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Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category
March 15th, 2012 | 
Author: Global warming and climate change is big in the news at present, and calls for a more sustainable way of living are being directed at consumers at every level. It has become common practice to recycle household waste, sorting through cans, bottles, plastic and paper. Not as common, but eagerly encouraged is collecting organic waste to feed the compost bin, which in turn feeds the vegetables growing in the garden to complete a small sustainable cycle.
These are small, simple things that each of us can choose to do, but sometimes the move towards a more sustainable and eco friendly way of life is out of our control. It is time to convince the manufacturers and suppliers of everyday gadgets and gizmos that they too should be adopting a greener approach to their industry. This will give the consumer the power to choose to purchase from an ethically minded business, bolstering the correct attitude towards green consumerism.
Of course, some would say that we should be doing without certain products altogether if the thought of climate change is so worrying. The truth of the fact is it is difficult to change the attitudes of the masses by being puritanical. If the lads and lassies still want their gadgets, then let them play, but give them opportunity to buy eco friendly versions of energy hungry ‘toys’. Solar power, wind power, wind-up power and kinetic charging are all ways that everyday products we have can become Eco Friendly.
One of the more exciting products to have had a trial is the kinetic mobile phone charger developed by Orange. Through a contraption that has internal weights and pullies that is strapped to your arm, a charge is generated while you dance, walk or run. Initially tested on the grooving masses at Glastonbury, it is hoped that this technology will be a success and become available to the general public. Imagine never needing to find a plug for your charger again, and the possibilities of getting super fit because you need to make a phone call!
A favourite of festival goers, campers, and those who like to escape the confines of city life, wind-up radios and torches have been on the scene for many years now. The dynamo system was originally designed to power radios in South Africa, to enable poor communities to have access to radio even without access to batteries. This technology is also ideal for emergency situations where sources of power are not available; and for equipping places that are visited infrequently, such as holiday homes or log cabins.
When it comes to solar power, it’s shocking how long we’ve been living with the technology and probably barely noticed. The common calculator has been using the sun to charge its energy cells for years. The technology has progressed to the point where a company has manufactured a solar charger for laptop computers, compact enough to carry wherever you go just to make sure you never miss another email! Solar energy is also being used in garden trinkets, such as outdoor fairy lights and garden lanterns.
Harnessing the energy of the wind is generally considered for use on a large scale, along with tidal power. Of course, if thousands of units of energy are needed to power all the energy consumption of a house, a turbine is needed, but smaller options are available to power a gadget ******. Compact 24 volt wind generators are available to charge a leisure battery, the energy from which can be used just like the juice that comes from a household socket. The generators are incredibly popular on boats and caravans as a reliable and transportable source of energy; and there is no reason why harnessing renewable power shouldn’t be used in the home too.
By: Shaun Parker
Posted in Environment, Gadgets And Gizmos | 
Tags: green calculators, green gadgets, green generators | 
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Sustainable, luxury beachfront living is no longer just a dream – new Caribbean properties like Oceano Village combine environmentally-friendly development with exotic locations and the latest eco innovations for sustainable living at its finest. From careful planning of land usage to future sustainability, these luxury Caribbean properties bring an entirely new perspective to green living.
Net-Zero Construction
Several years of preparation take place before construction begins on a sustainable luxury village. Extensive planning is involved in the land development, the architecture, the building process, the furnishings and appliances, and even the future environmental impact of the village. To achieve a net-zero impact, everything possible is done to ensure these luxury ocean side villas give back at least as much as they detract from the planet.
Low-Impact Architectural Designs. The cool breezes and pleasant year-round temperatures of the Caribbean naturally decrease energy use, but strategic positioning and innovative designs create truly eco-friendly homes without sacrificing luxurious oceanfront living. Oceano Village was the first Caribbean community to use cross ventilation and renewable energy sources like wind and solar power to minimize the environmental impact of fine living.
Renewable, Natural Building Materials. The innovative use of renewable materials, including durable limestone and sustainable hardwoods, are another way these luxury Caribbean properties lower the impact fine beachfront living can have on the environment. Both the interior and exterior are designed to showcase elegance without harming the environment, featuring gorgeous Honduran pine finishes, unique bamboo furniture, and other local renewable resources.
Sustainable Landscaping and Smart Water Use. From the fixtures within the villas to the expansive living areas outside the home, eco-friendly Caribbean communities promote water conservation and sustainability without detracting from the comforts of fine living. Low-flow bath fixtures drastically decrease water consumption inside the home while carefully planned landscape designs aid in replenishing the local water supply.
Waste-Free Luxury Living. Garbage is the source of a great deal of environmental damage. Sustainable development strives to eliminate waste through extensive recycling programs and natural composting efforts. The reuse of waste materials as an organic fertilizer encourages healthy, nutrient-rich soil without the use of harmful chemicals.
No Carbon, Low Emission Community. Wind and solar power enable homes to generate clean energy, eliminating typical carbon emissions from building structures. Gasses emitted from transportation are controlled in an eco-friendly development as well by encouraging alternate means. A network of bike trails and foot paths, neighbourhood electric buggies, and a convenient airport shuttle minimize the use of automobiles in Oceano Village.
From the perfect retirement spot to an elegant second home in the Caribbean, environmentally-friendly, oceanfront living is a dream come true on the lush island of Roatán. Extensive planning and careful construction, along with fine amenities and exquisite structures, are the foundation of sustainable luxury Caribbean properties like Oceano Village and showcase the many possibilities for eco-safe development.
By: Drew Gillson
Printing is one such process that produces harmful wastes leading to environmental pollution. The use of petroleum inks, varnishes, laminates and adhesives leads to the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The release of VOCs in the atmosphere has adverse environmental effects. This not only pollutes the air but also leads to respiratory ailments.
To save the environment, publishing houses should print green i.e. the printing process/ technology should be eco-friendly. Printers should comply with environment friendly rules and regulations to check the VOC release. The printing industry uses the natural resources in a major way. To control this heavy use of natural resources and save the environment, a new kind of printing process have made way into the printing industry. They are called green printers. Such printing houses use environment friendly processes and rely on recycled paper rather than non-recycled ones. Use of recycled paper does a lot of good to the environment by saving trees that would otherwise be cut to produce paper. Apart from this, recycled papers leads to energy saving and reduced release of air pollutants. Green printing houses source the paper from well managed forests that comply with strict environmental standards. The printing process is planned carefully to achieve optimum output by minimal usage of energy. The papers are sourced only from FSC (Forest stewardship companies) certified companies.
Green printing is a responsible and specialized job and thus it is offered by only a handful of printing presses. Green printers comply with all the environment friendly standards offering optimum production at minimal environmental damage.
By: Alfred Anderson
About the Author:
Alfred Anderson has rich experience in the field of online brand marketing. His interests includes Internet marketing and research on emerging online business trends.
Eco-friendly Printing
If we take into account the “cradle to grave” multiple impacts and the effects of each phase of these bags’ life we will be able to illustrate the actual costs paid by our environment and society for the fleeting convenience of unlimited, free, single-use plastic bags.
Firstly, the production of these plastic bags requires a large amount of petroleum and natural gas. These production materials are non-renewable resources and there’s always a risk that unnecessary use of these resources might lead to scarcity. Moreover, the process to acquire these resources immensely contributes to the destruction of the fragile habitats and ecosystems around the world. The production of plastic bags also requires a lot of toxic substances to be used. These toxic substances in turn produce pollution and harm the environment. Energy consumption required for the production of these bags is also huge. This contributes effectively towards global warming.
These bags might be distributed for free to the consumers but definitely does not come free to the retailers. The U.S. retailers alone incur an annual cost of approximately four billion U.S. dollars. When these bags are distributed, the costs are generally passed on to the consumers in the form of higher prices for the goods that they purchase. So, though the concept of these bags might seem to be free, in fact they also have some financial issues involved which ultimately are borne by the end-users.
The disposal and littering of these bags also threatens the environment and the future of mankind and all living forms. These plastic bags are often disposed off into water or littered on land. Thousands of marine lives are put into danger due to this. Sea turtles, whales and other such marine mammals often mistakes these plastics for food and end up dead. When swallowed these plastics choke them or block their intestine resulting in a painful death. Same is the fate of several cows, goats and other such lad animals that often end up eating pieces of plastic while foraging for food. Moreover, it takes almost thousands of years for these pieces of plastic to completely degrade on land. They break down into tiny bits and contaminate soil and water.
So we see that in-spite of the plastic beings ‘free’ of cost, there’s actually a major cost that needs to be paid indirectly and it threatens the mere existence of all living forms on the face of the earth. Mass movements are taking place all over the world in order to reduce the consumption of these plastic and paper bags due to their ill-effects on the environment. Luckily, though, we have seen the introduction of reusable, eco-friendly and environment safe bags on the market to substitute them. These bags are generally made of Polypropylene. They are simple to produce, strong and can be made of different weight or thickness depending on the intended use. Bags made of this durable material are water repellent and avoids bacteria and odor. They are not affected by chemicals or solvents and comply with FDA regulations.
The reusable, eco-friendly bags proves to be a perfect alternative to the toxic plastic or paper bags and should be adopted for a better, healthier and safer environment.
By: Ronn Jones
About the Author:
This article is written by Ronn Jones, a marketing expert with years of experience in branding and internet marketing. Check out more information on reusable, eco-friendly bags.
Eco Friendly Property Doesn’t Cost the Earth…………
In fact, quite the reverse. There is a widely held conception that anything green, whilst good for the environment, ultimately costs more in monetary terms. ECO friendly properties are cheaper and quicker to construct, and cheaper to run on a day to day basis.
One of the main factors behind this is build time. Traditional build times are generally between twelve and eighteen months for a decent size three bedroom villa. Using systems such as ICF (Insulating Concrete Form), Thermocellit build blocks or Ytong, reduces the build time to between 60-90 days, dependant on the size of the build. This has numerous environmental benefits. The use of electric, water and even transportation costs and emissions for the builders is significantly reduced, and the end result is much more efficient building than its traditional comparatives.
Originally developed in Canada (where concrete home building is standard) ICF systems have been used successfully around the world for more than 40 years. Tens of thousands of ICF homes have been built in recent years throughout the United States and Canada. They have proven successful in every region and climate, from Orlando to Calgary. ICF systems are accepted by all the major model codes in the U.S. and by the National Building Codes in Canada. Several major European countries are now building with this system on a massive scale. It is recognised in Spain and most of Europe and passes all necessary regulations.
Here are some key ICF Advantages for the Homeowner:
ICF Homes are Sound Dampening
Escape for the noisy outside world – The solid concrete walls of ICF homes greatly reduce outside noise making your home more peaceful and relaxing. ICF homes can reduce unwanted outside noise by up to 87%
ICF Homes are Fire Resistant
Have peace of mind that your home will still be standing even if fire threatens your neighbourhood. ICF homes have a fire rating of up to 4 hours.
ICF Homes are Energy Efficient
Splurge on the finer things in life with the money you’ll be saving each month on your utility bills. Buildings built with ICF exterior walls can require 50% less energy to heat and cool than comparable frame houses. These energy efficiencies also allow economic efficiency by allowing smaller HVAC units to be installed.
ICF Walls are Pest Resistant
Be confident that your home will be protected against termites, roaches and rodents. – Your home’s concrete walls will be impenetrable to pests.
ICF Homes are environmentally Friendly
Be satisfied in the fact that Solid Core ICF homes are built using Inert, Non-toxic concrete that is often manufactured locally. And the fire-resistant insulating foam is CFC free. The Rebar, Webs & Ties, EPS foam & concrete are recyclable. Building a 2,000 sq. ft. ICF home can save up to 47 trees.
ICF Homes are economically Friendly
Get the financial benefits of lower insurance premiums. Insurance companies recognize all the strengths of ICF homes and offer a discount on premium for ICF homes. One ICF homeowner reported a 20% savings on his insurance premiums.
ICF Homes are Draft Free
Enjoy the comfort of a perfect environment – The solid core walls of ICF homes eliminate air infiltration through the wall and virtually eliminate hot and cold spots.
ICF Homes are Allergen Resistant. Get the relief you deserve – Most mould and mildew problems are caused by moisture. A fibre glass insulated wall develops condensation within the wall where warm and cold air meet. The solid core walls of ICF homes eliminate air infiltration so there is no moisture to feed the growth of moulds and bacteria.
ICF Homes are Beautiful
Live in style – while the walls of the home are sturdy concrete, the design can take on any style you desire: Modern, Victorian, Colonial, Adobe.etc etc.
ICF Homes are Affordable
ICF homes are priced very competitively with traditional “stick built” homes. And when you take into account all the additional benefits they have, the true value of ICF homes simply can’t be matched.
Having your own Eco friendly villa built gives a wealth of options to the degree of environmentally friendliness you want. Solar panels, Geo thermal heating, energy efficient and water saving appliances are just a few further ways to go green, saving you money and also doing your bit for the environment at the same time.
For further information visit http://www.1st2spain.com
By: K.Towers
About the Author:
Authors web site: http://www.1st2spain.com
Posted in Environment |
Tags: Eco Friendly House, Eco Friendly Products, ways to go green |
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