"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Engineering
Utility Rate Burden
11/09/20
“How can customers be burdened by utility costs?”
Utilities provide services to customers for a specific cost. However, sometimes the amount charged can be so high that it’s a burden on customers. This Utility Rate Rate Burden needs to be taken seriously by utilities and urban managers so people can stay out of harm.
Climate Insurance Premiums
11/08/20
“How are people charged climate insurance premiums?”
People pay for climate insurance by paying a monthly premium (fee) every month. These Climate Insurance Premiums are charged based on the perceived risk that the property is located in and its physical resilience to damage. Payment of climate insurance premiums ensures that the provider can stay afloat and continue to safeguard property.
Recycled Water For Water Spray Parks For Heat Resilience
11/06/20
“How can we recycle water to be used in spray parks in the Summer for heat resilience?”
Water spray parks are an excellent way for city residents to stay cool in times of a heatwave. To save water, these can even use recycled water so new sources won’t have to continuously be drained. This will become especially important in the future as Summers become hotter and water resources become scarcer. Keep an eye on Recycled Water For Water Spray Parks For Heat Resilience, because it will be here to stay.
Utility Rate Increases
11/05/20
“Why are utility rates increased?”
Utilities need to pay money to keep up their infrastructure and maintain their staff. For many, the only way they can obtain it is to charge rates to their customers. If more infrastructure needs to be built or repaired or more staff needs to be hired then utility rates will have to increase. This is why Utility Rate Increases occur.
Aquifer Overdrafting
10/31/20
“What happens when enough water is siphoned from an aquifer to permanently damage it?”
Groundwater is taken from aquifers for a variety of human purposes. However, when too much is taken out, it can lead to permanent damage and even destruction of the aquifer. Aquifer Overdrafting is something that needs to be actively monitored and acted upon to avoid such catastrophic impacts.
Forced Water Utility Disconnection
10/30/20
“What happens when a water utility customer cannot pay their bills?”
Water utility customers are expected to pay their bills at the end of each period to keep their service. However, if they cannot keep this up, then they could risk having their service shut off. This Forced Water Utility Disconnection can be disastrous for people and should be avoided as much as possible. Existing programs may be in place to help subsidize rates for lower-income customers.
Desalination for Agriculture
10/27/20
“How can we use desalinated water for agriculture?”
Agriculture is one of the most if not THE most water-intensive industrial sectors. With the advent of climate change and depletion of freshwater resources, this resource is only going to become more and more scarce. One solution for this can be to use Desalination for Agriculture. Desalinated water can be pumped to agricultural centers, where they can replace other freshwater resources.
Image credit http://www.europenowjournal.org
Permanent Emergency Housing for Wildfire Disasters
10/26/20
“How could we build permanent emergency housing for wildfire disasters?”
When wildfires occur, mass evacuations may need to happen. However, if there is little-to-no available living spaces nearby, then this could lead to severe housing crises. Preemptive of this, governments and developers could build Permanent Emergency Housing for Wildfire Disasters. These spaces will be reserved for residents who are either currently experiencing houselessness or evacuated from a wildfire.
Weather Derivatives
10/25/20
“What are financial products that are dependent on weather conditions?”
Although usually thought of as two independent factors, weather can have a massive impact on finances, whether (pun intended) it be through floods devastating homes or wildfire-prone weather making agricultural insurance riskier. As a result, financial institutions have created a series of financial products known as Weather Derivatives. These can come in many forms, such as changing electricity prices based on weather or looking at long-term climate projections to calculate hurricane insurance.
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