Sex Eduacation in School

Sex Education Sex education in the United States has experienced serious changes over the past three decades. It all started in 1981 the Reagan Administration, with federal funding promoting abstinence-only-until-marriage to sex education programs. The support of this abstinence only until marriage idea has increased exponentially since 1996. Although this approach seen to be beneficial to many in the sense at rates of teen pregnancy would decrease. Many others see the prohibitive nature of this approach to be controversial.The public also show the need for sex education programs to include not only abstinence but also to include information about contraceptives as well. This excessive priority on promoting only one sex-education method seems to be at odds with what the high mass of adults and teenagers think is more important. For example in a the national survey published in 2007, out of 1000 adults and 100 teenagers organized by the National Campaign to Prevent teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.In the survey it was acknowledged that even though most of adults (93%) and teens (90%) believe that providing young teens with information about abstinence is an important message to give out. In the same survey more than the half of adults (73%) and teens (56%) also believed that the young people need way more information about abstinence and contraception than what they are given today, rather than either/or. These results of having teens comprehend sex education are more consistent with the previous survey conducted such as programs that rather only promote abstinence-only-until-marriage.More surveys have shows the promoting abstinence only has become more ineffective. The medical journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescents Medicine in 2005 to 2006 performed a surveys resulting with overwhelming support of 83% for a comprehensive approach and with only 36% supporting only abstinence education. In the January and February 2007 issue of Public health Reports announced that premarital sex is not out of the ordinary as many would think it is.According to the reports by the age 20, 77% of applicants have had sex, 75% have had premarital sex, and 12% had married; by the age 44, 95% of the applicants have had premarital sex. After these results, many people argue that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are neither practical nor realistic now days. Randy Elder a task force member of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in November 2009 Washington Post articles stating that â€Å"There is sufficient evidence that comprehensive risk reduction efforts are effective. He further explains â€Å"As regards abstinence education, after a similar look the task force determined that based on a number of problems with the studies presented to them there was insufficient evidence to determine their effectiveness. † Author Kat long informs in her March 2008 article for the Gay Gender issues Web site called â€Å"Abstinence Teac hing Ignores LSBT’s. † In her article it reads â€Å"There rules imply that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students will not fit into the ‘expected standards’ of human sexuality.They also infer same-sex relationships are less meaningful and legitimate than opposite-sex ones and may cause ‘harmful’ effects. † Also according to analysis by the Washington University law Review in an article titled â€Å"Abstinence-only Education Fails African American Youth’. This article states that â€Å"Black adolescents’ higher rates of sexual activity couple with evidence of their fundamentally different attitudes towards sex relative to Whites adolescents suggest that abstinence-only sex education is bound to be ineffective among Black youth. Some policies changes that are about to happen be President Obama appears to be ready to sign into law the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by the Congress in December 2009. This wou ld be the first time since 1981 that abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education programs will not be receive any funding. Some of the abstinence programs would be replaced by comprehensive programs that target to reduce the number of teen pregnancy. This policy started in 2010. In the study by Margaret J. Blythe is a professor of pediatrics at University School of Medicine and chair for the Committee on Adolescence, American Academy of Pediatrics.It states that â€Å"Comprehensive sexuality education emphasizes abstinence as the best option for adolescents, but also provides age-appropriate, medically accurate discussion and information for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. † People against comprehensive sexuality education don’t understand that when this program also emphasized abstinence while still offering age-appropriate instruction to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to prevent unwanted pregnancies for teens who are having ex. With programs such as abstinence only have proven to delay sexual intercourse and also refuse to inform the youth about condoms and safe sex. Without this information it leaves the young people less prepared to protect themselves. In fact, not only is abstinence-only programs ineffective but it also can cause harm to the young that may practice it. Abstinence-only provides incomplete and inaccurate information and resulting in participants failure to use safer sex practices once they start have intercourse.In a national study, sexual health risks of adolescents who received abstinence-only education and those who received comprehensive sex education to those who received none. Teenagers who were reported having received comprehensive sex education programs before coming cross to any sexual intercourse were extremely less likely to report a teenage pregnancy compared to other teenagers that received no sexual education and while there were no effect of absti nence-only education. Some of the problems with abstinence-only education would be schools failure to help students understand and embrace their sexuality.This has become a problem to particular for kids for color, who represent a big majority in many public schools around the country. Too many of the colored young teens are left to sort through this confusing times and are left with little or even no guidance. Blacks and Latinos account for 83% of teen HIV infections. Black girls are more than four times likely to get gonorrhea as their peers. Also a chronic bacterial disease known as syphilis has increased greatly among the Black teenage boys and slowly starting to increase among the Latino boys.In late 2006, the federal health monitors announced that teenage pregnancy went up for the first time that year since 15 years. Teenage pregnancies were more common among Black and Native American teenage girls. Since 1997 the federal government had invested more than $1. 5 billion dollars in abstinence-only programs, which were proven to be ineffective programs in which blocked and excluded information that could help young people to protect their own health. But the President Barack Obama administration’s proposed budgets for Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) to remove funding for abstinence-only programs.Instead to create funding for programs that have been proven to be effective at reduce teen pregnancy, delaying sexual activity, or increasing contraceptive use. Not surprisingly, the only program that they found to work was comprehensive sex education programs. Researcher Douglas Kirby for the National Campaign to End Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy examined studies of prevention programs. Two-thirds of the 48 comprehensive sex ed programs studies had positive effects. * 40 percent delayed sexual initiation, reduced the number of sexual partners, or increased condoms or contraceptives use. 30 percent reduced the frequency of sex, including a return to abstinence. * 60 percent reduced unprotected sex. After many research done to determine whether abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education is better for the young teens. It has clearly showed that comprehensive sex education does not encourage teens to start having sexual intercourse, does not increase the frequency with teens have intercourse, and does not increase the number of teenage sexual partners. At the same time, surveys and evaluations have shown repeatedly no positive changes in sexual behaviors over time when it comes to abstinence-only programs.Even though comprehensive sex education is very beneficial to teenagers it is very important that students take responsibility for their sexual health. Caitlin Myers from Southern Methodist University (SMU) class of 2009, involved with the college’s newspapers. As a contributing writer to the Daily Campus, wrote an article named â€Å"Sexual Health† which emphasizes that all students meaning male and female should have to take r esponsibility for their sexual behavior. Overall the only strategy that would work most effectively is comprehensive sex education.Children and adolescents need accurate and comprehensive education about sexuality not only to practice healthy sexual behaviors as adults but also to avoid early risky sexual activity that may lead to health problems. Comprehensive sexuality education is an effective strategy for helping young people delay initiation of sexual intercourse. In several published and well evaluated studies is has shown that sex education is a better choice rather than abstinence-only-until-marriage. Work Cited â€Å"Children Have the Right to Comprehensive Sex Education† by Barbara Miner. Do Children Have Rights? Christine Watkins, Ed.At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2011. Barbara Miner, â€Å"We're Here. We're Sexual. Get Used to It,† Colorlines, May-June 2008. â€Å"Comprehensive Sex Education Is Effective† by Margaret J. Blythe. Sexually Transmitt ed Diseases. Roman Espejo, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints ® Series. Greenhaven Press, 2011. Margaret J. Blythe, â€Å"Testimony of Margaret J. Blythe, MD, FAAP, FSAM, on Behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics,† Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, United States House of Representatives, April 23, 2008. â€Å"Comprehensive Sex Education Reduces Teen Pregnancy† by Advocates for Youth.Teen Pregnancy and Parenting. Lisa Krueger, Ed. Current Controversies Series. Greenhaven Press, 2011. Advocates for Youth, adapted from â€Å"Comprehensive Sex Education: Research and Results,† September 2009. www. advocatesforyouth. org. â€Å"Sex Education. † Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Students Need to Take Responsibility for Their Sexual Health† by Caitlin Myers. Student Life. Karen Miller, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints ® Series. Greenhaven Press , 2011. Caitlin Myers, â€Å"Sex, STIs and Responsibility,† Daily Campus, April 16, 2008.

Stephen Crane’s The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky

Upon reading Stephen Crane’s (91) The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky, the initial reaction was surprise. In the climax of the story, there was no gun slinging, no gun shot, and no body dropping on the ground. It seems to be a different kind of Western from those usually read in novels and seen in the movies. Yet, upon a greater examination of the story, it would become clear that Crane is portraying a different kind of Western—one in which he delights his readers and at the same time shows a different face of the men in a western setting (Petry 45).This paper seeks to look at the short story and look at the metaphors that Crane employed as well as Crane’s portrayal of the changing times in the West. This paper will also look at the setting and the time in the story and relate the development of the story to the underlying changes going on in the story. Crane’s short story does not contain the usual elements of the Western story but he artfully uses the genre to delight people and show the changes going on in the community of Yellow Sky. The Story The story is about the efforts of Jack Potter, the marshal of the town in bringing his new wife to Yellow Sky.He went all the way to San Antonio to fetch his wife and transported her via train. Yellow Sky is a frontier town in Texas at a time when the civilization is encroaching upon the environment of the Old West. Crane’s story had the makings of a Western—there was a train, a town in the Old West, the challenges for fights and duels as well as the bar where cowboys gather and drink. By the end of the story, however, Crane does away with the typical idea feature of a Western—the gunfight and seems to proclaim that the end of violent gunfight and duels is at an end.The story has four parts and it shows the interaction of the character with the environment and the society that he has. Surprisingly, the wife of Jack Potter does not have a name. Although she plays an important part in the story, she seems to represent only the role of women in marriage and in raising a man’s family. The first part of the story shows Jack Potter, without naming him, coming from San Antonio with his wife on a train, the â€Å"Great Pullman† traveling throughout Texas. In this section of the story, Crane masterfully shows the lack of orientation of Jack and his wife to the luxury and the elegance of the train.He portrayed them as follows: â€Å"To the minds of the pair, their surroundings reflected the glory of their marriage that morning in San Antonio. This was the environment of their new estate, and the man's face in particular beamed with an elation that made him appear ridiculous to the negro porter. This individual at times surveyed them from afar with an amused and superior grin. † (Crane 92). Clearly, the couple appeared to be simple compared with the luxurious train that they were traveling in that even the negro porter looked at them with disd ain.As the train nears Yellow Sky, Jack Porter becomes anxious and restless. Apparently, he feels guilty over leaving the town without much of an announcement of where he is going and what his purposes in leaving was. There appear to be two possibilities as to the guilt of Jack. One is that marshals of a town may not marry due to the necessities of the job that they have to perform, or that he has gone â€Å"headlong over all the social hedges† (93) by not informing his friends and his family as to his getting married.This also explains why in the story, Jack Porter leads his wife quietly to the place where they will stay. Crane then shows the two adversaries—Scratchy Wilson and Jack Porter through the eyes of the six men and the Eastern drummer at the Gentleman Saloon. As the drummer recounts a story, the door of the Saloon opens with another man saying that Scratchy Wilson is drunk and is looking for his enemy, Jack Porter. This incident builds up the expectation tha t some shooting will occur in the vicinity. Scratchy is further introduced as one of the last member of the gang to hang out in Yellow Sky.Scratchy then appears in the third part of the story and he is portrayed complete with the gun and swaying gait that cowboys have in Western stories. Stories set in the American West have already achieved the level of legend and portrays elements of heroic literature (Cortese 122). Scratchy then begins shooting in the area, which is tantamount to issuing a challenge against anyone who cares for a gunfight. He then walks from the Saloon to Jack Porter’s house and issues a warning and expletives against Jack.The last part of the story is where Scratchy and Jack Porter meet. It is situated near the house of Jack and the wife of the latter is in plain sight of Scratchy. Scratchy then challenges Jack for a gunfight. Jack responds by saying that he has no gun. Scratchy rages against Jack and says â€Å"don’t take me for no kid† (Cr ane 98). He was still expecting Jack to answer his challenge for a gunfight. Jack then talks with Scratchy, saying that he does not really have a gun. Jack Porter then made the admission that he has no gun because he has married.Because of the suddenness of it all, Scratchy could not deal with it and simply walked away and declared that â€Å"it’s all off now† (99). Works Cited Cortese, James. â€Å"Bourgeois Myth and Anti-Myth: The Western Hero of the Fifties,† SubStance, 5. 15 (1976), 122-132. Crane, Stephen. â€Å"Bride Comes to Yellow Sky,† Literature: The Human Experience, 8th edn. Ed. Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz. Boston: Bedford, 2002. (91–99). Petry, Alice Hall. â€Å"Crane’s the Bride Comes to Yellow Sky. † The Explicator, 42. 1 (1983) 45-47.

Evidence-Based Practice In Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence-Based Practice In Nursing - Essay Example In the field of nursing and medicine, the already existing medical knowledge is undergoing advances with every passing minute. For that matter, it is important for a student nurse or a practicing one to be in touch with these developments and a feasible way for that is research conduction. It not only broadens the horizon for the researcher but also if the conducted research is good enough it proves to be a useful tool for fellow professionals in the setting. Mosby’s Medical Dictionary (2009) defines Evidence-Based Practice as health care practice in which the practitioner, be it the doctor, nurse or any other healthcare professional, finds sifts through and then uses the latest and appropriate research findings for his clinical decision making. The evidence-based practice has been integrated into almost all professions including medicine, nursing, psychiatry, law, etc. With the ever improving sophistication of professional dealings, the responsibility increase on the shoulders of a nurse, a doctor or any other professional for that matter, to provide the best possible quality of service. This is where evidence-based practice comes into play. By developing patient-centered approaches in the delivery of quality care using the latest evidence available, evidence-based care can be implemented in nursing practice (Emanuel, et al. 2011). Field and Lohr (1992) define clinical practice guidelines as statements which are developed systematically in order to assist practitioners and patients alike in their decision making regarding requisite health care for various scenarios.

Rowlandson's self-presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rowlandson's self-presentation - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to examine Rowlandson’s narrative, discussing her self-description throughout the captivity ordeal. According to Rowlandson ,2 prior to her capture, she lived in prosperity with all the comforts of the world, including wealth and family. She also disregarded others around her, dismissing their suffering, poverty and losses. As a consequence, Rowlandson believed that God was punishing her by taking away all her comforts in order to ensure that she became aware of all that God had given her. Rowlandson’s description of her plight under captivity typifies the Puritan culture and the purpose of religion and gender in the Puritan society. 3In accordance with Puritan beliefs, Rowlandson repeatedly quotes Bible verses so as to affirm her descriptions of the world of contrast, consisting of good and evil and light and darkness. Rowlandson’s utilization of scripture demonstrates how she drew strength from the Bible in her time of weakness, typ ifying Puritan beliefs in the providence and grace of God and how they shape all worldly events. For instance, when she was unaware of her children’s whereabouts, she opted to cast her burden to God in order to receive sustenance. Essentially, this narrative demonstrates the inherent differences between the cultures of colonists and natives. This account is valuable since it provides a female perspective in a field that is largely dominated by males. Rowlandson’s account of her eleven weeks in captivity provides a succinct description of the way non-Puritan individuals faced incredible devastations. Through Rowlandson’s experiences, it becomes clear how Americans considered other societies, including colonists with extreme disdain. Rowlandson shows how Indians captured Puritans such as herself in order to use them primarily for their skills. Indian natives required Rowlandson to knit clothes for them, allowing her to keep living since they deemed her skills to b e beneficial to them. Rowlandson’s narrative is remarkable since it provided a way through which a Puritan woman could have an individual voice within the Puritan society. Rowlandson’s narrative was one of the best books of its time since it offered a long-lasting impact on the history of women within the colonial society.4 Throughout her narrative, Rowlandson grants a voice to Puritan women who were initially silenced by male dominance in a society that deemed women more as property possessed by men, than individuals capable of maintaining their individuality and self-awareness. In her narrative, Rowlandson details her struggles not only as an individual living in the Puritan society, but as a woman whose individuality was stripped by the Puritan society’s excessive focus on men. The vast majority of narratives written regarding Indian captivity were composed by women since they served as interesting subjects compared to their male counterparts. 5Rowlandsonâ₠¬â„¢s narrative is significant owing to the time in which it was composed; the account chronicles the early relations between Indians and Europeans. Rowlandson’s narrative shows how she attempted to affirm her sense of identity as a Puritan woman. In the Puritan society, women and men were deemed equal on the spiritual front but were considered inferior to men on the social scene. This is evidenced by women’s inability to vote or play a vital role in the public arena, akin to slaves and children. Through the account of her struggles in captivity,

Unit 1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Unit 1 - Coursework Example Cisco is no longer supporting IGRP because further improvements on the RIP platform were needed thus Enhanced IGRP was developed. IGRP was replaced by the EIGRP protocol. This is because there are fewer IPv4 addresses left, and IGRP assumes all element of a class belong to same subnet while EIGRP uses VLSM to maximize the IPv4 addresses left. Change of algorithm to Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) used by EIGRP is also a contributing factor to the phasing out of |IGRP (Lammle, 2014). EIGRP takes features of both link-state, and a distance vector protocol thus is a hybrid dynamic routing protocol. EIGRP is event driven and routing information are sent in case of change in network or during startup. This is a link state characteristic. EIGRP also sends routing table information to its immediate neighbors, which is a distance vector characteristic (Donahue, 2011). OSPF has many advantages over EIGRP namely: OSPF is usable on a multi-vendor platform while EIGRP is a CISCO only solution which is limiting. As written by Southwick et al. (2011), SPF supports hierarchical networks while EIGRP is mostly used in flat networks and does not support scalability (p.

This is about International Relations Theory look assignment criteria Essay

This is about International Relations Theory look assignment criteria please - Essay Example However, the formerly mentioned one guided the world towards taking strong and precisely designed military action in order to neutralize the powerful state of that time. The debate was famous for happening in the mid of 1930s and 40s (Jackson & Sorensen 2013). The idealist scholars and theorists urged the world to converge and consequently resolve their issues with the help of international institutions and the elementary argument of this school of thought was the needed growth of economic and fiscal interdependencies so that econometric interests of the entire world can be streamlined. The modern world of international business is representing the practical application of historical idealist theory because nationality was believed to be the base of every war and therefore, internationalization of economic world forces the national level management towards collaboration with other countries and as a result, the traditional animosities of nations are known to degrade because greater l evel of globalization is taking place in the global marketplace. The nations are primarily busy in developing national level competitive advantage. The growing economic pressures in the global market are identified as the primary force that is compelling the nations to grow their collaborative efforts with other economies. The challenges of terrorism and global unemployment and recession are few instances of confronts that require global integration of resources’ deployment. Thusly, it can be argued that violent wars cannot be stopped by supporting more violence but they can be controlled via promoting trade and business because these measures have the power required to impress the humanity with fruits and benefits of collaborative existence and finally, the time is not far away when humans will embrace the idea of global citizenship. Q.2 The notion of unipolarity states that one nation or region will accumulate the power and strength to influence the cultural and value-based outlook of the entire world. The bipolarity and multipolarity tend to establish that human civilizations have different culture and societal realities and therefore, their populations’ mindset are notably different from each other. The difference in cultural norms is significantly noted to be present in case of personal and private values (Jackson & Sorensen 2013). But, corporate culture all around the world is exhibiting Americanization and therefore, the law of effort is prevailing in all parts of the world. Still, few regions are trying to keep their cultural outlook and identity intact. The cultural experts are of the view that they will eventually fail as globalization is going to eat away each and every cultural and normative difference across cultures and nations while, leaving the world with a common culture in a few decades. Therefore, according to modern way of thinking, unipolarity will become a norm in the near future and because of this reason, national and regi onal level conflict will further degrade. In this way, humans may learn to live peacefully as cultural differences are believed to be the major causes of conflict in humanity’s history. Q.3 The liberals believe that democratic governments come into power due to public’s voting authority and therefore, they are well aware of the fact that they are needed to go back to the masses in order to get support in the next election. The need to win the subsequent elections causes the

The 2008 Presidential Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The 2008 Presidential Campaign - Essay Example 3. The voting public became re-engaged with politics and voter turnout soared after decades of apathy. Voting is the ultimate protection that the citizens have for their liberty and freedom. The increase in voter turnout affirmed that Americans care about these basic human rights and dignities. 4. The large voter turnout of youth aged 18-29 was a significant milestone because it shows an interest in civic participation by the people that will be tomorrow's leaders. It was the second largest turnout of this age group in history, only outdone in 1972 when 18 year olds were first granted the right to vote. 6. Barak Obama's campaign financing broke new ground as it relied on millions of small donations, rather than a few highly concentrated and wealthy contributors. This spread the responsibility evenly and made the funding of the campaign more democratic. 7. Barak Obama's use of technology was a milestone of campaign management that will need to be either copied or improved upon for all future candidates. Obama was able to instantly communicate with his supporters and get instant feedback on the issues. 8. Health care finally entered the public discussion during the 2008 campaign, with almost all the candidates offering a program.

Discussion 2 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion 2 - Article Example t will require continued changes in the nursing practice because the learners and faculty have to learn how to respect the diverse population with different beliefs and values. As noted by Diekelmann, (2012) in page 6, there is also a shortage of nursing faculty which has a constraint on nursing education. There are also changes in student demographics because the racial and ethnic diversity among students in schools is increasing. In addition, students are now entering nursing schools at older ages with different work experiences. Many are raising families and there are those with full-time careers. This has a constraint on their education because it needs a lot of flexible schedules. The other factor affecting nursing education is the technological explosion in the health sector. A look at the current scenario in the health care sector shows that there is rapid growth in technology resulting to a radical impact on how nurses get educated (Willis Commission on Nursing Education, 2012). It has promoted the technological applications for example, telemedicine. Therefore, nurses in this century not only have to learn on concepts of health promotion, reduction of risks and disease prevention among others but need to be skilled in the use of computers. There is also distance learning that links students from different locations with the nursing faculty. The advancing technology continues to stimulate the critical thinking of students and their acquisition of skills in environments which are

Young Goodman Brown Essay Example for Free

Young Goodman Brown Essay Young Goodman Brown is a story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne with many interpretations. It is a story of Young Goodman Brown’s adventure that many believe was a journey away from home. Some people believe that he was trying to get at the community and everyday social life. One way to interpret it is that Young Goodman Brown was simply taking a journey in his sleep a dream. When reading this story, there are many ways to interpret it as a dream. Hawthorne says, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown came forth, at sunset, into the street of Salem†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1289) which could literally mean the sun is setting and that night is coming upon him. He also says that Brown â€Å"put his head back† (1289) which could reference him lying down before bed. After this, he kisses his wife Faith, and leaves her to go on his â€Å"journey. † I feel that he is really kissing her goodnight before he goes to sleep. When he â€Å"looked back, and saw the head of the Faith still peeping after him,† he is really opening his eyes and see that she is still awake. When Goodman Brown sees that Faith is still awake he says â€Å"God bless you and you may find all well, when you come back† (1289), I interpreted all this as Goodman Brown had been cheating on Faith. In the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown â€Å"came forth† (1289), or came home, meaning he had not been there the whole time. Goodman Brown even asks Faith, â€Å"dost thou doubt me already, and we but three months married! † Stating the fact that she is starting to doubt Goodman Brown and their relationship. I also interpreted the wife’s name Faith as faith in their relationship. Goodman Brown’s dream begins when he â€Å"leave[s] her [Faith] on such an errand† (1289). Leaving her could either be the realization of his cheating, or him falling asleep. When he begins to describe his journey, he says that he â€Å"had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest†¦ It was as lonely as could be; and there was peculiarity in such a solitude, that the traveler knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs overhead; so that, with lonely footsteps he may yet be passing through an unseen multitude† (1289). The dreary, gloomy, lonely road represents the road in which he has decided to take by cheating. The people being concealed by the tree trunks represent possible friends of Faith’s that could catch Goodman Brown and tell his wife. The unseen multitude signifies the many lovers. Later in the story, Goodman Brown meets up with his companion that is never given a name. I interpreted the companion as not the devil, which he is portrayed as, but the temptation to cheat. The character is described to have a â€Å"staff, which bears the likeness of a great black snake† (1290) which symbolizes deceitfulness when portrayed in stories. When Goodman Brown and the traveler approach the elderly woman, she screams â€Å"The Devil! (1291) The last reference is when the companion â€Å"plucked a branch of maple†¦began to strip the twigs†¦[but] the moment his fingers touched them, they became strangely withered and dried up. † (1292). This represents the traveler taking something good (Goodman Brown’s marriage) and turning it into something bad by ‘his touch’ or the act of cheating. After cheating for a while, Goodman Brown is able to break away from habit and go off into the forest. The dream continues and soon sees people he knows from town and hears Faith’s sorrowful voice surround Goodman Brown. Faith asks him for a favor that she seems to think is unattainable and the ‘unseen multitude’ (earlier described as many lovers) is encouraging her. Goodman Brown starts to shout in desperation and realizes Faith is gone. At that point his dream turns into a nightmare. Goodman Brown laughed, â€Å"when the wind laughed at him† (1294) and â€Å"there could be nothing more frightful than the figure of Goodman Brown. † (1294) In his dream, Goodman Brown attended church the next day and did not see Faith. Goodman than â€Å"glance[d] at his pale wife, and Faith at him. † He then told her to â€Å"resist the wicked one† (1297). This could be interpreted as Faith’s opportunity to cheat and Goodman Brown telling her not too. Goodman Brown soon â€Å"staggered against a rock and felt it chill and damp, while a hanging twig, that had been all on fire, besprinkled his cheek with the coldest dew. † (1297) This part of the story could be interpreted as him waking up from his dream because he goes back to where the dream began. At the end of the story, Goodman Brown asks himself if he had â€Å"fallen asleep in the forest, [or] only dreamed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He â€Å"shrank from the bosom of Faith†¦scowled and muttered to himself, and gazed sternly at his wife, and turned away†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1298). Goodman Brown realizes his life has been a lie and begins to resent every moment he has with Faith after the realization of his dream. When he dies, †they carve no hopeful verse upon his tomb-stone; for his dying hour was in gloom. † Goodman Brown’s dream changed his life. It made him realize that he had been cheating on Faith, but she, in turn, had the chance to make the same mistake. When he awakens, he loathes his actions he has previously committed and makes his life not only miserable for himself, but for Faith and their family. Young Goodman Brown was young when he fell in love with Faith, but not a good man at all.

North and South Korea Essay Example for Free

North and South Korea Essay North Korea and South Korea are similar but yet different in many ways, such as in economies. North Koreas economy seems to need support from other countries to survive. South Korea’s seem too able to rebuild their economy even stronger than it was before from the Korean War. North Korea is under a strict communist dictatorship. N. Koreas leader is Kim Jong II. He came to power in 1994 after his father died. North Korea has a large military and command economy. The average Korean person lives in poverty. The impoverished population is dependent on government taxes in housing and food. The farming is based on inefficient communist state farms. Drought and floods cause food shortage. In 1990, when the Soviet Union aid collapsed, North Korea economy collapsed with it. South Korea’s economy is military dominated. In South Korea, there is more rights and freedom than North Korea. With the help of U.S., they were able to recover after the Korean War. They developed from a poor country into an industrial export economy in just a few years. Now, South Korea has major industries such as shipbuilding, steel, automobiles, textiles, and electronics. In order to rebuild their economy, they set up a business model. Chaebol is a family-owned business, dominated South Korea economy and political system. They control about all of the manufacturing and exports in South Korea, with this factor it prevents competition from other countries and led to corruption and debt. South Korea’s government passed out forms to improve their country economy with ideas of have an open market to foreign investment and competition. S. Korea’s capital, Seoul, is the growing industrial center of South Korea. Seoul became successful after the Korean War. South Korea economy is a market economy system and North Korea has central planned economy. South Korea market economy has improved, in thing such as GDP of domestic product, since the Korean War.

Meeting Energy Demands of the Growing Population

Meeting Energy Demands of the Growing Population Literature review Nowadays, an important factor for economic and social development is energy sufficiency. Energy is the fuel of growth. Scientists predictions show that by the year 2050, energy demand will increase significantly due to the fact of the increasing population of the earth and that more buildings are going to be constructed. (Ref: Facts and trends, energy and climate, world business). A lot of predictions are published about how fast the population, the economy and the energy consumption of the world will increase in the years and decades to come. In reference to the matter of growth, development and energy demand, most of the predictions were wrongly made. Most predictions are reciprocally dependant on each other, and each one relies on many other factors. However, the only prediction that can be securely made is for the population and that the growth will be larger in the less development countries than the developed countries. (UNITED NATIONS) Developed countries are managing to improve the living conditions and decrease the death rates, but at the same time the birth rates have been decreasing at about the same rate over the last century. By this way the population growth is around 0.4% per year, in the industrialized world. On the other hand, less developed countries are managing their development and as a result have increased birth rates and decreased death rates. Consequently, their average population growth has increased from about 1% per year, from fifty years ago to about 2.1% per year today. At the moment, the worlds population is increasing at an annual rate of 1,7%, whereas the population in developed countries is around 1,2 billion (25% of the total) and in less developed countries is around 4 billion (75% of total world population). (United Nations) Population increases are directly connected with the energy demand and the building sector. It is therefore essential to develop new energy technologies on a massive scale for everyone to be able to survive on this planet. Ordinary buildings are unable to contribute to these essential needs, and cover the gush of the energy demand which is going to follow over the next decade. Energy use and climate impacts Power plants use fossil fuels for their energy productions and therefore this way cover the energy demands of the people. As a consequence though, from the burning of the fossil fuels, green house gases are produced and emitted into the atmosphere. As mentioned in the introduction, these anthropogenic activities have a significant contribution to the green house effect and the climate changes. Generally, in reference to the climate changes issues, scientists opinions are split into two. On the one hand, it is believed that the changes are part of the earths life and it is something normal which has been accelerated by our human activities and there is a possibility to stabilize the climate changes. On the other hand, it is believed that these changes are not normal and are going to make the world uninhabitable. For this reason, fast and immediate actions should be taken by all countries, targeting to reduce the energy demands and green house gases. It is almost definite that any of these actions will have a deep impact on the economy of each country. Many people believe that energy saving, means diminishing the current quality of living and reducing economy activity. In addition, economists believe that without economic growth, investments on technology will be reduced as it will difficult to confront climate changes. On the other hand, scientists argue that technological development is the key to the solution in reference to the climate changes problem. The truth is that, any solution in reference to climate changes will need an effort from everyone and investments on technological research and development, giving us this way a chance for a better future! IPCCs fourth assessment report further concluded that the building sector is not only the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also that this potential is relatively independent of the cost per ton of CO2 eqv. achieved. With proven and commercially available technologies, the energy consumption in both new and old buildings can be cut by an estimated 30-50 percent without significantly increasing investment costs. Energy savings can be achieved through a range of measures including smart design, improved insulation, low-energy appliances, high efficiency ventilation and heating/cooling systems, and conservation behaviour from the buildings users. (Reference- IPCCs fourth assessment report) Summarising the above it is obvious that the population growth, economic development, human habits, way of living and environmental restrictions influence the energy demand around the world. Scientists and in general, the governments who are trying to give solutions to the big problem of the growing energy demands and its consequences, have to take into account all of these factors. Reshaping the energy future It is necessary for all countries to reshape the future of energy, as all scientific researches show. The actual word reshape, includes new innovation technologies and sources which are going to contribute to the energy needs of the world. It is necessary to find new paths which are further environmental friendly and will permit a better future. A lower carbon world is feasible in the next decade even during the next few years, if all countries can realize that significant changes that should be done. This especially applies to the developed countries as they have to reconsider and find a link between the quality of life and their energy consumption. It is necessary for everyone to understand that a high standard of living does not demand a high consumption of energy and to adapt to the new energy sources. The good news is that small changes in the energy scenery are now visible as many have started to be influenced. For example, the raised use of gas, the use of renewable energy on buildings, everyday life and high efficiency cars are some of the small steps that have been offered to people due to technological development. As figure three shows, the IPCC scenarios (A1B-AIM and B2-AIM) were based on the new technological achievements in the energy sector. It is definite that this evolution is not enough for our earths climate but the two scenarios predict a possible CO2 stabilization. Finally, efforts to create an energy efficient world are starting, in reference to low carbon technologies and effective measures. (Reference-world business facts and trends on climate change) As stated in the report of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) a lower carbon world would require a marked shift in the energy/development relationship, such as similar development levels to be achieved with an average of 30% less energy use. Both energy conservation through behavioural changes and energy efficiency via technology plays a role. Such a trend is a feature of the IPCC B1 storyline, which sees a future with a globally coherent approach to sustainable development. It describes a fast-changing and convergent world toward a service and information economy, with reductions in material intensity and the introduction of clean and resource efficient technologies. The scenario leads to relatively low GHG emissions, even without explicit interventions to manage climate change.'(Reference Energy and climate change, world business) A Sustainable World Energy Perspective An important key to the worlds energy problem is sustainable development. Sustainability includes the economic and technological development, which respect and protect the environment. Searching literature for an exact definition of sustainable development, guided us to the The Brundtland Report of the UN World Commission on Environment and Development. In this report a definition of sustainable development, is given: Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs However it is difficult to find exact definitions which represent the sustainable development accurately, due to the fact that it is an idea which involves too many parameters. (Reference Engineering_for_Sustainable_Development) It is amazing to see how the sustainable development concept, stays on important issues of discussion even with the passing of tweedy years from the Brundtland report. In this concept, development faces three important paths: the economic, the social and the environmental (figure 4). If governments want to meet these targets it is necessary to carry out innovative technologies and a socio-economic approach. Nevertheless, sustainable development is not the only problem and therefore it is always important to consider the three major paths. Protection of the environment, economic success and improvement of social conditions, will be the achievements of a flourishing sustainable development. These three paths are linked together for a sustainable development and their integration must be equal without any compromises. The goal of sustainable development is, to point out the importance of the environment to the public who are now alive and for the coming generations. It is important for everyone to understand that our existence depends on the global environment and every decision of this generation is going to affect the lives of our future generations. Thus for this goal to be achievable, it is necessary to take measures for low green house emissions, use renewable sources and improve the energy consumption of our current lives. Governments and engineers are searching for the best way to come within reach of this goal as it is very difficult for developed and developing countries to achieve it. Presently, the building sectors involvement is essential because of its deep impact on energy consumption, its significant emissions and its use of huge natural sources. The buildings that currently exist will continue to exist, for more than 30 years and therefore this influences the lives of future generations. A sustainable approach of this sector is necessary due to its rapid growth. The new approach for the buildings sector will include buildings which will need less energy to operate, produce low carbon emissions, use environmental friendly materials and produce their own energy from renewable sources. It is almost definite that the sustainable green development of the building sector will help countries accomplish the targets of the Kyoto Protocol, whilst also guarantee at the same time, the future for coming generations. Evolution of the buildings and the opportunity for change. As believed by many, buildings are our third skin and this plays an important role for humans to survive. From the beginning of human history, humans always aimed to try and protect themselves from all weather conditions and all changes, developing due to this, different kinds of shelters. Over the years, humans adapted and managed to survive all the different changes that have happened on earth. The question now, is what will happen whilst we are facing the rapid climate changes and what will be the future consequences? Hundreds of thousands year ago, people moved from place to place and tried to create the best conditions to live in. Depending on the place, whether hot or cold, humans developed different kind of shelters to protect themselves from the heat of the sun in the deserts, or the cold of the northern climates. Studies of these people movements over the years, shows us a big variety of shelters and developments of different ways in order to face the climate conditions. Other factors, which determine the humans survival techniques in extreme conditions from the past, like the lower attitude of the Arctic Circle, were the design of the buildings, the quality of clothes and the behavioural adaptations, like changing posture, activity level sand choosing the most comfortable space to occupy, by moving around rooms and buildings and landscapes; and then of course the use of energy from the burning of fossil fuels or the careful use of stored energy in heat or cold stores. (Adapting building cities for climate change) Another extraordinary point from past decades is the energy issue. People mainly used coal, wood and water to provide themselves with enough energy, whether in a passive or active manner and covered in this way, their need for heating or cooling. By taking advantage of the natural and available energy resources, humans managed to develop houses which were ready for all extreme weather conditions. All these extreme weather conditions made humans innovate new approaches for buildings, and provide them with a more comfortable life. An interesting approach of surviving all the climate changes is to move to different areas at the respective time of the year, which is when they are comfortable, and to leave them again when they are not – to migrate. (Adapting building cities for climate change) This approach is an impossible one to apply, in the modern way of life and the new cities. Nevertheless what could be extracted from the past is the expertise of the ancient people and the way they faced the climate changes. In our day and age, engineers and scientists use the knowledge from the past whilst at the same time search for new innovative approaches for the buildings. The evolution of the buildings sector involves the innovation of new technologies whilst the same time, protecting the environment and its natural sources. It is not just a matter of how to build or what to build but it is also a matter to make the buildings adaptable to the new challenges of the climate changes and energy efficient. This evolution is directly connected with the world surviving because buildings are part of the global environment which at the moment is in danger. As written in the book titled Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change the risk of not surviving in a particular building type and region will be largely dependent on the nature of that building and on how much the climate changes. Both are crucial in the challenge of designing buildings today in which people can be comfortable in 50 years time. At the point where the evolution of the building sectors began, there are great opportunities to change the current negative predictions of the climate changes. Significant reductions on energy consumption, better design, adequate technology and appropriate behaviours are some of the keys points which could accomplish the transformation of the buildings sector (figure 7). This transformation needs the participation and contribution from the businesses, the markets, the politicians and engineers. All together, they must act right away because the use of renewable sources is slowly growing and the energy demand is rapidly increasing, setting this way, tight deadlines in order to transform the sector. As it is mentioned in the Energy Efficiency, Buildings report and the IPPC 4th Assessment report, Residential and commercial buildings, action is essential as part of the worlds response to climate change because energy use in buildings is 30-40% of final energy consumption and carbon diox ide emissions in most countries. (Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report and the IPPC 4th Assessment report, Residential and commercial buildings) There are many opportunities to transform the buildings sector into the new era, as well as being feasible and applicable for old and new buildings. Significant energy reductions can be achieved by using new technologies, e.g. energy efficiency appliances, low consumption cooling systems etc, use of renewable sources, better design and operation and use of environmental friendly materials. Using these methods it will be possible to reduce the energy demand of up to two-thirds. Low-energy buildings must become the norm rather than the novelty project. (Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report) Beyond the opportunities given to change the buildings sector and stabilize the climate changes, this transformation will additionally contribute to the economy growth by giving new opportunities for jobs and businesses. (Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report)As already mentioned, the transformation will only succeed in the case where, building energy becomes a high priority to the governments and businesses leaderships, whilst cooperation between engineers, businesses and authorities is also established in reference to this issue.( Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report) Buildings types: characteristics and profiles Around the world, a vast variety of different types of buildings can be found, and each different type covers multiple and different needs. It is therefore essential at this point, to present the different types of buildings, as this report will focus on the buildings sector and the energy demands. Despite the fact that in the literature review, it is possible to find a plethora of terminology of the building types, nevertheless the general idea of this separation, of the buildings into categories is the same. Usually the separation of the buildings is a result of its use. It is very important to additionally mention at this point, that in most countries, many of the buildings were built before any energy regulation and these buildings will be around for at least the next 40 years. As figure 8 shows, in Europe, 50% of the buildings were built before 1975. Residential Buildings Residential buildings are commonly found all over the world. However, big and small differences can be found in all of them depending on the climate varieties of each country. For example, in hot climates the important need is for cooling and keeping the temperatures comfortable all over the house. This is achieved by the use of control systems, high insulation materials, shading systems and double or triple glazing. Additionally, this way, the energy demands and cost stays under control. In addition, a high use of passive or active solar systems is found in these hot climate countries. On the other hand, buildings in the cold climates have different needs to achieve temperature comfort. In these climates, the need for heating is essential but this is directly related with other parameters, such as low emissivity windows, good insulation materials and good design. It is very important in these climates, whilst designing, to consider the thermal mass of the building, as this may contr ibute during the night to the heating. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) Where residential buildings are concerned, it is easy to use renewable sources and cover the energy needs of a house because the demand is not so big. For example, photovoltaic systems can be used as the main source of energy, minimizing the CO2 emissions and the operation costs of the building. Non-Residential Buildings Non-Residential Buildings are also commonly located all over the world. In contrast with the Residential buildings, these kinds are appropriate for extreme hot or cold climates, without any access to utilities. As it is described in the Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines report of the U.S. Department of Energy these building types have a natural connection with the outdoors; and the structures present an opportunity to interpret the resource-conservation mission of the agency to the visiting public. These structures typically combine a need for window area, massive construction, and a tolerance for temperature swings—all of which are highly compatible with low-energy building design. Day lighting is another key strategy for deployment in these building types. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) However, the energy balance of a Non-Residential building is almost independent, from lighting and internal gain. A great opportunity on these kinds of buildings, is to apply the low energy methods and design, due to the fact that such buildings have low energy consumption. A visitor centre is a good example, of this kind of building, and usually they have big budgets allowing the choice of high tech materials and technologies. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) Urban Office Buildings Urban office buildings are usually located in the city centres because these buildings offer public services, to the people. As known, urbanization in most countries carries negative consequences for the city centres, for example, expensive land prices. Due to this fact, the design and use of these buildings must be compact and offer the maximum possible. The use of the building is generally defined by the services that are offered, and the space is then separated into offices and support facilities. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) Quite frequently, another characteristic of office buildings is their old style, as well as other restrictions, due to the fact that many countries conserve the old buildings in the city centres. Thus the changes for energy conservation or better energy performance on these buildings are limited and therefore it is difficult to apply low energy strategies. In addition, the development of the surrounding area and the high tower new buildings are an important factor, which influence the energy performance of an office building due to the shade provided. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) On the other hand, new urban office buildings have a great opportunity to save energy as new technologies and design can be afforded and are significant potentials. Another point which helps low energy designs to be applied on office buildings is the wide use of curtain walls, mainly in most of the downtown buildings. The problems which can occur from the use of this kind of buildings is lack of thermal comfort, lack of orientation and the overuse of glass enhance low energy buildings design. New approaches on the office buildings, has started to be applied and they are getting transformed into high technology buildings, which offer better services to the people who work there. A key factor of successful low energy office buildings is the placement of the private office at the back side of the building. As a result of this design, the artificial lighting will be reduced as natural lights are directed further into the buildings. This will have a significant impact not only for energy demands but also to the HVAC systems. Nevertheless, Urban Office Buildings demand a careful design which takes into account the climate, the orientation, the facade design, the HVAC, shading from the surrounding buildings and the complex interactions amongst lighting. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) All the above types of buildings constitute the common categories that serve the different human needs. However, there are many subcategories which are adapted specifically for each different climate and different needs. Energy impacts of the buildings The energy impacts of a building, is a very important factor to consider, in order to succeed with the design of low energy buildings. The different types of buildings and the differences between their energy demands, is the key for the development of zero energy buildings. As mentioned before, each type of building is designed for a specific use and to cover different needs. Starting with the residential buildings, studies show us, greater energy consumption than the commercial buildings. The report includes six different regions which are Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan and the United States. During this report the residential sector is divided into two categories, consisting of the single family and the multi-family buildings, this way being able to focus on the energy performance for each case. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Consumption Survey; Federcasa, Italian Housing Federation (2006), Housing Statistics of the European Union 2005/2006; Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2003), 2003 Housing and Land Survey (Japan); EEB core group research) (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) As the above figure shows (figure 9), single family buildings are more common in Brazil, India and the United States, in contrast with China, Europe and Japan where the single family buildings are at the same level as multifamily buildings. It is possible that in a few years, this global scenery will change and more multifamily buildings will be required, due to an increasing population of the earth and the growing urbanization in big countries. On the other hand, the development of the countries and economies will allow more people to get richer and own a single family house. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Generally, the residential buildings tend to increase the energy demands all over the world. Unfortunately, the modern way of life includes extra comforts which are offered by the high technological appliances and the bigger buildings. As the quality of life increases, the energy consumption grows and more natural sources are needed to cover these human needs. Nevertheless, the energy demand is changing from country to country, as the climate and economy growth, are affecting peoples habits. (Figure 10) The above graph shows us that in six different regions, the economic growth and the climates have different impacts on the energy consumption of each country. For example, space heating is essential in Europe and China, in contrast with Japan and India where the use is low. Additionally in Japan, water heating is very important, whilst in other countries not so much. Another important point to notice on this graph, is cooking in India, as many areas do not have access to electricity therefore their main energy use, is cooking. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Amongst the residential buildings, one big subcategory is the single family buildings. (Figure 11) All around the world, single family buildings have the greatest impact on energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In the developed countries, people tend to consume more energy at their homes, as they demand more comfort and have bigger spaces, better heating and cooling systems, artificial lighting and use more appliances. For example, whereas in Japan people tend to heat only one of the rooms instead of the whole house, but in Europe they tend to install central heating systems and heat the whole building. All these factors reflect the changes of peoples behaviour, as they become wealthier from the economic growth. It is a fact, that as more people will become wealthier the demand for single family homes will also increase, and the demand will then be greater than today, therefore increasing the energy consumptions. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) The issue of reducing consumption in single family buildings is not so simple. In general, all countries encounter serious barriers when it comes to taking effective measures for lower energy consumption. In Europe, many of the buildings that already exist, have an enormous challenge to retrofit these old buildings and apply low energy building principles. Definitely, these changes will cost money and everyone is interested in getting financial backing from the governments. Another issue at hand is to raise awareness, about all the changes that everyone needs to know about, especially with regards to the green technology and the proposed energy solutions which will cover their needs, and be easy to install. Unfortunately until now, the lack of information and financial measures has not helped the development of green technologies and designs for single family houses. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development mention that there are two key barriers to transforming what is currently a refurbishment market into an energy-efficient market: the first one is that people do not know where to find the relevant information on options, prices and suppliers; there are no one-stop shops for retrofitting and the second one is that homeowners base decisions largely on the first cost rather than overall financial returns. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) In developing countries, the biggest problem is the lack of regulations and mechanisms which would then force the people and the market to change. For example, in China the building codes are not effectively applied and in Brazil, 75% of the single homes are illegally built. In addition, developing countries as mentioned before have different needs to the developed countries, so the need to provide houses is more essential that the need to reduce energy consumption. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) In Japan and the US, the growing population is followed by high rates of constructions. This rapid development of the market causes huge problems to also then apply the green principles on a big scale. Another major problem in these countries is the big differences between the submarket which block, in some ways, the measures of low energy design. The key to the solution in these countries is strengthening their regulations, by giving more information to the public and changing their behaviour. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) In the cases of the multifamily buildings, which belong in Residential buildings sector, another approach is necessary for energy efficiency. These types of buildings are commonly located in cities where the urbanization problems are huge. In Europe, the US and Japan these buildings vary from very small to luxury apartments, so the energy demand is also varied. As referred to before, many of the buildings in the centre of the towns were built many years ago, so to achieve energy efficiency and apply the low energy principle is a great issue. In developing countries, incomes influence the preference for bigger houses and more energy consumption, therefore making a multifamily building a key factor for lower energy demand. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Still, comparing single family homes with apartments, obviously the energy needs in an apartment are less due to their small size and space and lower exterior wall area. Looking at the example of the US (figure 12), apartments use almost half the heating energy and lighting energy than a single family house. In general, the energy profile of a single family house is much higher than that of the multifamily building. It is almost definite, that due to the increasing population the living standards in developing countries are growing fast which influences the energy demand. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) The office sector in most countries has a significant impact on the energy consumption. These kinds of buildings belong to the commercial buildings sector and they are one of the biggest categories, as they use large amounts of space and energy! The actual buildings, depending on their use, can be found having a great variety, which are from small single buildings to skyscrapers. Usually though, due to the rapid world development which demands more public services, the office buildings are newer rather than older buildings. In China, where technological developments and services increase rapidly, the office sectors are growing rapidly. Additionally, the technological developments influence and change ones working life as with new high technology, it is easier for some people to work from their homes. The results of these new trends, is the reduction of the floor space needed per person, having fewer large offices and more flexible space. All these factors influence the energy consump tion of an office building. Some other factors that affect the energy demand in office buildings are the same ones as the ones for Meeting Energy Demands of the Growing Population Meeting Energy Demands of the Growing Population Literature review Nowadays, an important factor for economic and social development is energy sufficiency. Energy is the fuel of growth. Scientists predictions show that by the year 2050, energy demand will increase significantly due to the fact of the increasing population of the earth and that more buildings are going to be constructed. (Ref: Facts and trends, energy and climate, world business). A lot of predictions are published about how fast the population, the economy and the energy consumption of the world will increase in the years and decades to come. In reference to the matter of growth, development and energy demand, most of the predictions were wrongly made. Most predictions are reciprocally dependant on each other, and each one relies on many other factors. However, the only prediction that can be securely made is for the population and that the growth will be larger in the less development countries than the developed countries. (UNITED NATIONS) Developed countries are managing to improve the living conditions and decrease the death rates, but at the same time the birth rates have been decreasing at about the same rate over the last century. By this way the population growth is around 0.4% per year, in the industrialized world. On the other hand, less developed countries are managing their development and as a result have increased birth rates and decreased death rates. Consequently, their average population growth has increased from about 1% per year, from fifty years ago to about 2.1% per year today. At the moment, the worlds population is increasing at an annual rate of 1,7%, whereas the population in developed countries is around 1,2 billion (25% of the total) and in less developed countries is around 4 billion (75% of total world population). (United Nations) Population increases are directly connected with the energy demand and the building sector. It is therefore essential to develop new energy technologies on a massive scale for everyone to be able to survive on this planet. Ordinary buildings are unable to contribute to these essential needs, and cover the gush of the energy demand which is going to follow over the next decade. Energy use and climate impacts Power plants use fossil fuels for their energy productions and therefore this way cover the energy demands of the people. As a consequence though, from the burning of the fossil fuels, green house gases are produced and emitted into the atmosphere. As mentioned in the introduction, these anthropogenic activities have a significant contribution to the green house effect and the climate changes. Generally, in reference to the climate changes issues, scientists opinions are split into two. On the one hand, it is believed that the changes are part of the earths life and it is something normal which has been accelerated by our human activities and there is a possibility to stabilize the climate changes. On the other hand, it is believed that these changes are not normal and are going to make the world uninhabitable. For this reason, fast and immediate actions should be taken by all countries, targeting to reduce the energy demands and green house gases. It is almost definite that any of these actions will have a deep impact on the economy of each country. Many people believe that energy saving, means diminishing the current quality of living and reducing economy activity. In addition, economists believe that without economic growth, investments on technology will be reduced as it will difficult to confront climate changes. On the other hand, scientists argue that technological development is the key to the solution in reference to the climate changes problem. The truth is that, any solution in reference to climate changes will need an effort from everyone and investments on technological research and development, giving us this way a chance for a better future! IPCCs fourth assessment report further concluded that the building sector is not only the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also that this potential is relatively independent of the cost per ton of CO2 eqv. achieved. With proven and commercially available technologies, the energy consumption in both new and old buildings can be cut by an estimated 30-50 percent without significantly increasing investment costs. Energy savings can be achieved through a range of measures including smart design, improved insulation, low-energy appliances, high efficiency ventilation and heating/cooling systems, and conservation behaviour from the buildings users. (Reference- IPCCs fourth assessment report) Summarising the above it is obvious that the population growth, economic development, human habits, way of living and environmental restrictions influence the energy demand around the world. Scientists and in general, the governments who are trying to give solutions to the big problem of the growing energy demands and its consequences, have to take into account all of these factors. Reshaping the energy future It is necessary for all countries to reshape the future of energy, as all scientific researches show. The actual word reshape, includes new innovation technologies and sources which are going to contribute to the energy needs of the world. It is necessary to find new paths which are further environmental friendly and will permit a better future. A lower carbon world is feasible in the next decade even during the next few years, if all countries can realize that significant changes that should be done. This especially applies to the developed countries as they have to reconsider and find a link between the quality of life and their energy consumption. It is necessary for everyone to understand that a high standard of living does not demand a high consumption of energy and to adapt to the new energy sources. The good news is that small changes in the energy scenery are now visible as many have started to be influenced. For example, the raised use of gas, the use of renewable energy on buildings, everyday life and high efficiency cars are some of the small steps that have been offered to people due to technological development. As figure three shows, the IPCC scenarios (A1B-AIM and B2-AIM) were based on the new technological achievements in the energy sector. It is definite that this evolution is not enough for our earths climate but the two scenarios predict a possible CO2 stabilization. Finally, efforts to create an energy efficient world are starting, in reference to low carbon technologies and effective measures. (Reference-world business facts and trends on climate change) As stated in the report of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) a lower carbon world would require a marked shift in the energy/development relationship, such as similar development levels to be achieved with an average of 30% less energy use. Both energy conservation through behavioural changes and energy efficiency via technology plays a role. Such a trend is a feature of the IPCC B1 storyline, which sees a future with a globally coherent approach to sustainable development. It describes a fast-changing and convergent world toward a service and information economy, with reductions in material intensity and the introduction of clean and resource efficient technologies. The scenario leads to relatively low GHG emissions, even without explicit interventions to manage climate change.'(Reference Energy and climate change, world business) A Sustainable World Energy Perspective An important key to the worlds energy problem is sustainable development. Sustainability includes the economic and technological development, which respect and protect the environment. Searching literature for an exact definition of sustainable development, guided us to the The Brundtland Report of the UN World Commission on Environment and Development. In this report a definition of sustainable development, is given: Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs However it is difficult to find exact definitions which represent the sustainable development accurately, due to the fact that it is an idea which involves too many parameters. (Reference Engineering_for_Sustainable_Development) It is amazing to see how the sustainable development concept, stays on important issues of discussion even with the passing of tweedy years from the Brundtland report. In this concept, development faces three important paths: the economic, the social and the environmental (figure 4). If governments want to meet these targets it is necessary to carry out innovative technologies and a socio-economic approach. Nevertheless, sustainable development is not the only problem and therefore it is always important to consider the three major paths. Protection of the environment, economic success and improvement of social conditions, will be the achievements of a flourishing sustainable development. These three paths are linked together for a sustainable development and their integration must be equal without any compromises. The goal of sustainable development is, to point out the importance of the environment to the public who are now alive and for the coming generations. It is important for everyone to understand that our existence depends on the global environment and every decision of this generation is going to affect the lives of our future generations. Thus for this goal to be achievable, it is necessary to take measures for low green house emissions, use renewable sources and improve the energy consumption of our current lives. Governments and engineers are searching for the best way to come within reach of this goal as it is very difficult for developed and developing countries to achieve it. Presently, the building sectors involvement is essential because of its deep impact on energy consumption, its significant emissions and its use of huge natural sources. The buildings that currently exist will continue to exist, for more than 30 years and therefore this influences the lives of future generations. A sustainable approach of this sector is necessary due to its rapid growth. The new approach for the buildings sector will include buildings which will need less energy to operate, produce low carbon emissions, use environmental friendly materials and produce their own energy from renewable sources. It is almost definite that the sustainable green development of the building sector will help countries accomplish the targets of the Kyoto Protocol, whilst also guarantee at the same time, the future for coming generations. Evolution of the buildings and the opportunity for change. As believed by many, buildings are our third skin and this plays an important role for humans to survive. From the beginning of human history, humans always aimed to try and protect themselves from all weather conditions and all changes, developing due to this, different kinds of shelters. Over the years, humans adapted and managed to survive all the different changes that have happened on earth. The question now, is what will happen whilst we are facing the rapid climate changes and what will be the future consequences? Hundreds of thousands year ago, people moved from place to place and tried to create the best conditions to live in. Depending on the place, whether hot or cold, humans developed different kind of shelters to protect themselves from the heat of the sun in the deserts, or the cold of the northern climates. Studies of these people movements over the years, shows us a big variety of shelters and developments of different ways in order to face the climate conditions. Other factors, which determine the humans survival techniques in extreme conditions from the past, like the lower attitude of the Arctic Circle, were the design of the buildings, the quality of clothes and the behavioural adaptations, like changing posture, activity level sand choosing the most comfortable space to occupy, by moving around rooms and buildings and landscapes; and then of course the use of energy from the burning of fossil fuels or the careful use of stored energy in heat or cold stores. (Adapting building cities for climate change) Another extraordinary point from past decades is the energy issue. People mainly used coal, wood and water to provide themselves with enough energy, whether in a passive or active manner and covered in this way, their need for heating or cooling. By taking advantage of the natural and available energy resources, humans managed to develop houses which were ready for all extreme weather conditions. All these extreme weather conditions made humans innovate new approaches for buildings, and provide them with a more comfortable life. An interesting approach of surviving all the climate changes is to move to different areas at the respective time of the year, which is when they are comfortable, and to leave them again when they are not – to migrate. (Adapting building cities for climate change) This approach is an impossible one to apply, in the modern way of life and the new cities. Nevertheless what could be extracted from the past is the expertise of the ancient people and the way they faced the climate changes. In our day and age, engineers and scientists use the knowledge from the past whilst at the same time search for new innovative approaches for the buildings. The evolution of the buildings sector involves the innovation of new technologies whilst the same time, protecting the environment and its natural sources. It is not just a matter of how to build or what to build but it is also a matter to make the buildings adaptable to the new challenges of the climate changes and energy efficient. This evolution is directly connected with the world surviving because buildings are part of the global environment which at the moment is in danger. As written in the book titled Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change the risk of not surviving in a particular building type and region will be largely dependent on the nature of that building and on how much the climate changes. Both are crucial in the challenge of designing buildings today in which people can be comfortable in 50 years time. At the point where the evolution of the building sectors began, there are great opportunities to change the current negative predictions of the climate changes. Significant reductions on energy consumption, better design, adequate technology and appropriate behaviours are some of the keys points which could accomplish the transformation of the buildings sector (figure 7). This transformation needs the participation and contribution from the businesses, the markets, the politicians and engineers. All together, they must act right away because the use of renewable sources is slowly growing and the energy demand is rapidly increasing, setting this way, tight deadlines in order to transform the sector. As it is mentioned in the Energy Efficiency, Buildings report and the IPPC 4th Assessment report, Residential and commercial buildings, action is essential as part of the worlds response to climate change because energy use in buildings is 30-40% of final energy consumption and carbon diox ide emissions in most countries. (Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report and the IPPC 4th Assessment report, Residential and commercial buildings) There are many opportunities to transform the buildings sector into the new era, as well as being feasible and applicable for old and new buildings. Significant energy reductions can be achieved by using new technologies, e.g. energy efficiency appliances, low consumption cooling systems etc, use of renewable sources, better design and operation and use of environmental friendly materials. Using these methods it will be possible to reduce the energy demand of up to two-thirds. Low-energy buildings must become the norm rather than the novelty project. (Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report) Beyond the opportunities given to change the buildings sector and stabilize the climate changes, this transformation will additionally contribute to the economy growth by giving new opportunities for jobs and businesses. (Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report)As already mentioned, the transformation will only succeed in the case where, building energy becomes a high priority to the governments and businesses leaderships, whilst cooperation between engineers, businesses and authorities is also established in reference to this issue.( Reference- Energy Efficiency in the Buildings report) Buildings types: characteristics and profiles Around the world, a vast variety of different types of buildings can be found, and each different type covers multiple and different needs. It is therefore essential at this point, to present the different types of buildings, as this report will focus on the buildings sector and the energy demands. Despite the fact that in the literature review, it is possible to find a plethora of terminology of the building types, nevertheless the general idea of this separation, of the buildings into categories is the same. Usually the separation of the buildings is a result of its use. It is very important to additionally mention at this point, that in most countries, many of the buildings were built before any energy regulation and these buildings will be around for at least the next 40 years. As figure 8 shows, in Europe, 50% of the buildings were built before 1975. Residential Buildings Residential buildings are commonly found all over the world. However, big and small differences can be found in all of them depending on the climate varieties of each country. For example, in hot climates the important need is for cooling and keeping the temperatures comfortable all over the house. This is achieved by the use of control systems, high insulation materials, shading systems and double or triple glazing. Additionally, this way, the energy demands and cost stays under control. In addition, a high use of passive or active solar systems is found in these hot climate countries. On the other hand, buildings in the cold climates have different needs to achieve temperature comfort. In these climates, the need for heating is essential but this is directly related with other parameters, such as low emissivity windows, good insulation materials and good design. It is very important in these climates, whilst designing, to consider the thermal mass of the building, as this may contr ibute during the night to the heating. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) Where residential buildings are concerned, it is easy to use renewable sources and cover the energy needs of a house because the demand is not so big. For example, photovoltaic systems can be used as the main source of energy, minimizing the CO2 emissions and the operation costs of the building. Non-Residential Buildings Non-Residential Buildings are also commonly located all over the world. In contrast with the Residential buildings, these kinds are appropriate for extreme hot or cold climates, without any access to utilities. As it is described in the Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines report of the U.S. Department of Energy these building types have a natural connection with the outdoors; and the structures present an opportunity to interpret the resource-conservation mission of the agency to the visiting public. These structures typically combine a need for window area, massive construction, and a tolerance for temperature swings—all of which are highly compatible with low-energy building design. Day lighting is another key strategy for deployment in these building types. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) However, the energy balance of a Non-Residential building is almost independent, from lighting and internal gain. A great opportunity on these kinds of buildings, is to apply the low energy methods and design, due to the fact that such buildings have low energy consumption. A visitor centre is a good example, of this kind of building, and usually they have big budgets allowing the choice of high tech materials and technologies. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) Urban Office Buildings Urban office buildings are usually located in the city centres because these buildings offer public services, to the people. As known, urbanization in most countries carries negative consequences for the city centres, for example, expensive land prices. Due to this fact, the design and use of these buildings must be compact and offer the maximum possible. The use of the building is generally defined by the services that are offered, and the space is then separated into offices and support facilities. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) Quite frequently, another characteristic of office buildings is their old style, as well as other restrictions, due to the fact that many countries conserve the old buildings in the city centres. Thus the changes for energy conservation or better energy performance on these buildings are limited and therefore it is difficult to apply low energy strategies. In addition, the development of the surrounding area and the high tower new buildings are an important factor, which influence the energy performance of an office building due to the shade provided. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) On the other hand, new urban office buildings have a great opportunity to save energy as new technologies and design can be afforded and are significant potentials. Another point which helps low energy designs to be applied on office buildings is the wide use of curtain walls, mainly in most of the downtown buildings. The problems which can occur from the use of this kind of buildings is lack of thermal comfort, lack of orientation and the overuse of glass enhance low energy buildings design. New approaches on the office buildings, has started to be applied and they are getting transformed into high technology buildings, which offer better services to the people who work there. A key factor of successful low energy office buildings is the placement of the private office at the back side of the building. As a result of this design, the artificial lighting will be reduced as natural lights are directed further into the buildings. This will have a significant impact not only for energy demands but also to the HVAC systems. Nevertheless, Urban Office Buildings demand a careful design which takes into account the climate, the orientation, the facade design, the HVAC, shading from the surrounding buildings and the complex interactions amongst lighting. (Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines) All the above types of buildings constitute the common categories that serve the different human needs. However, there are many subcategories which are adapted specifically for each different climate and different needs. Energy impacts of the buildings The energy impacts of a building, is a very important factor to consider, in order to succeed with the design of low energy buildings. The different types of buildings and the differences between their energy demands, is the key for the development of zero energy buildings. As mentioned before, each type of building is designed for a specific use and to cover different needs. Starting with the residential buildings, studies show us, greater energy consumption than the commercial buildings. The report includes six different regions which are Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan and the United States. During this report the residential sector is divided into two categories, consisting of the single family and the multi-family buildings, this way being able to focus on the energy performance for each case. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Consumption Survey; Federcasa, Italian Housing Federation (2006), Housing Statistics of the European Union 2005/2006; Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2003), 2003 Housing and Land Survey (Japan); EEB core group research) (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) As the above figure shows (figure 9), single family buildings are more common in Brazil, India and the United States, in contrast with China, Europe and Japan where the single family buildings are at the same level as multifamily buildings. It is possible that in a few years, this global scenery will change and more multifamily buildings will be required, due to an increasing population of the earth and the growing urbanization in big countries. On the other hand, the development of the countries and economies will allow more people to get richer and own a single family house. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Generally, the residential buildings tend to increase the energy demands all over the world. Unfortunately, the modern way of life includes extra comforts which are offered by the high technological appliances and the bigger buildings. As the quality of life increases, the energy consumption grows and more natural sources are needed to cover these human needs. Nevertheless, the energy demand is changing from country to country, as the climate and economy growth, are affecting peoples habits. (Figure 10) The above graph shows us that in six different regions, the economic growth and the climates have different impacts on the energy consumption of each country. For example, space heating is essential in Europe and China, in contrast with Japan and India where the use is low. Additionally in Japan, water heating is very important, whilst in other countries not so much. Another important point to notice on this graph, is cooking in India, as many areas do not have access to electricity therefore their main energy use, is cooking. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Amongst the residential buildings, one big subcategory is the single family buildings. (Figure 11) All around the world, single family buildings have the greatest impact on energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In the developed countries, people tend to consume more energy at their homes, as they demand more comfort and have bigger spaces, better heating and cooling systems, artificial lighting and use more appliances. For example, whereas in Japan people tend to heat only one of the rooms instead of the whole house, but in Europe they tend to install central heating systems and heat the whole building. All these factors reflect the changes of peoples behaviour, as they become wealthier from the economic growth. It is a fact, that as more people will become wealthier the demand for single family homes will also increase, and the demand will then be greater than today, therefore increasing the energy consumptions. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) The issue of reducing consumption in single family buildings is not so simple. In general, all countries encounter serious barriers when it comes to taking effective measures for lower energy consumption. In Europe, many of the buildings that already exist, have an enormous challenge to retrofit these old buildings and apply low energy building principles. Definitely, these changes will cost money and everyone is interested in getting financial backing from the governments. Another issue at hand is to raise awareness, about all the changes that everyone needs to know about, especially with regards to the green technology and the proposed energy solutions which will cover their needs, and be easy to install. Unfortunately until now, the lack of information and financial measures has not helped the development of green technologies and designs for single family houses. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development mention that there are two key barriers to transforming what is currently a refurbishment market into an energy-efficient market: the first one is that people do not know where to find the relevant information on options, prices and suppliers; there are no one-stop shops for retrofitting and the second one is that homeowners base decisions largely on the first cost rather than overall financial returns. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) In developing countries, the biggest problem is the lack of regulations and mechanisms which would then force the people and the market to change. For example, in China the building codes are not effectively applied and in Brazil, 75% of the single homes are illegally built. In addition, developing countries as mentioned before have different needs to the developed countries, so the need to provide houses is more essential that the need to reduce energy consumption. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) In Japan and the US, the growing population is followed by high rates of constructions. This rapid development of the market causes huge problems to also then apply the green principles on a big scale. Another major problem in these countries is the big differences between the submarket which block, in some ways, the measures of low energy design. The key to the solution in these countries is strengthening their regulations, by giving more information to the public and changing their behaviour. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) In the cases of the multifamily buildings, which belong in Residential buildings sector, another approach is necessary for energy efficiency. These types of buildings are commonly located in cities where the urbanization problems are huge. In Europe, the US and Japan these buildings vary from very small to luxury apartments, so the energy demand is also varied. As referred to before, many of the buildings in the centre of the towns were built many years ago, so to achieve energy efficiency and apply the low energy principle is a great issue. In developing countries, incomes influence the preference for bigger houses and more energy consumption, therefore making a multifamily building a key factor for lower energy demand. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) Still, comparing single family homes with apartments, obviously the energy needs in an apartment are less due to their small size and space and lower exterior wall area. Looking at the example of the US (figure 12), apartments use almost half the heating energy and lighting energy than a single family house. In general, the energy profile of a single family house is much higher than that of the multifamily building. It is almost definite, that due to the increasing population the living standards in developing countries are growing fast which influences the energy demand. (Reference- energy efficiency in buildings –market) The office sector in most countries has a significant impact on the energy consumption. These kinds of buildings belong to the commercial buildings sector and they are one of the biggest categories, as they use large amounts of space and energy! The actual buildings, depending on their use, can be found having a great variety, which are from small single buildings to skyscrapers. Usually though, due to the rapid world development which demands more public services, the office buildings are newer rather than older buildings. In China, where technological developments and services increase rapidly, the office sectors are growing rapidly. Additionally, the technological developments influence and change ones working life as with new high technology, it is easier for some people to work from their homes. The results of these new trends, is the reduction of the floor space needed per person, having fewer large offices and more flexible space. All these factors influence the energy consump tion of an office building. Some other factors that affect the energy demand in office buildings are the same ones as the ones for