Sustainable development aims to have little to no adverse effect on the environment and incorporates replenishable resources, directly impacting the construction industry. The construction industry can adopt several techniques to ensure that future projects adhere to sustainable standards.
Construction professionals can adopt green measures that reduce the depletion of natural resources. For instance, construction professionals can consider using less steel to reduce carbon emissions. Instead of steel, construction managers can opt for renewable mass timber. In addition, construction companies and experts can reduce energy consumption while working on projects by using their access to natural light. Therefore, location contributes to sustainability. Picking areas that allow maximum natural light into buildings requires less energy. Lastly, construction professionals can contribute to sustainability by considering natural habitats. It's best to avoid disrupting natural habitats and tampering with forest reserves. When picking locations, construction professionals might focus on building in urban areas instead of areas without development.
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Seasoned environmental inspector Michael “Mike” Stermitz has extensive experience in several sectors, having completed projects and contracts in wind farms, solar farms, natural gas, and oil pipelines. Outside of work, Mike Stermitz enjoys bird watching.
Bird watching is becoming a favorite pastime activity and hobby as more and more people are experiencing its mindful nature. This observation is backed by scientific studies showing that bird watching has many mental health benefits. Some of them are as follows. Reduces the level of depression A study published in “Scientific Reports” found that seeing and hearing birds contribute to improved mental well-being. The study involved 1,292 participants from different continents of the world. The participants showed reduced levels of depression that lasted for eight hours after encounters with birds. Note that the observable improvements demonstrated by the participants could not be attributed to any other environmental factors except bird watching. Restores attention and helps in stress recovery The Journal of Environmental Psychology published a study that associated hearing bird songs with attention restoration and stress recovery. About 20 people from South East England participated in the study. It showed that 186 natural sounds related to attention restoration and stress recovery, with the participants reacting accordingly. Analysis showed that 35 percent of these sounds were bird songs. Makes a person happy and satisfied with life The richness of bird species in a particular area also correlates with the residents’ happiness and satisfaction. According to a study published by the journal “Ecological Economics,” life satisfaction among some Europeans was proportional to the changes in the richness of bird species in their areas of residence. The scientists added that visitors in urban parks with higher bird species richness were happier and demonstrated better psychological well-being compared with those who visited urban parks with lower species richness. Michael “Mike” Stermitz is an experienced environmental inspector with a specific focus on the energy production sector. When he isn’t working, Mike Stermitz enjoys birdwatching.
A key attribute of birdwatching is its accessibility. You don’t need to travel to a nature reserve or wildlife park to give birdwatching a try. In fact, your own backyard is a great place to start. From there, you can begin to explore local public parks. Just look for features, such as water and trees, that are attractive to birds. The equipment needed for birdwatching is minimal. You can begin sighting birds with your bare eyes using a basic birding field guide, a set of birding flashcards, or a bird identification digital app. To get a closer look, you may want to consider binoculars. Birding newcomers can generally find succuss with entry-level binoculars that are relatively inexpensive. Because most birds sleep during the night and wake up hungry, they tend to be the most active in the early morning. Thus, this is generally the best time to go birdwatching. Birds tend to be inactive around noontime, so this is generally the worst time to go birdwatching. An experienced construction manager with a background in wildlife biology and a passion for environmental protection, Michael "Mike" Stermitz serves as a construction manager with Arcadis. Throughout his career, Mike Stermitz has held positions in law enforcement, environmental technology, and wildlife biology. He is also a member of the National Wildlife Federation, an organization on a mission to prevent the extinction of endangered species.
Wildlife conservationists have reported caveats concerning the impending extinction of monarch butterflies in the wake of drastic climate change and increasing deforestation. Monarch butterflies are known for their wings' distinctive orange and black markings. Some species migrate from southern Canada to the mountain forests of Mexico annually to escape Canada's cold winters. Others migrate to California to overwinter every fall. Over the past two decades, the monarch butterfly's population has plummeted by 90 percent. Significant reasons for the species' population decline include disruption of migration patterns caused by climate change and deforestation of food-producing regions. Monarch butterflies feed on some nectar-producing plants, including milkweed species in native forests. In the United States, some farmers eradicate milkweed with toxic neonicotinoids and herbicides, deepening the threat to monarch butterflies' survival. The public can play an important role in preventing the extinction of this endangered species. Ways to promote monarch butterfly proliferation include planting milkweed in gardens, avoiding the use of mosquito sprays (which indiscriminately kill butterflies, too), participating in wildlife habitat restoration projects, and donating money to wildlife conservation organizations. A former environmental specialist with SWCA, Mike Stermitz has spent more than 12 years as a construction manager at Arcadis and other companies, acting as an environmental inspector on projects in Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and seven other states. Beyond his management responsibilities with Arcadis, Mike Stermitz is involved with environmental organizations such as the American Fisheries Society and the National Wildlife Federation.
The National Wildlife Federation is involved in a number of environmental issues around the world, including the rapid deterioration of the planet’s coral reefs. Coral reefs rank among the most bio-diverse environments on Earth. For example, the coral reefs of Palau serve as the home to an estimated 700 coral species and approximately 1,400 species of fish. Unfortunately, reefs around the world are succumbing to a number of potentially catastrophic threats. The 360-mile Florida Reef Tract, the third largest coral barrier in the world, has experienced a 98 percent reduction in total coral cover, largely as a result of stony coral tissue loss disease. The situation in Florida, sadly, is not unique, as rising ocean temperatures have had a widespread negative impact on coral reefs. Bleaching, a detrimental process caused by greenhouse gas emissions, was previously observed about once every 27 years around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The reef experienced back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017, to disastrous results, and a National Academy of Science report suggests reefs around the world will be subject to bleaching conditions every year through 2050 if temperatures continue to climb. Warmer oceans also lead to more acidic waters and more frequent hurricanes, causing further damage to the world’s coral reefs. Indeed, beyond attacking harmful fishing practices and reducing the presence of pollution in the ocean, reversing the effects of climate change ranks as the most pressing issue facing the world’s coral reefs. To learn more about the threats facing coral reefs and international coral reef restoration efforts, please visit the National Wildlife Federation online at www.nwf.org. Possessing a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from the University of Montana, Mike Stermitz is a construction manager with Arcadis. In this capacity, Mike Stermitz carries out Migratory Bird Treaty Act surveys.
In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was signed into law. One of the oldest wildlife protection laws, it was designed to prevent birds from becoming extinct. The United States witnessed the extinction of several birds in the 1800s, such as the passenger pigeon, Labrador duck, and Heath hen. After birds became hunted for their plumes, which were used for hats, entire colonies were destroyed. As a result, the government and many conservationists, including the National Audubon Society, began calling for regulation, which led to the creation of the Migratory Bird Act Treaty. The law was one of the first major victories for the National Audubon Society. Over the years, the act has expanded in scope through treaties with Russia, Mexico, and Japan to encompass birds such as hawks and eagles. In addition, the Migratory Bird Act Treaty was updated in 1962 to focus on the use of the feathers from protected birds by Native American tribes for religious ceremonies. A resident of Billings, Montana, Mike Stermitz serves as a construction manager with Arcadis, an organization where he has worked since 2014 and which provides a range of business, engineering, and environmental services. Mike Stermitz is an experienced environmental inspector who has lent his skills to a variety of projects, including completing compliance inspections for the oil and gas industry and conducting Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) surveys.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) is a law that was passed in 1918 and spearheaded by the National Audubon Society. This law protects millions of birds and is one of the first and longest-standing environmental laws. The MBTA aims to protect birds from human activities and states that it is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, export, import, or transport any migratory bird or its eggs or nest without a permit obtained from the Secretary of the interior, although there are some exceptions in the law. For example, the law was updated in 1962 to enable indigenous people to access feathers needed for religious events. Since the MBTA was originally passed, associated treaties with Russia, Japan, and Mexico have enabled expanded protection for migratory birds. With over a decade of experience in the environmental sector, Mike Stermitz provides a variety of services such as inspections, due diligence reports, water sampling, and wildlife surveys. In addition, Mike Stermitz has extensive experience developing stormwater pollution prevention plans. In normal circumstances, the underground water supply replenishes when water is absorbed into the ground and naturally filtered by the soil, sand, and rocks. During heavy rains or large amounts of snow melts, the ground can become saturated, resulting in excess water that runs into sewers, streams, rivers, and lakes. That water can carry an abundance of chemicals, eroded soil, bacteria, and other pollutants. The risk for abundant runoff is especially high in developed areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces like concrete and asphalt. The runoff, since it is not treated, is the leading cause of water pollution. It can contaminate drinking water, swimming areas, fishing and boating areas, and natural ecosystems. Stormwater pollution prevention plans are developed to help keep tainted stormwater out of the water supply. Experts work to identify all the potential sources of pollution and then describe practices to prevent those pollutants from entering sewers. |
AuthorThroughout his career in environmental science and inspection, Mike Stermitz has worked to protect waterways and communities from the effects of pollutants. ArchivesCategories |