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.

As global warming begins to more strongly influence policy and economic decisions, attention is turning to the construction industry and its massive, 3 trillion kilogram annually cement addiction. The cement industry is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, surpassed only by fossil fuel energy sources. 5 to 6 percent of all carbon emissions come from cement production, which can release up to 9 kilogram of CO2 for every 10 kilogram of cement produced. A team, at George Washington University in Ashburn, Virginia, has devised the first technique, called Solar Thermal Electrochemical Production (STEP), to completely eliminate CO2 emissions from the process, and it would even be cheaper than current methods of production. The STEP of cement would harness the energy for two specific areas of production. When limestone is converted into lime, it undergoes a chemical change - at present, decarbonation. The limestone is separated into lime and CO2, with the greenhouse gases as an unfortunate byproduct. Carbon emissions are further increased by the burning of fossil fuels to heat up the limestone to start the decarbonation process. The STEP method eliminates the needs for fossil fuels - the solar thermal heat melts the limestone, which then undergoes an electrolysis process. The electrolysis produces a different chemical output, lime-intact but free of greenhouse gas byproducts. At higher temperatures STEP creates a carbon monoxide (CO) byproduct which researchers believe could be sold to other industrial applications. If this were to be done, the cost of STEP-created cement would stand at around minus US$ 298 per ton, as opposed to the current cost of standard, environmentally destructive production of US$ 70 per ton. With some cement manufacturers already looking into ways to reduce their industry's footprint, STEP could transform an industry responsible for a huge quantity of greenhouse gas emissions each year - if the process can be adapted to large scale commercial use. The scientists are also looking at how the STEP methods could be applied to a diverse range of industrial applications, such as purifying iron and aluminum; producing glass, paper, sugar, and agriculture; cleaning smoke stacks; softening water; and removing phosphates from sewage.

A giant glacier is planned for the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator, providing cool air and clean water for the city during summer, reported Constructiondigital. For centuries, engineers have dreamed of towing icebergs around the world, providing fresh drinking water and portable air-conditioning to the far reaches of the globe. The Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator is planning the next best thing - they're going to build one in their own backyard. Scientists hope that construction of the giant urban glacier will provide cool air and potable water for the city's inhabitants and irrigation. ECOS & EMI, a Mongolian engineering firm, will oversee the US$ 700 thousand project, which consists of the construction of artificial naleds - thick slabs of ice that form when water pressure allows water to seep through cracks during the day, which refreezes come nightfall. In northern cities like Ulan Bator, these naleds can grow more than 5 meters thick. According to a piece over at The Atlantic Cities, these naleds have been utilized for other engineering purposes for hundreds of years, most notably by military groups looking to build ice roads and bridges in colder climates. Engineers will regularly bore holes into ice forming on the Tuul River over the coming winter, adding sheets of ice which can then be utilized during warmer summer months. The process can be duplicated in other northern cities with at least a few months of temperatures in the -5C to -20C degree range.

Recently Government approved the concept represented by the Ministry of Economy on the establishment of international highland sports center on Lake Sevan shore, near the village Tsovagyuh, which, by the ministry's assumption, will be a unique in the world, and will be equipped with ultramodern sports equipment. The complex is going to occupy 3 km long shore area and will consist of both indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including water sports. It is planned to build a golf course with 18 holes, 4 tennis courts, covered football field, basketball and volleyball courts, a swimming pool ... In general, the list includes almost all summer sports, including even such as Geocaching (a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS navigation). The feature of the complex will be its total power supply by solar energy. In the concept was noted an agreement with German 'Ersam & Gottwald GbR' company on writing a preliminary business plan, which has requested 32.75 million drams($91000) for this, of which 19.2 million drams ($53300) will be paid immediately, regardless of the fate of the project, and the residue, 13.47 million drams($37400), will be paid only after finding an investor for the next stage of the project. The project will be implemented by the National Competitiveness Fund, which recently successfully completed Tatev monastery restoration project, including the longest Ropeway in the World. Maybe we can find investments for this ambitious project, but however, it will be very hard to achieve the status of the unique international high-end sports center.

Of course, you are afraid; otherwise, you are poorly informed about the problem. Do you know that in the report of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery organization (2009) Armenia was ranked to be the first among all countries on vulnerability to earthquakes? The consequences from a possible earthquake may be particularly dire in Yerevan, where, by some expert estimates, in case of earthquake magnitude as in Haiti (2010) or in Spitak (1988), about 80% of all buildings will collapse. A possible strong earthquake in Yerevan will have destructive consequences for our State, forcing many people to leave Armenia and making almost impossible the future restoration of the country and the Capital. We have seen the "rebuilding" after earthquake in Spitak that is already lasting for 21years, and follow the reconstruction process after earthquake in Haiti. The conclusion is the one- despite the huge funds allocated, it is almost impossible to organize recovery work in the chaos resulting from the earthquake. Even in the Rosy Scenario of the reconstruction, anyway, we can not refund hundreds of thousands of lives lost. What are we waiting for? Especially today, we need to restructure almost all of our hospitals and schools, governmental and residential buildings. They were all built without observing new earthquake resistance standards. In case the government has no enough financial resources for large-scale nation-wide restructuring program, it is essential to start with at least one earthquake-proof hospital!!! Natural disasters are raging in the world much more frequently, making it harder and harder to confront them, while the assistance of states is not unlimited. All interested persons are welcome to leave comments and share thoughts on this issue, and be conscious of the problem and do everything possible to resolve it.