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Brazil is a tropical country with favorable conditions for the generation and utilization of solar energy. This energy source becomes even more attractive when considering the dry periods that impact hydroelectric power generation in the country, resulting in an increase in energy costs reflected monthly in consumers' bills through tariff flags. In order to enhance residential architectural designs and promote energy efficiency, a feasibility study of photovoltaic systems was conducted, considering key economic indicators and the current tariff flags. To accomplish this, research was conducted in collaboration with Mounting Companies for a case study located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, adopting technical assumptions commonly used for residential photovoltaic system sizing. For the graphical sizing of the case study, factors such as the environment and summer and winter solstices were taken into account, and a shadow study was conducted to assess the potential loss of power generation by the photovoltaic system throughout the year. The shadow study revealed that, during both solstices, the optimal time for power generation by photovoltaic systems is between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Essentially, the calculated values of NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) indicate that the project is economically viable and particularly advantageous during the yellow and red tariff flags, situations in which energy costs tend to be higher for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disruption of the Fundão dam, located in the municipality of Mariana (MG), was responsible for the biggest disaster caused by a mining company, being considered the largest environmental catastrophe ever occurred in Brazil. About 34 million m? of iron ore tailings were released into the environment, according to IBAMA's Preliminary Report (2015), by mining company Samarco - a company associated with Vale do Rio Doce and British company BHP Billiton. Rivers, streams and vegetation were hit, as well as the burial of homes and properties leaving many families homeless, without their means of subsistence, and weakened by the deaths of close ones. Within hours, after the dam broke, the mud reached the Doce River, causing increased turbidity of the water and causing the death of thousands of fish and other animals. In this work a bibliographic search of the main environmental impacts generated by the disaster was made, separated in three categories of damages: environmental, social and environmental and human, as well as the recovery plans of each one. The results showed that the impacts were highly complex, that many areas will be unable to return to their previous state and some plans will take long years to complete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]