[en] The paper introduces the endothermic energy systems being developed for buildings. These use the concept of solar assisted heat pumps where thermal energy is harvested using large integrated solar collectors connected to energy stores. The low grade energy is upgraded using heat pumps to provide thermal energy effectively to a wide variety of applications for space heating and cooling and hot water. The domestic housing sector is focused upon here and a current EC funded project aimed at assessing the potential of the endothermic technology for providing the thermal energy for space heating and cooling and hot water is presented. (author)

[en] This paper attempts to examine the role of judiciary in environmental governance of India in terms of judiciary intervention in the environmental policy making process as well as its role in the implementation of existing environmental laws and shaping its implementation process. In consonance with this exercise, the paper has highlighted the contributing factors influencing judiciary role in environmental governance and thereby examines the impact of judicial intervention in environmental governance of India. The discussion in the paper is drawn from the case studies of a few environmental cases where the role of judiciary in environmental governance can be observed. (author)

[en] This paper reports on an investigation of temperatures achieved through the school year in a range of schools in Peshawar and Gilgit. Strategies were investigated to improve thermal comfort in small government schools in Peshawar where design considerations are driven by the problems of summer overheating. More recent work measuring temperatures in schools in the Northern Areas, where cold winter conditions are foremost in design considerations, is also reviewed. (author)

[en] River Indus delta is one of the world largest mangrove growing area where not only the sea life with varying species bread but it is also a home of migrating birds. Karachi, the only largest port and city of Pakistan makes the harbor and coast-line polluted. The encouraging industrial policy of government to set up industries and continuous increasing shipping in the area has further aggravated the environment condition. This has endangered not only the habitats but is likely to affect the marine life too. (author)

[en] Cities are living organisms. They grow, change their physical form and sometimes decline but there has been constant effort to make them livable for comfort and dignity. With the rapid urbanization and industrialization in Pakistan, the cities changed their form and character. They are now facing worst environmental conditions. A number of urban problems have emerged because of human negligence and lack of proper planning. This paper will discuss major issues being confronted in our urban environments and suggest ways and means to improve existing situation. (author)

[en] The solid waste management is a very complicated specially when it must be environmental friendly. In the present life, power energy is being more expensive than ever before and human off spring is struggling td acquire cheap ways of getting energy. At the same time, he is facing another problem of waste disposal pollution in the environment, which is a by-product of his industries and population, and when it would be hazardous to life, it will be a more serious problem. In this study, an idea is made to use garbage as an alternate fuel and the analysis of ingredients is done to compare it with the usual fuel i.e. coal. On the other hand, municipal waste (garbage) disposal will be automatically solved. (author)

[en] At present, we are constructing houses and buildings without giving any consideration to consumption of resources at the time of construction and consumption of resources for the use of such houses or buildings. ; Although green is our color but we are doing little about green building. Time has now come to propagate Green Building Construction Concepts in order to save our precious resources. The paper deals with dire need of awareness about conservation of water, conservation of energy, use of local materials, use of natural materials, etc. (author)

[en] The effect of ultrasonic frequencies on the degradation of organophosphorus pesticide was studied at two frequencies: 20 and 500 kHz. The degradation was more efficient for the higher frequency. The rates of degradation were found to be dependent on the initial methidathion concentration. The rates of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ formation in water saturated with air were more at 500 kHz than at 20 kHz. It has been shown that the rate of sonochemical degradation was directly linked to the OH/sup 0/ availability in the solution. (author)

[en] The development and utilization of new and renewable sources of energy must be viewed in the context of the present and future energy transition. It has been estimated that new and renewable sources of energy at present meet only 5-10 percent of global energy requirements, which may hopefully go up to 30% by the year 2050 A.D. So, in the foreseeable future, hydrocarbon supplies will continue to playa very important role in meeting the global energy demand, although over a long period of time, that role will decline. (author)

[en] Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) were applied for the analysis of toxic elements (Hg, Se, As, Pb, Cd and Br). in different species of fish commonly consumed in Pakistan, as fish is also an indicator of the aquatic environment. Comparison of our values with the literature values is given. The weekly dietary intake of toxic elements through these species has been estimated, which is well below the tolerance limit. The reliability of the techniques has been established by the use of standard reference materials. (author)