The Ultimate Green Store is a proud sponsor of Go Green Expo, the nation's premier eco-friendly events.
Since 2007, Enviroprint has been demonstrating its commitment to sustainable environmental printing practices by using renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly inks and paper.
Responsible printing for a sustainable world.
Posts Tagged ‘ways to go green’
January 14th, 2012 | 
Author: - Save energy
- Save water
- Less gas
- Eat smart
- Skip the bottled water
- Think before you buy
- Buy smart
- Keep electronics out of the trash
- Make your own cleaning supplies
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.
These people are trying to make small but significant changes in the way they look at their everyday lives, and the items they purchase, with a view to not only cost and quality, but also how the manufacture, and use of these products impact the world at large.
Modern eco-friendly furniture is a small but significant part of this new environmentally conscious attitude towards the items that we buy for our homes. Many people these days want to be able to make an informed decision with regard to how an item was produced in relation to this environmental impact.
Modern eco friendly furniture will not in itself save the planet, but with the threat of global warming it is important to try wherever possible, to make environmentally friendly decisions with regard to any home decor buys.
Eco friendly outdoor furniture is made from renewable and nontoxic materials and is made with processors that do not cause environmental damage.
For example, many pieces of modern eco friendly furniture are made from wood; well you wouldn’t think that was very environmentally friendly, cutting down trees.
But as opposed to regular wood furniture found in your local store, modern eco friendly furniture is made from timber produced by certified wood harvesting sites.
These sites are closely monitored to ensure the trees are grown specifically for harvesting and after the mature trees are cut down they are replaced at the same time by planting saplings.
In addition, developments in manufacturing methods mean that a significant proportion of ‘wooden’ eco friendly outdoor furniture is not actually made from wood; it is produced from bamboo, which grows at a fast rate and is easily replenished.
By making a conscious decision to buy this ‘eco friendly’ outdoor furniture, you can help to prevent deforestation, because no virgin forest is involved in its manufacture.
Unlike many overpriced environmentally friendly products, this eco-friendly outdoor furniture has a comparable price to regular outdoor furniture.
There is an excellent choice of styles available from the traditional to the ultramodern, there is a wide choice of quality furniture available, and if there is not a store near your home it is easy to order online.
By: IC
Posted in Environment | 
Tags: Environmental Damage, Sustainable Hardwoods, ways to go green | 
No Comments »
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 |
No Comments »
Copyright © 2009 Ideal MMA. All Rights Reserved.