Hello
we face a common issue especially with ladies
and its their issue with clothes and wardrobes
many of us starts with 1 or 2 wardrobes to store and organize clothes
after some time, we get new clothes
& we get shocked when we find out that there's no space left
and we decide to buy a new wardrobe
after some time when we buy more clothes and face the same issue
we discover that there's no space left for clothes nor wardrobes
and we're forced to stack them up
and some people start saying "the house has shrunk"
although that can't letterly happen
the house is out of space
and assume that we need a bigger house
& of course a bigger house requires more funds
so we start looking for a better salary
and the suffering goes on as we try to accomodate our needs
the problem is simple
we tried to solve the problem
by accomodating it
not through solving it
just like someone blowing in a leaky Balloon
instead of solving the cause which is the leakage
he blows in more as if it's going to be filled
Today's topic is "Efficiency First"
Before talking about "Efficiency First" concept
let's describe the opposite
what is inefficiency
when something is inefficient
it means that you're getting feature
with a waste of resources
wether its money, Energy or anything else
thus, efficiency is getting the same feature with less waste
in the clothes example
the solution is obvious to most people
it's certain to give away what is useless
not creating more space for it
If we give away 1 peice
for every 1 new peice we get
we would solve the problem, save money, and benefit the poor
and that's is simply the "Efficiency First" Concept
it is solving or avoiding an issue by solving the root cause
not by temporarly accomdating it
because accommodation will harm you and inflate the problem
in fact, wasting is a common issue in our daily routine without noticing
& many companies and projects suffer from it and it's usually more complicated
for this reason, Dr. Karou Ishakawa has created in 1982
an analytical technique to reach the root cause of any problem
and solving it no matter how complicated
& because this is a technichal part
I wont cover it now
but if wish to know more
watch till the end because I will explain it at the end
Unfortunetly, Effecincy & and even Sustainability
aren't very popular especially in the Arab world
many people claim that this is due to lack of culture
but I disagree
because anti-waste is not only in our culture
but part of our religion and the Holy Quraan
but the west are raised by it
and became a habit for them
it is also sad that there is a global misconception for efficiency and sustainability
we always hear words like...
"Sustainability"
"Saving Energy"
"Future Generations"
wonderful words but irrilevant to the unspecilized people
so it fails to engage them
for this reason
we find institutions such as the Saudi Energy Efficency Center
leading simple advertisement
like their last campaign "Choose Green"
but why should I choose Green?
or what is Green?
According to U.S Green Building Council
Sustainability has what is called "3 bottom lines"
or 3 main characterstics for something to be sustainable
not only for future generations, but for you too
they are
1- Serves you economically
2- Environmentally better
3- Socially better
let's cover the first part
we have a common example which is energy-saving bulbs
this bulb is well known since ages
we all used it and sadly many still do
it costs 2 Riyals
after many years
floracent bulbs appeared, more effecient, they said
costs 10 Riyals
after few years
LED bulbs appeared
most effecient, they say
costs 30 Riyals
15 times the price of a regular bulb
at the first glance
regular bulb wins
but here "Life Cycle Costing" plays a role
if we calculate the annual energy fees
and found the first bulb costs us 100 SR a year
we'll find the floracent bulb costs us only 50 SR
as for the LED
although it initially costed me 30 SR
it's energy fees are 10 SR only
by calculating the final cost
LED bulbs will win
which means its sustainable and more effecient
now that's for the economy part
what about Environmentally and Socially?
in the same example
although floracent bulbs are energy effecient,
Mercury is used to manufacture it
it's harmless as is
but if it breaks
it will be dangerous
and should be disposed properly
otherwise it might harm you
only for that reason, we might say it less sustainable than the rest
although the topic can be precieved as very technichal
related to energy which we know but can't see
but Efficiency First is a hollistic concept
that can be applied to anything, as we've seen with the wardrobe example
& I believe that applying it
can positively change many things in our life
we can't deny it might not be easy at first
especially if we're not used to it
but any habit starts first by thinking of it with some application
with time and persistence, it becomes a habit and a culture
starting with our food
and ending up with everything else
today's topic has many details
so allow me to summiries
first.. when you face any problem, try to find the root cause
sometimes the solution is simple but not visible
Ishikawa's technique at the end will help you a lot
try to always apply the Efficiency First concept
wether for goods or life decisions
& today, the Energy Effeincy Center
made it easier for you in regards to devices
they make all calculations
and translate it into a color on the Efficiency Card
the greener it is, the more sustainable
even if it's a little bit costier
remember the bulbs
and remember a german quote that says
"I'm not rich to buy cheap things"
this quote
demonstrates the germans awarness of efficiency 
which made them lead the global industry for years
but that has to do with energy-related goods
what about everything else?
always ask yourself this..
does this decision or product serve exactly my needs?
or is it more or less?
if it's more or less..
don't say "less is more" nor "more is more"
I disagree with both
because any waste is harmful even if you can't feel it
is it useful keeping the lights on while asleep?
if not, you'll not like the electrical bill
solve the root cause by turning it off
does the food on my plate exceed my needs?
if yes, then you'll either throw it away
or you'll feel guilty and eat it to be overweight
solve the root cause and don't overfill your plate
I hope you liked today's topic
If you have experience applying "Efficiency First"
mention it in the comments
if you liked the episode hit LIKE
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Thanks for your time, Your's Ibrahim Alsayed
If you're still tuned
then you'd like to know about Ishakawa or Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Anlysis is a Fishbone diagram
we place the problem at the head of the Fish
& look for the causes within the bones
in the wardrobe example
the issue we had was the needs for more funds
so we state that at the head
& try to figure out the reasons
& start stating the potential reasons
like for example schooling fees
electricity bills
the house has shrunk
lets review "the house has shrunk"
how was it shrunk?
because we need more wardrobes
why do we need more wardrobes?
because of more clothes
will getting rid of clothes solve the problem?
if yes, then we reached the root cause
if not..
we continue to examine the rest of the bones
I hope its simple and useful, best regards
