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

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

If you happen to be perched on the wall regarding this debate, then, here are the top reasons why it is necessary that you take a pro-environment stand – Now!

Many developed countries like America and Europe suffer from severe consumption addiction. They use non-biodegradable products, which will never be recycled or reused. For instance, it is believed that millions of used mobile phones finding their way to landfills everyday. These phones will stay there for thousands of years. Products like Styrofoam, plastic, PVC and cadmium choke the environment. People have long been using plastic bags for shopping. It is believed that America alone produces billions of polybags every year. When you consider the total volume of plastic waste generated by the expanding populations of the world, you will realize that it is enough to make major changes to the planet.

Unfortunately, the majority of such wastes are made from toxic, non-biodegradable materials that release hazardous waste into the air and earth. By opting to switch over from plastic bags to environment friendly products like bamboo and hemp products, you drastically reduce the non-biodegradable waste in the environment.

Eco friendly products encourage and enable healthy lifestyles for people who care enough for the society and environment they live in. Thus, they encourage safe living for future generations.

Eco friendly products are made with fewer raw materials. That means there is comparatively lesser destruction of forests and trees.

Sustainable, eco friendly products are typically cheaper and they last longer. The cost of most products is dependent on the kind of materials used. However, it is important to remember that some organic products may be expensive because they are grown in a pesticide-free environment. Even so, sustainable products have a longer payback period and represent the correct use of resources.

Eco friendly products are generally manufactured in an environmentally sound process. So, there is less emission of toxic waste and harmful chemicals. There is also a significant reduction of waste in the production process.

There is greater variety in eco friendly products because they are made from materials that are widely available. Also, many of these products are ingenuously manufactured. So they have special textures, feel and look. Add to that the feel-good factor associated with doing the right thing and you have a perfect package of longevity, health and total return on your investment.

By: orsondixon

About the Author:

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:

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:

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:

Carbon neutral source

The way wood pellets work is that they release exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide as what the growing plant would have used. So that means whatever amount of carbon dioxide gets consumed by the growing plant ultimately gets released into the atmosphere when the wood gets burned. This is why this is a very balanced and eco-friendly energy source. There is no excess amount of carbon dioxide that gets emitted while burning this energy source.

Even more carbon savings

As compared to other alternative environment friendly sources of energy such as solar energy and wind power it is the wood pellets which save up the maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Another attraction for this energy source is that one can extract a lot more from a single tree than is possible with other sources. For example as little as 30% of a single tree is used in making wood pellets. The remaining portion is used in making and cutting up wooden planks. From just this 30% of the tree one can manufacture 3 tonnes quantity of wood pellets. These can be sufficient to warm 200 homes for a duration of around a week! That is a lot of energy coming from a single tree!

How it gets made

The wood pellets are made by breaking the wood into sawdust and then drying it up. This sawdust is then forced through die to compress into wood pellets. These pellets then get cooled and then stored in special containers. However the process can be tedious and painstaking as just one single particle of wood will take around 2 hours to get transformed into a pellet. However, every amount of time taken will be worth the effort as this environment friendly source of energy is here to stay and is particularly useful in saving the environment.

Planting new trees

The good thing about wood pellets is that they can always be manufactured as trees can be planted anytime. This is unlike other alternative energy sources like solar energy and wind power which depend on the elements of nature. The wood boilers are also considered to be much cheaper in cost as compared to other eco-friendly sources like wind power. For example wind turbines have been found to be much more expensive than the boilers used for heating wood pellets.

Using up forestry waste

Wood pellets can be very useful in eliminating landfills. There are plenty of forests all across the world and the wasted wood from these can be put to very good use. If such wood is left standing then it can result in the production of methane gas which again damages the environment. Instead if it gets used in the manufacture of wood pellets then we can see some significant advantages. It is in essence almost like recycling waste.

By: Michael Beikircher

About the Author:

But the world has changed dramatically and more people than ever are not just facing up to fears of climate change but are looking to do something practical about it. In early 2006, More Than insurance conducted a survey that revealed that up to one in six people would consider switching to a hybrid car. Since then, sales of hybrid cars have doubled in the UK. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMM) show that 6,538 hybrid vehicles were purchased in 2006 to 2007 – while in 2005 to 2006, just 3,117 cars with auxiliary batteries as power sources were sold. Meanwhile, the SMM figures also reveal that sales of sports utility vehicles dropped by a not insignificant 12%.

Car insurance companies have wisely responded to the switch in consumer behaviour by offering ‘eco-friendly’ policies. CIS was one of the first companies to offer ‘ecoinsurance’. The policy offsets 20% of your car’s CO2 emissions by investing in projects like reforestation, renewable energy sources and third-world education schemes. It also offers a 10% discount for cars in tax band A – those that emit less than 100g of CO2 per kilometre. It also appoints repairers that only use recycled materials – a package of incentives that should rightly please the more environmentally minded.

More recently, other car insurance companies have come out of the eco-friendly woodwork. More Than offers all new customers free carbon offsetting for the first 3,000 miles, if you buy your insurance online. Drivers with hybrid, electric and alternative fuel vehicles are also offered a discount of up to 15%. Newly launched Ibuyeco also enables drivers to offset 100% of their carbon emissions. It offers two quotes – one for your premium and another to offset your emissions.

Although you need to look at all premium payments carefully before making a decision on your insurance, it also seems that some of the eco-friendly policies are competitively priced. CIS, for example, offers a good premium on a quote for a 35-year-old teacher driving a 2004 1.5l Toyota Prius (£307.83 compared to £339.15 with Tesco or £347.55 with Direct Line).

Most of us have been moved to consider environmental issues in recent years and it is good to see that insurance companies are responding to consumer pressure by providing policies that encourage motorists to go green. “Drivers are becoming more and more concerned over the impact they are having on the environment. By providing eco-friendly insurance policies, companies are giving motorists a real incentive to become environmentally friendly without having to sacrifice their cars,” said Sophie Neary, product director at BeatThatQuote.com. Neary also added some words of warning, however: “Some drivers may be spending more than they need to on car insurance – for example, opting for third party, fire and theft cover when a fully comprehensive policy can be cheaper. It is great to look at insurance incentives that suit your way of life, but be sure to remember your premium costs and to continue to compare policies carefully for the best deal.” Quite simply, eco-friendly policies may be good for the heart and the head, but don’t let a passion for the environment stop you from seeing the bigger picture in getting the best deal you possibly can for whatever car you decide to drive.

By: Caroline Poynton

About the Author:

Set your thermostat lower in winter and higher in summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) once your incandescent bulbs burn out.

Wash clothes in cold water as much as possible. Up to 85% of the energy used to clean clothes goes into heating the water.

Use a clothesline or rack to dry your clothes to save the energy  used during machine drying.

Take shorter showers to reduce water use.

Install a low-flow showerhead. They’re inexpensive and the savings on your bill will pay for itself in a short time

Walk or ride a bike to school/work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work.

If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat is expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can.

Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.

Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and is a growing environmental problem.

Recycle your cell phone.

You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. ]]> http://go-green.idealmma.com/9-ways-to-go-green/feed/ 0 http://go-green.idealmma.com/is-your-home-office-eco-friendly/ http://go-green.idealmma.com/is-your-home-office-eco-friendly/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:28:06 +0000 Go Green http://cmszoom.com/green/2008/11/is-your-home-office-eco-friendly/ Most of us are pretty diligent about recycling every week. For some of us, the kitchen scraps go to the composter, and glass, plastic and cans are all separated. That’s great for the kitchen, but what about the rest of the house? What most don’t realize is the home office offers a huge opportunity for eco-friendly living, but largely goes ignored.

Many don’t think twice of using high quality non-recycled paper, or tossing ink cartridges and old electronics in the garbage. Leaving a computer on overnight seems innocent enough until you multiply that energy use by millions of households.

The three main home office offenders are energy waste, paper consumption and hazardous waste. Here are some tips to make your home office a little more eco-friendly.

Put your electronics to bed at night. Connect your computer, speakers, fax, printer, etc. to a power bar and turn them all off with the flick of a switch at the end of the day. It’s a common misconception that you should leave a computer on all night. There is a peak in the power when you turn it on, but nothing compared to what it uses over a 24 hour period.

Opt for a laptop. Not only do these have the benefit of being portable, laptops consume one-eighth the power of a desktop computer. Imagine if everyone in a household all had their own computers, they still wouldn’t use the energy of one bulky desktop.

Go for the flat screen. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or flat screen monitor uses less than half the energy of the traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors. Not to mention that they are easier to read, lighter and cause less eye strain.

Reuse & recycle. I had a friend who used to save any of her junk mail that was still in good condition and when doing simple printing jobs, she would use the blank side of those pages. It was such a simple concept that made so much sense, and worked great for those quick map or recipe print outs.

Save and reuse paper clips, elastics and push pins, and use rechargeable batteries and refillable toner cartridges.

For your garbage paper, keep a recycling bin next to your desk for handy use. Keep another bin nearby for expired rechargeable batteries, old inkjet and toner cartridges, or electronics. Once you have a collection built up, take them back to any Staples Business Depot for recycling.

Dead batteries should be saved and dropped off at your local waste depot for safe disposal. That corrosive acid they contain will seep out into the environment if left in a landfill site.

When buying paper, read the labels. What most people don’t realize is that much of the paper we use every day comes from old-growth forests. When you read the labels on the packages, look for: 100% recycled ( your 1st choice); or minimum FFC certification, which means the paper was made from trees grown in a sustainably managed forest.

Switch to fluorescent bulbs. A fluorescent bulb uses 2/3 less energy than a common incandescent bulb. When you add up all the bulbs in the house, that energy savings translates into saved dollars!

By: Matt Barker