period was an age of new and experimental architecture. One advancement in construction was the shift to all-stone structure that replaced the timber ceilings that caused many churches to burn down. One experimental architectural style was the use of stone barrel and groined vaults in the early Romanesque church. The stone vaulting let the architects build on a larger scale than before. The Gothic style emerged out of architectual style of the Romanesque cathedrals. The Gothic style started in northern France and spread throughout medieval Europe. The two styles of architecture were similar in many ways but also "The difference between Gothic and Romanesque architecture is the spiritual approach. In Romanesque,the emphasis was on transcendental and feudalistic systems whereas in the Gothic this approach was humanized and... ...le. They were successful at accomplishing this that not only did the cathedral serve its purpose of providing church services for the people, but also began to symbolize a commanding position in the lives of men and women. In conclusion, the Romanesque period of architecture transformed into the Gothic period of architecture for amny reasons. The shift occurred because of the inventions that the Gothic architects created, the locations of the two different styles of architecture, the raising of money for the cathedrals, and the competitiveness between the communities to havea better, bigger cathedral. Works Cited: Brooks, Chris.The Gothic Revival. London:Phaidon Press Ltd.,1999. Erlande, Alain. The Cathedral:The Social andArchitectual Dynamics of construction.New York:Cambridge University press,1994. Simson von,Otto. The Gothic Cathedral: Origins of Gothic Architecture and the Medieval Concept of Order. Princeton:Princeton University press,1988. Cathedrals. Kristen Schank. 5 dec. 1995. http://www5.palmnet.net/eschank/cathedral.html Gothic Architecture in England:The cathedrals. Amy Johansen. 9 may 1999. http://members.tripod.com/gothic_architecture/index.html

Sunday, November 10, 2019

BB&T Vision, Mission and Purpose statement

1. BB&T Vision, Mission and Purpose statement is considered an exemplary Mission Statement. Please read it and comment on the positives of this statement and defend your answer. I agree that BB&T Vision, Mission and Purpose statement can be used as an exemplary Mission Statement as it is well-organized and very informative. Firstly, this statement provides both theoretical and practical application – the example of Nicor Inc. mission statement is provided to illustrate how mission statements looks like and a theoretical explanation ensures deeper understanding of the subject.One more positive is that the paper outlines the importance of mission statement. It is argued that mission statement is business philosophy emphasizing the market, product and customer area and, thus, companies won’t ignore this moment. Further, mission statement outlines the most important questions about the goals and objectives directing and guiding in such a way company’s performance. Fi nally, mission statement provides detailed overview of the process of defining company’s mission statements.It would be of great help for companies which only started to run their own business. 2. BB&T Vision, Mission and Purpose statement is considered an exemplary Mission Statement. Please read it and comment on the negatives of this statement and defend your answer. It is rather hard to speak of negatives of the BB&T Vision, Mission and Purpose statement, but I think that it concentrates more on the process of developing mission statement and pays little attention to discussing its core elements as, for example, goals and objectives.In such a way, company gets acquainted with the process, but may fail to understand what is needed to initiate the process. Also I can’t agree that mission statement is necessary only if the company is forced to alter its products, technologies and market. According management and marketing fundamentals, no company can operate successful ly without mission statement as it hasn’t worked out direction and objectives.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Acids And Bases Essays - Chemistry, PH Indicators, Free Essays

Acids And Bases Essays - Chemistry, PH Indicators, Free Essays Acids And Bases What substances turned into Acids? & What substances turned into Bases? Hypothesis: Procedure: Pour about three milliliters of your sample in each of three test tubes. Pour the same amount on a watch glass. In the first test tube put in two drops of methyl orange and record the color. In the second test tube, put in two drops of bromothymol blue and record the color. In the third test tube, add two drops of phenothalein and record the color. Using the watch glass sample, touch the tips of a red and a blue litmus paper and record the colors. Then touch the tip of a piece of pH Paper and record the color and match the color to the chart and record the pH. Methyl O Bromothymol B Phenothalein R Litmus B Litmus pH Paper Color Congo R AA- orange/red yellow clear red red pink(1) purple OJ- red/orange yellow yellow red pink Orange(4) purple HA- red yellow clear red red red(2) purple Bleach-orange yellow clear red red orange(4) purple Vinegar-red yellow clear red red red(1) purple SH-orange blue red blue blue brown(12) orange Mouth wash-red yellow/green sky blue red red red(1) purple Lemon J-red yellow clear red red red(2) purple Windex-Orange blue clear red blue orange(6) red Plax-orange blue lilac red red orange(6) peach PickleJ-red yellow clear red red red(4) brown Di gel- yellow blue lilac blue blue yellow(7) red Conclusion: Acids are chemical compounds made up of nonmetallic elements or polyotomic ions combined with hydrogen. They react with metals to release hydrogen and have a pH less than 7. That is why litmus paper turns red. So anything that turned red in my chart was an acid. Bases are compounds made up of metallic elements or polyotomic ions combined with hydroxyl radicals. They are formed when some metals react with water and have a pH above 7. They turn litmus paper blue. So anything on my chart that is blue under litmus is Bases. So from my results it was very easy to clarify which substance was an acid and which one was a base.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free sample - P3 DB. translation missing

P3 DB. P3 DBThe incorporation of the bill of rights refers to the process by which the supreme court has applied sections of the Bill of Rights of U.S. to the states (Breyer, 2005). Before this incorporation, the bill of rights applied only to the federal government. The incorporation was to the effect that the states and local authorities now obey the incorporated protections and prohibitions. This is courtesy of the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment (Breyer, 2005). Some protections available to criminal offenders through the bill of rights have not been incorporated so states are not required to follow them. These include the right to indictment by a grand jury (Madison, 2008). This is quite evident since the constitutions of many states provide for indictment by grand jury contrary to the bill of rights. This especially happens when the case involved is a serious crime (Madison, 2008). The right to jury trial in civil cases has also not been incorporated. This is a right that allows juries to search for facts concerning the case while the determination of the case is left to be done by the judge (Madison, 2008). The jury basically listens to the case, evaluates the evidence presented before it to find facts and then makes a decision following the rules governing them as well as the law. Lastly, provisions for protections against â€Å"excessive† bail and â€Å"excessive† fines have not been incorporated and therefore not observed by the states (Madison, 2008). Substantive law focuses on the substance of the matter. Essentially, it defines how facts in the case are supposed to be handled and how the crime is to be charged (Kelvin, 2004). Substantive protections seek to reserve the individual’s authority to possess particular things even though the intention of the government may be to the contrary. Substantive due process requires that the police should make criminal defendants aware of their rights before any interrogation is made (Kelvin, 2004). For instance, the defendant should be informed of his/her right to remain silent as any information given would be used as evidence against him/her. This right is provided for in the fourth amendment (Kelvin, 2004). Procedural law on the other hand focuses on the process that the case will follow. It focuses on how proceedings as far as the enforcement of substantive law will take place (White, 2000). This process ensures fair administration of the law in order to eliminate arbitrary as well as unreasonable decisions. Procedural rights emphasize on fairness hence the government can lawfully take away freedom , life or property of an individual if the law says so be done (White, 2000). Procedural protection therefore gives defendants the right to be informed adequately of the particular charges or proceedings, the right to be heard as these proceedings are carried out, and the right to an impartial judgment from however is handling the case (White, 2000). In a nut shell therefore, substantive law is concerned with the creation, definitions and the regulation of rights while procedural law is concerned with the enforcement of these rights as well as redress in the event that the rights are violated (Kelvin, 2004). Protections which are substantive include: freedom of speech, and right to privacy while procedural protections include: the right to adequate notice of a law suit, the right to be present as testimony is given, as well as the right to have an attorney (Kelvin, 2004). References Breyer, S. (2005). Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution. New York: Knopf. Kelvin, R. (2004). Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice. Washington: Regnery Madison, A. (2008). A Dummies Guide to Understanding the Fourteenth Amendment . New York: Routledge. White, G. (2000). The Constitution and the New Deal. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Organisational performance development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Organisational performance development - Essay Example To improve their financial performance, businesses have been expanding their operations to foreign markets. One such company is IKEA, whose story is captured in a case study developed by Kippenberger (1997). In this article, Kippenberger (1997) extols the IKEA’s virtues and ethos and its business models. In a similar article, Jonathan (1988) discusses the IKEA’s pricing strategies and compares it with other flat-pack retailers based in the UK. This paper examines the IKEA’s key attributes and suggests ways through which they can be enhanced to create wealth and improve shareholder value. 2. Background IKEA is one of the privately held companies operating worldwide, and it sells flat pack furniture, and bathroom accessories.. The company is renowned for its flat-pack design furniture, which it sells at affordable prices. The IKEA’s origin can be traced to 1943 in Sweden, but it has since grown to 301 stores most of which are located in Europe, North America , Asia and Australia. The name IKEA is an acronym of the originator Ingvar Kamprad and the farm and village where he grew at. The growth of the company has been phenomenal starting in the 1950s, the company printed its first advertisements which were aired on different mass media platforms. The 1960s saw the company expand its presence in the neighbouring countries: Norway and Denmark. In 1970s, the company continued with its rapid expansion program by opening up stores in Germany, Australia, Canada, Austria and the Netherlands. In the UK, the company opened its first store in 1990s, then followed by Poland, Czech Republic, UAE, US, Spain and China. At the turn of the 21st century the company sought to increase its influence by opening retail stores in Russia and Japan. Throughout the years, the company has weathered stiff competition to emerge as one of the greatest furniture manufacturer and provider. It uses the hybrid strategy to provide its clientele with a wide variety of prod ucts and services. In order to control its costs, IKEA has embraced a standardized process and such strategy has helped the company maintain solid financial performance even after the 2008 financial turmoil. According to Ivarsson and Alvstam (2001) the company financial success can be traced to a confluence of many factors including: innovation, efficient supply chain management, ability to respond fast to the market conditions and customers’ needs. This report seeks to examine some of the key features of the IKEA’s business operations while suggesting ways through which it could be strengthened. The company’s vision is to ensure customers enjoy better life while its mission is to provide buyers with well designed furniture at affordable prices. Beside providing customers with affordable goods and services, the other objective of the company is to ensure that the customers receive standardized services in all its stores. To be able to serve its growing clientele , IKEA has a well established organizational structure headed by the CEO and its corporate structure is divided into two: operations and franchising. 3. Innovation and organizational stability 3.1 Innovation Through the one-suit model the company has been able to improve the popularity of its offerings all over the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Ocean Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Ocean Pollution - Essay Example The issue of pollution has continued so much due to relaxed rules and regulation and also due to the enactment of laws with loopholes which can be maneuvered easily. World corruption has also contributed to the relaxedness of the law hence continuo’s human misbehavior with the environment. There are so many different ways to clean our beaches which will help save the marine life, our health, and our earth. Teaching children the different ways to recycle in a fun way can be a great idea. If we put time and effort to learn the steps to keeping this earth clean and telling others, keeping the ocean clean would mean a much healthier planet. Having uncontaminated water would mean eating healthy seafood which will make healthier people. Jobs that require monitoring and cleaning the beaches would help the economy a great deal amount. Having clean oceans give people a good place to do their recreations. Many people do not clean the beaches because they think it is too expensive, but in reality, the long-term effects will be way more expensive and hurt our sea animals, human health and our planet overall. We have a responsibility to clean our planet; it is the simple steps we take that will make a huge difference to this generation and other generations to come. Proper implementation of these laws and treaties, and international agreement like marine protection, research and sanctuary Act, will play an important role in reducing and preventing marine debris, plastic pollution and other marine pollution which are experience in the marine life.