Summary: Addressing industrial wastewater management strategies

In October 2023, I worked with a client on an article entitled “Addressing industrial wastewater management strategies” for Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine. The article discussed the creation of industrial wastewater and the importance of wastewater management. Water is a limited resource, and government regulations are becoming stricter about wastewater disposal and management, so it’s important to pay more attention to this matter.

Here are some of the topics covered:

• Changing market conditions
  • Most municipal governments own and operate their wastewater systems, and set their own standards for wastewater management. They can also pass their own sewer use by-laws.
  • …companies must treat their industrial wastewater before reusing it or releasing it into the environment. This means setting up their own wastewater treatment facility or engaging with a third party to treat their industrial wastewater.
  • Water use and wastewater management play a critical role in companies’ environment, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance.
• Strategies for wastewater cleaning
  • Companies can make better use of their existing technology to adapt to process changes. … tertiary filtration… involves polishing the final effluent prior to discharge into the environment.
  • Decanter centrifuges are effective in separating solids from liquids within a single continuous process. They are commonly used for the sludge thickening and dewatering process in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.
  • Spiral heat exchangers recover the heat energy from the wastewater, which can then be reused within the plant (e.g., to maintain the temperature of biological digesters).
• Challenges and future outlook
  • …companies can use membrane bioreactors to “polish” their wastewater to a very high level, making it completely clean when it is discharged into the natural environment.
  • …per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are also known as microplastics… have been found in many major sources of water across Canada, including the Great Lakes

David

Summary: Municipal development fees continue to drive up building costs and rents

In the October 2023 issue of RHB Magazine, I wrote an article entitled “Municipal development fees continue to drive up building costs and rents.” It discussed the impact of city’s development fees on the costs of building rental properties, and how those costs increase rents for tenants down the line. Every extra dollar added to the cost of a new development has to be recouped somewhere, and it usually ends up being renters. Given the high cost of housing, finding ways to reduce rents will help to create more affordable housing.

Here are a few topics I covered in the article:

• Development fees continue to rise
  • Vancouver has the highest fees for approving new high-rise residential building construction in Canada (compared to major municipalities). The city’s average accumulated fees total $125,542 per unit, or $157 per square foot. 
  • Municipal development fees are also increasing rapidly, and much faster than the rate of inflation. Vancouver’s fees have increased by 25 per cent in three years ($100,679 per unit in 2020). 
• Where are development fees going?
  • Every municipality imposes different fees (e.g., community amenity contributions (CACs), development cost levies (DCLs)) to approve new property developments. 
  • However, these funds do not get allocated right away. For example, according to a CBC News report, the City of Burnaby has accumulated more than $1 billion in reserve funding. 
• Fees trickle down to renters
  • A recent study by Ryan ULC found that government costs make up 29 per cent of an apartment purchase price and 33 per cent of average rent. 
  • According to a CMHC report, more than 20 per cent of the cost of building a home in major Canadian cities comes from government charges. 
• Removing the tax on rental developments
  • Reducing municipal development fees would decrease the cost of building rental properties. 
  • On September 21, Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland tabled Bill C-56, the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, which (among other measures) removes the GST on new rental housing construction. 

David

Summary: The challenge of converting office space into housing

In the December 2023/January 2024 issue of RHB Magazine, I wrote an article titled “The challenge of converting office space into housing.” The article, as indicated by the title, is about converting office space into rental property and affordable housing. Given the shortage of rental housing in big cities, and the high vacancies in office buildings due to people working from home, there is an opportunity to address both issues. However, there are challenges in doing so.

Here are a few topics I covered in the article:

• Conversion costs
  • Building a new condominium or purpose-built rental property involves relatively set costs…
  • …once an office conversion passes $200 to $300 per square foot, it stops making financial sense as an affordable rental property. 
• Obstacles to adaptive reuse
  • Many factors besides building age and floor plate size help to determine the feasibility of converting office buildings… costs, location, specific building elements, and neighbourhood amenities. 
  • “Anything built from 1975 to the mid-1980s would be a bad candidate for conversion…”
• Location and zoning
  • Office tower neighbourhoods tend to lack certain amenities, like schools, parks, community centres, entertainment, and shopping.
  • You can’t simply convert a commercial property into a residential property if it has strictly commercial zoning. 
• Building design and features
  • Purpose-built office buildings tend to have different floor plans and layouts than apartment buildings… Residential buildings require more interior walls to separate individual units, as well as their own kitchens and bathrooms. 
  • Office and residential buildings have different mechanical, electrical, and plumbing requirements, loading and parking setups, window-to-wall ratios, and building envelopes. 
• What about tearing it down?
  • …demolition is not always the solution. Building owners are often reluctant to lose the sunk costs from demolishing an office tower, and might want to lower rents, find new tenants or adapt it for other uses. 
  • “Both new construction and adaptive reuse of existing properties will require excess soils management…” 
• What are the numbers?
  • An Avison Young survey indicates up to 34 per cent of office buildings in 14 major North American markets have potential for conversion. 
  • Calgary has had success in office-to-residential conversions due to its Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program, which provides up to $75 per square foot in financial incentives. 

Check out the article online if you want to read more.

David

My quick writing process

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’ve been a writer and editor for more than 25 years. I’ve learned how to quickly write a first draft of an article or blog post. Sometimes I’ve had to manage unreasonably short deadlines (client’s fault). In most cases, I wrote a quick first draft to get it into the client’s hands for feedback.

I’ve managed to write 1000 word articles and blog posts within a few hours of being assigned the topic. They weren’t perfect but they were good enough to put in the client’s hands. And that was often with research, data or quotes from subject matter experts integrated into the copy.

Over time, you learn to be a quicker writer, especially when you are familiar with the audience or subject matter. You become more comfortable with your writing style and your ability to put words on the page so they make sense and read well. First drafts are rarely perfect, but sometimes they just need to be good enough to move forward.

Yes, AI can write a first draft much more quickly. But the writing won’t be your words nor will it involve your style, effort, creativity, or research. AI is good enough to generate an outline and provide ideas. But it’s not what I would use to create a solid first draft.

(Some of you will disagree and will continue using AI to write your content. I won’t argue with your success. I just won’t do it myself, so let’s agree to disagree and move on.)

Here are a few tips on how I write quickly so I can get a first draft out to the client for review:

1. Start with a title or heading. It doesn’t have to be the final heading, and probably won’t be. But it will give you a direction and focus to start writing.
2. If you already have an idea of what topics you will be covering, include them in subheads. This will help you organize your writing going forward.
3. Put all your ideas on the page (or screen). You can write in bullet point or in full sentences. Just write – don’t edit. Keep writing until you have nothing left to write.
4. Organize your writing into sections. When you have a new section, put a subhead above it (if you haven’t already created subheads). This will allow you to group blocks of content so you can see where content belongs, and what should be removed. You can also move entire sections around with cut and paste.
5. Now, read and revise each sentence from top to bottom. Tighten your writing – cut unnecessary words, remove redundancies and repetitive sentences, rewrite in active voice, revise anything that sounds awkward.
6. Break up content with bullets / numbered lists. See where you can add graphic elements (e.g., graphs, charts, infographics).
7. Clean up the copy for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency.
8. Write a strong opening sentence and paragraph based on your content where it stands. Make that first sentence do the heavy lifting of pulling the reader forward.
9. Rewrite your heading and subheadings to better reflect your content.
10. Write the conclusion. Summarize the key points. Include a call to action (if needed).

Sometimes, I’ll stop at point 5 and send my client a first draft for feedback. Their responses will help with getting the final copy closer to where they want it, as well as guiding what I would do in points 6-10. Feedback can save a lot of time in the rewriting phase, as you might need to change direction based on what the client says.

And that’s it – my quick writing method in a nutshell. It works for me – 25+ years and counting.

David

Lessons learned from Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg

If you’re a writer, then you should buy (or definitely borrow and read) Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg.

This book will help about “who wants to write, write better, or have a clearer understanding of what it means for them to be writing.” The book title clearly describes what you will find in this book – many short sentences about writing – it’s an incredibly quick read, and you’ll have to force yourself to slow down to appreciate what you’re reading.

The book contains so many valuable insights. Here is some of what I learned:

• If you notice something, it’s because it’s important – what you notice also depends on what you allow yourself to notice
• Writing short sentences will help you to write balanced sentences of any length
• To become a better writer, you must become a better reader
• As you pursue clarity, your style will reveal itself
• All writing is revision
• It’s difficult to fix a sentence by using only the words you’ve already used
• Authority comes from how you write, not from the subject you write about
• Turn every sentence into its own paragraph to visualize how the sentences vary
• Imagine a sentence instead of writing it – keep the sentence imaginary until you are happy with it
• Read your work aloud – your ears are much smarter than your eyes because you hear more slowly than you read, and your eyes cannot see rhythm

David

Lessons learned from The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker

To be an effective writer, you must learn how to notice the world around you – what people say, how they behave, the details of events, interesting things about places you go, how you feel and think. Noticing is part of being a writer.

That’s why I recommend reading The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker. Following the exercises and meditations in the book will help you to see the world with fresh eyes. You will become more curious, think more clearly, listen more carefully, and become more creative.

You can pick up a copy of this book at your local bookstore or borrow it from your library. It’s on my bookshelf right now.

Here are some activities (and lessons learned) that will help you as a freelance writer:

• Spot something new every day
• Look at something slowly – don’t just glance and walk away
• When visiting a museum, consider what you would buy / burn / steal; look at what is not art, or what you could turn into art
• Draw what you see rather than taking a photo – it will force you to slow down and pay attention to details
• Similarly, write with a pen instead of a computer
• Look at things from different perspectives – as a historian, vandal, bad guest, improv performer or child
• Make an auditory inventory – write down what you hear and where you heard it
• Take a scent walk – pay attention to what you smell
• Practice digital silence – get offline
• Walk around with an expert – listen to how they describe what they know best
• Take a long walk in an unfamiliar area – you can even walk in different parts of your neighbourhood
• Be a local tourist – I’ve always wanted to take a bus tour in my area
• Eat somewhere dubious
• Read plaques
• Let a stranger lead you
• Give your time to someone
• Ask five questions, give five compliments
• Write a letter to a stranger – you can also write an email or post online (don’t be creepy)
• Meet a friend halfway

David

Lessons learned from Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley is the go-to guide for attracting and retaining customers through stellar online communication. This book is so good that I considered buying the newly updated version (I resisted because I have a lot of books).

You can find this book at the library or your local bookstore – it’s definitely worth buying but it’s a must read. Ann also has a newsletter which is worth the read.

Here’s some of what I learned from reading this book that would be of value to freelance writers:

• Writing is a habit, not an art – write often and when you are fresh
• Place the most important idea at the beginning of each sentence
• Set and follow a writing process – do what works for you
• Figure out WHAT you want to say before you figure out HOW you want to say it
• Use a framework to organize your writing before you write – create an outline or a bulleted list
• Embrace the ugly first draft – write your thoughts down and walk away (DO NOT EDIT)
• Consider what the reader wants – develop empathy for their experience
• During the editing stage, delete all unnecessary words and ideas
• Write a strong lead to set the tone for the writing and to hook the reader
• Finish strong – include a conclusion or call to action
• Show, don’t tell – tell a story rather than explaining features and benefits
• Use familiar but surprising analogies – avoid cliches, talk from experience
• Keep it simple but do not be simplistic – cut the fluff but don’t talk down to the reader
• Readability = short sentences and paragraphs, bullet points, subheads, visual elements
• Set deadlines and word counts – give yourself parameters to work within
• Use active voice as much as possible – also, strong verbs and fewer adverbs
• Cut wordy phrases – don’t write to fill the page
• Break some grammar rules – be flexible
• Limit moralizing
• Tell your story, not a generic story that can apply to anyone

David

Lessons learned from Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

A couple of years ago, I bought and then read Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury. I was familiar with his works of fiction (Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes). However, he was quite prolific, as he has written screenplays, short stories, and other works. I learned much later about this book on writing.

The book contains 11 essays that focus on the theme that writing is a celebration, not a chore. As writers, we tend to focus on learning the technical parts of our craft. This book focuses more on writing with joy and passion. You can pick up a copy of Zen at your local library or favourite bookstore.

Here is what I learned that would interest writers:

• Writing teaches us that we are alive and it is a gift and a privilege, not a right
• If you do not write with zest, with gusto, with love, with fun, you are only half a writer – you are not being yourself
• The more swiftly you write, the more honest you are – get those words on the page right away
• Make a list of words that come to mind – these are the seeds of your stories
• Stuff you mind with impressions and experiences, and your reactions to them, to feed your muse
• Read poetry every day to expand your senses – read all types of work to feed your muse
• Quantity in writing gives experience – from experience comes quality
• Work gives us experience, which results in new confidence and eventually in relaxation
• It is a wise writer who knows your subconscience

David

Lessons learned from Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear is one of those books that has received a lot of hype. I believe the hype is justified.

If you’re a freelance writer, then you should definitely read this book. Pick it up at your local library (be prepared to be on a waiting list) or pick it up at the bookstore.

If you don’t know about Atomic Habits, this book provides practical strategies to teach you how to master the tiny behaviours that lead to great results.

Here’s what I learned that would benefit freelance writers (and other self-employed pros):

• Focus on a system for setting habits rather than specific goals
• Focus on who you want to become (e.g., a prolific content writer) to establish the best habits
• The four parts of a habit are cue, craving, response, and reward – knowing these key elements and being aware of your habit will enable you to establish the habit
• First law of behaviour change: Make it obvious – Make the cues for your habit obvious (e.g., writing every morning)
• Second law of behaviour change: Make it attractive – Be part of a culture (e.g., writing group) that makes the desired behaviour normal
• Third law of behaviour change: Make it easy – Reduce the friction associated with good behaviours (e.g., it should only take 2 minutes to perform the habit)
• Fourth law of behaviour change: Make it satisfying – Set up a game of tracking your behaviour so it feels good to keep going (e.g., fill the boxes on a calendar for every day you write)
• Find an accountability partner (another writer) who will make you pay for inaction
• Align habits with your natural abilities (make it easy)
• Reflect on and review your progress – be conscious of your performance over time
• All you need to do is get a bit better (just 1%) every day to see results
• Decide who you want to be, and use small wins to prove you can be that person
• Follow this implementation formula: I will BEHAVIOUR at TIME in LOCATION
• Happiness is the absence of desire
• Your actions reveal how badly you want something – if you don’t put effort toward something, you don’t truly want to achieve it

David

Lessons learned from Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield

If you’re a writer, then you should own Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield. It will teach you empathy, as well as the ability to “switch back and forth… from your own point of view as writer… to the point of view of your reader…”

Pick this book up at your local library, or order it from a local bookstore. It’s worth adding to your bookshelf.

The book teaches the universal principles of storytelling – every story must:

• Have a concept – it should be unique and from your perspective
• Be about something – no stories about nothing
• Have a beginning, middle, and end – seems obvious, but some stories are lacking in one of these areas
• Have a hero and a villain – they don’t have to be people
• Have an inciting incident – something must happen to drive the story
• Escalate through each Act in terms of energy, stakes, complications, and significance – the story should build along the way
• Build to a climax related to the clash between hero and villain – the story needs to reach a peak moment or conclusion

David

Looking for help in telling your business’ story? Let me know – contact@davidgargaro.com