The primary goal of home energy efficiency initiatives might be to reduce total energy consumption, but these projects could have a negative impact on public health if we do not take care. Global climate change has been called the biggest global public health threat of the 21st century - and energy efficiency is a key tool in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels. In a 2014 article published in the British Medical Journal, James Milner and his co-authors outlined how some home energy efficiency improvements could cost lives by increasing indoor radon exposure and the resultant risk of developing lung cancer. According to the authors, energy efficiency projects could lead to an estimated 56.6% increase in average indoor radon concentrations. They calculate that the corresponding increase in radon exposure could lead to 278 premature deaths (the equivalent of 4,700 life years lost) each year in the UK. After smoking, radon exposure is the most important risk factor in developing lung cancer. This colorless gas, which occurs naturally from the indirect decay product of uranium or thorium, can be found in indoor air. It produces a radioactive dust that is trapped in our airways. This radiation then causes lung damage and increases the chance that we will develop lung cancer. Each year, an estimated 1,400 cases of lung cancer in the UK are primarily due to radon exposure and about 21,000 in the US. The increased radon concentrations in the Milner study stem from the fact that many energy efficiency improvements alter the way that buildings exchange indoor and outdoor air. These alterations are often aimed at reducing energy losses due to leaky windows or drafts around unsealed doors. In turn, these buildings can be more effectively heated and cooled, leading to observable public health improvements and decreases in total energy use. However, they can increase some health risks. According to Milner and co-authors, while an individual project can be "good for energy efficiency, indoor temperatures in winter and protection against outdoor pollutants, it has the potential to increase concentrations of pollutants arising from sources inside or underneath the home." A 2013 study suggested similar risks in retrofitted buildings from mold growth and "sick building syndrome", where occupants appear to experience health issues from occupancy in a building. By trapping humidity inside the building, energy efficiency retrofits could unintentionally lead to dangerous mold growth. In turn, people in these buildings would be more prone to chronic fatigue, irritated lungs, and watery eyes. Using fans and other equipment to carefully control the indoor air quality could reduce or eliminate the negative co-impacts documented in these studies. Of course, the use of these technologies would offset some of the energy savings. But, they could also prevent an array of illnesses, which could stymie future energy efficiency proposals. Energy efficiency projects can help to reduce total energy consumption. They are a key part of mitigating the impacts of global climate change. But we must be aware of any potential negative co-impacts on human health and take care to reduce their effect.

Who says solar power can't be gorgeous? The people of New Caledonia are out to prove the naysayers wrong with what may be the most beautiful solar farm on the planet. The heart-shaped solar farm will supply 2 megawatts of solar power to 750 homes on the Pacific island, reducing carbon emissions while enhancing the natural beauty of the plant's surroundings. A local beverage company called Froico SA commissioned the stunning plant, which is being built by Conergy, and should start generating power next year. New Caledonian's are building the plant to help reduce the French territory's dependence on foreign energy, and by the time the plant reaches the end of its life cycle in 25 years, it is expected to save around 2 million tons of emissions. The plant's shape was inspired by a nearby mangrove forest that has naturally grown into a heart shape, known as the "Coeur de Voh." The "Coeur de Voh" is an important landmark for the people of New Caledonia, and shows just how extraordinary nature can be," managing director of Conergy said. "The "Heart of New Caledonia" solar plant will be its man-made double, a landmark for clean power generation."

One of the world's spookiest "ghost towns" - abandoned nearly 100 years ago in the fallout of the First World War -could be reborn as a major tourist hub. To capitalize on its growing popularity among intrepid holidaymakers, Turkey's government is auctioning off a 49-year lease on the deserted village of Kayakoy (know by the Greeks as Levissi) in return for its partial restoration. Set against the Taurus Mountains, the village has hundreds of crumbling stone houses and two churches that seem to be trapped in time. Dating as far back as the 18th century, the weathered ruins are part of a protected archaeological site that has become a big draw for travelers. Turkey has announced that it will partially open the archaeological site to investors and the restoration project will include a hotel and tourist facilities that will encompass one-third of the village, the Hurriyet Daily News reported. That is, if someone submits a successful bid in the auction on 23 October. An auction held last year was unsuccessful. The project is expected to cost US$ 13 million and two companies have already expressed interest in bidding, but critics fear the town could lose its authenticity or originality, according to the newspaper. Kayakoy, a Unesco World Friendship and Peace Village, is located in the Fethiye Peninsula, not far from white sand beaches and pricey resorts on the Aegean coast. The village was abandoned when its inhabitants returned to Greece in a population exchange between the two countries in 1923 following the Greco-Turkish War.

Kingdom Tower, the world's tallest tower, located in northern Jeddah, has reached an important milestone in the project that will set another new world record - the world's tallest construction crane. The singularly soaring skyscraper that will ultimately earn the accolade of world's tallest building, with a height of more than 1 kilometer, demands equally unique construction equipment, methods and materials, including the custom-built cranes supplied by Germany's Liebherr & WolffKran. The enormous yellow lifting devices, known as climbing cranes are designed to accompany the tower's growth both externally and internally, in the latter case utilizing any of the building's 65 interior elevator shafts to make the climb. The largest of the six cranes Liebherr type 357 HC-L can lift up to 18 tons at a speed of 44 meters/minute, with heights to parallel that of the tower. The cranes are attached to the body of the building but sits atop a phenomenally narrow tower support of only 2.4 meters X 2.45 meters. But it is not just the size that makes these new cranes unique. They feature the latest in heavy-lifting technology that will allow them to withstand harsh weather conditions, in particular, the strong winds that can sweep across the spectacular heights at which the cranes will ultimately be deployed. To operate this type of cranes, special highly experienced and certified operators will be hired. With the tower's foundation now in place, vertical, above-ground construction commenced in September. Plans call for the first ten floors to be completed by the end of the year. The Kingdom Tower features 170 stories, seven stories of which will be allocated for the five-star Four Seasons Hotel offering 200 rooms and 121 luxury serviced apartments, and seven stories for offices. The tower will also have 61 stories that include 318 housing units of various types' amenities, gyms, spas, cafes and restaurants, two sky lobbies and world's highest observation decks, located on the 644 meter-height, enabling visitors to view Jeddah and the Red Sea from high in the sky.

The plan to turn Gyumri into a technological center can now be considered a reality in part, as Armenia's second largest city on Saturday launched its industrial park in a ceremony attended by high-ranking guests. The Gyumri TP is part of a larger project aimed to making Gyumri an industrial center equipped with high technologies, says Bagrat Yengibaryan, the director of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation. "This is an exceptional opportunity for Armenia in terms of training high-quality human resources and making investments based on them. International organizations' presence in Gyumri will, in turn, help create a highly-paid workforce which will have its impact on raising not only the education level but also the living standards," he told reporters covering the event. The ceremony was attended by President Serzh Sargsyan, Minister of Economy Karen Cshmarityan, Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan and many other guests. Construction of the project started in 2012. The total floor area is 6500 square meters. Here are situated "Armtab" laboratory and educational laboratory room, laboratory of engineering and mechanics, rooms of companies "D-Link" and "E-Works", a multimedia studio and the auditorium.