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Going Green In Your Home

June 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

You don’t have to go to extremes to help protect the environment (unless you want to—just make sure the extremes you go to are legal) but there are ways you can go green, especially in your home. Here are a few suggestions.

With the advent of air conditioners and other climate control systems, the amount of recirculated air is increasing in homes. While climate control system filters, vacuum cleaner filters, and other things can help remove particulates from the air, more are being added each day, particularly when commercial cleaning products are being used.

One of the best ways you can improve air quality in your home is to use natural cleaning products. The benefits of this extend to more than just making the air in your home cleaner, you also save money. For example, vinegar and baking soda and both natural products. Used alone or together, these products can substitute for a number of commercial cleaning products.

Vinegar is good for cleaning and shining glass, countertops, appliances, and other surfaces that you would normally use a commercial window cleaner on. Baking soda can act as an abrasive, helping remove stains and soap scum from sinks and tubs/showers (don’t use it, though, if your bathroom fixtures scratch easily).

Baking soda can also be used as a laundry booster. It freshens clothes and helps remove odors. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda can be poured down drains to help them run better and to get rid of odors. Neither substance will harm pipes, so you can do this as often as you like.

Filed Under: Green at Home Tagged With: Natural cleaning product, Sodium bicarbonate, Vinegar

Going Green: Not a New Concept, But Still a Very Good One

June 7, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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If you are like many people, you are hearing more and more about companies and industries “going green”. This means they are finding ways to manufacture their products or supply their services while protecting the environment. thegreenlife.org applauds them for their efforts.

“Going green” is not really all that new; the concept has been around for quite a while. However, probably what really brought it to everyone’s attention was the discovery that the hole in the ozone layer that makes up part of the earth’s atmosphere was growing. This discovery was made in 1985.

Although this is a naturally occurring phenomena based on weather and climate conditions during the seasons of the year and the size alternately decreases and increases based on these conditions, an “artificial” increase was occurring as a result of certain pollutants being released into the air.

One of the pollutants found to be contributing the most to the growth was chlorofluorocarbons—the stuff found in aerosol spray bottles and cans. Steps were taken to eliminate these from aerosols, and a noticeable improvement was soon apparent.

Like many things, though, the green movement was and still is considered a “fad”, and like all fads, will soon fade away. Additionally, some people believe that problems with the environment aren’t as bad as they are being reported to be, or that if they are, the Earth can essentially “repair itself.” Others believe the problems are worse.

No matter which side you fall on, the fact remains that going green is a good concept. You are urged not to just dismiss it, but to consider ways that you can help protect the environment.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Tagged With: Earth, Environmentalism, United States

Going green in the kitchen and bathroom

May 22, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Take a look under your kitchen or laundry sink. How many half used bottles of cleaners, soap powders and detergents do you have? Plenty I bet. Bathroom cleaner, mould cleaner, bleach, dishwashing liquid, sink descaler and many other cleaning conconctions. Have you thought about where the chemicals go when they flush down your toilet or sink? Some chemicals can be harmful to our marine life and find their way out into the see.

Below are some tips to choosing the right cleaners which do the job without harming our planet.

Biodegradable does not automatically mean that its environmentally friendly.

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Biodegradable means that certain compounds and elements in the detergent break down into a more simpler form but the chemicals are still there. These chemicals still find their way out into our waterways and do damage to ecosystems.
Phosphate free is what you should be looking for. Phosphates are harmful to our environment. Over production of phosphates can reduce the amount of algae and plant growth which can throw out the delicate balance of marine and river way ecosystems causing plant life, fish numbers to reduce which in turn has a direct impact on the surrounding ecosystems and food chains
Check for endorsements from registered environmental agencies on the products you’re buying or check out organisations such as the Safer Detergents Initiative for advice on buying the right products.

Doing a little research before you go shopping will reduce your impact on the environment and educate you in which products are best to choose. This helps not only spread the word but protect our planet for future generations to come.

Filed Under: Green at Home Tagged With: Bathroom, Chemical substance, Dishwashing liquid

Buying Green

May 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

You may be recycling your garbage but how do you work out when shopping which are the “greener” products? It can be hard to tell the difference so here are three useful tips to ethical shopping:-

White goods can vary in size, color and style and the choices can be overwhelming.

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Ask your local white goods store about the most energy or water efficient products they have. The latest technology means that performance is not diminished and even if you pay a small amount more in-store you will save money over the years in reduced electricity and water bills.
Online stores offer great clothes nowadays which are easy to purchase and made in factories where people are treated fairly and harmful chemicals are not used.
At the grocery store. Organic may be a little more expensive but you will reap the rewards in your health and taste at the dinner table. The average working family may not be able to afford organic steaks BUT you can make small changes. Buy barn or free range eggs and organic milk. Look for a local pick your own farm or growers market for cheap, fresh, chemical free vegetables. Better still grow your own!

Buying a product which is plastered with the word “natural” does not necessarily mean you are buying an environmentally friendly product. Clothes, shoes and even white goods nowadays have great products which are kinder to the environment and won’t cost you the earth. But by taking small steps in the right direction you really will make a positive difference.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environmentally friendly, Grocery store, Organic milk

Environment in Business

May 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Being kind to the environment can also be good for your business financially. Rainforests are being consumed as we speak and natural resources depleted, how can you help? Below are five steps which all small businesses should implement in the step towards becoming “green”.

Take a look at your suppliers. Are they environmentally concious, is their transport energy

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efficient? Do they contribute with carbon credits? Is the paper and other office consumables you purchase recycled?
Recycling should be part of your daily office routine and educated throughout your staff. recycling bins in the staff kitchen and recycling paper and cardboard waste all contribute to a more sustainable environment.
Fairtrade. Is the coffee you supply to your staff fair trade? It may cost a few dollars more but with demand comes economies of scale, we all just need to take the step to purchase. It also sends a really positive message to your staff about how the business cares for the environment and those who live in it.
Energy. Switch off printers, computers and monitors at the end of every day along with the lights to save energy and see your electricity bills shrink too!
Plant a tree or two or get some real plants for the office. They help breed a positive working atmosphere for your staff and reduce Co2 at the same time.

A few simple steps will make a difference to the waste your business provides and also gives a morale boost to your staff. Its also good for business as more and more customers are looking for a “green” business partner.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Tagged With: Fairtrade, Natural resource, Recycling

How to Save Energy in Your Home

March 28, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Saving energy isn’t just good for the environment. It’s also good for your finances. Energy can be expensive and using a lot of it can be a real financial strain when the bill comes. Your money and the environment – those are good enough reasons to want to save energy in your home, right? Here’s how.

Home heating and cooling are two big energy consumers. Replace furnace filters regularly and keep the furnace clean. A properly maintained furnace will work more efficiently and use less energy to heat the home. A furnace that has to fight against a lot of dust will have to work harder to circulate air and use more energy. Also, turn down the thermostat a degree or two. It’ll use less energy and, at only a degree or two, you might not even feel the difference.

Seal leaks or drafts in your home. Cool air can leak in during cold months and keep the heater going. Air can leak in (or out) around windows and door frames. Keep curtains closed or use sealants, caulk, or something to block or seal the drafts. You could also invest in some insulation to block whatever heat may be escaping through the walls and roof.

Not using it? Unplug it. As long as it’s plugged in, an electronic device draws energy whether it’s on and being used or not. Unplug things when you’re not using them or plug things into a power strip that can be turned off. Turns lights off when you’re not in the room.

Consider a supplemental energy source. A solar panel or two on the roof could pay for itself in the money is saves you from your regular energy supplier.

And shop around for a cheaper energy supplier. Using less energy will save you money and can help the environment, but energy that costs less already is even better.

Filed Under: Energy Savings Tagged With: Efficient energy use, Environment, Solar panel

What You Can Do to Help the Environment

March 24, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

It’s been said that the Earth is not something we pass on to our children, but something we borrow from them. It’s theirs – the next generation’s – and when in our care, we should take care of it. Earth’s a big girl, she can generally take care of herself, but here are some things we can do to help.

Recycle / Reuse

This isn’t going to save the planet or usher in some sort of green utopia. Recycling and reusing is simply a responsible use of resources. If you’re done with something, recycle it. Aluminum cans, motor oil, printer cartridges, batteries, glass, telephone books – most anything can be recycled. Even if there isn’t curbside pickup in your area, there’s always recycle drop-offs somewhere nearby. Or you could sell your metals to a local buyer and get a little money.

Consider reusing some of the things you would throw away or recycle. Reuse plastic bags, pie tins, glass bottles or other stuff before getting rid of them. If you’re done with some article of clothing, consider how you can reuse it. Alter it and make it into something new or, if it’s not too raggedy, donate it so someone else can use it.

Conserve

We use a lot of water – toilets, showers, washing stuff, watering stuff or just wasting it. Time your showers, turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth, use less water when watering plants. Perhaps consider a low-flush toilet.

Keep an eye on energy usage. Turn off lights or electronics when not being used. Plug leaks in your home that reduce the efficiency of heating/cooling. Lower thermostat temps.

Avoid polluting

Walk when you could drive. Don’t throw your gum wrappers or gum or butts or whatever out the window. Don’t dump chemical-laden liquids outside.

If it’s true, that we borrow the planet from our children, then we need to be responsible with it.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, Recycling, Reuse

Nuclear Energy

March 20, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

After World War II, nuclear energy was going to fuel the future. It was going to power our homes, toast our bread, and tuck our children in at night after reading them a story. But something happened. Nuclear energy somehow went from the fuel of the future to a sort of energy boogeyman.

It wasn’t the Chernobyl disaster or partial meltdown on Three Mile Island that turned many against nuclear energy. These, and other much smaller incidents, certainly contributed, but anti-nuclear sentiment started years before – maybe as far back as the mid-40s. Scientists – some disturbed by what they had built – and diplomats pressured the military and government to stop nuclear testing. Larger-scale movements against nuclear technology seemed to rise in the late 70s – probably due to the connection between nuclear power and nuclear weaponry.

Dangerous nuclear power accidents are rare. The US Navy has been powering their ships with reactors for over 50 years and hasn’t had nuclear accidents. France safely gets most of its electricity from nuclear reactors and Japan gets nearly a third of its own power from nuclear.

Nuclear energy can be beneficial as an energy source for the future. Oil could run out some time in the next century or – more likely – become to expensive to continue using on a large scale. Other energy sources like solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind powers all have a variety of pros and cons. So, of course, does nuclear power. It’s not fully sustainable, but can more than meet our foreseeable energy requirements for a few centuries. It also produces waste that can be difficult to dispose of.

Nuclear power can be generated safely. Properly maintained reactors and properly disposed-of waste are not likely to cause any problems. Nuclear energy can still be a part of the mosaic of energy sources that will power our future.

Filed Under: Energy Savings Tagged With: Energy development, Japan, Nuclear power

Three Energies of the Future

March 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

As gas and coal and other fossil fuels fall out of use, other cleaner, more renewable energy sources have begun to rise. These energy sources aren’t exactly new. Many have been used for power or in industry in one way or another, on a small scale, for a very long time. Currently, they are considered “alternate” forms of energy, but that will likely change as they become more commonplace.

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric power is derived from the flow of water. The potential energy of dammed water or the kinetic energy of tides or other moving water is used to move some sort of turbine and generator.

Pros – it’s renewable, has little to no emissions, and low operating costs
Cons – hydroelectric power stations require large reservoirs that damage and disrupt the surrounding ecosystems and submerge large areas of land. Dam failures can be disastrous.

Geothermal electricity

Deep (around two miles) geothermal heat is used to heat water to a boil and the steam moves turbines to generate electricity. The water can be naturally present or injected to reach desired steam-levels.

Pros – it’s sustainable. Some experts believe that, with proper technology, geothermal energy can meet all the world’s present energy needs for several thousand years.
Cons – the fluids drawn out of the Earth contain greenhouse gases that can affect the environment. Geothermal power plant production has been known to affect ground stability and even trigger earthquakes.

Wind power

Where hydroelectricity uses the flow of water and geothermal electricity uses steam under pressure, wind power uses wind to move turbines and generate electricity.

Pros – it’s renewable, plentiful, and clean. Produces no greenhouses gasses and has low operating costs.
Cons – minimal, when compared to other energy sources, but include aesthetic concerns, noise, and the tendency to swat birds and bats out of the sky.

Filed Under: Energy Savings Tagged With: Electricity generation, Energy, Renewable energy

The Problems with Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Bulbs

March 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

CFL bulbs are often hailed as the green replacement of the older incandescent bulbs. CFLs use less energy and can have a lifespan of around ten times that of incandescents if not turned on and off repeatedly over short periods of time. These are all well and good, but there are some drawbacks to the CFLs that people should know about before making the switch.

Mercury content

Like all fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain a small amount of vaporized mercury. Mercury is poisonous even in small amounts. If a bulb is broken, then there is the risk being exposed to dangerous mercury vapors. Though the bulbs are meant to be recycled, many are almost certain to end up in landfills and dumps – polluting the grounds, air, and water with small amounts of the poisonous substance.

CFLs put out little heat

This not only prevents little kids from using a CFL in their Easy-Bake Ovens, but it can also contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Incandescent bulbs contribute slightly to the heat in a house and in some colder climates, where house heating may be provided by natural gas, incandescents reduce the amount of natural gas needed to heat the home. Large-scale use of CFLs in colder climates would increase the amount of natural gas being burned to heat homes.

Light sensitivity

Fluorescent bulbs flicker at a normally unnoticeable frequency. This flickering can cause problems for people with light sensitivity and can induce migraines, eyestrain, and – rarely – seizures. An article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry even suggested that fluorescent lamps can alter a person’s perceptions and worsen depersonalization disorders. Evidence for this is limited though.

UV light

CFLs emit ultraviolet light that can aggravate symptoms in people with existing skin disorders. Long, close exposure to UV radiation can also lead to skin and retinal damage.

This isn’t to say that CFLs are horrible. They’re not. But might the cons possibly outweigh the pros?

Filed Under: Environmental News Tagged With: Bulb, Compact fluorescent lamp, Incandescent light bulb

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