By the ISNA Green Initiative Team

Mar/Apr 25

In its “Global Plastics Outlook,” The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that around 380 million tons of plastic waste is produced annually worldwide and 43 million tons of plastic come from consumer products that mostly end up in landfills. As such, plastic is an integral part of human life, but plastic waste is among the worst forms of pollution to the environment, human health, and/or to other animal species. No doubt some uses of plastic are unavoidable. There are many legitimate industrial and medical uses for the substance. For example, many medical procedures require plastic tubing and other uses of plastic material. Diabetic patients also require  single-use plastics for insulin and plastic straws are cheap and convenient for those recovering from injury as well as those with a permanent physical disability. Because of the need for plastics in these vital medical procedures, going plastic-free would be impossible. 

However, abuse and/or misuse of plastic as a convenience product produces waste at an alarming level. An example is the excessive use of plastic bags around the globe. The proliferation of single use plastic bags has caused severe environmental damage. They rip, tear, and float away in the slightest breeze and are a hazard for the environment and wildlife. They are not biodegradable and can therefore cause environmental toxicity for generations. 

Between 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans, damaging the marine ecosystem with possible long-term ecological consequences. Improper disposal of plastic waste also results in soil contamination. Further damage is done when these plastics release harmful chemicals as they break down, affecting soil quality and  harming plants, animals, and microorganisms. Sadly, most of this waste  is generated in impoverished countries where garbage collections are unreliable or non-existent. In these communities, most plastic waste is incinerated in homes or on streets or in small dumps without environmental controls. As with the manufacture of plastics, the burning of plastic waste produces greenhouse gases, releases cancer-causing dioxins, and causes particulate pollutants that are incredibly damaging to human health.

Domestic animals are often fed food embedded with plastic. In India, many cows and buffalos die every year eating discarded food wrapped in plastic bags. In September 2019, the New Delhi Zoo’s last cape buffalo died after eating a plastic bag. Marine animals are also at risk as they can easily ingest or become entangled in plastic debris. Plastic pollution disrupts ecosystems by affecting the balance of various species and the frequency of their interactions. Overall, plastic debris in natural habitats leads to changes in biodiversity, nutrient cycles, and ecosystem function. 

Addressing an intergovernmental panel on Oct. 28, 2024, in Cali, Colombia, UN Secretary General António Guterres stated, “Plastic pollution is everywhere – all around us and even inside us – from our seas to our blood to our brains. We are choking on plastic.” 

Micro and Nano Plastics (MnPs)

Plastics also exist as microscopic and nano particles released from larger products. They are invisible to the naked eye and are seen as a critical problem for climate change by many due to this lack of visibility. 

Microplastics are defined as fragments smaller than 5 millimeters while nano plastics are smaller than 1 micrometer. Together, they are referred to by the acronym MnPs. Recent studies indicate that they are in the air and dust we breathe, the water we drink, the rain and snow falling from the sky, the food we eat, the paints we use, and the cosmetics we wear. 

MnPs slough off from dental aligners, toothbrushes, food packaging, takeout containers, plastic bottles, and in building infrastructure. They are also released from synthetic clothing, plastic fabrics, plastic carpets, and furniture. Other sources of MnPs include fertilizers, soil, irrigation, and food crops. Yearly, billions of vehicles worldwide shed an estimated 6 million tons of tire fragments, accounting for 28% of microplastics entering the environment globally.

Scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain, human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow. The health hazards that result from this accumulation  are not yet well-known though recent studies are suggesting microplastics could increase the risk of various conditions such as oxidative stress which can lead to cell damage and inflammation, as well as cardiovascular disease. 

Efforts to Reduce Plastic Use

In 2022, UN member states agreed on a resolution to end plastic pollution. An Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee was assigned to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution to be finalized by the end of 2024. On Nov. 25, 2024, members of this committee met in South Korea to finalize this Global Plastic Treaty. Despite the deadline, no agreement was reached, and discussions were left to be continued in the coming year(s).

To get ahead of the game, many countries and some states in the U.S. banned plastic bags. In February 2024, Ireland introduced the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The program levied a refundable tax on plastic bottles that is given back to consumers once they return their empty containers. Similar initiatives have been adopted in many European countries, and the results are astonishing. For example, the recycling rate of plastic bottles in Norway is 97%.  

HUID, a startup based in Oban, Scotland with support from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, is developing eco-friendly packaging made from onion skins. Onion skins have antimicrobial properties, meaning the packaging could help extend the shelf life of perishable foods. Though promising, this project is still in its early phases and it  will take some time for it to become commercially viable. 

In the U.S., on Oct. 28, 2024, Southwest Airlines announced that it was introducing a new cold cup consisting of 93% non-plastic materials containing a pulp blend of 75% bamboo and 25% paper with polyethylene lining. The airline expects to reduce in-flight single-use plastic by more than 1.5 million pounds annually.

Ramadan Resolution – Limiting Exposure to Plastic 

“But waste not by excess: for God loves not the wasters” (Quran 6:141).

Considering the health and environmental hazards of plastic use, as Muslims we can take a moment to reflect on our own actions and explore ways to make Ramadan practices more sustainable and more eco-friendly. In the spirit of our responsible stewardship of the Earth, we should act to minimize carbon footprints and to preserve the blessings of nature for future generations. Small changes will make a positive impact by incorporating sustainable practices into daily life during and beyond the holy month of Ramadan.

Consider adopting the following steps:  

• Avoid single-use plastics – utilize non-plastic straws, plates and cutlery alternatives, when possible.
• Rethink food storage; use stainless or glass containers, when possible. Do not use plastic baggies, plastic wrap, plastic storage containers, or materials such as Styrofoam. 
• Use reusable shopping bags. 
• Avoid using cosmetics that contain microplastics
• Use refillable water bottles instead of disposable, plastic bottled water.
• Use bars of soap instead of liquid shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, or  hand soaps.
• Avoid microwaving food or beverages in plastic containers.
• Do not put plastic in the dishwasher.
• Recycle all plastic containers.
• Look at the recycling code on the bottom of product packaging to find the plastic type and avoid plastics with recycling codes 3, which typically contain phthalates.

The ISNA Green Initiative Team appreciates the minimization of the use of  plastics to safeguard our collective health and protect the only environment we have.

The ISNA Green Initiative Team includes Huda Alkaff, Saffet Catovic, Nana Firman, Uzma Mirza, and S. Masroor Shah (chair).

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by Uzma Mirza

Jan/Feb 25

Green buildings are designed and built with a more thoughtful, inclusive, holistic, and systems-based approach that takes long-term environmental and human impacts into consideration and offer a solution. They have been shown to reduce energy use by up to 50%; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33%; and reduce solid waste by up to 70%, and, and reduce water use by 40%percent. They also and lower maintenance costs by over 10% and can significantly increase the occupant satisfaction with human, economic and environmental benefits. 

Designing a Green Mosque 

The greenest mosque is one that is retrofitted, or an existing building renovated into a mosque. This strategy minimizes the embodied energy of its material use, and helps maximize its inhabitants’ comfort and well-being, while minimizing energy consumed. 

There are four climate regions in the U.S.: cool, temperate, hot-arid, and hot-humid. Understanding climate zones helps determine energy-saving passive design strategies, which vary by region. The following is a brief guide to of what will necessarily be a complex strategy, depending on the climatic region.

• Orientation. This means to position a building in relation to the Sun’s path during winter and summer based on the climate zone to optimize heat gain It should be oriented east/west to improve control of heat gain and shade. A south-facing façade factors heavily in passive designs, especially in cool regions. Having orientation options for a building allows one to reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 80 percent.

• Site/ Landscape features to advantage. A passive solar design considers summer/winter comfort and careful positional location of the structure based on the building’s climate region and shade requirements. Shading and evapotranspiration from trees, shrubs, and ground cover lower surrounding temperatures up 6℉ and reduces the asphalt paving and heat island effects. Use landscape windbreaks (i.e., deciduous trees) for shading, and evergreens for protection against the wind. Xeriscaping for water conservation and landscaping is good in arid regions.

• Energy Efficient Building Envelope. The building’s exterior walls and roof are important in passive design. Depending on the climatic region, use good thermal ratings for exterior walls and to enhance air quality. Use cool roofs or green roofs that feature reflective materials as a light colored, or a garden roof. Manage stormwater runoff from the roof. Vent pitched roofs to avoid heat loss. Install vapor barriers correctly. Use a modular building design.

• Wind. Design the building first to naturally ventilate. Wind generally moves at 10-15 mph, thereby creating positive and negative pressures on a building that impacts air leakage in and out. Use the “Chimney Effect,” which is an internal wind. Hot air rises and cold falls due to the differences in atmospheric pressure. This effect can be used to create a naturally comfortable temperature within the mosque by taking advantage of the movement of air from  the top to the  bottom of the building due to temperature variances. 

Materials and Best Green Practices

High-efficiency windows are those that are properly installed and air-sealed, thereby creating a good thermal performance. Typically, double-glazed or triple-glazed windows with insulating glass composed of air, argon or krypton gas between panes and a low-E coating are considered high-efficiency. By preventing radiant heat from crossing the window plane, they improve window performance and minimize a building’s energy consumption.

Interior materials should be selected with an eye towards low emissions to include low-volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which eliminate material  off-gassing and thus result in healthier indoor air. The interior materials’ recycled content and end-of-life recyclability should also be considered in order to reduce future waste to landfills as well as lower the extraction of virgin natural resources for mosque construction -also called the embodied energy of a product. Using sustainable building materials like bamboo, recycled steel, and low-VOC paints is therefore an essential component in green mosque construction and should be a priority for all new builds as well as retrofit projects. 

Harvested rainwater and site runoff from roofs and other horizontal surfaces can be reused on the property itself. This recycled water can replace grey or black toilet water if permitted by the local jurisdiction. The construction and implementation of systems to collect and reuse rainwater for ablution or irrigation is, therefore, crucial for greening Islamic centers.

These practices can be integrated with purchased energy from fossil fuels, or electricity and natural gas, to keep buildings comfortable. This purchased energy can then be applied to such mechanical system components as air-conditioning, heat pumps, radiant heating, heat recovery ventilators, electric lighting/LED, and Energy Star-rated appliances. 

Integrating energy systems generated from renewable energy sources, such as solar power systems, wind turbines, biomass energy, hydropower, or geothermal sources is an integration strategy that will maximize green energy usage in mosques for the foreseeable future, “[c]onventional electricity generation is a significant source of emissions and the single largest source of U.S. air pollution. Green Power generates less” (EPA). 

Green power refers to environmentally preferable energy and technologies garnered from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal, and hydropower. Biomass, or organic plant and waste materials can also be applied to energy consumption in lieu of coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear energy. Replacing each kilowatt hour (kWh) of traditional power with renewable power eliminates more than one pound of emitted carbon dioxide (EPA).

Green-e-Energy and Carbon offsets

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) certify energy products as green in a competitive electricity market. These tradable instruments, used to meet renewable energy targets and comply with energy policies, can be purchased directly through a green electricity supplier or via local or state government vendors. An REC certificate represents the generation of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity from an eligible renewable energy source (Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | US EPA). Onsite green power systems can be installed directly on site or purchased outright or via a third party  Each method leads to green energy generation or green energy credit via the accumulation of RECs.

Carbon offset practices help organizations lower their emissions by storing carbon to reduce GHC and a different instrument than a RECs., i.e. land/forest restoration used to store GHC in trees/soil, and trees stabilize soils, afforestation increases biodiversity. 

Designing a green mosque should apply a good mix of both passive and active strategies, and should take into account the most appropriate  renewable energy sources based upon the climate and government policies of the mosque’s specific community. This mixed approach should also include, the purchase of green energy certificates and carbon offsets to reach the goal of building a zero-energy mosque. 

Finally, it is highly recommend that community leaders contract professional consultants at every stage of this process. 

Therefore, a green mosque is one that uses as little energy as possible, by first minimizing embodied energy of the building’s materials, and minimizing energy use with passive design and on-site power generation. Then renewable technologies and active design can be applied to generate power for internal use in addition to power pulled from the grid. 

Next, carbon emissions can be minimized by using outside renewable sources to reach a net-zero building via green power as RECs and offsets. Hence, we need to move towards net-zero buildings, remaking the local mosque into a “building that has low embodied energy, energy efficient, does not emit greenhouse gases and powered solely by clean energy.”

Honoring God

Building green mosques reflects the community’s gratitude to God for the gifts He has temporarily blessed humanity with as part of His mercy. The environment in which we live and which we call home is an intrinsic part of these gifts. Thus, we must regain control of our nafs (self) and remember to balance our carbon and ecological footprint when designing our mosques in order to instill green values  in our spiritual centers. In so doing, we would be participating in  a revival of the Prophet’s (salla Allah ‘alayhi wa sallam) sunnah. 

Uzma Mirza a registered/licensed architect and is LEED AP BD+C certified member of the ICC and AIA, and the ISNA Green Initiative team. That team includes Huda Alkaff, Saffet Catovic, Nana Firman, and S. Masroor Shah (chair).

The post How to Create a Green and Eco-Friendly Mosque appeared first on Islamic Horizons.