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SDD4006 Group Project Flow Chart_AY2122_ part 1

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Water Pollution Facts, Types, Causes and Effects of Water Pollution | NRDC

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What Is Water Pollution?

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances-often chemicals or microorganisms-contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.

This widespread problem of water pollution is jeopardizing our health. Unsafe water kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined. Meanwhile, our drinkable water sources are finite: Less than 1 percent of the earth's freshwater is actually accessible to us. Without action, the challenges will only increase by 2050, when global demand for freshwater is expected to be one-third greater than it is now.

What Are the Causes of Water Pollution?

Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as a "universal solvent," water is able to dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth. It's the reason we have Kool-Aid and brilliant blue waterfalls. It's also why water is so easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into and mix with it, causing water pollution.

Here are some of the major sources of water pollution worldwide:

Agricultural

Not only is the agricultural sector the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources, with farming and livestock production using about 70 percent of the earth's surface water supplies, but it's also a serious water polluter. Around the world, agriculture is the leading cause of water degradation. In the United States, agricultural pollution is the top source of contamination in rivers and streams, the second-biggest source in wetlands, and the third main source in lakes. It's also a major contributor of contamination to estuaries and groundwater. Every time it rains, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and livestock operations wash nutrients and pathogens-such bacteria and viruses-into our waterways. Nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water or air, is the number-one threat to water quality worldwide and can cause algal blooms, a toxic soup of blue-green algae that can be harmful to people and wildlife.

Sewage and wastewater

Used water is wastewater. It comes from our sinks, showers, and toilets (think sewage) and from commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities (think metals, solvents, and toxic sludge). The term also includes stormwater runoff, which occurs when rainfall carries road salts, oil, grease, chemicals, and debris from impermeable surfaces into our waterways

More than 80 percent of the world's wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused, according to the United Nations; in some least-developed countries, the figure tops 95 percent. In the United States, wastewater treatment facilities process about 34 billion gallons of wastewater per day. These facilities reduce the amount of pollutants such as pathogens, phosphorus, and nitrogen in sewage, as well as heavy metals and toxic chemicals in industrial waste, before discharging the treated waters back into waterways. That's when all goes well. But according to EPA estimates, our nation's aging and easily overwhelmed sewage treatment systems also release more than 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater each year.

Oil pollution

Big spills may dominate headlines, but consumers account for the vast majority of oil pollution in our seas, including oil and gasoline that drips from millions of cars and trucks every day. Moreover, nearly half of the estimated 1 million tons of oil that makes its way into marine environments each year comes not from tanker spills but from land-based sources such as factories, farms, and cities. At sea, tanker spills account for about 10 percent of the oil in waters around the world, while regular operations of the shipping industry-through both legal and illegal discharges-contribute about one-third. Oil is also naturally released from under the ocean floor through fractures known as seeps.

Radioactive substances

Radioactive waste is any pollution that emits radiation beyond what is naturally released by the environment. It's generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, and the production and testing of military weapons, as well as by universities and hospitals that use radioactive materials for research and medicine. Radioactive waste can persist in the environment for thousands of years, making disposal a major challenge. Consider the decommissioned Hanford nuclear weapons production site in Washington, where the cleanup of 56 million gallons of radioactive waste is expected to cost more than $100 billion and last through 2060. Accidentally released or improperly disposed of contaminants threaten groundwater, surface water, and marine resources.

Categories of Water Pollution

To address pollution and protect water we need to understand where the pollution is coming from (point source or nonpoint source) and the type of water body its impacting (groundwater, surface water, or ocean water).

Where is the pollution coming from?

Point source pollution

When contamination originates from a single source, it's called point source pollution. Examples include wastewater (also called effluent) discharged legally or illegally by a manufacturer, oil refinery, or wastewater treatment facility, as well as contamination from leaking septic systems, chemical and oil spills, and illegal dumping. The EPA regulates point source pollution by establishing limits on what can be discharged by a facility directly into a body of water. While point source pollution originates from a specific place, it can affect miles of waterways and ocean.

Nonpoint source

Nonpoint source pollution is contamination derived from diffuse sources. These may include agricultural or stormwater runoff or debris blown into waterways from land. Nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water pollution in U.S. waters, but it's difficult to regulate, since there's no single, identifiable culprit.

Transboundary

It goes without saying that water pollution can't be contained by a line on a map. Transboundary pollution is the result of contaminated water from one country spilling into the waters of another. Contamination can result from a disaster-like an oil spill-or the slow, downriver creep of industrial, agricultural, or municipal discharge.

What type of water is being impacted?

Groundwater pollution

When rain falls and seeps deep into the earth, filling the cracks, crevices, and porous spaces of an aquifer (basically an underground storehouse of water), it becomes groundwater-one of our least visible but most important natural resources. Nearly 40 percent of Americans rely on groundwater, pumped to the earth's surface, for drinking water. For some folks in rural areas, it's their only freshwater source. Groundwater gets polluted when contaminants-from pesticides and fertilizers to waste leached from landfills and septic systems-make their way into an aquifer, rendering it unsafe for human use. Ridding groundwater of contaminants can be difficult to impossible, as well as costly. Once polluted, an aquifer may be unusable for decades, or even thousands of years. Groundwater can also spread contamination far from the original polluting source as it seeps into streams, lakes, and oceans.

Surface water pollution

Covering about 70 percent of the earth, surface water is what fills our oceans, lakes, rivers, and all those other blue bits on the world map. Surface water from freshwater sources (that is, from sources other than the ocean) accounts for more than 60 percent of the water delivered to American homes. But a significant pool of that water is in peril. According to the most recent surveys on national water quality from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nearly half of our rivers and streams and more than one-third of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing, and drinking. Nutrient pollution, which includes nitrates and phosphates, is the leading type of contamination in these freshwater sources. While plants and animals need these nutrients to grow, they have become a major pollutant due to farm waste and fertilizer runoff. Municipal and industrial waste discharges contribute their fair share of toxins as well. There's also all the random junk that industry and individuals dump directly into waterways.

Ocean water pollution

Eighty percent of ocean pollution (also called marine pollution) originates on land-whether along the coast or far inland. Contaminants such as chemicals, nutrients, and heavy metals are carried from farms, factories, and cities by streams and rivers into our bays and estuaries; from there they travel out to sea. Meanwhile, marine debris- particularly plastic-is blown in by the wind or washed in via storm drains and sewers. Our seas are also sometimes spoiled by oil spills and leaks-big and small-and are consistently soaking up carbon pollution from the air. The ocean absorbs as much as a quarter of man-made carbon emissions.

What Are the Effects of Water Pollution?

On human health

To put it bluntly: Water pollution kills. In fact, it caused 1.8 million deaths in 2015, according to a study published in . Contaminated water can also make you ill. Every year, unsafe water sickens about 1 billion people. And low-income communities are disproportionately at risk because their homes are often closest to the most polluting industries.

Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by unsafe water include cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, contribute harmful pathogens to waterways. Thousands of people across the United States are sickened every year by Legionnaires' disease (a severe form of pneumonia contracted from water sources like cooling towers and piped water), with cases cropping up from California's Disneyland to Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Meanwhile, the plight of residents in Flint, Michigan-where cost-cutting measures and aging water infrastructure created a lead contamination crisis-offers a stark look at how dangerous chemical and other industrial pollutants in our water can be. The problem goes far beyond Flint and involves much more than lead, as a wide range of chemical pollutants-from heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury to pesticides and nitrate fertilizers -are getting into our water supplies. Once they're ingested, these toxins can cause a host of health issues, from cancer to hormone disruption to altered brain function. Children and pregnant women are particularly at risk.

Even swimming can pose a risk. Every year, 3.5 million Americans contract health issues such as skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, and hepatitis from sewage-laden coastal waters, according to EPA estimates.

On the environment

In order to thrive, healthy ecosystems rely on a complex web of animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi-all of which interact, directly or indirectly, with each other. Harm to any of these organisms can create a chain effect, imperiling entire aquatic environments.

When water pollution causes an algal bloom in a lake or marine environment, the proliferation of newly introduced nutrients stimulates plant and algae growth, which in turn reduces oxygen levels in the water. This dearth of oxygen, known as eutrophication, suffocates plants and animals and can create "dead zones," where waters are essentially devoid of life. In certain cases, these harmful algal blooms can also produce neurotoxins that affect wildlife, from whales to sea turtles.

Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate waterways as well. These contaminants are toxic to aquatic life-most often reducing an organism's life span and ability to reproduce-and make their way up the food chain as predator eats prey. That's how tuna and other big fish accumulate high quantities of toxins, such as mercury.

Marine ecosystems are also threatened by marine debris, which can strangle, suffocate, and starve animals. Much of this solid debris, such as plastic bags and soda cans, gets swept into sewers and storm drains and eventually out to sea, turning our oceans into trash soup and sometimes consolidating to form floating garbage patches. Discarded fishing gear and other types of debris are responsible for harming more than 200 different species of marine life.

Meanwhile, ocean acidification is making it tougher for shellfish and coral to survive. Though they absorb about a quarter of the carbon pollution created each year by burning fossil fuels, oceans are becoming more acidic. This process makes it harder for shellfish and other species to build shells and may impact the nervous systems of sharks, clownfish, and other marine life.

What Can You Do to Prevent Water Pollution?

With your actions

We're all accountable to some degree for today's water pollution problem. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can prevent water contamination or at least limit your contribution to it:

Learn about the unique qualities of water where you live. Where does your water come from? Is the wastewater from your home treated? Where does stormwater flow to? Is your area in a drought? Start building a picture of the situation so you can discover where your actions will have the most impact-and see if your neighbors would be interested in joining in!

Reduce your plastic consumption and reuse or recycle plastic when you can.

Properly dispose of chemical cleaners, oils, and nonbiodegradable items to keep them from going down the drain.

Maintain your car so it doesn't leak oil, antifreeze, or coolant.

If you have a yard, consider landscaping that reduces runoff and avoid applying pesticides and herbicides.

Don't flush your old medications! Dispose of them in the trash to prevent them from entering local waterways.

Be mindful of anything you pour into storm sewers, since that waste often won't be treated before being released into local waterways. If you notice a storm sewer blocked by litter, clean it up to keep that trash out of the water. (You'll also help prevent troublesome street floods in a heavy storm.)

If you have a pup, be sure to pick up its poop.

With your voice

One of the most effective ways to stand up for our waters is to speak out in support of the Clean Water Act, which has helped hold polluters accountable for five decades-despite attempts by destructive industries to gut its authority. But we also need regulations that keep pace with modern-day challenges, including microplastics, PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and other contaminants our wastewater treatment plants weren't built to handle, not to mention polluted water that's dumped untreated.

Tell the federal government, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and your local elected officials that you support water protections and investments in infrastructure, like wastewater treatment, lead-pipe removal programs, and stormwater-abating green infrastructure. Also, learn how you and those around you can get involved in the policymaking process. Our public waterways serve every one of us. We should all have a say in how they're protected.
This story was originally published on May 14, 2018, and has been updated with new information and links.

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Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know

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Our rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and seas are drowning in chemicals, waste, plastic, and other pollutants. Here's why and what you can do to help.

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(Leon) 6 Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong in 2021

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(Leon) 6 Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong in 2021

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https://earth.org/biggest-environmental-issues-in-hong-kong/

Outdoor Air Pollution
One of the top environmental issues in Hong Kong is air pollution. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 4.2 million people around the world die from outdoor air pollution every year. Long-term exposure to severe air pollution also poses serious health problems ranging from chronic respiratory infections and diseases to increased risk of cancer.

Based on Hong Kong Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) records, street-level air pollution in densely populated areas including Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok often exceed WHO guidelines, reflecting a sizeable number of Hong Kong residents breathing in air that contains high levels of pollutants every day.

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Following the latest IPCC report published in March, warning that we are running out of time to limit global warming to 1.5C, the climate crisis is clearly accelerating at a pace like never before. From deforestation to plastic pollution, there are several factors that are causing the exacerbation of climate change. As part of Earth.Org's 'Environmental Issues' series, here are some of the biggest ones Hong Kong faces in 2023.
Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong

1. Outdoor Air Pollution

One of the top environmental issues in Hong Kong is air pollution. According to a study of global mortality and pollution levels published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, 9 million people around the world die from outdoor air pollution every year. Long-term exposure to severe air pollution also poses serious health problems ranging from chronic respiratory infections and diseases to increased risk of cancer.

Based on Hong Kong Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) records, street-level air pollution in densely populated areas including Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok often exceed WHO guidelines, reflecting a sizeable number of Hong Kong residents breathing in air that contains high levels of pollutants every day.

Causes of air pollution in Hong Kong derive from sources like fossil fuel motor vehicles and regional smog, which is caused by pollutants from marine vessels and industrial power plants within the city and from mainland China.

Though the Hong Kong government has announced plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the current rate of carbon emissions shows no signs of slowing down. As for 2021, the number of private motor vehicles registered in Hong Kong reaches up to 657,000 , nearly 30,000 more vehicles compared to the previous year. Despite being home to one of the best public transportation systems in the world , Hong Kong residents still heavily rely on private cars when commuting in the city and that proportion continues to grow with each passing year. Within the past decade, the volume of private cars has increased by almost a third, contributing massive amounts of carbon emissions in the city.
You might also like: 10 Facts About Air Pollution That'll Take Your Breath Away
While the government has made efforts to regulate emissions from industrial power plants and marine vessels that pass through our waters, smog from the Pearl River Delta region has proven difficult to control. Collaboration efforts with Guangdong authorities have been made in improving air quality in the Great Bay Area region, but improvements in air quality have yet to be seen.

2. Landfill Waste

One of the most glaring environmental issues Hong Kong currently faces is landfill waste. Every year, about 4.17 million tonnes of solid waste make its way to our landfills, and during to the coronavirus pandemic, local waste has exponentially grown thanks to the increased use of food takeout boxes, plastic cutleries and single-use masks. Landfill gases, which are emissions from landfills decompose organic waste, will continue to surge as a result and contribute towards global warming, especially when you consider 40-60% of landfill emissions are methane gases, and have 10 times the warming potential than carbon dioxide.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world with a population of almost 7.5 million people, Hong Kong is in an immensely difficult position to create new dedicated landfills sites. Reducing and recycling waste is the only viable long term solution in dealing with the city's insurmountable landfill waste problem. And while the Waste Charging Scheme passed by the Legislative Council in late 2021 - 16 years after it was first proposed - is a good first step, much more is needed to tackle the issue.

3. Plastic Pollution

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong generate about 3.9 billion disposable food and drink containers every year . This amounts to 170 takeaway meals and 180 disposal drinks for every Hongkonger. As restaurants limit opening hours and seating capacities during the pandemic, people rely on takeaway options and the amount of plastic containers and cutleries used and disposed of has only soared. In 2020, plastics made up 21% of the city's total municipal solid waste (MSW), accounting for the third-largest share of MSW after food waste and paper. The city's beaches and waterways are drowning in plastic, and microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than the global average. According to estimates, more than 5,000 pieces of microplastic can be found in every square metre of sea.

Some F&B companies have made the effort to adopt biodegradable and even compostable takeaway packaging and utensils, but a majority of local restaurants and small businesses still opt for low-cost materials like styrofoam.

The lack of an efficient recycling infrastructure is a major contributing factor in the plastic crisis in Hong Kong. In 2019, less than 20% of plastic packaging waste was recycled due to the lack of adequate recycling facilities. Prior to China's Waste Ban, where the country placed a ban on importing unprocessed materials, Hong Kong used to offload the city's rubbish to the mainland for recycling. Since the policy implementation, Hong Kong has yet developed enough recycling plants to compensate. While some government interventions such as the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme seem to be working, as Hong Kong experienced a 27% increase in locally recycled plastics in 2020, plastic problem is still haunting the city.

You might also like: China's Refusal to Take Back Food Containers Exposes Hong Kong's Broken Plastic Waste Management System

4. Food Waste

Known as an international food paradise, Hong Kong has a reputation for affordable and a stunning variety of international cuisines. Consequently, this means that food waste is equally high in the city and without a doubt one of the biggest environmental issues that Hong Kong faces.

Food waste in Hong Kong accounts for about 30% of municipal solid waste that goes straight to landfills. In 2019, a recorded 1,067 tonnes of food waste were produced from commercial and industrial sources such as restaurants, hotels and wet markets. The amount of food waste has also been on the rise especially in the F&B industry where it grew from 800 tonnes per day in 2012 to 1,000 tonnes of waste generated per day in 2019.

While the government has introduced educational initiatives and an operating organic waste recovery center , over 3,600 tonnes of food waste are still being sent to Hong Kong's landfills each day , contributing to over hundred thousand tonnes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

5. Biodiversity Loss

Hong Kong has surprisingly rich biodiversity thanks to its large natural terrain and coastal waters. In fact, 40% of the city's land belongs to country parks and protected areas, which supports more than 3,300 species of vascular plants, 57 species of terrestrial mammals, and more than 540 species of birds. Our waters also support over 1,000 species of fishes, too.

However, in order to make space for the city's already dense and growing population, Hong Kong has devoted much effort in urbanisation and land reclamation. Land development, be it deforestation or illegal waste dumping, is one of the growing environmental issues be in Hong Kong, and has led to significant impacts to the local biodiversity and habits.
You might also like: Why Are Hong Kong's Rare Pink Dolphins Disappearing?
The pink dolphin, also known as the Chinese white dolphin, is a prime example of how local species are threatened by continued land development. The waters surrounding Hong Kong have been part of the dolphins' habitat for centuries, with recorded sightings going back to the Tang Dynasty. The number of pink dolphins that frequent Hong Kong coastlines has dropped to about 300 in recent years due to heavy vessel traffic and most importantly, its shrinking habitat. The development of the Chek Lap Kok island, which is home to the Hong Kong International Airport, and the associated land reclamation have reduced the amount of fish dolphins can eat while dredging has unearthed pollution from the seafloor causing water pollution. A massive 1,700 hectares land reclamation plan near the easter waters of Lantau Island that was proposed in 2018 will further deteriorate the dolphin habitat as well as increase vulnerabilities to rising sea levels.

Another serious threat to Hong Kong biodiversity is illegal wildlife trafficking. The city is home to one of the largest hubs for the illegal wildlife trafficking industry thanks to its free ports, geographical location in the Greater Bay Area and accessibility to other Asian countries. Every year, the city sees millions of live animals and their derivatives pass through its ports. In 2019 alone, more than 7,000 endangered animals were illegally traded in the city, including pangolins and live turtles. However a landmark bill was passed in August 2021 which will treat illegal wildlife trading and seizures as a serious crime while placing greater attention on organised criminals and networks instead of carriers and mules. The passage of the amendment aims to deter smuggling operations and supply networks in the city.

6. Water Pollution

Hong Kong is a unique city surrounded by the South China Sea, where marine waters cover about 1700 km² and home to a wide range of different marine environments. In the early 1970s and 80s, most of the city's sewage and wastewater were discharged into the sea, with little to no treatment. As a result, Hong Kong waters experienced a surge in organic and inorganic pollutants, a reduction of oxygen content, and increased bacteria levels. By 2005, Hong Kong generated about 2 million tonnes of wastewater as well as industrial effluents every day, making it one of the main sources of water pollution in Hong Kong.
You might also like: 13 Biggest Environmental Problems Of 2022
Marine pollution has also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as an additional made its way into the Hong Kong waters. An estimated 1.56 billion face masks were dumped into the ocean during this period, which experts have said will take as long as 450 years to break down. 4,680 to 6,240 metric tonnes of marine plastic waste Microplastics from single-use masks are also incredibly harmful to marine life and the ecosystem, potentially killing up to 100,000 marine mammals and turtles, and over a million seabirds.

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6 Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong in 2023 | Earth.Org

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The climate crisis is accelerating at a pace like never before. Here are the biggest environmental issues that we face in Hong Kong in 2023.

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removing a plug may save 23% of energy cost(Leon)

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removing a plug may save 23% of energy cost(Leon)

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https://blog.shoptexaselectricity.com/appliances-you-should-unplug-to-save-electricity-and-some-you-shouldnt/

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Compare and Shop Cheap Electricity Rates | Shop Texas Electricity

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You may have heard a lot about the importance of unplugging appliances to save energy. But you wonder which devices or electronics around the house you should remove from the outlet.

You are not sure if you should turn off and unplug the refrigerator. If you do, things won't stay as fresh when you return home.

So, here is a general idea of which elements to unplug or switch off.

Unplugging Appliances to Save Energy and Prevent Fire Hazards

Cost savings and energy conservation are the only reasons to disconnect things. Power fluctuations can result in fatal electrical fires in homes, which you can avoid by keeping them unplugged when not in use.

So, to stop wasting energy, unplug these electrical items:

Energy Vampires

Vampire appliances are those that drain electricity even when you switch them off but leave them plugged in. They contribute to phantom load bills, equal to almost 23% of the total energy consumption.

These devices and electronics are phone and laptop charges and entertainment devices like game consoles, TV units, DVR, etc. Remove them from the electrical sockets immediately after charging to 100% or when switching them off.

Or, if you use power strips or surge protectors, you can use them to turn off many devices at once. You don't have to unplug these large energy hogs.

Kitchen Appliances

Dishwasher, fridge, and oven: these are the three things that you may use the most. However, you shouldn't be unplugging these appliances to save energy. You should not unplug even stoves and ranges because they do practically nothing when turned off.

Your fridge may use a little bit of power as it preserves and cools the food. But they all come in-built with concealed plugs that consume near-to-zero watts of electricity.

Things to unplug in the kitchen are small appliances like the blender, high-tech toaster, food processor, coffee maker, microwave, etc. In short, anything that has a digital display should be unplugged.

Computers

You should disconnect your desktop computer, monitor, laptop, printer, scanner, modem, or anything connected to these elements after use.

Turn them off every night and when they are not in active use. It means making a habit of unplugging appliances to save energy and not leaving them in standby mode.

You will also be protecting them from significant damage against power surges and short-circuiting. One more thing you can do to save the planet and your pocket is to buy ENERGY STAR-rated electronics and appliances.

Even if you unplug or switch off all the above as recommended, your bills may still be on the higher side if you stick to your current electricity plan.

Switch to a different provider or energy plan that offers lower rates. Compare electricity prices on Shop Texas Electricity if you live in Texas since most Texans have a choice to select their electricity provider. If you don't want to do the research, EnerGenie analyzes hundreds of electricity rates and your electricity usage to find you the best match, saving you time and money. Get started today.

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Appliances You Should Unplug to Save Electricity and Some You Shouldn't

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You may have heard a lot about the importance of unplugging appliances to save energy. But you wonder which devices or electronics around the house you should remove from the outlet. You are not sure if you should turn off and unplug the refrigerator. If you do, things won't stay as fresh when you return home.

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https://www.tomsguide.com/news/how-a-smart-home-can-save-money

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Did you know that smart home devices can save you money? Despite the upfront costs of raising your home's IQ, many of the best smart home devices can actually help you cut down your utilities bills. Some can even help reduce damage in case of floods or other unexpected disasters, saving you even more.

You can save thousands with a DIY smart home, and the savings won't stop after setting up your space. Many smart home devices have energy consumption and monitoring features, and don't suck up unnecessary power when they're not in use. Smart plugs, smart lights and smart thermostats can be particularly energy efficient. Meanwhile, a flood detector or automatic water shutoff system are more preventive measures in case of a cracked pipe in your home.

Either way you should see your smart home devices to save you money, as long as you know which devices to get. We've detailed the top categories of smart home devices that could bring cash back to your wallet:

Smart plugs

Smart plugs are among the most affordable and user-friendly smart home devices, but the best smart plugs and best outdoor smart plugs are more clever than they look. When you leave lamps or decorative lights (ie. Christmas lights) on when no one is home, you're wasting energy. You can check the status of your smart plug on your smartphone wherever you might be, even if you're home and simply too lazy to get up. A smart plug can be even scheduled to turn on and off at specific times.

It's also common for smart plugs to offer energy-monitoring features viewable in a companion app. That way you can see how much energy all of your connected appliances are consuming on standby, and decide whether you should cut power to them when they're not in use. The $22 TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini has all these features in a compact, single-outlet design. We like this $80 smart power strip for an option with multiple outlets, each with their own individual on/off control.

Today's best TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug deals

Smart lights

The best smart lights are another affordable and effective way to save money. Depending on what kind of bulbs currently illuminate your home, smart light bulbs can decrease your monthly energy bills since they use LED technology rather than incandescent and halogen light bulbs. LED bulbs also last much longer than other types of bulbs, meaning they hardly need to be replaced. (Check out our light bulb guide for more benefits of LED bulbs.)

The most popular smart lights are perhaps Philips Hue lights, which come in a wide range of bulb shapes and even smart light strips and permanent smart light fixtures. Philips Hue lights aren't the most affordable, but the collection of features and compatibility with other smart home devices is hard to beat. That said, Sengled, Lifx, Wyze, Wiz, TP-Link Kasa and GE's Cync are some other smart light brands we'd recommend.

Today's best Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit deals

Smart light switches

If you live in a larger home, installing smart switches instead of smart light bulbs might be a better option for saving money. Smart light switches aren't as easy to install and require knowing about neutral wires, but could save money if you have a lot of light sockets. Most smart switches cost somewhere between $40 to $60 depending on the brand and features, and can be used with several basic LED bulbs.

The best smart light switch overall is the GE C-Start Smart Switch Motion Sensing Dimmer. But some smart switches are more than just a light switch, too. The Brilliant Smart Home controller acts as smart home command center, combining multiple light switches with a display for controlling the rest of your smart home devices.

Today's best GE C-Start Smart Switch Motion Sensing Dimmer deals

Smart thermostats

Like smart plugs and smart lights, the best smart thermostats can save you money on your utility bills. Most smart thermostats have an energy-usage dashboard of some sort in a companion app, so you can track your trends and see how your temperature settings impact your home's energy consumption. You can adjust the temperature more precisely and more frequently throughout the day using the app, or have the temperature change automatically based on your routines. The Amazon Smart Thermostat will even make adjustments using Alexa Hunches.

There's another way smart thermostats can save you money. Many energy companies offer rebates for the purchase and installation of smart thermostats. For example, Con Edison will slice money off your electricity bill if you enroll in a program in which your Nest Thermostat use less energy during peak hours or peak heating seasons. PG&E will give you $120 when you install an eligible smart thermostat, too. If you already have a smart thermostat and haven't taken advantage of a rebate or reward yet, look into the offerings from your energy provider.

Today's best Nest Learning Thermostat - 3rd Generation deals

Smart water leak detectors

If you live in a place that sees chilly temperatures, smart water leak detectors can save you thousands. Along with knowing how to insulate your windows for winter and how to bleed a radiator, you should know how to keep your pipes intact during the cold weather months and invest in a smart water leak detector.

Frozen pipes are prone to crack, and according to , the average cost to fix a burst pipe is $500. Add in the value of personal effects or replacing ruined carpet, and you're probably looking at very costly damage.

One of the best smart water leak detectors can alert you to early signs of a leaking pipe, whether you're home to hear the alarm or receive a push notification from a smartphone app. Then, you can shut off your home's water supply more quickly than you might've otherwise.

Some water leak detectors are also part of smart water shutoff systems that can automatically stop water in your home at the sign of a leak. The Flo by Moen smart water shutoff device and Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant are our top recommendations, but both must be installed in-line at your house's main water supply line by a plumber.
Looking for more ways to cut down on spending? Here are tips and tricks for saving money on Netflix, plus the best Amazon Prime Member deals you need to know.

Today's best Phyn Smart Water Assistant deals

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5 ways your smart home can save you serious money

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Did you know that smart home devices can save you money? Despite the upfront costs of raising your home's IQ, many of the best smart home devices can actually help you cut down your utilities bills. Some can even help reduce damage in case of floods or other unexpected disasters, saving you even more.

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Identify air pollution health risk in the community 

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Identify air pollution health risk in the community 

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AU HO WAI

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Local Studies | Air Pollution Threats | Clean Air Network

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Clean Air Network regularly conducts primary studies concerning air pollution exposure and health in Hong Kong.

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“Hong Kong 2050 is Now” seeks to mobilize action to transition Hong Kong towards long term carbon neutrality, and set an example for how the city can mitigate the risks of climate change. An initiative of Civic Exchange, World Resources Institute, ADM Capital Foundation and RS Group, we serve as a p…

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https://www.hk2050isnow.org/energy/

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“Hong Kong 2050 is Now” seeks to mobilize action to transition Hong Kong towards long term carbon neutrality, and set an example for how the city can mitigate the risks of climate change. An initiative of Civic Exchange, World Resources Institute, ADM Capital Foundation and RS Group, we serve as a p…

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https://www.ls-energy.hk/en/impact-on-the-environment-air-pollution.html

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Air pollution is mainly caused by pollutants from marine vessels, power plants, motor vehicles and industries. Meteorological factors also affect the level of air pollution - under calm weather conditions that hinder dispersion of pollutants, air pollution can reach high level. This is hazardous to people with heart and respiratory diseases. The following are descriptions of major air pollutants:

Sulphur dioxide (SO ₂) is a colourless gas with a strong pungent odour. It is formed primarily from combustion of sulphur-containing fossil fuels. In Hong Kong, marine vessels and motor vehicles are major sources of SO ₂, followed by fossil-fuelled power plants and industrial furnaces.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless toxic gas, a by-product of incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. Industrial processes can increase the concentration of CO, but in most urban areas, the main source of CO is motor vehicles.

Nitrogen oxides (NO x) generally refer to nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂). They usually enter the atmosphere as a result of combustion processes which involve high temperatures, such as those produced by ships, power plants and motor vehicles.

Nitric oxide (NO)
Nitric oxide (NO) is the main component of NO x and can be converted into nitrogen dioxide.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂) is a highly oxidising light brown gas which has a characteristic pungent smell at high concentrations. It is the reaction of nitrogen dioxide with reactive organic substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in the presence of sunlight that produces ozone. Nitrogen dioxide is, therefore, an important part of urban haze or photochemical smog.

Total Suspended Particulates (TSP)

Total suspended particulates (TSP) are small airborne particulates with diameters less than 100 micrometres (µm). They represent a broad class of chemical particles and may include inorganic fibres and trace metals (such as lead). They are also solid matter or liquid droplets from smoke, dust, fuel ash or condensing vapours that can be suspended in the air. TSP either come from natural sources such as the sea (wind-blown sea-salt) and soil (wind-blown soil particles) or from man-made sources such as diesel exhausts, hydrocarbons produced by combustion, sulphates and nitrates derived from sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions, as well as construction activities.

Particulates can be inhaled but larger particulates can be filtered by the upper respiratory tract. Smaller particulates (respirable suspended particulates) can enter deeper into the lungs.

The largest TSP is 50-100 microns in diameter (the thickness of human hair is 100 microns); the smallest particulates are even less than 10 microns in diameter.

Ozone (O ₃) is a major constituent of photochemical smog. It is not a pollutant directly emitted from man-made sources but formed by photochemical reactions of other primary pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under sunlight. As it takes several hours for these photochemical reactions to take place, O ₃ recorded in one place could be attributed to VOC and NOx emissions from places afar. Hence, ozone is a regional air pollution problem.

Being a strong oxidant, O ₃ can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat even at low concentrations. At elevated levels, it can increase a person's susceptibility to respiratory infections and aggravate pre-existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

Respirable Suspended Particulates (RSP)

Respirable suspended particulates (RSP) refer to those airborne particulates with diameters of 10 micrometres or less. Combustion sources, in particular diesel vehicle and power plants, are the major sources of RSP. Besides, RSP can be formed by photochemical reactions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds and atmospheric oxidation of gaseous pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Although to a lesser extent, crustal derived dust and marine particulates are also sources of RSP.

RSP at high levels may cause chronic and acute effects on human health, particularly the pulmonary function, as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems. This could be worsen if high RSP levels are associated with higher levels of other pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide. Smaller particles in RSP will also have a major impact on visibility.

Classification of Respirable Suspended Particulates (RSP)
Some countries classify "respirable suspended particulates" into "inhalable coarse particulates" and "fine particulates":

- Inhalable coarse particulates are bigger with diameters from 2.5 micrometers to 10 micrometers. They can be found near roadside and industrial areas.
- Fine particulates are those with a diameter of below 2.5 micrometers and can usually be found in smog.

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Air pollution is mainly caused by pollutants from marine vessels, power plants, motor vehicles and industries. Meteorological factors also affect the level of air pollution - under calm weather conditions that hinder dispersion of pollutants, air pollution can reach high level. This is hazardous to people with heart and respiratory diseases.