Tag: Sustainability

Sustainable practices for festivals that are cost-effective.

Sustainable practices at festivals shouldn't stop with the efforts of festival-goers alone; festival organizers need to play their part.

According to Circular, festivals generate around 23,500 metric tonnes of waste per year. In kilograms, that is approximately 23,500,000kg, just to give you a clearer view of things.

Not just that, carbon emissions from these events significantly contribute to issues impacting climate change and pollution. There's no doubt festivals like Afronation, Afrofuture, Lollapalooza, and many more have a high carbon footprint.

Regardless, this doesn't mean all festivals should be banned anytime soon. They're an important part of culture and aid human interaction.

What's important is adopting practices that help make them more sustainable and eco-friendly. However, sometimes these practices may cost more than budgeted. Which is why we have developed a list of some sustainable practices for festivals that are cost-effective.

Encouraging Recycling:

This should be the utmost priority of festival organizers. To reduce waste, it is essential that factors be put in place to encourage recycling. Setting up separate bins for various waste materials, such as plastic, paper, glass, e.t.c., will make repurposing them easier. These bins should be present at major points around the festival grounds to discourage littering. Also, employing promotional incentives for the proper disposal of waste is another way to get festival-goers keen on keeping the place tidy.

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Using Recycled Products:

Recyclable materials such as oil drums, shipping containers, e.t.c. can be repurposed to make bins, furniture, vendor kiosks, stands and other key structures for festivals. They're cheaper, more durable, and make a good contribution to waste reduction.

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Using Biodegradable or Reusable Materials:

To help reduce the detrimental amount of plastic in our environment today, this is necessary. Festivals should learn to utilize biodegradable materials like paper or leaf plates, paper cups, wooden cutlery, and the like for serving food. They can also encourage goers to bring their own stainless steel water bottles and metal straws by banning plastic bottles and straws.

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Going Digital:

Adopting digital means in the promotion of festivals or better yet, selling digital tickets, is a cheaper waste reduction solution. Not only will there be less paper to waste on tickets, but the cost of printing and delivering said tickets will also become non-existent. This also works well as a substitute for promotional paper materials like posters, festival programmes, flyers, and the like. They are better displayed on the festival's Website, App or social media page or sent digitally to attendees. Companies like Faaji specialize in apps that suit this need perfectly.

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Using Renewable Energy Sources:

Major festivals known to adopt this approach are Coachella and Finland's Flow Festival. Green energy is a cheaper alternative to powering events. For example, compared to conventional diesel, biodegradable and renewable diesels are much cheaper, as discussed in this 2023 article on clean energy prices. Also, solar power panels make cheap energy sources for charging stations. Therefore, following Coachella's energy playground idea or Flow festival's renewable diesel approach is a perfect start to lowering the carbon footprint of various festivals. You can start by trying sunfi's solar panels.

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Leasing Structures:

Leasing festival stands and structures is another great way to reduce waste. Asides from that, manufacturing these structures from scratch costs more than the number of times they will actually be reused. As a result, it is advisable to temporarily own or rent these structures instead. That way, less is spent on these structures, and they can be repurposed rather than unnecessarily disposed of. Check out Redcityestate for more ideas on structures to lease for any upcoming festival.

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All these and more serve as great solutions to making festivals more sustainable. They are necessary for reducing climate change and pollution. Here at Redcity, we prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices, which is why our products are specially built for these purposes. If you would like to save costs and lease any of our products for that upcoming festival or event, simply click here to get started.

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Using Sawdust and Wood Ash as a substitute for concrete in sustainable engineering.

Sawdust is typically woodmill waste, according to business waste, Waste sawdust is sent to industrial composting sites where it's processed alongside other organic waste, like food and garden waste. This large-scale composting recycles the sawdust into fresh organic matter that's used on farms, gardens, and other land.

There are other properties of Saw dust that mean it can be reused in other ways such as a substitute for concrete. Using sawdust, woodash and concrete, one can develop techniques to apply this waste byproduct in sustainability engineering to reduce cost and reuse waste.

According to research published by Wegdan W. El-nadoury of Alexandria University on research gate, here are a few properties of sawdust that can make it a useful substitute in sustainable engineering:

Previous research specified that natural fiber provides considerable reduction in weight of structure, improves sound absorbent properties owing to its excessive void ratio, facilitates handling, mixing and placing of mixtures competed to other types of concrete [2–3].

It is alsorecognized by its low production cost, less health hazards, and accessible processing [2–3].
An equally significant direction is the usage of industrial wastes in producing of building materials
with low density, sound and heat conductivity, as well as high physical and mechanical properties.

These materials are used in casting cellular concrete for constructing the external and internal walls of buildings
[4–5]. Several studies describe the compositions and technology for producing cellular concrete from
lightweight geopolymers as an example of industrial wastes [6–13].

According to scholars, here is the physical and chemical properties of sawdust:

Table 2: Physical and chemical properties of sawdust.

Chemical properties	Value	Physical properties	Value
Extractives	3.3	Moisture content	10.8
Lignin	29.3	Apparent specific gravity	0.14
Hollocellulose	83.8	Porosity (%)	84
Carbon (C) (%)	61.58	Water retention (%)	50
Hydrogen (H) (%)	5.32	Water drainage (mls-1)	282.0
Oxygen (O) (%)	33.04
Nitrogen (N)	0	width="186">

Now let's explore the properties of wood ash: 

Typically, wood ash contains the following major elements:
Carbon (C) — 5–30%.
Calcium (Ca) — 7–33%
Potassium (K) — 3–10%
Magnesium (Mg) — 1–2%
Manganese (Mn) — 0.3–1.3%
Phosphorus (P) — 0.3–1.4%
Sodium (Na) — 0.2–0.5%.

To successfully combine these byproducts into structures for sustainable engineering, they would need to be mixed in part with concrete and their usecases would be limited to avoid compromising structures.

Here is a personally recommended numerical engineering for a mixture that would be effective as well as quality for outdoor interlocking tiles. Recommended numeric formulae below: 

Ingredient	Percentage %
Cement	20
Saw Dust	24
Wood Ash	27
Sand	10
Quarry Dust	15-25
Water	11

Any changes in this formulae mixture might cause the cement to either set too quickly or not or alternatively it could affect the strength of the mixture.

Here is a personally recommended numerical engineering for a mixture that would be effective as well as quality for indoor or modular flooring stacked on joist flooring designed with either angle rods, 'I' beam or wood. The flooring can be cast into sheets with low square surface area for adequate load distribution.

Recommended numeric formulae below: 

Ingredient	Percentage %
Cement	10
Saw Dust	44
Wood Ash	27
Sand	5
POP	14
Water	11

Below is the engineering structure built on joist flooring stacked with this mixture and can be finished with Vinyl or Wood Plastic Composite. 

While its use cases are limited due to insufficient research, these outlined usecases are ways we can explore substituting with woodash and sawdust to reduce cost and reuse what would otherwise be waste.

For more personal research and reading on "Using Sawdust and Wood Ash as a substitute for concrete in sustainable engineering", feel free to click on any of the links to research further.

If you would like a sample of these mixes, fill the form below so we'll ship to you as a sample for more research on this sustainable alternative.

Learn more about sustainable DIY furnishing here and free free to download the template to create some sustainable furnishing on your own. 

If you are interested in custom building sustainable or modular structures you can recieve a quote now here.

Military Bases in remote areas are made of modular structures. Military and privatized often use modular kiosks in creating bases in remote areas due to the quickness of their development.

With Military forces, occupation in remote or even new areas is not something that can be done over long periods, whether it is peacekeeping in an area being attacked by terrorists or strategic infiltration, mobilization of military forces is often quick and can be done in a span of days.

As a result, military forces often use mobile kiosks, tents,, and other modular structures to set up their bases. This allows them to set up occupancy in a short frame in remote or new areas and start quickly assessing any attacks.

Here are a few instances and how these bases have given strategic advantages.:

• Russia's Arctic Special Forces Base

Russia’s western Arctic houses its most advanced defensive capabilities as well as potential offensive capabilities. Remote locations like Alexandra Land are equipped with air, sea, and land capabilities that reinforce Russia’s multilayered maritime and air denial power. The focus of these defenses is to safeguard Russia’s nuclear arsenal and second-strike capabilities commanded by the powerful Northern Fleet.

 

• Israel's Shizafon military base

   

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  The Israel Defense Forces 460th “Bnei Or”/”Sons of Light” Armor Brigade is the training formation for Israel's Armored Forces. It is subordinate to the Southern Regional Command. This is the training brigade of the Armor Corps.

  It maintains two bases: this base the Shizafon (”tanning”) base, which is the training school for the corps’ commanders, where the officers and tank commanders are instructed.

 

• Italy's Darby Military Community

Darby Military Community, is a small, remote installation located in the Tuscan region of central Italy situated between the cities of Livorno and Pisa.

Camp Darby is a 10 minute drive from Pisa, home of the famous Leaning Tower and is 60 miles from the city of Florence, home to Michelangelo's masterpiece, the statue of David.

 

• France's Gao military base in northern Mali

Images of Gao, northern Mali which has been controlled by Islamist fighters since the coup in March. Gao is allegedly controlled by the combat unit of the head of the powerful AQIM group (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

 

• Japan's new base built on a remote island near China and Taiwan

Japan has moved hundreds of troops, including missile units, into a new base built on a remote island near China and Taiwan as its seeks to bolster its defensive capabilities in the region.

Up to 570 Ground Self-Defense Force members will be stationed at the newly established garrison on Ishigaki island in Okinawa prefecture

 

• South Korea's Kunsan Air Base is located on the coast of the Yellow Sea in western South Korea (under the command of the United States Air Force)

• Kunsan AB is located on the western coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is approximately 150 miles south of Seoul.

  The base is named after Gunsan City, a port town seven and a half miles east of the installation.

 

If you are interested in custom building military or security mobile structures for remote or new areas, you can schedule a consultation with Redcity here. What did you think about "Military Bases in remote areas are made of modular structures"? Comment below. 

 

 

This Security Kiosk was built in 5 days by Redcity for a security company based in Lagos Nigeria in January 2023. It was delivered to a brand new estate and was able to serve as a post for its security intel while the estate continued development.

Using this base, the private security was able to complete their jobs diligently. They could track the comings and goings in the estate and ensure the safety of residents.

One of the reasons why many companies choose to build modular security kiosks over brick and mortar is for the quickness of their delivery.

Residents and property developers are able to ensure the safety of their sites while construction is going on as a way to minimize theft and ensure the property is guarded.

Typical construction can take a minimum of 3 months to years which allows room for site theft as owners of the property have no way to ensure the site is safe at night and at other times when traffic is low.

Handy men and laborers also take so sleeping on the sites causing more harm than good and slowing down projects much further.

Redcity is able to custom-build security kiosks with surveillance tech like CCTV, barricades, and other security measures in 5 - 7 days and deliver to any sites in Africa and globally.

These custom builds are built for as low as $800 (NGN800,000) and with the use of Military and private security you can ensure a swift security base for your team.

Get a quick consultation here and start now.

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5 container to office transformations based in Lagos. Gone are the days when work spaces were built with mainly bricks and stones.

With the ever increasing cost of cement and the environmental risks involved in sourcing building materials these days, many businesses have turned to more cost effective and eco-friendly solutions.

Take refurbishing shipping containers for example. Once used to hold cargo, these durable metal boxes have become a revolutionary element in modular building today.

Their ease of renovation, maintenance, and much more make them an attractive space option for forward-thinking businesses. Here's a list of five of these businesses present in Lagos:

 

Chow Noodle Bar: This is a stylish noodle spot in Lekki. Founded by Victoria Ajayi, it's a container restaurant that offers an array of Chinese delicacies.

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Xinoss Autos Ltd: A car dealership owned by Alowolodu Oriyomi. Its office exists within the walls of a furbished shipping container.

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Vestar Coffee: Olatunji Adenuga is the owner of this chic coffee shop. Located in Victoria Island, its building is also made using shipping containers.

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O.K Grills: Another container restaurant located in Lekki. Their menu is loaded with a wide range of barbecue dishes.

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Landmark Hotel and Beach Resort: This luxury beach hotel, founded by Paul Onwuanibe and located in Victoria Island, is a perfect holiday spot. It's as unique as its container facilities. From the reception to the rooms, it's all shipping containers.

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You can also create a unique space for your business. Join the forward-thinking crowd and customize your own pocket-friendly workspace here.

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How to make furnishing out of oil drums. This is a step-by-step guide to making your own DIY sustainable furnishing. One of our excellent design examples of reducing waste and reusing items is our two-seater bar table and chairs made from oil drums. 

Firstly,  you'll need: 

• 2inch screw drills 
• At least 2ftsquare HDF or MDF wood
• A used oil barrel (Ensure it was not used to transfer flammable material and if it was, chemically wash it out as thoroughly as possible. You can review how to do a chemical wash here.)

Here is how you can make one yourself. 

• Next to note, before you start, ensure you wear protective gear on your hands and eyes. This protective gear will keep the metal edges from hurting you or getting into your eyes. Learn about protective covering below. 

1. Create a stencil of the chairs and using measurement of a curved angle attach both stencils to the oil drum. You can download our stencil here for free. 
2. Once you have attached the shape, using a laser cutter or electrical jacksaw, cut the shapes out and set them aside. 
3. Dull the edges with a dulling stone
4. Using a 3/4 inch square pipe, create the legs of the chair and support for the table, ensuring that you brace both items on both sides so the structure can be stable. 
5. Trace the shape of the table top onto an MDF or HDF wood for the table top and mark holes on the top and the metal to drill through.
6. Drill through the wood and match this to the tabletop to drill through the top 
7. Using 2inch screws attach this wood top to the metal and finish the edges with glue and vinyl wood tape.
8. Once this is done, paint the furnishing with red oxide and finish the coloring till finished. 
9. Using car rubber tape and glue, cover up the dulled edges to prevent any future injury. 
10. You can now make a cushion to cover the seating. 

Voila! Your seating is ready. 

If you would like to receive a quotation for this seating for less than $80 (NGN80,000), kindly request a quotation here. View our other sustainable custom designs here. 

 

 

 

 

 

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