Regional Integration Essay

The Pacific Forum region seeks a region of peace, harmony security, and economic prosperity. The diversity of its peoples seek value, honor in their cultures. The Pacific Region’s objectives include obtaining respect for its governance, sustainable management of its resources and its democratic values. The partnerships with their neighbors, to improve communications and secure a sustainable economy for all are the primary objectives for its members. Established in Bangkok, Thailand on August 8, 1967 the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) was founded by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. ASEAN is now comprised of 10 members including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (ASEAN, 2013). An important and landmark agreement that ASEAN entered into was the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. The region in which the ASEAN- China Free Trade Agreement will reach is about 1. 9 billion people. This agreement will surely test not only the members of ASEAN, but China as well. The region in which the ASEAN- China Free Trade Agreement will reach is about 1. 9 billion people. This agreement will surely test not only the members of ASEAN, but China as well (ASEAN, 2013). Positive Influence of the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement January 10, 2010 marked a ten year negotiation with China, when the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area Agreement became effective. Tariff reductions between China and six ASEAN members Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, will experience more than a 90 percent of products with a drop to near zero in both parties’ tariffs. The agreement was established with the idea that ASEAN countries’ natural resources and China’s large market would both benefit (Shamsi, 2010). Countries like Cambodia and Laos will benefit from the ASEAN-China agreement with zero tariffs on over 7000 goods from China, which will benefit these under developed countries tremendously. Less developed countries especially those with no stock market system will welcome this agreement and benefit greatly (Shamsi, 2010). The ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement is China’s first free trade agreement and the first negotiated agreement ASEAN has been involved in with another country. The importance of this agreement will be seen when ASEAN nations being to use China’s currency Yuan. This can drive China’s Yuan to become a major global trading currency. This agreement is important in the movement for the regional economic environment (Shamsi, 2010). Negative Impact of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement The economic head of ASEAN is Indonesia. The idea of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement is not beneficial to ASEAN countries and should be re-considered. Indonesia has pointed out that the economy of China has recently increased and become powerful in global terms. The exemption from custom duties for Chinese goods ill challenges the local business survival with an influx of less expensive Chinese goods (Shamsi, 2010). Bankruptcy is a real possibility for industrial areas in the small and medium sized zones according to the chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association. The automotive industry in Malaysia is also wary of this agreement in that the impact on local auto industries could be hit hard. The view from many ASEAN members is that the agreement much more benefits China than the ASEAN countries. China in size alone has a large market for domestic consumption and ability to export on a grander scale than that of ASEAN countries (Shamsi, 2010). The overall feelings in most ASEAN countries are that of mixes feelings, but mostly worry concerning the agreement. The population of China with 1. 3 billion people compared to the 600 million combined of ASEAN region is notable differences in terms of markets. The concept that took ten years to come to light, seems that with the changes seen in the economy of China, that the agreement still has the same fruitful benefits initially anticipated (Shamsi, 2010).

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 32

Letter #3-November 18, 2006 Dear Nikki, As soon as I read your letter, I had my mother check out The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the Collingswood Public Library. Eager to enjoy a literary book with a happy ending, I read the entire work in one sitting, which required me to forgo sleep for an evening. I don't know if Tiffany read you the parts in my diary about my black friend Danny, but this book would make him go wild, as Twain uses the n-word more than 200 times. I know this because after reading the first few chapters, I started over and kept a running tally. Every time Twain used the n-word, I made a mark on a piece of paper, and when I finished the book, there were more than 200 marks! Danny says that only black people can use the n-word, which is sort of a universal truth nowadays, so I am surprised the school board allows you to teach such a book. But I did like the book very much. Even though Tom Sawyer should have told Jim he was free right away, I was so happy for Jim at the end of the novel when he gained his freedom. Also, the way that Huck and Jim stuck together through bad times reminded me of Danny and Pat getting each other's backs in the bad place. What really struck me was how Huck kept struggling with the idea that God did not want him to help Jim run away, because Jim was a slave. I realize people had different values back then, and that the church and government approved of slavery, but Huck really impressed me when he said if helping free Jim meant going to hell, he would go to hell. When I read your letter, I cried for a long time. I know I was a bad husband, and I am not mad at you for cheating on me or leaving me or even remarrying. You deserve to be happy. And if you are married now, your getting back together with me would be a sin, because it would mean that we would be committing adultery, even though I still think of you as my wife. These thoughts make me feel dizzy, as if I am spinning out of control. These thoughts make me want to bang my fist against the little white scar above my right eyebrow, which itches every time I get confused or agitated. To use your metaphor †¦ since I can remember, I have been driving on a dark highway, passing endless dashes and lines. Everything else has only been a pit stop – family, Eagles, dancing, my workouts. I have been driving toward you the whole time, only desiring one thing – our reunion. And now I finally realize I'm trying to woo a married woman, which I know is a sin. But I don't think you un derstand how hard I worked for this happy ending. I am very fit, and am now practicing being kind rather than right. I am not the man you were married to for all those lonely years. I am a better man. A man who will take you dancing and will give up sports entirely – coaching and Eagles – if that makes you happy. My conscience tells me that I should not continue to pursue these feelings, but your telling me to read Twain's novel made me think that maybe you were giving me a sign. Huck thought he shouldn't help Jim escape, but he followed his heart, he freed Jim, and that is what led to the happy ending. So maybe you are telling me in an indirect way that I should follow my heart? Why else would you specifically recommend The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to me? Also, our time together wasn't all bad. Maybe the end was grim, but remember the beginning? Remember college? Remember when we drove to Massachusetts in the middle of the night? It was the Friday after midterms and we were watching one of those travel shows on PBS, because we both thought we would travel back then. All our friends had gone to the rugby house for a party, but we stayed in together for a night of pizza and wine on the couch of my town house. We were watching that show about whale watching off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, and you asked me if they made wine in Martha's Vineyard. I said the New England growing season would be too short to get the proper types of grapes, but you insisted that there must be a vineyard there if the island was called Martha's Vineyard. We had this really heated fake argument – laughing and hitting each other with pillows – and then suddenly we were in my old Taurus, driving north. I'm sure you didn't think I was really going to drive you all the way to Massachusetts without a change of clothes or toiletries, but soon we were over the Tappan Zee Bridge, and you were smiling, and I was holding your hand. We never made it to Martha's Vineyard, but we spent a pretty wild weekend in an economy motel just outside of Cape Cod. Do you remember walking on the beach in March? Our lovemaking smelling like decades' worth other people's cigarette smoke as we enjoyed each other over and over in that motel room? Remember how when we jumped on the mattress, smoke seemed to leak out the sides? The lobster dinner we splurged for at that cheesy restaurant called Captain Bob's, where the waiters wore eye patches? We always said we were going to return to Massachusetts, take the ferry, and see if Martha's Vineyard actually had vineyards. Why didn't we do this then? Probably because we had class on Monday morning. But I wish we had taken that ferry when we had the chance. What was the worst thing that could have happened? We would have missed class. It seems so silly now to drive all the way to Cape Cod with the intention of taking the ferry to Martha's Vineyard only to spend the weekend in an economy motel on the mainland. What I'm trying to say is that maybe we can still take the ferry, Nikki. Maybe it's not too late. I know this is all so complicated right now. But there must be a reason that we are in contact again. There must be a reason that I lost my memory and then was filled with a vicious need to improve myself. There must be a reason if Tiffany was able to arrange this letter exchange. All I'm asking is that you keep the possibility of a reunion open as we continue to communicate through our liaison. My therapist Cliff says he feels as though I am poised for a breakthrough, and he feels he has stabilized my violent tendencies with medications. I know that in my writings I mentioned spitting out many of my meds when I first came home, but I am taking all my pills now and can feel my mental health stabilizing. Every day I feel as though I am getting closer to regaining my memory of our demise. And no matter what I remember – no matter what really happened between us – it will not change how I feel about you. You are living with another man, you are remarried – what could be worse? I still love you. I will always love you and am only now ready to prove my love for you. I hope this note was concise enough, as I tried very hard to keep it under five pages and was successful. I miss you so much, Nikki. Every freckle on your beautiful nose. Love, Pat, Your Sexy Stud Muffin (Remember that from the wedding video?)

Law statement of purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Law statement of purpose - Essay Example eveloped an interest in law during my elementary school years, following an interesting legal argument at the United States Supreme Court, I aligned my interest to studying law and was already biased to law related subjects during my high school. This further influenced my decision to study Islamic law at the undergraduate level. Studying law at the graduate level will also offer me an opportunity to work with my former University. In addition, my interest in human rights has motivated my intention to study law at the graduate level for a better understanding of laws on the rights and possible gaps that exists in the laws for improvements. My experience in law includes internships with law firms and volunteer work with human rights based nongovernmental organizations. Upon completing the graduate program, I will establish myself in the legal profession and use my professional and social position to inform legal policies and to advocate for greater recognition of human rights, especially rights of marginalized populations. Besides my intrinsic motivation into the graduate program and my academic background in law, I have availed resources and planned my schedule to ensure successful completion of the program. I look forward to your

Stock market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Stock market - Essay Example Gross Domestic Product is the total market value of all the final goods and services produced within a nation's borders in a given time period. Each goods and services produced and brought in the market have a price. The price of the total output is called as GDP. It can be measured by either cumulating all the income earned in the economy or all the spending in the economy and both measures should roughly equate to the same total. GDP is the basic measure of an economy's size. With the GDP used as a key indicator of economic activity and future economic prospects, any significant change in the GDP, either up or down, can have a major effect on stock market investors' sentiment. If investors believe that the economy is improving, and corporate earnings improving along with it, then they are more likely to bid stock prices to higher levels. Conversely, an actual or expected decline in GDP is very likely to run in parallel or in advance to a declining stock market. There is an alternat ive view to the interplay between GDP and the stock market. The stock market itself may exert a reverse effect on subsequent economic activity: a fall in the market may erode personal wealth, real or perceived, such that individuals will stop spending. With consumer spending representing around two-thirds of GDP, even a small change in consumption can exert significant negative effects on GDP. This is referred to as the "wealth effect", where if investors feel poorer, they will stop spending, thereby decreasing GDP and further exacerbating an already declining market. The Housing Market: The housing market is one of 10 leading economic indicators and a good measurement of discretionary spending by the general public making up 5% of the value of the overall economy. When the economy is up, people have a tendency to spend more and housing permits and sales are good indicators of this trend. When the economy slows people spend and building and buying will have a tendency to decline. The concern in the current housing market is with the recent surge in defaults with sub-prime loans. This trend is a major factor in the current decline of the housing market which can act as a deterrent to growth and can cause a ripple effect in the rest of the economy.

PICO Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PICO - Assignment Example To ensure patient satisfaction one of the emerging areas is practice of Evidence Based Nursing. This approach helps in framing of quality decisions and provides nursing care which is determined by personal clinical experience in combination with researched knowledge acquisition on the particular aspect of care giving. The objective of Evidence Based Nursing is to provide improvement in patient health and safety ensuring patient satisfaction. The process involves collection, analysis, and appraisal and action plan as per evidence based guidelines (Melnyk, 2011). Various forms of data collection both qualitative and quantitative are in practice to understand and formulate an action plan for a specific nursing oriented approach that helps to address the clinical problem directly or indirectly. The PICOT format has gained wide recognition in this evaluation process and is routinely implemented in clinical settings. The â€Å"PICOT† abbreviation is based on Patient Population (P), Issue or Intervention associated (I), Comparison group(C), Outcome (O) and the Timeframe associated (T) (Melnyk, 2011). Evaluating questions in this format helps to unfold treatment or care issues much faster to arrive at a particular solution. Further such approach is evidenced based and helps to identify the focused need of the patient, that can be addressed through supportive healthcare. For searching the relevant evidence, the key words of PICOT question are used to find the relevant studies from Journals, web documentations, clinical guidelines and expert experiences including self experiences. The evidence that is valued the most are the case controlled randomized studies and the meta-analysis. An extensive literature search coupled with personal experiences helps to identify the localized issues which help to formulate tailor-made solutions at the local level (Melnyk, 2011). One of the issues that I have identified during my practicum experience is the process of

Proposal Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposal - Outline Example In order to get a solution to this, the telecommunications company had to undertake a market research by deciding to employ Netezza data warehouse appliance as the only vender who performed above the rest, as far as their scalability, simplicity, performance and total cost of ownership was concerned (Froggatt, 2009, 1). According to Froggatt, (2009, 1), the most important requirement of the project was its seamless nature to the business users, and would make the company carry on with its existing tools with the Oracle alongside the new improvements by Netezza. From the proven results above it is seen that Netezza’s performance is 252 times faster than Oracle. This makes the information system even simpler as far as its management is concerned. The company has therefore had dramatic positive results with Netezza as its enterprise data warehouse of choice and the world’s number one in BI software. As a business object and a query tool, the biggest benefit has been the increased company performance (Froggatt, 2009, 2). Therefore, it is worth noting that business objects solutions are basically designed with the purpose of helping organizations gain much better insight concerning their businesses, enhanced enterprise performance as well as improved decision making. It is of prime importance that any information technology system needs to be faster on average speed, such that it can support any type of query. There was need to improve speed of the system in the company (Froggatt, 2009, 2). Secondly, the company systems needed to be simple in their approach, which is quite vital for the users and the information technology department. In implementing new technologies, the complexity of traditional database implementations needed to be cut out, and this could only be delivered by using the most appropriate data warehouse appliances. The use of database administration team needs to be as minimal as possible. This can only be achieved by

Equity Valuation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Equity Valuation - Essay Example Through equity valuation, shareholders of the firm decide whether to hold, buy or sell the firm’s stock. The long term risk of holding the share is also reflected in the valuation analysis i.e. upside and downside margin. Such critical analysis of firm’s equity leads to better financial performance evaluation and finding the growth prospects of a firm. The project has taken British Telecommunication’s financial statements into consideration in explaining the various processes of equity valuation. The telecom industry in UK is one of the largest in Europe that is characterised by the rising competition in broadcast, mobile communication and broadband segment. It has witnessed significant growth in the mobile communication and broadband market and it is above the European average growth rate. The digital TV penetration has risen to 90% of UK population. The operational capacity has also witnessed significant growth owing to the investments made by Virgin media, Next generation networks and British telecom. The major players in the industry are COLT telecom, BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Kcom and O2. The UK market is divided between two kinds of players’ mobile carriers and fixed line. Key players in the mobile carriers market are O2, Vodafone and Hutchison and BT dominates the fixed line carriers. British Telecom is a UK based telecom company that caters to more than 17 million customers in UK and more than 160 countries worldwide. Its main service divisions are digital TV, broadband and mobile communication. It was earlier a subsidiary of the General post office but in 1984, it was privatised and became British Telecommunication Plc. More than 50% of its shares have been sold to investors and further divestment was made in 1993. BT Plc in the current fiscal have plans to takeover EE Ltd for an amount of  £12.1 billion (BT Group Plc, 2014a). The stock valuation

Art appreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Art appreciation - Essay Example ating the strategy, foundations, and styles of Jackson Pollock, can one start to appreciate the sheer peculiarity of Pollocks work that makes it so amazing. Pollock’s compositions reflect a profound certainty. Pollock appeared to paint for nobody but himself, a thought that he enunciated when he uttered, "Painting is self revelation. Each great artist paints what he is†. In his depictions, Pollock communicated his own feelings and painted precisely the way he wished, disregarding the impacts of popular culture, faultfinders, or negative remarks. Pollock was ready to go for risks in his specialty, ignoring the limits of specialized experimentation, as he produced his own remarkable style. Pollocks sketches are many-sided, profoundly complex, and intriguing. Huge numbers of them are excellent. The sheer size of them can be amazing. However, what makes Pollocks work so noteworthy is that he made a set of depictions that are hard to copy or imitate. They were progressive at the time Pollock made them, yet they are still generally as radical and extraordinary today. Jackson Pollock put much exertion and thought into his sketches, so every stream of paint was laid on the canvas with reason, a thinking that maybe just he caught on. This thing makes Pollocks compositions so precious today. I suppose there are some positive trends in the 21st century that were not in the 16th century art. For instance, the new advanced technology has played a bigger role in transforming art into postmodernism. The artist in the 21st century is improving art in terms of appearance due to the high technology. I am both disappointed and surprised about the 21st art. This is because the present art has been manipulated by the ever-growing use of technology hence artists are not talented nut just imposing themselves for material gain. However, there some improved features in the current art that were absent in the artistic works. The current art is not as interesting as compare to the

Reflecting on the main issues affecting the international tourism Essay

Reflecting on the main issues affecting the international tourism sector and how these have challenged conventional forms of tou - Essay Example Section 5: How These Factors Are Being Addressed – This section discusses how governments are trying to tackle these issues. Section 6: Conclusion – This section gives a summary of the issues affecting international tourism. Section 7: References – This section states the sources that were used to come up with the findings of this paper. International Tourism Introduction International tourism is to a situation where individuals travel globally outside of their home country and region (Beaver, 2012). This refers to a short movement of individuals from their residential place to another region for diverse reasons such as recreation, business, health or other reasons (Beaver, 2012). Tourism is significant to the world due to the volume of income it brings to nations, and it enhances international relations the world over. International tourism offers tourists great services in the nations they decide to tour while they boost their economy. It aids in providing jobs to the local residents of the nations being toured not just in the tourism, as well as the service industry, but also in the manufacturing industry because many individuals return home with local keepsakes in hand. Tourists are more inclined to have disposable income, which they use in the nations they are touring (Lennon & Foley, 2000). ... Even with all the natural disasters, which have overwhelmed the world of late, as well as the tragedy of 9/11 and the 2005 London Bombing among others, individuals are still traveling the entire world to see tourist attractions and see what other nations have to offer. Other major issues affecting this field can be divided into economical factors, technological factors, political factors, demographic factors and cultural factors (Ineson, 2005). This paper will reflect on the main issues affecting the international tourism sector and how they have challenged conventional forms of tourism activity. The paper will also discuss to what extent responsible tourism presents an opportunity for addressing some of these issues. Economic Factors Intentional tourism can cost local governments, as well as local taxpayers, loads of money (UNEP, n.d). Developers might require the government to develop the roads, airport, railways and other infrastructure such as enhancing their water transport syst em, and perhaps grant tax breaks and other financial benefits, which are expensive events for the government. Public resources used on support tax breaks or infrastructure might decrease government investment in other vital areas such as health and education (Lennon & Foley, 2000). This, therefore, makes a country oppose international tourism. Raising the demand for basic goods and services from tourists will normally lead to price hikes, which disapprovingly affect locals whose proceeds do not rise proportionately (UNEP, n.d). International tourism and its associated rise in real estate demand have radically increased land values and building costs. Not

Interview Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interview Questions - Essay Example These highlight the differences, however there are similarities as well, as both micro-level and macro-level analysis involve understanding how the activities of specific entities creates somewhat of a trickle-down effect on all aspects from either an individual level or wide-scale business/government/finance activities. Opportunity costs can best be defined as the largest-valued decision that is relinquished after a decision has already been determined. Opportunity costs are different for each individual or organization and they represent what has been missed in order to fulfill a different objective. For example, a student who decides they must take a full-time class load at a local university would have several opportunity costs: They would lose time with friends in order to study hard or they would miss out on working at their fathers business in order to receive a higher education. This is an important economic model as it indicates scarcity and further aids in decision-making to assist in determining what the best course of action is once a decision has been made. Suppose that more companies receive permission to drill for oil in Alaska and U.S.-controlled waters. In addition, assume that the popularity of SUVs declines in favor of smaller, more fuel efficient automobiles. What will be the result on the market (supply, demand, price, and quantity) for oil in the U.S.? How does this move the supply and demand curve? The demand for oil would be considerably less, as more fuel efficient automobiles represents less consumer need for gasoline. At the same time, with companies digging in Alaska (and other areas), the supply of oil would also continue to increase. When this happens, when demand decreases and supply increases, likely the most significant impact would be a temporary lowered price for oil, at least until the demand for it grew. Assume that before the dig in Alaska gasoline was $3.50 per gallon. Afterward,

Construction resources Essay Example for Free

Construction resources Essay Construction resources make use of physics in many of their products. Two that I have picked are solar collectors and their use of insutation. Insulators have the purpose of preventing conduction, convection and radiation to unwanted areas. There are a wide range of techniques and materials used in doing this and I am going to look in depth at this idea. The company uses solar collectors in many different ways, their main purpose is to collect solar energy and heat energy. They can be used to heat and power many different appliances. Photovoltaic cells: Photovoltaic cells transfer the energy carried by the electromagnetic waves that make up sunlight directly to an electrical circuit in order to make a current flow. Light excites electrons to move from one layer to another through semi conductive silicon materials. Only a fraction of a volt is produced so a large array is needed to produce appreciable currents, usually about 20W to 100W. The Photovoltaic cells produce DC current so if alternate current AC is desired then an inverter is required. AC form is commonly available from the mains. Solar cells: Sunlight may also be used to heat water directly. This can be done in two ways, water can be circulated through pipes which run through the back of the solar cells, producing water at around 60oC suitable for household use. The other method is to focus sunlight from a large are to a small spot using an array of mirrors, this can produce temperatures of up to 4000oC and its quite feasible to produce power stations from this, however it has not been implemented yet. Here is on way in which the hot water can be used, this is quite economical and environmentally friendly. Solar panels are quite versatile and can be put on many roofs of simply in the garden, which makes them popular when it comes to heating swimming pools of hot water for showers. Any material that is a poor conductor of heat and electricity can be used as an insulator. Thermal insulating materials reduce the flow of heat between hot and cold regions. Thermal insulation may have to fulfill one or more of three functions: to reduce thermal conduction in the material, in which heat is transferred by electrons; to reduce thermal convection currents, which can be set up in air- or liquid-filled spaces; and to reduce radiation heat transfer, in which thermal energy is transported by electromagnetic waves. These are three ways in which heat energy can be transferred. Conduction, where heat energy is transferred through solid materials, metals are normally the best conductors. There are a number of factors that affect thermal conductivity. Increasing the area of the cross-section of the solid through which hear flows increases the rate of flow, however increasing the thickness of the wall decreases the flow of heat. Provided that a steady state has been reached (where the temperature of any point is not changing through time) then the rate of flow of heat ? Q/? t is given by: ?Q/? t A ? T/? x Besides the physical dimensions of the materials, another factor affecting rate of flow is the properties of the material, the Thermal Conductivity of the materials ? through which the heat energy is travelling is the constant of proportionality in this relationship, so:?Q/? t = -? A ? T/? x The units for thermal conductivity are watts per metre per kelvin. The Quantity ? Q/? t is called the temperature gradient. On my visit to Construction resources I noticed that they have used these Physical conclusions in there insulation. One in particular is Homatherm a wall and roof insulator. The slabs are thick which means less flow of heat, and have a thermal conductivity is only 0. 04 W/mK. Conduction in terms of particles: The particles in metals and non-metals are arranged differently, which gives them their different characteristics. In a non-metal the particles have forces between them that can be described like springs. When heat is delivered to the solid the oscillations of the particles being heated will increase in amplitude. For heat to be conducted the neighboring particles must also receive the extra energy, as particles oscillations increase in frequency the neighboring particles also gradually increase in frequency as heat is transferred to them. This is a very slow process. In a metal the arrangement is different, metallic boding occurs between metal atoms where a sea of delocalized electrons hold the positive metal ions together in a lattice. It is these free electrons that are responsible for the high conductivity character of metals. When a metal is heated the metals ions vibrate with an increase frequency. When an electron hits these ions with extra energy, they receive this extra energy and move faster. This electron can then travel to another parts of the lattice, to an ion that hasnt received any of this heat energy and collide with it, transferring its energy to this ion. Now that ion has extra energy and vibrates with a greater frequency. This process is a lot faster as there are many electrons in a metal lattice. U-Values: Architects and heating engineers use U-Values to calculate the flow of heat energy through building materials. The U-Values is quoted for a given thickness of a particular material, and is based on actual measurements made using the material. The U-Value is defined as: U-value = Rate of energy flow Area X Temperature difference Construction resources uses this knowledge of U-Values when designing building materials to reduce the energy wasted in the form of heat going out of the build and to achieve the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions. But there are obvious limitations with reducing thermal conductivity, you can only reduce it to a certain amount, 0. 025 in air, so there will always be heat loss. Also too much insulation in the house will lead to what construction resources refers to as internal pollution. This has lead to construction resources researching in trying to lower the energy that is used to build and transport he construction materials. Bibliography: Microsoft Encarta Heinemann Advanced Science Salters Horners AS Advanced Physics Strengths and Limitations of Photovoltaic cells: Since one photovoltaic cell only produces a small fraction of a volt, large arrays are required to produce appreciable voltages. This requires a lot of space and the cells need to be in a place where no shadows will be cast on them. This limits what they can be used for. Also the amount of power produced by the photovoltaic cells directly depends on the amount of sunlight, so they cannot be relied on to produce power for something that constantly needs it. The only way this can be overcome is if some power was stored for a rainy day. But this again would take up space. Also an array of solar collector will be expensive and have a long pay back time. However it is environmentally friendly and after the pay back time, savings can be made. Also photovoltaic cells can be made look attractive depending on where they are placed. Strengths and Limitations of solar cells: The solar cells have similar limitations to the photovoltaic cells in regards to positioning and cost but a small array is only required to produce enough hot water for something like residential showers or central heating. This is economical and environmentally friendly and solar cells are quite versatile.