Costs Of Building A Zero Carbon Dwelling Environmental Sciences Essay

To province that a house is zero C the C dioxide emanations ensuing from all the energy used in the home have to be zero or better. Put merely, a zero C place uses less energy than it generates over a fit period of clip. This will include all contraptions and takes into history the onsite renewable energy installings. Presently the building industry is responsible for the ingestion of over 400 million metric tons of natural stuffs every twelvemonth ( DTI, 2006 ) . This has helped consume our natural resources, destroy home grounds and make a important sum of pollution. Many professionals have begun to defend the usage of green edifice merchandises so as to cut down the industry ‘s impact on the environment. It is recommended that the authorities should promote the building industry to follow these alterations. Surveies have shown that place proprietors are witting of the of all time altering clime alteration and are willing to alter the hereafter and their places if they can pr acticably make it. Through the usage of questionnaires every bit good as a series of interviews information was gathered from householders sing their ideas on the usage of green edifice merchandises, obstructions forestalling the alteration to zero C place, the value of Government policy, effectivity of Government action, and thoughts for the hereafter. Consequences indicated the chief obstruction to constructing a nothing C emanation home was a deficiency of environmental information, interviewees commented on how hard it was to happen out the environmental friendliness of edifice merchandises. When it came to Government policy, many indicated that their cognition of this was excessively unclear to be of usage. It was reported that on the whole the action by the Government was deficient and that it could make significantly more. Recommendations included the debut of statute law and a simpler usher to follow and understand. Keywords: Green Materials, Zero Carbon, Government Policy, Environment 1. Introduction1.1. BackgroundThe actions of the building industry have important long-run impacts upon the environment. In recent old ages at that place has been a mounting consensus within the building industry and within authorities on the demand for more and pressing action to undertake clime alteration. In the United Kingdom entirely, the building industry uses over 400 million metric tons of natural stuffs per annum and produces over 90 million metric tons of destruction and building waste per annum which is about three times every bit much as family waste ( DTI, 2006 ) . Approximately 40 % of the nursery emanations within the UK are produced by the building, activity and care of edifices ( Jones, 2008 ) . Even though the industry is damaging to the well being of the environment the industry has an tremendous part to do in bettering the quality of life for everyone and in add-on it excessively is of import to the stableness of the UK economic system as it employs around 3 milli on people, has an end product worth in surplus of ?100 billion and histories for at least 8 % of the GDP ( HM Government, 2008 ) . Encouragement for more sustainable building has been a cardinal purpose of assorted stakeholders including the authorities. Undertaking clime alteration is about more than merely turning away of environmental ruin. It can bring forth a better category of society and a stronger, more sustainable economic system. There are touchable, immediate benefits for concern. It can guarantee that our economic system emerges from the planetary diminution at the head of the technological and societal displacement that will specify the hereafter. With procuring these benefits it means recognizing the necessity of action. The full universe is engaged in a race to take down C emanations, and moving early will merely profit us in the hereafter as we will be positioned good for the new industries that are being created. Presently the planetary market for low C services and goods is already deserving over ?3 trillion per annum, and will most likely grow by half that once more by 2015. By now, about 900, 000 people work within the low C sector or its supply concatenation in the UK, non merely limited to green fabrication but in green services for illustration consultancy or low C venture capital. The usage of green edifice merchandises can accordingly play an of import portion in diminishing the overall impact of the building industry on the environment. Green edifice merchandises can take many signifiers, to province that a edifice stuff or merchandise is green merely it has to hold at least one of the undermentioned features atoxic, recycled content, resource efficient, long life rhythm, or, environmentally witting. Some stuffs and merchandises have more of these features than others and are, hence, considered â€Å" greener † . In recent old ages at that place has been an increasing consensus within the scientific community and within authorities on the demand for farther and pressing action to cover with clime alteration. With this in head the Committee on Climate Change was asked to reevaluate the Government ‘s long-run mark, to cut down C dioxide emanations to 60 % below 1990 degrees by 2050. The Government has acknowledged the Committee ‘s recommendation that the mark should be to diminish nursery gas emanations to 80 % below basal twelvemonth degrees by 2050. Planing clime alteration intercessions to be as cost effectual and efficient as possible has become of all time more of import in the current economic clime. Gaining the extenuation potency at the least cost to the economic system requires an effectual, believable and good considered policy model to present the needed emanations decreases. ( DEFRA & A ; Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2009 ) At a glimpse the Government appears to be dedicated to promoting the usage of green edifice merchandises, but it is truly excessively early to cognize whether this degree of committedness is in fact holding any influence on the attitudes and behavior of those charged with stipulating stuffs. The purpose of this survey is to find the existent cost of constructing a nothing C home, how successful the authorities has been on promoting the alterations necessary to be deemed zero C, the alterations that occur as a consequence. Before this can be achieved it will be necessary to travel over the authorities ‘s policy in full and moreover analyze the extent to which green edifice merchandises are presently specified. In add-on it will be of import here to analyze what issues prevent the usage of green stuffs and afterwards decide whether the authorities is set abouting plenty to battle these issues. The bulk of the research will concentrate on how to go zero C and the cost in making so, in add-on looking into the affects this has on Government programs. Obviously the survey can non see every subdivision of the building industry, so the survey will take to hold a broad set of positions and sentiments runing from Quantity surveyors, Building surveyors, Architects, place proprietors and Government organic structures.1.2 Research AimThe full intent of this survey was to find the existent cost of constructing a nothing C emanation home. Research Aims What are the emanations marks set by the Government, what is being done to run into these deadlines? To find what action the Government has taken so far to promote householders to take a greener option, can they make better? To analyze the sentiments of place proprietors and the general feeling towards Government policy on going zero C. What can home proprietors do to go zero C, and are they willing to pass money on these alterations? What are the advantages and disadvantages for place proprietors, the Government and the environment? Do place proprietors have the same positions as the Government? Outline Research Methodology The cardinal facet of this survey is happening out what the existent cost is for constructing a nothing C emanation brooding. A qualitative research attack has been adopted. The research is non based upon a clear theory or job and so it is non nonsubjective by nature, therefore the quantitative attack is non appropriate to the research. The first aim is to be attained through an in-depth reappraisal of the authorities policy and enterprises, whilst the other four will be achieved through the aggregation of informations, subsequent analysis and farther research, However before this takes topographic point a huge reappraisal of literature is required to bring out the cardinal theories. There are two methods of informations aggregation within this thesis, the questionnaire and the interview. The questionnaire will be employed to garner general information from a comparatively big sample of the place proprietors, whilst telephone or in individual interviews will be conducted to illicit more in-depth information from a much smaller sample. It was hoped that together, both methods would garner the best information to accomplish the purpose of this thesis and get the better of the restrictions of each method. The questionnaire is structured so that inquiries are set out into subdivisions that each relate to an aim. Respondents from the questionnaire were asked if they would be happy to take portion in an interview, either in individual or over telephone. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven respondents, they were each asked the same inquiries but were on occasion probed for more elaborate responses. The assorted statistical trials were inappropriate for the qualitative research attack employed within this thesis, alternatively information from the questionnaire was analysed utilizing the descriptive statistics methods. The findings would be used together with the interview findings to explicate any tendencies from the questionnaires. Contentss The contents of the thesis are as follows: Literature Review – Scope of chapter – Specification in pattern – Obstacles to Specification – Government Action – Summary Research Methodology – Scope – Proposal – Scheme – Design – Methods of Data Collection Data Collection Methods – Scope – Questionnaires – Interviews Datas Analysis – Scope – Method of Analysis – Data Analysis Discussion & A ; Conclusion – Scope – Discussion – Decision – Recommendations – Deficiencies/Limitations – Further Research Mentions Appendix2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW2.1 ScopeThis chapter looks to analyze a assortment of stuff in the signifier of books, articles, diaries amongst others, all of which are related to replying the inquiry â€Å" The existent cost of constructing a nothing C emanation brooding † It begins with a bomber chapter that looks to explicate what is required to hold a home nothing C. It so includes legion bomber chapters that seek to look into how much it will be to go zero C and how easy is it for householders to do the alteration. The chapter concludes with an assessment of the cardinal actions made by the Government in trying to promote place proprietors to do the alteration. The axial rotation in which the authorities plays in cut downing the C pes print and the marks that have been set.2.2 What is a Zero Carbon Dwelling?To set merely a nothing C home is one that returns to the National Grid every bit much power as it uses over the class of a twelvemonth. Unless you plan on life somepla ce with no warming, electricity or H2O, that means a zero-carbon place will necessitate to be kitted out with equipment for micro coevals, the production of energy on a little graduated table. Therefore, mini wind turbines, solar panels and a wood pellet burner for bring forthing energy are the manner frontward to accomplishing a zero C emanations brooding. Meanwhile, to maintain that cherished energy in there is demand for clever, draught excepting building with super-insulated walls, a geothermic warming system pull outing heat from the land and triple-glazed Windowss. In add-on to this there could besides be a rain H2O roll uping armored combat vehicle to provide the lavation machine and toilets and to be connected to a reed-bed sewerage system for organically cleaning human waste. The HM Treasury describes a nothing C place: â€Å" Allowable electricity † means electricity generated from a zero-carbon energy beginning designed to function the home and which is conveyed to the home, or to a sub-station connected straight to the home, by overseas telegrams used entirely for the conveyance of electricity from that beginning. A zero C place is one with ‘zero net emanations of Carbon Dioxide ( CO2 ) from all energy usage in the place ‘ . The definition encompasses all energy usage in the place this includes all energy from cooking, TVs, computing machines and any other contraptions instead than merely those energy uses that are presently portion of edifice ordinances for illustration infinite warming, hot H2O, airing and some lighting. It means that over 12 months there are no net C emanations ensuing from the operation of the home. This could be achieved either through stairss taken at the single home degree or through site broad schemes. Consequently it will non be necessary for each home to hold its ain micro coevals capacity where development degree solutions would be more appropriate. ( DCLG 2006 ) It is of import to hold the right balance, rewrite the definition to slackly and there will be small or no micro coevals this includes land beginning heat pumps as developers go for the easier path of off puting, but write the definition excessively restrictive, and the mark of accomplishing zero C places will be viewed as close impossible to run into and merely will be ignored by developers, this besides means there will be small or no micro coevals. 2.3 Why Is Becoming Zero Caron Important? The motive for alteration is simple, since the morning of clip adult male has used resources to last and in present twenty-four hours we have developed a planet that relies to a great extent on natural stuffs from the Earth. The current universe population stands at merely under 7 billion ( CIA World Fact book, 2008 ) and is turning every twenty-four hours, as it grows so does the demand for natural stuffs. Natural stuffs such as coal, gas, and oil are being used quicker than the Earth can reproduce them intending the demand for new dependable resources. Figure. Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil-Fuel ( And Cement ) Production. Even more significantly CO2 emanations rates are at an all clip high which has resulted in clime alteration, which is going more evidentiary, for illustration the winter of 2009/2010 It was the coldest December in Britain for 14 old ages, 1.8C ( 3.2F ) below norm, and the coldest in Scotland for 28 old ages, 2.1C ( 3.8F ) below norm. ( The Times, 2010 ) Climate alteration is about surely the most of import issue to confront any coevals in history. The world-wide scientific community is practically consentaneous in its understanding that clime alteration is happening, and that it ‘s our mistake. The universe needs to alter before it gets out of our control, as the effects, which are already seeable, will be ruinous. Just some of the effects are lifting sea degrees due to the thaw of the polar ice caps, holes in the O-Zone bed, more frequent and more terrible natural catastrophes, large-scale nutrient deficits, pestilences, monolithic species extinctions, unprecedented Numberss o f refugees, intensified cultural and political tensenesss, and a planetary economic depression the likes of which no 1 has of all time seen. The state of affairs is still within our appreciation, but action must be taken now, we must move together and strongly. Every person must stand up and be accounted for, companies, and authoritiess across the full Earth must make what they can to change by reversal clime alteration before it becomes excessively late. The clip has to be now as we will ne'er acquire another chance.Untjhjitled.png 2.4 Driving Towards Zero Carbon Despite the current economic and political environment, there are multiple drivers that exist for the development of low C homes. These can be loosely separated into the undermentioned three classs, concern, cultural, and legislative drivers, which are examined below: 2.4.1 Business There is a turning civilization of corporate societal duty ( CSR ) within the building industry. The importance attached to CSR was strongly illustrated in the World Wide Fund for nature study, entitled ‘Building a Sustainable Future ‘ where a study of 20 of the UK largest lodging developers revealed that 70 % study publically on their attack to sustainability and 65 % have a corporate sustainability policy in topographic point. ( WWF, 2007 ) Consequently, CSR has the possible to be a powerful driver for zero C places, as companies strive to better their environmental public presentation. Furthermore, it was stated that in transcending minimal sustainability criterions, house builders can profit from enhanced trade name acknowledgment and repute. ( Carter, 2006 ) Similarly, the WWF reported, that accomplishing high criterions of environmental and societal public presentation can be used to a developer ‘s advantage to pull clients and high quality employees. However, the building supply concatenation could hold a more profound impact on the nothing C marks. ( WWF, 2005 ) 2.4.2 Cultural Despite the fact that client demand for low C homes is presently limited, it is acknowledged as a turning market and country of involvement. ( Carter, 2006 & A ; DEFRA 2005 ) A survey carried out in 2007 by Sponge Sustainability Network found that there is a turning desire amongst the UK populace to implement more sustainable life styles. The addition in client demand is likely to carry house builders to willingly integrate sustainable characteristics into future building undertakings. It is suggested that this upward low C civilization could be built upon by authorities enterprises, either through the proviso of financial inducements ( Dobson, 2007 ) or the incorporation of sustainability factors in belongings ratings. ( Lutzendorf & A ; Lorenz, 2007 ) Favourable be aftering policies, such as Planing Policy Statement 1 ( PPS1 ) ( DCLG, 2005 ) , and bing authorities policies, such as the Energy White Paper ( DTI, 2003 ) , which are aimed at advancing sustainability within the reinfor ced environment, are apt to farther heighten the integrating of such characteristics and the encouragement of a low C civilization. In add-on, these policies pave the manner for new statute law, to which stakeholders in the edifice industry are shown to react best. ( Structural Survey, 2007 & A ; CIOB, 2007 ) 2.4.3 Legislative The chance of future statute law itself should show to be a major driver in accomplishing zero C places by 2016. ( BRI, 2007 ) It is likely that the CSH, will go statute law and is expected to be the most influential driver for house builders to construct zero C places and that those who take on a pro-active attitude will derive extended and practical cognition of low C house edifice, from which they will harvest the benefits financially by being capable of run intoing the enhanced edifice demands more cost efficaciously. ( CIOB, 2006 ) The likely debut of the CSH as statute law, aboard with the execution of Energy Performance Certificates in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, has been highlighted in a survey by Vorsatz etA Al. in 2007 as being highly successful in footings of decreases in CO2 emanations and cost effectivity, to the point that these steps could be the cardinal drivers for nothing C lodging. 2.5 Obstacles Against Achieving Zero Carbon? The last subdivision attempted to sketch the significance of a nothing C emanation brooding. There are a batch of alterations that have to be completed before a home can be deemed zero C, people tend to happen it hard to do alterations to a life style that they have came usage to over clip, besides this obvious obstruction there are legion others such as cost, strangeness, and These will be pointed out in this chapter. 2.5.1 Cost First it can be instead dearly-won to do any type of brooding zero C particularly if it ‘s updating current places as this involves money for something that in the bulk of place proprietor ‘s eyes is n't necessary. For bing homes, the edifice ordinances can non be retrospective but the eventual execution of Energy Performance Certificates ( EPCs ) could take to betterments being obligatory at the phase of selling any house. Currently, energy efficiency betterments to bing houses are chiefly carried out throughout rehabilitation plants as steps implemented by local governments, lodging associations and landlords to their ain homes. Individual proprietor residents may take to the option of upgrading insularity normally with the aid of grant assistance towards the outgo. The Government needs to acquire across the message and householders need to acknowledge that cut downing the C emanations on their lodging will take to higher capital costs but as a consequence will hold low er running costs. Underneath provinces several good grounds for sing a nothing C home: Lower your energy bill/consumption, Lessen our dependance on foreign oil, Preserve cherished universe resources, Follow the national and international tendency towards green life, Enjoy better wellness and wellbeing, Protect your lungs and respiratory system, Strengthen the immune systems of both yourself and your kids, Prevent/recover from chemically induced allergic reactions, Enjoy higher value and resale value of your place. Figure. What makes a nothing C place? ergteghdfgdfgdfg.png Bartlett & A ; Howard ( 2000 ) wrote that measure surveyors believed that the more environmentally friendly edifices cost between 5 – 15 % more than conventional 1s to construct. In contrast with, Lockwood ( 2006 ) studies that the market for green edifice merchandises is altering with many sustainable, non-toxic stuffs readily available at sensible monetary values and some recycled merchandises bing the same or less than conventional 1s. Spiegal & A ; Meadows, ( 2006 ) have besides highlighted that simple economic comparings show that green merchandises, particularly those with a high recycled content, are competitory for purchase and installing. On norm, premiums for green edifice merchandises are less than 2 % ( Kats, 2003 & A ; Morris, 2007 ) Never the less there is no warrant that the building industry will pay even a little addition in cost for green edifice merchandises as it frequently criticised for being focused entirely on net income ( House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2006 ) . Surveies have found that the cost of a new physique nothing C home is cheaper than trying to transform an bing belongings into a genuinely green place, nevertheless it is still expensive. The estimated cost for constructing a criterion nothing C place would be within the part of approximately ?120,000 to ?140,000, in contrast to a similar sized traditional belongings which will be around ?85,000. However, that does non include the cost of land, an expensive trade good in Britain, or the developers ‘ net incomes. The basic cost of a nothing C place, with no subsidies, is non likely to be less than ?350,000 to ?400,000, with that being said one time more have been constructed you will happen that it will go more low-cost as the engineering and expertness will go cheaper. ( TIM, 2007 ) The Calcutt reappraisal of house edifice provinces that many house builders refrain from utilizing green stuffs because they find that purchasers are loath to pay more for sustainable homes ( CLG, 2007 ) 2.5.2 Unfamiliarity 2.5.3 Time 2.4 Government Policy & A ; Action It is universally accepted that decreases in CO2 emanations are needed in order to stabilise the universe ‘s clime, and that these will be dearly-won and better implemented sooner instead than subsequently. The of all time altering clime has established itself as a major issue, and to assist undertake planetary warming the UK is seting itself on a way to cut its C dioxide emanations by some 60 % on 2000 degrees by 2050, with existent advancement by 2020. ( DTI, 2003 ) This was superseded by a authorities proclamation in October 2008 for a more ambitious mark perpetrating the UK to cut nursery gas emanations by 80 % by the center of the century. ( DECC, 2008 ) This committedness will necessitate C decreases to be made by all industries. The reinforced environment histories for a big proportion of emanations, C dioxide emanations from the lodging sector have risen by more than 5 % since 1997 and account for 27 % of the UK ‘s C footmark. ( DTI, 2003 ) The authorities has as a consequence highlighted the lodging building industry as a key sector where C decreases can be made. Due to tendencies in the formation of new families and the decrease in their mean size, combined with inward migration and longer life anticipation of the population as a whole, it has been estimated that an addition of around 120,000 private-sector and 26,000 societal places per twelvemonth over present supply is needed. ( Barker, 2004 ) The UK authorities ‘s response in 2005 was to show an aspiration to increase the supply of new lodging in England to 200,000 units per twelvemonth by 2016. This means that in 2050 about 30 % of lodging will hold been built since 2006, with the balance already bing now. In add-on, in December 2006, the authorities published the Code for Sustainable Homes ( CSH ) as a tract to accomplishing zero C places in England. ( DCLG, 2006 ) The CSH sets ambitious marks for the lodging building industry, for which the existent commercial benefits and cos ts are still unknown. Action to cut down entire emanations demands to be aimed at both new physique and bing lodging, nevertheless the UK authorities has decided to take a firm stand on improved criterions for new edifices, and positively cut down emanations by that path. This is possibly because in retrospective alteration to current edifices is perceived as complicated and unpopular, as evidenced by the taking off of a demand to do energy betterments to the bing cloth together with any proposal to widen an bing edifice with a floor country of less than 1000 M2 between the first proposal ( ODPM, 2004 ) and execution ( DCLG, 2006 ) of the 2006 Building Regulations. The authorities justifies this focal point on new physique by asseverating that doing every executable cost effectual energy betterment to bing places would cut down the annual CO2 emanations in 2050 by merely 25 % of what is required intending the remainder must be achieved in new built places. ( DCLG, 2006 ) Given that this will necessitate a ll new places built between now and 2050 to run into at least low or zero C criterions, there is a instance for re-examining this inexplicit rejection of a policy of energy betterments to bing edifices. Early consequences from a present research programme to recognize ways of cutting down C emanations from bing edifices ( Anon, 2004 ) expose the technological potency for halving the emanations from bing lodging, hence there will be enough of range for deploying the sorts of loans and subsidies to bing place proprietors that make betterments that are cost effectual and are used successfully elsewhere, for illustration in Germany. ( KFW, 2007 ) 2.4.1 The Code For Sustainable Homes The Code for Sustainable Homes ( DCLG, 2006 ) aims to supply a system for developing and showing superior environmental criterions by giving place proprietors better information about the sustainability and running costs of their places. In April 2007 there was a voluntary appraisal stage in order to derive experience in the methodological analysis, taking to a compulsory evaluation demand for all new places excepting bing places from 2008. The full appraisal is a evaluation method across all the countries of sustainability, based on the Eco Homes system, ( BRE, 2006 ) but it is proposed to do merely the energy/CO2 emanations evaluation mandatary and this will work through phased alterations to the Building Regulations. Eco Homes depends on a group of independent vouchers who will measure the design and carry out a station completion cheque on the edifice. In the instance of multi place developments they will look merely at each different house type and a sample of the completed units, as this makes better usage of clip. This station completion cheque on the energy/CO2 emanations public presentation is an of import alteration from the chiefly design based appraisal mentioned above, but the Code does non discourse its nature. In common with the other dimensions of sustainability, the overall energy/CO2 emanations evaluation for the home identified as the Standard Assessment Procedure ( SAP ) evaluation will be assigned a degree. The Code degree to achieve a one-star evaluation corresponds to a 10 % betterment over the Target Emission Rate in the 2006 Building Regulations. Two, three and four stars correspond to 18 % , 25 % and 44 % betterments, severally. A five star evaluation is a 100 % betterment, corresponds to zero emanations in relation to affairs covered by the Building Regulations, this being zero emanations from heating, hot H2O, airing and lighting. The highest degree is a six-star rated place, this is a wholly 0 C place significance there is zero net emanations of CO2 from all energy usage in the place. The SAP evaluation mark can be met in a assortment of ways such as, bettering the cloth of the edifice, bettering the efficiency of illuming and infinite warming, and by utilizing lower C fuels while the Code in add-on covers the energy/CO2 emanations of a little scope of white goods like deep-freezes, dish washers, etc. While flexibleness is allowed as to how these evaluations are achieved, in exercising a scope of intercessions will be necessary, as discussed farther below. The Code notes that a six-star place will necessitate to present zero C emanations over 12 months for all energy usage in the place, cookery, rinsing and place amusement systems, every bit good a s infinite warming, hot H2O, airing and lighting. The Code gives descriptive illustrations of houses run intoing the different degrees and for a six-star place this means that energy taken from the national electricity grid would hold to be replaced by low or zero-carbon generated electricity. ( DCLG, 2006 ) The clip graduated table proposed for implementing these betterments to the public presentation of new places was to be 2010 with the minimal demand being three stars, ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? has this happend in 2013 it will be four stars, and in 2016 it will be six stars. The UK authorities is hence draw a bead oning to present a wholly zero-carbon supply of new places by 2016. Some of the deductions of this are explored below, after a brief treatment of the premises implied by the proposals. Is 2016 excessively late? Will the quality of edifices be compromised? Will the wellness and safety be compromised? Ill use a Questionnaire to acquire my information Open or closed inquiries? ? ? ? ? ? Open give more item but clip devouring to make full in Closed less item but easier and easier to compare fixed replies Interview Provides the item that the questionnaires could n't give ( will stop up utilizing closed questionnaire ) ( closed merely agencies yes no replies and multiple pick ) Drumhead With the really being of the effects of clime alteration in difference ( some do n't even believe its existent ) its impossible to state. However better to be safe than sorry, merely positive can come out of it every bit long as does n't come at a cost of human life or edifice quality Use in datat findings: : : A First it can be instead dearly-won to do any type of brooding zero C particularly if it ‘s updating current places as this involves money for something that in householders eyes is n't necessary

The effects of ICT on the individual

1. Internet e.g. email, websites, messenger, chat rooms 2. Communication e.g. mobile phone, video phone, video conferencing, information points 3. Entertainment e.g. games console, MP3 player, digital TV 4. Mobile access e.g. laptop, PDA, Wi-Fi, WAP 5. Data capture e.g. digital camera, voice recorder, scanner 6. Financial transactions e.g. ATM, EPOS, smart card Internet How the Internet Is Used The internet is used in many different ways such as; communication, finding information, publishing, commerce and for online learning. The most widely used facilities on the internet are; The World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail (e-mail), newsgroups, chat and publishing. The web is the most popular and fastest growing part of the internet. It provides easy access to a vast range of information stored on computers all over the world. E-mail allows people to send messages from one computer to another almost immediately. It is widely used and has become an alternative to the conventional letter post, the fax, and telephone. Newsgroups are discussion groups that usually focus on one particular subject and therefore enable people with common interests to communicate. Chat is similar to a telephone conversation, except people type instead of talk. People can hold conversations with one or more people by typing their messages on the screen. These appear instantly on the screens of everyone involved. Publishing is not just for organisations or businesses. Anyone can create their own Web site or weblog and ‘publish’ their files on the World Wide Web. Benefits of the Internet There are a numerous benefits of the internet such as communication, information, downloading software, services and e-commerce. People can benefit from internet communication because people can communicate in seconds with a person who is in the other part of the world. We can also e-mail people from all over the world and we can chat for hours with loved ones. Information is probably the biggest benefit the internet offers. Any kind of information on any topic in the world is available on the internet. People can almost find any type of data on any kind of subject that they are looking for. There is a vast amount of information available on the internet ranging from government law and services, market information, new ideas and technical support. Another benefit is downloading software. This is one of the most happening and fun things to do using the internet. People can download countless games, music, videos, movies, and lots of other entertainment software from the internet, whic h are mostly free. Many services are now provided on the internet such as online banking, job seeking, purchasing tickets for favourite movies, guidance services on a range of topics, and hotel reservations. Often these services are not available off-line and can cost more. Ecommerce is the idea used for any type of commercial planning, or business deals that involves the transfer of information across the globe via Internet. Ecommerce has got a real incredible and wide range of products from household needs, technology to entertainment. The internet can also provide children and adults alike with a world of exciting opportunities. It offers: 1. educational games and programs 2. research information for school projects and business 3. the opportunity to communicate with people from all around the world 4. the opportunity to share resources and ideas with people that have the same interests 5. Shopping around the world without leaving a computer. Disadvantages of the Internet The internet can have some disadvantages such as theft of personal information, spamming and virus threats. Theft of personal information is a disadvantage because if someone uses the internet, they may be facing great danger as their personal information such as their name, address, credit card number can be accessed by other people. Spamming means the sending of unwanted emails in bulk which don’t provide a purpose. These illegal actions can be very frustrating for people. Viruses are programs which interrupt the usual function of computers. Computers attached to the internet are more prone to virus attacks. Entertainment How Entertainment Is Used Entertainment is used in several ways such as games consoles, MP3/4 players and digital TV. Games consoles are used as entertainment by playing games, watching movies, surfing the web and listening to music. MP3 players are used as entertainment by listening to music. MP4 players are used as entertainment by watching video clips, looking at pictures and listening to music. Digital TV is used for entertainment by watching TV programmes. Digital TV has over 30 channels to watch. Benefits of Entertainment There are various benefits of entertainment. Entertainment sets peoples minds free, keeps people chilled out, releases stress, and it makes people feel happy. Entertainment is fun and keeps people occupied for long amounts of time. You can also use entertainment anywhere in the world as you can watch movies, play games and much more on mobile devices such as mobile phones, iPods and tablets. Disadvantages of Entertainment There are some disadvantages of entertainment as people can get carried away watching a movie, playing a game on a games console or listening to music using a MP3 player can make people late to appointments and meetings. Entertainment can also steer people away from work or studying as entertainment is addictive. Mobile Access How Mobile Access Is Used Mobile access can be used to access different things while on the move using a laptop, PDA or other devices. Mobile access can be used to access emails and to surf the web. Mobile devices can be used to access the internet via Wi-Fi (wireless internet) or via WAP (Wireless application Protocol). Benefits of Mobile Access Mobile access can be used almost anywhere in the world even on Mount Everest. Mobile access is wireless so there isn’t the hassle of carrying wires around. The price of mobile access isn’t over priced either and in fact some Wi-Fi hotspots are free to access and use. Mobile broadband can also be used in areas which do not have broadband. Mobile broadband can also be pay as you go so it is paid for when it is used instead of monthly. Disadvantages of Mobile Access Standard broadband or home broadband can sometimes be a lot cheaper than mobile broadband. The speed of mobile access can be slower than standard broadband. The download/usage limits for mobile broadband are quite restrictive. Communication How Communication Is Used Communication can be used with mobile phones, video phones, video conferencing and computers. Mobile phones can be used to communicate by texting and voice calling someone. Video phones can be used to communicate by seeing the person someone is talking to on the phone. Video conferencing can be used to communicate by seeing and speaking to numerous individuals at once. Computers can be used for communicating by sending an email to someone, chatting to someone in a chat room and video calling or voice calling someone using a program such as Skype. Benefits of Communication Communication can be used all most anywhere in the world using many different devices. Some forms of communication can be free such as using a free messenger program on a computer for example Windows Live Messenger is free to chat to someone, free to call someone who has Windows Live Messenger using a microphone and video calling someone who has Windows Live Messenger. Programs like Windows Live Messenger and Skype can be used to communicate with people from all over the world for free. Disadvantages of Communication Communication can have some disadvantages as the cost of some communication devices can be expensive. Calling someone using a mobile phone can sometimes cost quite a bit. If a webcam is used to communicate to someone sometimes the webcam can be hacked so a hacker can see you. If someone communicates to someone using the internet and the connection is slow things could be misinterpreted. Data Capture How Data Capture Is Used Data capture is used to capture many different things for example photos, speech and documents. Data capture is used in different ways such as taking pictures with a digital camera, recording a conversation using a voice recorder, scanning a barcode using a barcode scanner and copying a photo or document using a scanner. Benefits of Data Capture Data capture is a great way of capturing memories by taking photos using a digital camera. It is also a great way for people who are in a meeting and need to remember what was said in the meeting, people can do this by using a voice recorder. Data capture is also very helpful in shops as products can be scanned for a barcode using a barcode scanner. Another benefit of data capture is that if a backup of a printed photo or document is needed then it can be backed up by using a scanner. Disadvantages of Data Capture Some data capturing devices may not capture data properly for instance a voice recorder may stop recording randomly or the device may not record properly causing voices recorded to be muffled. Another disadvantage may be that barcode scanners in shops may not be updated properly so some product barcodes can’t be scanned as they won’t appear on the system.

Problems

Chapter 3 Problems 1. Dental Delights has two divisions. Division A has a profit of $200,000 on sales of $4,000,000. Division B is only able to make $30,000 on sales of $480,000. Based on the profit margins (returns on sales), which division is superior? 3-1. Solution: Dental Delights Division ADivision B [pic] Division B is superior 3. Bass Chemical, Inc. , is considering expanding into a new product line. Assets to support this expansion will cost $1,200,000. Bass estimates that it can generate $2 million in annual sales, with a 5 percent profit margin. What would net income and return on assets (investment) be for the year? -3. Solution:Bass Chemical, Inc. [pic] 4. Franklin Mint and Candy Shop can open a new store that will do an annual sales volume of $750,000. It will turn over its assets 2. 5 times per year. The profit margin on sales will be 6 percent. What would net income and return on assets (investment) be for the year? 3-4. Solution: Franklin Mint and Candy Shop [pic] 8. Sharpe Razor Company has total assets of $2,500,000 and current assets of $1,000,000. It turns over its fixed assets 5 times a year and has $700,000 of debt. Its return on sales is 3 percent. What is Sharpe’s return on stockholders’ equity? -8. Solution: Sharpe Razor Company total assets$2,500,000 – current assets 1,000,000 Fixed assets$1,500,000 [pic] total assets$2,500,000 –debt 700,000 Stockholders’ equity$1,800,000 [pic] [pic] 11. Acme Transportation Company has the following ratios compared to its industry for 2009. | |Acme Transportation |Industry | |Return on assets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ | 9% | 6% | |Return on equity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ |12% |24% |Explain why the return-on-equity ratio is so much less favorable than the return-on-assets ratio compared to the industry. No numbers are necessary; a one-sentence answer is all that is required. 3-11. Solution: Acme Transportation Company Acme Transportation has a lowe r debt/total assets ratio than the industry. For those who did a calculation, Acme’s debt to assets were 25% vs 75% for the industry. 14. Jerry Rice and Grain Stores has $4,000,000 in yearly sales. The firm earns 3. 5 percent on each dollar of sales and turns over its assets 2. 5 times per year. It has $100,000 in current liabilities and $300,000 in long-term liabilities. . What is its return on stockholders’ equity? b. If the asset base remains the same as computed in part a, but total asset turnover goes up to 3, what will be the new return on stockholders’ equity? Assume that the profit margin stays the same as do current and long-term liabilities. 3-14. Solution: Jerry Rice and Grain Stores a. [pic] [pic] [pic] 3-14. (Continued) b. The new level of sales will be: [pic] [pic] [pic] 25. Calloway Products has the following data. Industry information is also shown. Industry Data on Net YearNet IncomeTotal AssetsIncome/Total Assets 2006$360,000$3,000,00011% 00738 0,0003,400,0008 2008380,0003,800,0005 Industry Data on YearDebtTotal AssetsDebt/Total Assets 2006$1,600,000$3,000,00052% 20071,750,0003,400,00040 20081,900,0003,800,00031 As an industry analyst comparing the firm to the industry, are you likely to praise or criticize the firm in terms of: a. Net income/Total assets? b. Debt/Total assets? 3-25. Solution: Calloway Products a. Net income/total assets |Year |Calloway Ratio |Industry Ratio | |2006 |12. % |11. 0% | |2007 |11. 18% |8. 0% | |2008 |10. 0% |5. 0% | Although the company has shown a declining return on assets since 2006, it has performed much better than the industry. Praise may be more appropriate than criticism. 3-25. (Continued) b. Debt/total assets Year |Calloway Ratio |Industry Ratio | |2006 |53. 33% |52. 0% | |2007 |51. 47% |40. 0% | |2008 |50. 0% |31. 0% |While the company’s debt ratio is improving, it is not improving nearly as rapidly as the industry ratio. Criticism may be more appropriate than praise. 26. J odie Foster Care Homes, Inc. , shows the following data: YearNet IncomeTotal AssetsStockholders’ EquityTotal Debt 2005$118,000$1,900,000$ 700,000$1,200,000 2006131,0001,950,000950,0001,000,000 2007148,0002,010,0001,100,000910,000 2008175,7002,050,0001,420,000630,000 a. Compute the ratio of net income to total assets for each year and comment on the trend. b. Compute the ratio of net income to stockholders’ equity and comment on the trend.Explain why there may be a difference in the trends between parts a and b. 3-26. Solution: Jodie Foster Care Homes, Inc. a. [pic] 2005 $118,000/$1,900,000 = 6. 21% 2006 $131,000/$1,950,000 = 6. 72% 2007 $148,000/$2,010,000 = 7. 36% 2008 $175,700/$2,050,000 = 8. 57% Comment: There is a strong upward movement in return on assets over the four year period. 3-26. (Continued) b. [pic] 2005 $118,000/$700,000= 16. 86% 2006 $131,000/$950,000= 13. 79% 2007 $148,000/$1,100,000= 13. 45% 2008 $175,700/$1,420,000= 12. 37% Comment: The return on sto ckholders’ equity ratio is going down each year.The difference in trends between a and b is due to the larger portion of assets that are financed by stockholders’ equity as opposed to debt. Optional: This can be confirmed by computing total debt to total assets for each year. [pic] 200563. 2% 200651. 3% 200745. 3% 200830. 7% 31. The Griggs Corporation has credit sales of $1,200,000. Given the following ratios, fill in the balance sheet below. Total assets turnover 2. 4 times Cash to total assets 2. 0% Accounts receivable turnover 8. 0 times Inventory turnover10. 0 times Current ratio 2. 0 times Debt to total assets61. 0% GRIGGS CORPORATIONBalance Sheet 2008 AssetsLiabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Cash _____Current debt_____ Accounts receivable_____Long-term debt_____ Inventory_____ Total debt_____ Total current assets _____Equity_____ Fixed assets _____ Total assets _____ Total debt and stockholders’ equity_____ 3-31. Solution: Griggs Corporation Sales /total assets= 2. 4 times Total assets= $1,200,000/2. 4 Total assets= $500,000 Cash= 2% of total assets Cash= 2% ? $500,000 Cash= $10,000 Sales/accounts receivable= 8 times Accounts receivable= $1,200,000/8 Accounts receivable= $150,000 Sales/inventory= 10 timesInventory= $1,200,000/10 Inventory= $120,000 3-31. (Continued) Fixed assets= Total assets – current assets Current asset= $10,000 + $150,000 + $120,000 = $280,000 Fixed assets= $500,000 – $280,000 = $220,000 Current assets/current debt= 2 Current debt= Current assets/2 Current debt= $280,000/2 Current debt= $140,000 Total debt/total assets= 61% Total debt= . 61 ? $500,000 Total debt= $305,000 Long-term debt= Total debt – current debt Long-term debt= $305,000 – 140,000 Long-term debt= $165,000 Equity= Total assets – total debt Equity= $500,000 – $305,000 Equity= $195,000 Griggs Corporation Balance Sheet 2008 Cash |$ 10,000 |Current debt |$140,000 | |A/R |150,000 |Long-term debt | 165,0 00 | |Inventory |$120,000 |Total debt |$305,000 | |Total current assets |280,000 | | | |Fixed assets | 220,000 |Equity | 195,000 | |Total assets |$500,000 |Total debt and |$500,000 | | | |stockholders’ | | | | |equity | | 35. Given the following financial statements for Jones Corporation and Smith Corporation: a. To which company would you, as credit manager for a supplier, approve the extension of (short-term) trade credit? Why? Compute all ratios before answering. b. In which one would you buy stock? Why? JONES CORPORATION | |Current Assets |Liabilities | |Cash |$ 20,000 |Accounts payable |$100,000 | |Accounts receivable |80,000 |Bonds payable (long-term) |80,000 | |Inventory |50,000 | | | |Long-Term Assets |Stockholders’ Equity | |Fixed assets |$500,000 |Common stock |$150,000 | |Less: Accumulated | (150,000) |Paid-in capital |70,000 | |depreciation | |Retained earnings |100,000 | |*Net fixed assets | 350,000 | | | |Total assets |$500,000 |Total liabilities and equity |$500,000 | Sales (on credit) |$1,250,000 | |Cost of goods sold | 750,000 | |Gross profit |500,000 | |† Selling and administrative expense |257,000 | |Less: Depreciation expense | 50,000 | |Operating profit |193,000 | |Interest expense | 8,000 | |Earnings before taxes |185,000 | |Tax expense | 92,500 | |Net income |$ 92,500 | *Use net fixed assets in computing fixed asset turnover. † Includes $7,000 in lease payments. | | |SMITH CORPORATION | |Current Assets |Liabilities | |Cash |$ 35,000 |Accounts payable |$ 75,000 | Marketable securities |7,500 |Bonds payable (long-term) |210,000 | |Accounts receivable |70,000 | | | |Inventory |75,000 | | | |Long-Term Assets |Stockholders’ Equity | |Fixed assets |$500,000 |Common stock |$ 75,000 | |Less: Accumulated |(250,000) |Paid-in capital |30,000 | |depreciation | |Retained earnings |47,500 | |*Net fixed assets | 250,000 | | | |Total assets |$437,500 | Total liabilities and equity |$437,500 | Sales (on credit) | $1,000,000 | |Cost of goods sold | 600,000 | |Gross profit |400,000 | |† Selling and administrative expense |224,000 | |Less: Depreciation expense | 50,000 | |Operating profit |126,000 | |Interest expense | 21,000 | |Earnings before taxes |105,000 | |Tax expense | 52,500 | |Net income |$ 52,500 | *Use net fixed assets in computing fixed asset turnover. † Includes $7,000 in lease payments. 3-35. Solution: Jones and Smith Comparison One way of analyzing the situation for each company is to compare the respective ratios for each on, examining those ratios which would be most important to a supplier or short-term lender and a stockholder. | |Jones Corp. |Smith Corp. | |Profit margin |7. 4% |5. 5% | |Return on assets (investments) |18. 5% |12. 00% | |Return on equity |28. 9% |34. 4% | |Receivable turnover |15. 63x |14. 29x | |Average collection period |23. 04 days |25. 2 days | |Inventory turnover |25x |13. 3x | |Fixed asset turnover |3. 7x |4x | |Total asset turnover |2 . 5x |2. 29x | |Current ratio |1. 5x |2. 5x | |Quick ratio |1. 0x |1. 5x | |Debt to total assets |36% |65. 1% | |Times interest earned |24. 13x |6x | |Fixed charge coverage |13. 3x |4. 75x | |Fixed charge coverage calculation |(200/15) |(133/28) | a. Since suppliers and short-term lenders are most concerned with liquidity ratios, Smith Corporation would get the nod as having the best ratios in this category. One could argue, however, that Smith had benefited from having its debt primarily long term rather than short term. Nevertheless, it appears to have better liquidity ratios. 3-35. (Continued) b. Stockholders are most concerned with profitability. In this category, Jones has much better ratios than Smith.Smith does have a higher return on equity than Jones, but this is due to its much larger use of debt. Its return on equity is higher than Jones’ because it has taken more financial risk. In terms of other ratios, Jones has its interest and fixed charges well covered and in general its long-term ratios and outlook are better than Smith’s. Jones has asset utilization ratios equal to or better than Smith and its lower liquidity ratios could reflect better short-term asset management, and that point was covered in part a. Note: Remember that to make actual financial decisions more than one year’s comparative data is usually required. Industry comparisons should also be made.

Demonstrative communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Demonstrative communication - Essay Example Demonstrative communication consists of nonverbal and unwritten communications. It involves sending and receiving wordless messages and is mostly utilized to support verbal communication; although it can convey messages on its own. Facial expressions are the most regular among the entire nonverbal communication. Proper attire, a firm handshake and a pleasant behavior can â€Å"speak volumes† (Matsumoto et al, 2012) regarding the type of person someone is. It is the fact that demonstrative communication can be positive or negative, successful or unproductive. It relies on the way the sender sends the message and the way the message will be corresponded. Any form of association can be positive or negative as it is supported on communication method, whether it is personal life or professional one. As mentioned by Barbour, merely seven percent of communication is supported by words, Volume, tone and pitch of the voice makes 38 percent; and a complete 55 percent is supported facial expressions in addition to other non-verbal communication. One can enhance the possibility that others will understand him if he is aware of the proper as well as effective use of demonstrative communication. ... Eye contact is an extremely significant component of demonstrative communication as it can display thoughtfulness as well as sincerity, or the lack of respect. Poor eye contact can form communication obstacles, which damages the communication process. Demonstrative communication helps in self-expression. The way any individual person presents himself says a lot regarding his personality to others. For example, a business person â€Å"dresses in a smart suit to show he is successful and walks with confidence to show they are in charge. This allows them to command respect without overtly seeking it†. The tone of one’s voice has a significant part in the communication process. The tone within a message can be positive or negative. For example, if the sender of the message has a â€Å"very loud angry tone the message will perceived as negative†. On the other hand, if the sender has a composed and even tone, the message will be perceived by the receiver as being. Indi viduals use demonstrative communication on a daily basis without even being aware of it. Even though this form of communication can be positive, people should be cautious in the way they use demonstrative communication as it can be vague and can easily be misinterpreted. Gestures and facial expressions can represent different things to different individuals. It can be simple for somebody to misapprehend the individual that they do not know. For instance, if a person is talking to someone who has his arms folded, he can be considered as being defensive. However, this could also indicate that he is simply feeling comfortable. In a number of instances, demonstrative communication should not be completely relied on as there are no set rules

The Mesaba Energy Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Mesaba Energy Project - Essay Example ironmental compliance technology, namely IGCC that would remove not only air and water pollutants but would capture the CO2 from entering the atmosphere (Mesaba Energy Project – Fact Sheet). There has been a lot of commotion on the viability of the Mesaba energy project. Instead of bringing any benefits of technology, is the project going to make the life of people of Minnesota more vulnerable? There are arguments and counter-arguments against the Mesaba energy project. It is very important to reach a conclusion after checking the pros and cons of the project. It is being said that the Mesaba energy project, based on IGCC technology, would be cleaner than traditional energy-generating coal plants in performance, efficiency and emissions. Again, when we talk of innovative technology, some in-depth knowledge of the working of the gasification process is must because that is going to form basis for advocating the Mesaba energy project, located in north Minnesota. Gasification is a chemical process by which carbonic materials like coal, petroleum coke, biomass, etc. are transformed to a synthesis gas (syngas) through partial oxidation with air, oxygen, and steam by requirement (http://www.clean-energy.us/facts/gasification.htm). The ConocoPhillips E-Gas technology is the basis of gasification process – to convert coal into synthesis gas and clean the gas of impurities before burning. This technology (IGCC) is less pollutant to produce electricity from coal. It is not new, but the application is new – combining gasification technology with well-known combined-cycle technology. This gas is burned to turn generators and produce electricity. Typical coal-burning power plants release mercury, sulfur, nitrogen oxides, and lots of carbon dioxide (http://www.excelsiorenergy.com/igcc/index.html). Mesaba energy project should be favored, as it is practical than other energy sources like nuclear energy, natural gas, biomass, solar and wind energy. Nuclear energy produces

After reading chapter 6 and 7 of the textbook, Philosophy the Power of Assignment

After reading chapter 6 and 7 of the textbook, Philosophy the Power of Ideas, answer the following questions - Assignment Example ne Descartes, however, realized that although he could doubt everything else, he could not doubt his very own existence because existence is a sine qua non for doubting. His doubting self/existence therefore became the starting point of his theory of knowledge. Having proved his existence, Rene Descartes went on to prove the existence of God. Descartes argued that since doubting is less perfect than to know/knowledge, he was an imperfect being; Descartes realized that there must be a perfect being that does not doubt, a being that knows everything. Descartes concluded that the perfect being is God. Descartes, therefore, argued that God is the truth and all other things share in the truth of God. God therefore became the metaphysical basis of Descartes’ Epistemology. Descartes concluded that everything that we can conceive clearly and distinctly is true because it is a participation God, the truth itself. An evaluation of Descartes theory of knowledge shows that the theory was a phenomenal milestone in Philosophy, the theory challenged Philosophers to base their arguments only on logical truths, rather than, on believes and doctrines that have no logical basis. Question 2. Thomas Hobbes was a thorough going materialist. Hobbes argued that all reality is material, including thoughts, feelings and ideas. Hobbes argued that all reality in the universe can be explained in material form, i.e. in terms of the motions and the interactions of material bodies. For this reason, Hobbes denied existence of any immaterial reality. For this reason, Hobbes saw human beings as machines, operating solely according to the physical laws; For Hobbes therefore all human actions can be explained in terms of cause and effect. An evaluation of this theory reveals one glaring shortcoming: Hobbes did not give a sufficient and convincing account of how human thoughts and ideas are material in nature; Hobbes did not give a convincing argument on how the motions and interactions of

Petition for extension of deferred standing Essay

Petition for extension of deferred standing - Essay Example I am deeply concerned about my grades. I had prepared a schedule and was preparing for the exams according to it, but to control my illness during the exams was beyond my control and was something completely unanticipated. I would be very grateful to the committee if it could allow me to reappear in the exam. This course is extremely important to me. This can be estimated from the fact that this is the second time I am taking this course. I take complete responsibility for the fact that I did not make the best use of my time during my previous semesters, but I was under the effect of interplay of a range of personal factors and family issues that deterred me from focusing my mind on studies. I was determined that I would take a fresh start from this semester but my unexpected illness compromised my ability to do my best in the exam. These circumstances have had a very unfavorable impact on my academic record. Considering my past circumstances and my determination to do my best, I sin cerely request the petition committee to grant me a second chance. This is evident from my past grades as well as the grade I will secure after evaluation of my performance in Econ 2400. You may have a look at the physician’s statement that accompanies this petition letter to have a proof of my illness and serious headache from 10 May 2015 till almost a week later. My physician has consented to be available on phone call should it be necessary for the school nurse to talk to him. Moved by the realization of my poor academic record and the causal factors for it most of which were beyond my control, I request you to approve my

WRITE-UP ON CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY AWARDS Essay

WRITE-UP ON CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY AWARDS - Essay Example As our organization has grown, we've thought about it not like a challenge but as just another thing to plan and construct. Most companies worry about growth: Idealistic founders are afraid that, as the company grows, their influence will decline or their values will be forgotten or that they will become the new Enron. But we at TeamBuild think that this is an engineering problem just like building a house. A solid foundation is one that can endure building across all sorts of sizes, and our business and organizational model makes us capable of that challenge. TeamBuild prioritizes teamwork and camaraderie at every stage of its processes and every part of its internal culture. This is the most important way we enhance productivity: By making sure that every single one of our members is providing their own unique skill set, we guarantee that the whole is far, far greater than the sum of its parts. Our corporate social responsibility initiatives are a source of great pride, and we also think that they're just good business. Our team-building philosophies are integrity, teamwork, environmental care, commitment and quality. Our recent changes to our business model demonstrate this ability to change, adapt and create new options for growth. In 2006, we formed a High Performance Team or HPT with senior management and top members. The idea was to expand our organizational house by dividing into three teams and embrace three initiatives: Strategic alliances, people and in-house subcontractors. Top management set the stage by putting down the vision, the mission to complete it, the goals to complete that mission and to provide benchmarks to measure that success, and a model (attached as the figure, 'Teambuild House'). Our vision is to become a leading integrated service provider through process innovation and strategic alliances. For the communities we serve, the customers who seek out our assistance, and the people who will end up living in or working in the buildings we provide, we feel that we owe being as integrated as possible and providing as many different services as possible: A one-stop-shop. Our work on projects like Cerelia Vista, the Canadian International School and the Marina Bay Golf Course show that appeal of that mission. By being integrated service providers, we were able to create architecturally appealing designs. We were able to make sure that each of our customers got the exact solution for their needs and organization. Productivity is guaranteed when the producer is capable of handling every element of a project in-house. We avoid the â€Å"mythical man-hour† this way too: All of our team members are up to date on all of our projects. We are proud that we were able to design complex buildings for complex needs without needing to bring in excessive outside help. By aiming to be the best integrated service provider, we guarantee long-term productivity and profitability. Why hire many companies when you can hire one? Why risk worrying about each new contractor and sub-contractor being qualified, bonded, and ready for the task? If one company can handle the task, how much easier is that for the customer? We feel that, when the customer only needs to worry about one thing, providing us with the information to complete their goals, we serve their needs to the utmost. Our mission is threefold. First: We aim to deliver quality products and services to our customers. Many people think of construction and project design as a â€Å"hard† task, with very little need for interpersonal skills. We instead think that the process of providing products, the completed building, is inextricable from and intertwined with the process of providing services. We provide our customer many services. We give them ease of mind. People don't just want a good

Ethical Issues Of Euthanasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ethical Issues Of Euthanasia - Essay Example In this modern world, despite the progress that has been made both in science and technology and in particular in the regulations and law field, there is still a lot of controversy and ambiguity over the notion of euthanasia ( the peaceful death). Therefore, this ethical dilemma may impose the legal and ethical risk on health care providers. The legal and ethical aspects of the notion of euthanasia are commonly debated in many countries. Several opinions are offered which are based on the principles of religious beliefs and personal morality. Hence, researchers and scientists are still trying to reach a general consensus on this dilemma that is ethical in nature (Somerville, 2001).In countries that practice the Islamic faith, there are debates and discussions on withdrawing or withholding the life support therapies or giving a patient at the end of life the freedom to choose peaceful death. Healthcare providers have no protection or immunity if they decide to help a patient die based on the Islamic law. Therefore, from the point of view of Islam, a patient has no right to die voluntarily since life is an opportunity to refine the spirit and is a divine trust. Thus, nobody has the right to end a human life by interfering through active assistance (McDougall et al., 2008).Therefore, withdrawing or withholding treatment of a patient is very difficult and can never be universal without considering the social, religious and cultural factors when it comes to decision making.

Travel Long Distances Essay Example for Free

Travel Long Distances Essay Whenever we have to travel long distances within the country we can travel by train or by air in an aeroplane. I remember my first train journey which I performed when I was just about four years old. After that journey so long back, I have made several journeys by train but, that first journey still lingers in my mind and thoughts. We had to go to Madras, where my father had to attend a Conference. Since we had not then seen Madras and our winter vacations were falling during the dates of the Conference, it was decided that we would all go with father and make a trip to the South. Regarding the visits to different places of the South I remember next to nothing as, I was rather small but the train journey is still very vivid in my mind. There, at Madras, my father had to attend a Conference whose date was the 18th of December so; it was decided to leave for Madras on the 15th. After a long wait, at last the 15th of December came and my excitement knew no bounds. I would be going on my first ever train journey, enjoying an outing and seeing new places. The train that we had to go by was known as the G.T. Express i.e. the Grand Trunk Express and we went to the station to board it. I think it was evening time when we boarded the train. Inside we had dinner and then my parents and my elder brother all slept. I could not get sleep as, I was just too excited. I remember that, I had taken a window so that I could see the fun outside but, alas. No sooner that we had finished dinner, it was dark and nothing was visible from the window. It was only at the stops at the stations, I would peep out and see the rush and life on the platform. Seeing the stations for sometimes, I finally slept. When I woke up in the morning after a comfortable sleep at night, I was absolutely thrilled to look outside. The area the train was now crossing depicted a very beautiful cross section of land forms and greenery, mills and villages. Oh, what a panoramic beauty it all was. When the train crossed over different land forms, the sounds it made were heard changing sometimes deep grunts, sometimes a smooth flow and at other times just a thud here and thud there. When the train crossed over bridges on expanses of water, the sound was of gurgling. This medley of sounds created by the movement of the train was a wonderful experience the different stretches of huge expanses of land and water and different plantations for miles on end, showed nature in its full form and beauty. As we passed through village areas, I noticed fields of rice, wheat, mustard and vegetables. Oh what a wonderful sight of the cross-section of India. At the stations the train would stop and another scene of civilization would take over from nature, and when the train again started, the nature would again take over. This hides and seeks of scenes continued throughout the journey, and the music of terrain and water changing off and on was just stunning. This interesting scene continued for almost thirty six hours but, believe me, I enjoyed every minute of it. A mobile home with all amenities, a look at nature and also human civilization was all seen packed up as one presentation package for me. The thirty six hours had just flown by and we were at the Madras junction. I cannot forget this first journey by train even after eight years now and I do wonder if I ever will.

Aristotle Ethics Of Happiness Philosophy Essay

Aristotle Ethics Of Happiness Philosophy Essay In Ethics, Aristotle argues the highest end is the human good, and claims that the highest end pursued in action is happiness. Aristotle also claims that happiness is achieved only by living a virtuous life our definition is in harmony with those who say that happiness is virtue, or a particular virtue; because an activity in accordance with virtue implies virtue. Indeed, we may go further and assert that anyone who does not delight in fine actions is not even a good man.(Aristotle) The virtuous life is full of reasoning for the good. Good is complete and most choice worthy. It is the human good in life that expresses virtue. Happiness is an essential aspect of Aristotles philosophy because for him it was an activity of the soul which attained at a high level of excellence refined over the span of a complete life that accords with virtue. The concept of virtue for Aristotle was anything that makes something good. The good is the result of what someone rationally aims for. If someone performs a job or a task that it is meant to be done and does it well, then it has good virtue. It is specifically the ability to use reason that sets humans apart from the other mammals and creatures. According to Aristotle, human virtue means virtue of the soul and not the body, just like human happiness means happiness of the soul. Virtue of humans also will be the state of character which makes them good and which makes them do their own work well. It is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean relative to us. Such a mean is determined by a rational principles and reasoning, and it is by reasoning that a wise human will determine it. Happiness in general terms is a belief, an idea and a theory. Just like other theories, beliefs, and ideas may have fallacies, the theory of happiness might too. According to Aristotle happiness is an end, an end result of all the things a person does. Most of our acts are committed for a reason to achieve something else, but happiness is different. Aristotle believes that searching for happiness is for being happy only and not for something else. A happy man is the man that thinks he has everything he really needs. He has those virtues in which he needs to realize his potentials. Once realizing his potentials heà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s able to achieve happiness. Thatà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“s why Aristotle said that the happy man wants nothing more. Happiness is sought-after in itself and never for the sake of something else. Happiness meets Aristotles criteria for completeness viz. An end pursued in itself, we say, is more complete than an end pursued because of some thing else. (Aristotle) Happiness, according to him is just as self-sufficient as good, because both make life choice worthy. Apart from being chosen for themselves honor, pleasure and wealth, are also chosen for the sake of happiness, judging that by means of them we shall be happy. Desires compiled of wealth, honor, and power are good but, they do not lead to happiness because they are superficial. Happiness, on the other hand, is not chosen or searched for, for the sake of these, or, for anything other than itself. Happiness is something final and self-sufficient. This leads Aristotle to his definition of the happy life as a life made perfect by the possession of all good things such as health, wealth, friendship, knowledge, virtue all these are constituent parts of happiness. Happiness is the whole good of which they are component parts. That is how happiness is related to all other goods. For the question as to why do we want to be healthy, one could answer by saying à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ because by being healthy would enable us to do the different kind of work we want to do. If then asked, why do you want to do that kind of work, the crucial answer would be because you wanted to be happy. Now that if you were asked, why did you want to become or be happy, the only answer would be because you wanted to become and be happy. There is an argument as to what constitutes happiness. Is it pleasure, honor, health, wealth, knowledge or something else? Aristotle clarifies that happiness is not found in living for pleasure because such a life is slavish. Nor is it found in seeking honor because honor depends not on the person but on what others think of him. In addition, Aristotle holds that the happiness of a human can be defined by determining the function proper to the human soul. This function cannot be one that plants and animals also perform, because it must be particular to human beings. Therefore, the function must be a part of the practical life of the rational part of a human, the term practical implying determined conduct, which is possible only for rational beings. It follows, then, that happiness consists in the action of the rational part of a human. The ultimate good of a human should naturally flow from performing his function well. To constitute true happiness this action must persist with conti nuity throughout a lifetime. Aristotles argument can be considered flawed when he suggests only human beings with full use of reason can be considered happy because happiness comes by reasoning. Aristotle argues that what sets humans apart from animals are reason and the ability to perform actions that only humans can perform. Children are human, but until a certain age they cannot reason or perform actions. Though they are not animals but their reasoning capability is similar to animals. A child may be happy at any age and hence Aristotle cannot say that happiness is only for humans as they can reason. Animals can be happy, even if they lack reasoning. This level of happiness might not be familiar to humans, but it doesnt mean that they cannot be happy. There is another point in Aristotles argument that can be faulty. Aristotles search for the good is a search for the highest good. He assumes that the highest good, whatever it turns out to be, has three characteristics it is desirable for itself, it is not desirable for the sake of some other good, and all other goods are desirable for its sake. But someone can attain happiness by having other goods. In other words, cant a particular individual reach happiness through wealth, power, and honor? If that same individual has those things taken away, he is not happy. Those other goods are what help that individual reach Aristotles highest end. As without them happiness becomes reliant on those other goods in order for that individual to reach happiness, so happiness in some sense does depend on other goods. Can virtues and pleasures change mans definition of Happiness? It can be decided on that virtues, and pleasures bring happiness because happiness is an end result of these things. But situations can change your definitions of what virtues and pleasures bring you happiness. Thus stating that happiness can not only be attained by having some virtues and pleasures, you must have possessions of all virtues and pleasure to be truly happy and stay that way. However does that imply that you lack some virtues and pleasures, and that you can never be truly happy. For example a poor or sick man can never be truly happy. Can anyone ever be happy? According to Aristotle they can be happy and lead a happy life. If a man adheres to virtues and pleasures then there should be no reason for him not to be able to attain happiness. Aristotle also makes a point about having moral virtues not lying, not taking a personà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s life, and other morally right things. Being moral ly virtuous is a way to living a happy life. By not stealing, or killing, or lying one can be content in knowing he or she is good therefore bringing happiness. But can moral, truth build the absolute definition of good; can some lead a good life without lying in the world? If you are to be put in a situation where you must lie to help or save someone, would you be able to find that happiness even though you are not morally virtuous? If this is possible then is disproves Aristotles belief that you always must be morally virtuous to be happy. These situations can always arise and if one moral virtue is chosen over another does that mean that you will not be able to be happy with the outcome. If you do not need moral virtues, then what is it that is needed to be happy? There are certain traits and virtues which are necessary in todays world in order to ensure a happy life. Traits such as conformity, patience, self content, self assurance, as well as virtues such as justice and temperance are key elements in attaining happiness. If one does not learn to accept himself, reality, then how can he ever truly be happy with his life? We must be moral ly virtuous, but it cannot constitute our lives. Having a good character consists in nothing more than being willing to suffer some immediate pains or willing to give up some immediate pleasures for the sake of obtaining a greater good later on. It consists in nothing more than making the right choices. The right choices are always those that determine on, what is good in the long run. They are hard to make. But if we do not make them, we are likely to have some fun from day to day for a while, and in the long run ruin our lives. In the process of building our lives, Aristotle says we keep our eye on the future, and on the result we want to achieve for our life as a whole, counting all the days to come. What he teaches us is that we cannot become happy by living for the pleasures of the moment. We often have to choose between having a good time and leading a good life. And this is something, Aristotle says, most men often do not do. In this sense Aristotles theory can be credible. H appiness can be attained if a person leads a good life. The term a good life may be interpreted in many different ways, but ultimately a good life must be lead. Then and only then is happiness attained. Happiness cannot be seen as an immediate result, for all that would amount to be is a momentary pleasure. Happiness must be seen as an end result, and in thus being an end result it can only be achieved as a long term goal. To be happy is to attain a balance (the mean) between virtues, morals, pleasures, and goals. If a person can learn to find a balance and become content with his situation as a result of that balance, he will be happy. Throughout time people have claimed to have been happy, and it is universally known of what things we must do in our lives to be happy; be just, virtuous, and morally right. Consider the situation of this final paper It has taken me multiple hours to complete, and I have had troubles in writing it, but I write it to achieve a greater goal, a good grade. By achieving a good grade I will pass this class, and thus be happy, but there is always the chance that I may not get a good grade thus not achieving happiness. This possibility now presents a problem in all theories. No matter what we do, if we complete our duties and if we are morally virtuous, there are always cases that have the possibility of hindering us from achieving happiness even if that was our goal. Thus one must never lead his life by the assumptions of others, on what paths must be taken in order to achieve happiness or a good life. We must lead our own lives to the best of our ability, and in being at ease knowing we have made our own paths, then and only then can we really be happy. Overall Aristotles teachings have pointed out that happiness as an end in itself is the ultimate end and f unction of human beings. The only method of reaching this happiness is through reason. A life that does not exercise the role to reason will end up in some way being incomplete and never reach perfection. Therefore, reason is not only good for us but needed to reach an absolute existence.

Youth Mental Health Issues

Youth Mental Health Issues Mental and substance use disorders are among the most important health issues facing Australians. They are a key health issue for young people in their teenage years and early 20s and, if these disorders persist, the constraints, distress and disability they cause can last for decades (McGorry et al., 2007). Associated with mental disorders among youth are high rates of enduring disability, including school failure, impaired or unstable employment, and poor family and social functioning. These problems lead to spirals of dysfunction and disadvantage that are difficult to reverse. (McGorry et al., 2007). As over 75% of mental disorders commence before the age of 25 years, reducing the economic, geographical, attitudinal and service organisation barriers for adolescents and young adults is an essential first step in addressing mental health problems (Hickie and McGorry, 2007). In Australia, rates of mental illness among young people is higher than for any other population group and represented the major burden of disease for young people with depression making the greatest contribution to this burden. In addition, youth suicide and self-harm have both steadily increased during the 1990s (Williams et al., 2005). 60% of all health-related disability costs in 15 34-year-olds are attributable to mental health problems, and of the total disability years lived in Australia, 27% is attributable to mental disorders. Although most common mental disorders commence before 18 years of age, people aged 25 44 years and 45 64 years are more than twice as likely as those aged under 25 years to receive an active treatment when seen in general practice (Hickie et al., 2005). Research has indicated that some mental health problems can be prevented through appropriate early intervention, and that the impact of existing mental illness can be mitigated through the early provision of appropriate services (Mental Health Policy and Planning Unit, ACT, 2006). It has been estimated that up to 60% of cases of alcohol or other substance misuse could be prevented by earlier treatment of common mental health problems (Hickie et al., 2005). Despite the enthusiastic efforts of many clinicians around Australia, progress in service reform has plateaued, remains piecemeal and is frustratingly slow in contrast to what has been achieved in other countries, many of which began by emulating Australia. In addition, the specialist mental health system is seriously under-funded (McGorry and Yung, 2003). While Australia s national health spending continues to grow past $72 billion the total recurrent mental health spending has consistently remained below 7% of this figure (Hickie et al., 2005). The need for coordinated national health and welfare services for people with mental health and substance misuse problems has been recognised by all Australian governments, but insufficient investment, lack of accountability, divided systems of government and changing health care demands resulted in a very patchy set of reforms (Hickie and McGorry, 2007; Vimpani, 2005). Statistics regarding the problem Close to one in five people in Australia were affected by a mental health problem within a 12-month period, according to the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Young adults were particularly affected, with more than one-quarter of Australians aged 18 to 24 years suffering from at least one mental disorder over a 12-month period (Mental Health Policy and Planning Unit, ACT, 2006). In Australia, the prevalence of mental health problems among children aged 4 12 years lies between 7% and 14%, rises to 19% among adolescents aged 13 17 years, and increases again to 27% among young adults aged 18 24. Therefore, up to one in four young people in Australia are likely to be suffering from a mental health problem, with substance misuse or dependency, depression or anxiety disorder, or some combination of these the most common issues (McGorry et al., 2007). It is therefore more likely that mental health problems will develop between the ages of 12 and 26 than in any other stage of life (Orygen Youth Health, 2009). This situation also exists among Australian Indigenous communities, where the continuing grief and trauma resulting from the loss of traditional lands and cultural practices as a result of colonization, past policies of child removal and the destruction of traditional governance arrangements within Aboriginal communities, are an ever-present cultural reality that plays out in some of the worst developmental health and well-being outcomes in advanced industrial society (Vimpani, 2005). Risk taking by young people Studies show that psychosocial issues form a great burden of disease for young people, including intentional and unintentional injuries, mental disorders, tobacco, alcohol and other substance misuse, and unprotected sexual intercourse (Tylee et al., 2007). The pathways to substance misuse in young people involve complex interplay between individual biological and psychological vulnerability, familial factors and broader societal influences. The impact on family and society is often painful, destructive and expensive (Vimpani, 2005). In 2005, nearly half of all deaths of young men and a third of young women aged 15 34 years in NSW were due to suicide, transport accidents or accidental drug overdoses (418 persons; ABS, 2008b). In 2007, amongst young men in the age group 15-24 in NSW, the average age for first consumption of alcohol was around 15, and amongst women of the same age group, the average age for first use of alcohol was around 17 years. In addition to its potential direct health consequences, risky or high risk drinking can increase the likelihood of a person falling, or being involved in an accident or violence (ABS, 2008a). 71% of persons aged 14-19 and 89.4% of persons aged 20-29 were current drinkers. 27.6% of persons aged 14-19 (40.5% at the age of 20-29) were at risk of short term harm, while 10% (14.7% at the age of 20-29) were at risk of long term harm. Around 90% of Australian youth (aged 18 24 years) have drinking patterns that place them at high risk of acute harm (Lubmen et al., 2007). On av erage, 25 percent of hospitalisations of 15-24 year olds occur as a result of alcohol consumption (Prime Minister of Australia, 2008). Almost one-quarter (23%) of people aged 15 24 years in Australia reported using illicit drugs during the last 12 months, around twice as high as the proportion of people aged 25 years and over (11%). Marijuana/cannabis was the most common drug used by 15 24 year olds (18%), followed by ecstasy (9%), and meth/amphetamines and pharmaceuticals (both 4%). Barriers to provision and use of health services Primary-care health services are sometimes still not available. They may be inaccessible for a variety of reasons such as cost, lack of convenience or lack of publicity and visibility. Health services might not be acceptable to young people, however, even if available and accessible. Fear about lack of confidentiality (particularly from parents) is a major reason for young people s reluctance to seek help, as well as possible stigma, fear of difficult questions. In addition, health professionals might not be trained in communicating with young people. If and when young people seek help, some may be unhappy with the consultation and determine not to go back. To ensure prevention and early intervention efforts, clinicians and public-health workers are increasingly recognising the pressing need to overcome the many barriers that hinder the provision and use of health services by young people, and to transform the negative image of health facilities to one of welcoming user-friendly sett ings (Tylee et al., 2007). Spending in the area remains poor, and service access and tenure are actively withheld in most specialist mental health and substance misuse service systems until high levels of risk or danger are reached, or severe illness, sustained disability and chronicity are entrenched. Thus, just when mental health services are most needed by young people and their families, they are often inaccessible or unacceptable in design, style and quality. Moreover, numerous young people with distressing and disabling mental health difficulties struggle to find age-appropriate assistance. Young people with moderately severe non-psychotic disorders (eg, depression, anxiety disorders and personality disorders), and those with comorbid substance use and mental health issues, are particularly vulnerable. For many of these young people, if they survive (and many do not), their difficulties eventually become chronic and disabling (McGorry et al., 2007). Another barrier is related to the manners in which young people seek help when they have a mental problem. The most recent national survey data for Australia show that only 29% of children and adolescents with a mental health problem had been in contact with a professional service of any type in a 12-month period. Some subgroups, such as young males, young Indigenous Australians and migrants may be even less likely to voluntarily seek professional help when needed. If young people want to talk to anyone, it is generally someone they know and trust and when they do seek professional help, it is from the more familiar sources family doctors and school-based counsellors. However, many young people at high risk of mental health problems do not have links to work, school, or even a family doctor (Rickwood, Deane and Wilson, 2007). Furthermore, mental disorders are not well recognized by the public. The initial Australian survey of mental health literacy showed that many people cannot give the correct psychiatric label to a disorder portrayed in a depression or schizophrenia vignette. There is also a gap in beliefs about treatment between the public and mental-health professionals: the biggest gap is in beliefs about medication for both depression and schizophrenia, and admission to a psychiatric ward for schizophrenia (Jorm et al., 2006). Existing resources: Knowledge, policy and programs Existing knowledge: Manners of interventions Prevention and early intervention programs are normally classified into four types: universal programs are presented to all regardless of symptoms; selective programs target children and adolescents who are at risk of developing a disorder by virtue of particular risk factors, such as being children of a depressed parent; indicated programs are delivered to students with early or mild symptoms of a disorder; and treatment programs are provided for those diagnosed with the disorder (Neil Christensen, 2007). Universal prevention programs target all young people in the community regardless of their level of risk, and include economic measures, social marketing, and regulatory control and law enforcement initiatives, as well as a range of psychosocial programs (Lubmen et al., 2007). In addition, interventions can be divided between promotion and prevention programs. Mental health promotion refers to activity designed to enhance emotional wellbeing, or increase public understanding of mental health issues and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Prevention of mental illness may focus on at risk groups or sectors of the whole population. (Mental Health Policy and Planning Unit, ACT, 2006). Source: Mental Health Policy and Planning Unit, ACT (2006). Finally, collaborative care is typically described as a multifaceted intervention involving combinations of distinct professionals working collaboratively within the primary care setting. Collaborative care not only improves depression outcomes in months, but has been found to show benefits for up to 5 years (Hickie and McGorry, 2007). The importance of early intervention In the last two decades research demonstrated the high importance of early intervention to promote youth mental health and cope with mental disorders and substance misuse. Early intervention is required to minimise the impact of mental illness on a young person s learning, growth and development, thus improving the health outcome of those affected by mental illness. (Orygen Youth Health, 2009). It was found that the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) could be dramatically reduced by providing community education and mobile detection teams in an experimental study (McGorry, Killackey Yung, 2007; McGorry et al., 2007). On the other hand, delayed treatment and prolonged duration of untreated psychosis is correlated with poorer response to treatment and worse outcomes. Thus, first-episode psychosis should be viewed as a psychiatric emergency and immediate treatment sought as a matter of urgency (McGorry and Yung, 2003). The existing evidence also highlights the importance of prevention and early intervention programs on substance abuse. Such programs focus on delaying the age of onset of drug experimentation; reducing the number of young people who progress to regular or problem use; and encouraging current users to minimise or reduce risky patterns of use. Universal school-based drug education programs have been found to be effective in preventing and delaying the onset of drug use and reducing drug consumption (Lubmen et al., 2007). Early andeffective intervention, targeting young people aged 12 25 years, is a community priority. A robust focus on young people s mental health has the capacity to generate greater personal, social and economic benefits than similar intervention in other age groups, and is therefore one of the best buys for future reforms (McGorry et al., 2007). Importance of other players During the early phases of a mental disorder, members of a person s social network (including parents, peers and GPs) can play an important role in providing support and encouraging appropriate help-seeking. For mental-health problems, young people tend to seek help from friends and family rather than health services. In developing countries, young people are even less willing to seek professional help for more sensitive matters (Tylee et al., 2007). As friends and family are often consulted first by young people, they constitute and important part of the pathway to professional mental health services (Rickwood, Deane and Wilson, 2007). In a survey with young Australians and their parents, it was found that the most common response was to listen, talk or support the person, followed by listen, talk orsupport family and encourage professional help-seeking. Counsellor and GP/doctor/medical were the most frequently mentioned types of professional help that would be encouraged, but when young people were asked open ended questions about how they would help a peer, only a minority mentioned that they would encourage professional help. Among parents, encouraging professional help was a common response both in open-ended and direct questions (Jorm, Wright and Morgan, 2007). General practice is essential to young people s mental health and is often the point of initial contact with professional services. However, there is a need to improve the ability of GPs to recognise mental health problems in young people As well asensuring privacy and clearly explaining confidentiality. Finally, GPs can provide reassurance that it is common to feel distress at times, and that symptoms can be a normal response to stressful events (Rickwood et al., 2007). Schools For the small percentage of youth who do receive service, this typically occurs in a school setting. School-based mental health (SBMH) programs and services not only enhance access to services for youth, but also reduce stigma for help seeking, increase opportunities to promote generalization and enhance capacity for mental health promotion and problem prevention efforts (Paternite, 2005). There is compelling evidence of the effectiveness of a range of school-based interventions in primary and secondary schools for children and young people at risk of substance abuse (Vimpani, 2005). One study found that participation in a school-based intervention beginning in preschool was associated with a wide range of positive outcomes, including less depressive symptoms (Reynolds et al., 2009). Best elements for SBMH include: (a) school family community agency partnerships, (b) commitment to a full continuum of mental health education, mental health promotion, assessment, problem prevention, early intervention, and treatment, and (c) services for all youth, including those in general and special education. A strong connection between schools and other community agencies and programs also assists in moving a community toward a system of care, and promotes opportunities for developing more comprehensive and responsive programs and services (Paternite, 2005). Government policy There are a number of examples of governmental policy and program to enhance youth mental health. The new Medicare-based scheme now includes a suite of measures designed to increase access to appropriate and affordable forms of evidence-based psychological care. Unfortunately, it largely reverts to traditional individual fee-for-service structures. There are no requirements for geographical distribution of services, despite the evidence of gross mal-distribution of mental health specialist services in Australia and the proven contribution of lack of mental health services to increased suicide rates in rural and regional communities (Hickie and McGorry, 2007). Transformation is also occurring in primary care in Australia. GPs are increasing their skills, providing new evidence-based medication and psychological treatments, and beginning to emphasise long term functional outcomes rather than short-term relief of symptoms. Early-intervention paradigms depend on earlier presentation for treatment. Future progress now depends on development of an effective and accessible youth-health and related primary care network. (Hickie et al., 2005). As for substance abuse, The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (now known as the National Drug Strategy) was established in 1985. It is an inter-governmental and strategic approach based on national and state government cooperation and planning. The campaign has been adopted to bring together research and practice relevant to the treatment and prevention to protect the healthy development of children and youth (Williams et al., 2005). Existing programs There are several existing programs which address youth mental health and substance abuse. Knowing which programs exist may help us in understanding existing resources and knowledge, learning best practices, and recognising what else needs to be done. Australian programs: * The National Youth Mental Health Foundation headspace: providing mental and health wellbeing support, information and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years and their families across Australia. www.headspace.org.au * MindMatters is a national mental health initiative funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. It is a professional development program supporting Australian secondary schools in promoting and protecting the mental health, social and emotional wellbeing of all the members of school communities. www.mindmatters.edu.au * Mindframe: a national Australian Governments program aimed at improving media reporting on mental health issues, providing access to accurate information about suicide and mental illness and portraying these issues in the news media and on stage and screen in Australia. www.mindframe-media.info * The Personal Assessment and Crises Evaluation (PACE) clinic provides treatment for young people who are identified as being at ultra high risk. It involves facilitated groups using adult learning principles based on a curriculum addressing adolescent communication, conflict resolution and adolescent development. http://cp.oyh.org.au/ClinicalPrograms/pace * The Gatehouse Project has been developed in Australia as an enhancement program for use in the secondary school environment. It incorporates professional training for teachers and an emotional competence curriculum for students and is designed to make changes in the social and learning environments of the school as well as promoting change at the individual level. www.rch.org.au/gatehouseproject * Pathways to Prevention: a universal, early intervention , developmental prevention project focused on the transition to school in one of the most disadvantaged urban areas in Queensland. * The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), which has been implemented widely in Australia and elsewhere for parents of preschool children, has also been implemented for parents of primary school-aged children. http://www1.triplep.net * The Family Partnerships training program, now established in several Australian states and already incorporated into maternal and child health and home visitor training, is designed to improve the establishment of an effective respectful partnership between health workers and their clients. Other international programs: * ARC (Availability, Responsiveness and Continuity): an organizational and community intervention model that was designed to support the improvement of social and mental health services for children. The ARC model incorporates intervention components from organizational development, inter-organizational domain development, the diffusion of innovation, and technology transfer that target social, strategic, and technological factors in effective children s services. * Preparing for the Drug Free Years (PDFY) is a universal prevention programme targeted at parents of pre-adolescents (aged 8 -14 years) that has been subjected to several large-scale dissemination and effectiveness studies across 30 states of the United States and Canada involving 120000 families. Future directions This paper suggests that despite a wealth of knowledge and information on appropriate interventional methods, services to address youth mental health in Australia are not consistently provided and are often under-funded. New evidence is continuously available for professionals; however this knowledge has often failed to filter through to the community and those in need. As Bertolote McGorry (2005) asserted, despite the availability of interventions that can reduce relapses by more than 50%, not all affected individuals have access to them, and when they do, it is not always in a timely and sustained way. The major health problems for young people are largely preventable. Access to primary-health services is seen as an important component of care, including preventive health for young people. Young people need services that are sensitive to their unique stage of biological, cognitive, and psychosocial transition into adulthood, and an impression of how health services can be made more youth-friendly has emerged (Tylee et al., 2007). Existing and new extended community networks, including business, schools, sporting bodies, government sectors, community agencies and the broader community are asked to play their part in mental health promotion and illness prevention. These networks will: * bring together all service sectors and the broader community in closer collaboration in the promotion of mental health; * exchange information about, and increase understanding of existing activities, and encourage new ones; * develop and strengthen the mental health promoting aspects of existing activities; develop greater mental health promotion skills right across the community; and * encourage an environment that fosters and welcomes new ideas, and supports adaptation and innovation to respond to a new environment (Mental Health Policy and Planning Unit, ACT, 2006). As for substance misuse, despite acknowledgement of the substantial costs associated with alcohol misuse within Australia, there have not been serious attempts to reduce alcohol harm using the major levers of mass-marketing campaigns, accompanied by significant changes to alcohol price and regulatory controls. Young people continue to be given conflicting messages regarding the social acceptability of consuming alcohol (Lubmen et al., 2007). According to the Mental Health Policy and Planning Unit (2006), ideas about the best strategies for supporting the mental health of the community are undergoing great change in Australia and internationally, with a growing focus on preventative approaches. Mental health promotion and prevention are roles for the whole community and all sectors of government. Although Australia has slipped behind in early intervention reform, it is now emerging that the situation can improve and that Australia can again be at the forefront of early intervention work. Here are some proposals as to how this can best be achieved: 1. Guaranteed access to specialist mental health services for a minimum period of 3 years post-diagnosis for all young people aged 15 25 with a first-episode of psychosis. New funding is clearly required to support this. 2. Such funding must be quarantined into new structures, programmes and teams. 3. The child versus adult psychiatry service model split is a serious flaw for early intervention and for modern and appropriate developmental psychiatry models. It needs to be transcended by proactive youth-orientated models. Early detection and engagement can be radically improved through such reforms and specialist mental health care can also be delivered in a less salient and stigmatized manner. McGorry et al. (2007) suggested four service levels that are required to fully manage mental illness among young people: 1. Improving community capacity to deal with mental health problems in young people through e-health, provision of information, first aid training and self-care initiatives; 2. Primary care services provided by general practitioners and other frontline service providers, such as school counsellors, community health workers, and non-government agency youth workers; 3. Enhanced primary care services provided by GPs (ideally working in collaboration with specialist mental health service providers in co-located multidisciplinary service centres) as well as team-based virtual networks; 4. Specialist youth-specific (12 25 years) mental health services providing comprehensive assessment, treatment and social and vocational recovery services (McGorry et al., 2007). Elements of successful programs (best practices) Revising the vast research on preventing mental disorders and promoting mental health among youth, particularly in Australia, as well as examining some of the successful and effective programs in the field, the following items summarise elements of current best practice: 1. Holistic approaches and community engagement: a. Adopt holistic approaches which integrate mental health promotion with other aspects of community and individual wellbeing b. Balance between universal and targeted programmes and their relative cost-effectiveness. c. Engage young people, the community and youth support services in working together to build the resilience of young people, and encourage early help and help seeking when problems occur d. Community engagement with the youth, and youth engagement with the community e. Outreach workers, selected community members and young people themselves are involved in reaching out with health services to young people in the community f. Promote community-based health facility: including stand-alone units (which are generally run by non-governmental organisations or by private individuals or institutions), and units that are an integral part of a district or municipal health system (that are run by the government). 2. Access to services and information: a. Make services more accessible to youth by collaborating with schools, GPs, parents etc. b. Social marketing to reduce stigma and make information more accessible c. Have more information online for young people with mental health issues, their families and peers. Promote understanding among community members of the benefits that young people will gain by obtaining health services a. Reduce costs b. Improve convenience of point of delivery working hours and locations 3. Assure youth-friendly primary-care services a. Have other players in the community involved in promotion of youth mental health, such as schools, GPs, and community centres b. Practitioners training c. Ensure confidentiality and privacy (including discreet entrance) d. Addressing inequities (including gender inequities) and easing the respect, protection, and fulfilment of human rights 4. Inter-sectoral and inter-organisational collaboration: a. Enable organisations to work in partnership towards shared goals b. Lead to multi agency, client centred service delivery and care 5. Research and support: a. Provide support such as information and training for the community and for mental health carers and consumers to plan and participate in mental health promotion activity b. Acknowledge formal and informal knowledge 6. Policy: a. Promoting a whole-of-government response to support optimal development health and well-being outcomes b. Policies and procedures are in place that ensure health services that are either free or affordable to all young people