The Three Best Ways To Protect The Planet

The planet we live on is changing and as a result of our actions its lifespan is reducing dramatically. There are so many different companies out there nowadays that then profess to offer ways to reduce the damage we are causing but in truth these methods are often born out of fantasy and are extremely difficult to implement.
Moving forward, naturally a focus on renewable forms of energy will be extremely beneficial and have an extremely positive effect but these methods have to be much more affordable and relative to the environment they are contained within.
As I have mentioned before, we live in the internet age and there is an abundance of research data available online that can help us understand and engage with the problem at hand. Protecting the environment should be high on the agenda for our governments as it is the simplest and most effective way to put in place mass changes on a vast scale, quickly and efficiently.

Renewable Energy

This is pretty much the best way to protect the planet in the long term. There are so many companies out there that have the technology we need but it is simply a question of cost. It cannot be disputed that renewable energy is both expensive and difficult to install.
The fact that it is a form of energy that is reliant on the weather makes it almost impossible to universally apply but in certain countries renewable forms of energy can be a brilliant way to generate efficient and cost effective energy.
The non-renewable forms of energy are going to run out one day, that is something that cannot be disputed and therefore governments must be looking towards renewable forms of energy to create the basis for an energy efficient future.
Instead of investing time and money in wars that are wholly unnecessary, why not invest in the future of the planet that has given us this wonderfully unique and rare opportunity.

 

Utilities

This is another simple yet effective way to protect the planet and save yourself a lot of money personally too. We all waste so much energy in our homes and that in turn costs us a lot more money each week on our bills. It is a vicious cycle but I do agree it is something that is extremely tough to quantify.
Energy is so abundant nowadays and people can be forgiven for being a little frivolous but with just a little education, we can nationally save a hell of a lot of cash. There are companies out there such as Agua Flux that sell great accessories designed to save you water in your house for example and must be looked into.

 

Recycle

This is the simplest and the most widely used method of protection and conservation but again it isn’t that efficient nor effective. Naturally, recycling is better than not recycling but I think there are a lot better and more effective methods or protection. Spend a little time researching and start taking care of this fragile planet we all share.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Marcus Jackson is a writer with a love for the environment. He writes articles with the sole intention of raising awareness about the damage we cause on a day to day basis and ways to protect the planet.

Don’t Drive Across Town for Cheap Gas-- Seriously, Don’t Do It

Summer is fast approaching, and with it, higher prices at the pump. While it may make you feel better to drive to a neighboring town to secure cheaper gasoline, it’s almost always more expensive to make the trip. Here is the truth, the math, and some ideas for better ways to spend your money.

$4.00 per gallon seems like a princely sum to pay just for the ability to burn it all transporting yourself from one appointment to the next. So, naturally, $3.95 sounds a LOT better. But unless the nickel-cheaper gas is selling at the filling station immediately next door to the more expensive stuff, you’re better off completely ignoring the cost and just filling up at whichever station is nearest to you. Why?

Let’s use some average numbers for cars. Your vehicle will differ, but this will give an idea as to how the numbers work out when bargain shopping for gasoline. For our example, we’ll use a vehicle with a 15-gallon gas tank. The average combined fuel economy of the car is 25mpg. The service station with the $4.00 gas is next door to our home, but the discount fuel is 5 miles away.

1. Price Only

Gasoline prices seem to bewitch people. You’d never drive a 10-mile round-trip to save $0.75 on a $60 item, but when you drive five miles each way to save a nickel per gallon on a fill-up, that’s exactly what you’re doing. Consider: A full, 15-gal. tank of fuel at $4.00/gal. costs $60.00. A full, 15-gal. tank of fuel at $3.95/gal. costs $59.25. Savings = $0.75. What if you only have a 10 gal. tank? You’ll pay $40 and $39.50 respectively, for a full tank. $0.50 is not much savings!

2. Mileage Matters

If it feels better to get the lower price, and you think the $0.75 is worth the trip, you still lose. You’ll travel 10 miles to get the cheap gas, but you’ll burn more fuel driving there and back than you’ll be able to buy with the money you save. At 25mpg, and assuming you leave your driveway and make the round-trip with no traffic and under optimal conditions, you’ll use 0.4 gal. of gas. At the discounted rate of $3.95, you’ll have to pay $1.58 to buy the 0.4 gal. you’ll use to drive to and from the station. Remember, this trip was undertaken to realize a $0.75 total savings. But instead, you’ve now lost $0.83. Would you drive across town to deliberately spend $0.83 more on a $60 purchase?

3. Higher Prices = Less Reason to Travel for a Deal

Every time the cost of fuel goes up, the cost per mile traveled goes up with it. And it consequently makes even less sense to drive out of your way to save a few cents. At $4.50 and $4.45 per gallon at our dueling stations, you’ll still only be traveling for a $0.75 total discount, but now it cost you $1.78 to make the 10-mile trip. Now you’ve spent $1.03 more than you would have if you just bought the $4.50 gas.

4. What about a HUGE Sale?

In the above example, the nearby station offered $4.50 gas. What if the 5-mile-away station had a HUGE sale resulting in $4.25 gas? You’ll spend $67.50 and $63.75 respectively to fill up, resulting in a savings of $3.75. But, you’ll spend $1.70 in extra fuel costs for the privilege. The total savings on filling your tank = $2.05… about a 3% savings. If you were buying any other item in the $60 price range, would a 3% discount entice you to drive across town? Chances are you’d laugh if you saw an advertisement for a HUGE 3%-off sale.

5. Time is Money

We haven’t accounted for your time in these examples, but you can safely assume that the 10-mile round trip (driving time only, unimpeded, at 55mph) will add a bare minimum of 10.9 minutes to your fueling experience. If you make minimum wage ($7.25/ hr), that 10.9 minutes of your time is worth $1.32. Now, even the HUGE sale example is only worth $0.73 in savings. You get the idea – it’s no deal to travel for gas savings!

6. Do This Instead

In lieu of the cross-town fill-up trip, spend a few minutes making sure your car is ready for the summer. Check the air pressure in your tires, test the battery charge, make sure all exterior lights are functioning and swap out your windshield wiper blades. That will take you about the same 10.9 minutes you formerly spent driving around looking for cheap gas, and is a much better way to spend your valuable time.

Greener Ways To Dispose Of A Dishwasher

Dishwashers can’t always be repaired and often need replacing. But what do you do with an old dishwasher you want to get rid of in an eco friendly way?

Unless it is broken, the chances are you haven’t given a thought to how you are going to get rid of the old appliance when you’re out shopping for a new one.

But when your new dishwasher arrives for installation, what are you going to do with the old one? Store it in the garage or leave it out on the garden for the neighbours to wag their fingers and disapprove over? Here are your options when it comes to green ways to dispose of your old dishwasher.

Sell It 
If it’s still in working order then you could sell the dishwasher. An old machine to you could be like treasure to someone else. You could try putting an advertisement in the local press, or advertising it on a website. The chances are that someone will take it off your hands quick smart.

Give it away
Assuming again that the dishwasher is in working order, why not try giving it away. No doubt there are plenty of people on your street and in your neighbourhood who would love a dishwasher, but because of other financial commitments can’t afford it. A good will gesture will be rewarded by the happy smiles on their faces.

The Weee Directive 
The Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (Weee) Directive is a European Directive with UK regulations, which aims to recycle and safely dispose of electrical equipment, by assisting the public with environmentally friendly ways of disposing of unwanted or broken electrical items. This does include your dishwasher. Shops that are signed up to the scheme must help customers to recycle their old items for free by paying for the local authority run recycling centre to come and collect the dishwasher from your house at no cost to you, or collecting it for a fee when they deliver your new dishwasher. You’ll notice that a lot of stores offer this option for a few pounds - it is inexpensive and an easy way to ensure your old dishwasher is removed from your home. We advise you to check that the store you are choosing to buy your dishwasher from is a member of the Weee directive when you go to purchase it.

Your Local Authority Tip 
Your council will have a recycling centre and can usually collect and dispose of the dishwasher for you. They often charge a fee for this service. Parts maybe re-usable and the remainder will be disposed of in a safe environment.

A Second Hand Shop
There’s no reason why a second hand shop specialising in white goods would not take an old dishwasher off your hands. Even if there are dishwasher problems with the device, many electrical experts buy and repair old white goods equipment, selling them on for a profit.

Production Materials For Truly Eco-friendly Coffee

"Eco-friendly", when applied to coffee, has become something of a marketing asset. For a retailer chasing the 'Green Pound' it's important to come across as a responsible, caring company. For the consumer there are a number of factors that may lead them to make the purchase - does they feel good that the produce is from a sustainable source? Is it that they care for the welfare of those individuals working to bring them the coffee?
However, that applies to the coffee itself. If you want a truly enjoyable drink then it's important not only to consider the coffee, but also the espresso cups you're using to drink out of. For if the coffee has been produced to high green standards but the cup is made by a toxic, harmful process then it diminishes the value of your efforts.

It's not necessarily easy to understand the processes of how a cup is made when considering the environment, so it's perhaps useful to start with the materials themselves - porcelain, clay and glass.
Porcelain is arguably the material used in most coffee and espresso cups because of its versatility. It's easy to mould into unique, interesting shapes and has the capacity for application of colour making it aesthetically pleasing. Porcelain is also good for heat retention, meaning the drink will stay warm or hot for a reasonable amount of time.

Porcelain is made by firing a combination of natural base materials in a kiln, including clay, flint and silica. Kiln-firing can be eco-friendly depending on the kiln. Newer kilns are specifically designed with emission-reduction and energy efficiency in mind, which can be increased by using carbonaceous waste materials. Porcelain manufacture doesn't produce any by-products that can't be recycled back into the manufacturing process.

Clay is a natural material that has been used as in building everything from structures to smaller items for thousands of years. Clay, as mentioned above, is used during the manufacturing of other building materials due to its useful attributes. Clay is used in coffee or espresso cup production but is not as versatile as porcelain for colour application, and not as good at retaining heat as glass. Clay is considered to be fairly eco-friendly.

Glass is considered, at least by many consumers, to be one of the most environmentally-friendly materials, especially when used in packaging. Glass has the benefit of not adding anything to the taste of the food or drink it can contain. Combine that with its ability to be sculptured into any shape and its great heat-retention qualities and glass appears to be an excellent material for coffee cup manufacture. Glass can be recycled, making it comparatively sustainable as a building material. However glass is created at high temperature meaning whether it is eco-friendly or not depends on the type of fuel used to create those temperatures within a glass factory. When compared to plastic, glass is certainly more eco-friendly.
Next time you consider buying eco-friendly coffee spare a small thought for your coffee cup - does it meet your high standards?

This article is a post from Espresso Deco (http://espressodeco.com/), a UK coffeeware retailer.

Top 5 Modern Technologies That Can Cut Household Costs

With credit squeezed, salaries frozen and unemployment rising we are all feeling the economic pinch these days. Once, household technology was solely about buying the latest gadget, be it home cinema or a new smart phone, before the old one had even approached the end of its useful life. But in the last couple of years, with the credit crunch, people have become increasingly aware of what technology has to offer to help them actually save money. Some of this technology has been around for a while, whilst other developments are decidedly cutting-edge.

Here is our top five of modern technologies that can cut household costs:

1. LED and Compact Fluorescent Lamps - energy saving bulbs last far longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and have lower running costs. The initial higher cost of each bulb is recouped within an average first six months of the bulb's life and then one starts to enjoy the savings this technology provides. LED lights are very efficient and are readily available in sizes that can be used in standard household fittings. Some users, however, find that the colour range of light from cheaper LEDs is not pleasing. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are a proven technology which, again, offers the consumer savings by providing longer bulb life and cheaper running costs for the initial higher outlay. CFLs reach full brightness more quickly than LEDs and, in many people’s opinion, are more aesthetically pleasing.

2. Double Glazing and Home Insulation - two different technologies, but both address the same issue: once you've paid the energy costs of heating your home, it makes sense to make every effort to stop that heat escaping. Double glazing involves a high initial cost, but will, for the average house, bring energy savings of around £165 pa, year on year. Some 33% of a home's heat is lost through the walls and another 20% through the roof. For a relatively modest outlay, cavity wall insulation and full 270mm loft insulation can give significant savings.

3. Solar Water Heating - once installed, this provides your home with a free source of warm water. The installation will pay for itself within 7 - 15 years and then begin to provide savings.

4. Solar Power by Photovoltaic Cells - solar power is a major investment, taking the average household some 20 - 30 years to recoup. Some of the cost, however, can be offset by linking some of the electricity produced to the national grid.

5. The Internet - or, more specifically, price comparison sites and smart phone apps. This technology offers the consumer the chance to compare prices and secure the best deal on a whole range of goods and services.

This article was written in association with Geothermal International, experts in geothermal energy.

Moderate air pollution raises stroke risk by a third

Environmental concerns can often seem to be completely separate from issues surrounding health. But a new study has suggested that there may be some close links in place.
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center studies more than 1,700 patients for more than a decade. The study found that even moderate levels of air pollution can increase the risk of a stroke by more than one third.

Study conducted in Boston
Stroke victims in Boston, for example, would found to be a far greater risk of an attack at times when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had issued a yellow warning on air quality levels.
The senior author of the study noted that the increased stroke risk levels associated with specific particulates “can be observed within hours of exposure.”
As a result of this study, there are suggestions that any considerations of air pollution levels simply must take into account the health risks that are associated with them.

The research team compared the stroke symptoms experienced by each patient with levels of particulates, as monitored on an hourly basis by the Harvard School of Public Health.

As a result of this research, the team have been able to calculate the patients are at the greatest level of risk is they are exposed to pollution around 14 hours prior to a stroke event.

Vehicle pollution is seen as being particularly worrying, with black carbon and nitrogen dioxide both being closely linked with stroke risk.

Stroke causes around 53,000 deaths each year in the UK, so it’s clear that this research has some significant implications.

It’s clear that air pollution warnings may need to be strengthened, in order to ensure that the public are aware of the dangers that they may be facing at certain times.

Indeed, it’s thought that cutting certain forms of air pollution by around 20% may be enough to save thousands of lives in America each year. It is admitted, however, that further research is required in order to be able to reach more definitive conclusions.

This research study was backed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The implications for the UK
Although this study was carried out in the United States, it’s clear that it will inform policy makes here in the UK. With the environment very much on the political agenda, these sorts of links to health issues are bound to have an impact in terms of political thinking.
At present, there seems to be some concern within government that environmental issues are being seen by the public as a way to raise taxes. This link to health risks may start to change that thinking.

Keith Barrett takes an interest in environmental news and also studies the actions of politicians and other policy makers in this area. He also writes extensively on a range of green issues.

Make your Valentine’s Day More Cheerful with Eco-friendly Gift Ideas

With the upcoming Valentine's Day, you can celebrate the romantic time of year with full of joys and happiness. And if you want to make this valentine memorable, then pick the eco-friendly valentine's gift for your partner. It proves to be the most inspired and innovative gift that you are probably wondering how to make this day for your special someone. It is the season of love and you can also show your love for your planet and environment as well. You can easily impress your partner with your eco style valentine gift idea.

To Being Eco Friendly Will Show you Responsible Human Being.
A green gift will be a unique and original idea that you can give to your loved one.  Presenting Eco-friendly gifts can be fun, practical and shows you as an environmentally conscious and responsible human being.  These gifts can create your Valentine's Day different, special and memorable and shows your care about the nature as well. In fact, you can shop eco-friendly gifts through various online shopping stores or local market as per your liking. This Valentine's Day will become more eco friendly if you choose different kinds of products that are eco friendly, organic or natural.

Show Your Love By Your Creativity and By Going Green
There are so many items that one can gift this Valentines Day. You can offer some special greetings cards made from different seeds, stones, herbs, flowers and beads carrying some romantic messages or lines. For the internet lovers or tech-savvy persons, you can send an e-card on their mail account if you want to avoid using paper. If you planning to purchase perfumes or fragrances, then instead of opting for expensive ones you can select products that are specially made from essential oils and extracted from plants, flowers, shrubs, bushes and roots. Regardless of costly gifts, you can buy some Organic eating products as they are healthier and also helps you to maintain the environment as well. Even you consider gifting jewelry to your valentine, but you must ensure that the jeweler is qualified for fair methods and environmental standards.

Make This Valentine Different!!
Other gift choices available are bags made from re-cycled paper, handmade artifacts, natural makeup kits or an organically grown flowers bouquet. When you personalize your gifts items with some natural thoughts, it will help you to put your efforts to protect the environment and natural resources. Apart from the above stated eco-friendly valentine gifts, you can plant a tree in the name of your beloved and to honor their love. It will be a perfect green gift which shows your innovation and sincerity towards the environment. If you have some time then you can plan for a romantic candle-light dinner and save energy. For that you can light candles that are made from natural beeswax or vegetables that are recyclable and smoke-free too.

Jamith Peterson loves to soak into bubbling and warm bath after a tiring day but hates to come out of the warmth to experience the chill outside