3 Benefits of Going Green

You hear all about going green but you may wonder why you should do it. It may seem like a pain to set up a second trash can to collect plastic cups. It may not be easy to use a reusable plastic water bottle rather than the disposable ones. However, it is something you should do. You can actually benefit from it yourself.

How You Can Benefit

Depending on the type of environmentally friendly steps you take, you could see a significant improvement in your quality of life. It also feels good to do something that is good for the environment and for you. If you are still looking for ways to benefit from it, consider the following.

  • Going green can save you money. Reusing items saves money. You can save money on gas and fuel costs. You will cut the costs of almost everything you do.
  • Your health may improve. The more you get out to walk to the corner store or to ride your bike instead of drive that car, the better your health will be for it. Greener cleaners are safer on your respiratory system and your skin. Organic foods are a better source of nutrients.
  • You will save the earth with fewer chemicals getting into waterways and with fewer toxins depleting the ozone. You will not be using as many limited fossil fuels, either.

The question is, what are you doing to live a greener life? If you have yet to take on any of these changes, start with just one. Give yourself just enough push in the right direction. You will see just how beneficial it can be for you.

Filed Under: Energy Saving Appliances Tagged With: , ,

Going Green in the Office

computer monitor

Image by Mediajon via Flickr

A collection of wires and satellite codes, maybe a little direct.tv in the break room, the small hums of technology: your office is a dedication to progress. All shelves are stuffed with gadgetry; all space is claimed to the precision of circuits. Business demands immediacy — and the value of electronics could never be denied.

It could, however, be turned off.

The world is changing. What once a plead for carbon and natural resources has been redefined. The masses are clamoring for protection, are trying to shift all efforts toward environmentalism. The process has not been an easy one, but it has been persistent — and companies are now having to offer their own forms of support.

Accomplishing such support seems problematic, however.

It doesn’t have to be.

The simple act of turning off all electronic equipment while they are not in use can have immediate effects. Computers and similar products generate carbon — which is harmful to both the environment and individuals. Allowing these items to power down during the day will reduce emission rates by over 30 percent (as well as eliminate excess energy, which will help to lessen the strain on natural resources). And choosing to turn off all equipment for the entire night will ensure a 50 percent decrease of waste.

These numbers are impressive and shouldn’t be refused. By simply pressing a button, individuals can help to generate clean air and undo the cycle of electric dependency. The rewards of this are many and must be embraced.

Environmentalism is not a challenging process. Companies can instead apply it with ease.

Filed Under: Environment, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

Advantages Of Conservancy

The advantages of conservancy might not be instantly seen, but they do exist.

Everyone Needs to Do More

Conserving doesn’t mean you need to give up everything that you like. Running water is great, the Jersey Shore is fine television, and eating Twinkies is the next best thing to heaven. But when you look at the world around you, you can see how conserving as much as you can isn’t a bad idea. After all, you know that natural resources can only last so long. Does it have to be a pain to support the environment Not at all. And you don’t need to be a forest steward either.

Conserve for the Future Generations

When you don’t use up resources today, they will still be there tomorrow for future generations. That’s really all there is to it. So, you might want to cut back on the things which are using up the natural resources:

  • Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth.
  • Don’t take longer than a 10 minute shower.
  • Avoid taking baths.
  • Only buy foods you will eat.
  • Use a compost pile to create new soil and to not just dump out old foods.
  • Try to reuse as many items as you can.
  • Recycle.
  • Use recycled paper whenever possible or use the backsides of paper you’ve already used.

These are all simple things to do and, if you’ve noticed, they don’t as you to give up the way you life. You just need to make a few small changes to ensure you’re helping in small ways.

Community Building

When you take action to conserve the nature and the environment around you, you are helping your community as a whole. If you work with other people in your area, you can create a sense of community in this way. Working together helps to share the load of the work which needs to be done to conserve and to protect the environment, plus you can support each other as you begin to create a cleaner and healthier world.

Easy to Conserve

It’s really not all that difficult to conserve the resources you have around you. All it takes is being conscious of what you’re using and how you can use less. In fact, a lot of people can make a game of it and try to see who in their group can use the least amount of resources and win bragging rights. Of course, this generally means they don’t shower for a while, so…that is quite a sacrifice, even in the name of conservancy.

Filed Under: Energy Saving Appliances

What Is Water Conservation?

What is water conservation? This method of conservation helps to protect the waters of the world.

Why Water Matters

After being told for years by health experts that we need to drink as much water as possible, now we’re being told to conserve it? Yeesh, make up your mind, why don’t you? Water conservation is a bit more serious than just drinking seven glasses of water instead of eight. When you drink water, you are taking it from the water supply, but you eventually will, well, release it back into the world, via your toilet. The problem with water conservation in the world is that there are so many people, but the water supply is pretty much fixed. The water we have now will continue to be the water we have tomorrow.

The water we use is essential for:

  • Hydration – The human body can only survive three days without water.
  • Cleaning – Water is a natural solvent which helps to clean nearly anything.
  • Transportation – Humans use ships and animals use their fins or flippers to move from one point of water to another.

And this doesn’t even begin to touch how important water is for those animals that are living in the world too who need to drink water, bathe, etc.

Water matters and we need to find ways to conserve as much as possible so that we can always have what we need, when we need it. Though the world may not run out of water, it might begin to run out of clean water if we’re not more aware.

Changing Water Habits

In the smaller forest ecosystem, the value of water is seen clearly. When the waters dry up, animals die and then the plants die, and the forest dies. Just a few small things can help to stop this process from occurring:

  • Water should be used sparingly – When you need to use water for a shower or dishes, use as little as possible. Run a dishwasher which controls the amount of water in the cycle.
  • Avoid using bottled water – These bottles are filled with nothing more than tap water and they are wasteful.
  • Avoid using water for unnecessary tasks – Though some might think washing their car is necessary, most of the time, it’s more for vanity. Try to limit the water you use on your car, your lawn, and for outdoor activities.

While it might seem like your home is far away from the first where the water conservation matters, each drop of water you save helps to support the entire water ecosystem.

Filed Under: Environment

Why Conservation Matters

Learning why conservation matters might just motivate you to make those trendy green changes you’ve been considering.

Conserve Now for Later

It used to be that only shaggy haired hippies were the ones talking about conservancy. They used to chant and sway while keeping others away from the trees in the forest. Twenty years later, they are the ones who are chopping down the trees, though there are fewer trees now than there ever were before. What has happened to the idea of conserving the resources we have?

Right now, it seems we’re more interested in making money from the resources we have now than focusing on saving the resources in order to make money later. But perhaps that’s just what it looks like to some. For those who consider themselves to be forest stewards, it might be time for a new look at the way that resources are being used up. Let the facts speak for themselves. The fact remains that any resources which is limited in its supply is going to be used up eventually. Once it is used up, we can not use any more. That’s all there is to it. It’s like when your mother gives you one dollar. Once that dollar is used, you can’t use it again.

The Effects of Conservation

When you don’t use that paper cup instead of using a reusable cup, it’s true; you’re not going to see any instant benefit. While you might be filled with pride that you’re better than everyone else (greener than thou?), you’re not making an immediate difference in the environment. And for many, this is enough to get them to stop trying any sort of green action. However, there are long term effects of conservation which need to be kept in mind:

  • More natural resources for later
  • More time to develop renewable resources
  • Sustainable economy and production
  • Greener environment
  • Less pollution

Now, this doesn’t mean that we need to stop using resources – that’s where a lot of people get scared off of conservancy discussions. What is important is that people begin to conserve and to think about what they’re using. Maybe you don’t need to use paper cups all the time. Maybe you can use a travel mug. Maybe you can use cloth bags to get your groceries instead of plastic bags.

Conservancy is baby steps toward a better world in which we do have all of the resources we need in order to continue to compete in business.

Filed Under: Environment

Saving on Trips to the Store

 

CHANGCHUN, CHINA - DECEMBER 28: Residents wal...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Everybody knows the economy runs on consumption. While consuming is a good thing in moderation, it also tends to burn a lot of gas. Not only can this become very expensive, but burning lots of fossil fuels is also bad for the environment, to say nothing of being just a waste of resources. So it can be worth your time to save when you can on trips to any kind of store.

Naturally, great products like Apple Bottoms jeans will help you save on trips to the clothing stores. Unfortunately, that and line drying your wardrobe to keep it wearable for a long time are only two small steps. Most folks don’t buy clothes all that often, anyway. However, you can also buy your food in bulk, as well. Every time you don’t have to turn on your engine to go somewhere, you save yourself time, money and a little bit of pollution in the air. Every one of those three components is ultimately good for you and the world we all share.

However, you can even up that a little bit. While delivery companies tend to also burn plenty of fossil fuels, they have measures in place to be more fuel efficient, even with big trucks, than you would likely be able to pull off. This is why it can be even cheaper to order things directly, and it can even save on the amount of pollution put out from the vehicles involved. After all, stores don’t magically produce things. The less shipping points involved, the better it is for the environment and you.

Filed Under: Alternate Fuel, Real Estate Benefits Tagged With: , ,

4 Ways Businesses Can Go Green

For many people, being environmentally friendly is a natural part of life. For others, the word “recycle” still seems like a dirty word. Unfortunately, there are still many corporations who haven’t adopted green policies just yet. If you are a business owner, rest assured that being more environmentally friendly doesn’t have to hurt your bottom line. Take a look at four tips every business can do to go green.

1.       Be more energy efficient. This could be as simple as encouraging all employees to power down their computers every night to as big as buying energy-efficient devices, like an energy efficient Mac Pro. Little changes like not leaving a computer running and turning off office lights can make a big difference.

2.       Go paperless. Yes, even big corporations can go paperless. Ask your vendors to bill you electronically instead of through the mail. Don’t accept faxes and instead request information to be sent over email. Encourage your employees to go with direct deposit, instead of a paper check. There are many paperless options available.

3.       Recycle. Don’t forget, it’s easy to set up recycling bins for paper and water bottles. Provide the bins and assign someone the task to take the bins to the recycle bin and you are miles ahead of other businesses out there.

4.       Use web conferencing. Where possible, use a video conferencing system, like Skype, for out of the office meetings instead of driving there. Not only will you help save the environment, but you’ll save on fuel prices as well.

Image representing Skype as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

These four tips are simple and easy to implement, but will make a big difference to Mother Earth.

Filed Under: Business Benefits, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

4 eco-friendly businesses

Corporate social responsibility is becoming an important area of focus for all businesses. As worries about the environment and humanity’s impact on the globe escalate, more and more consumers are starting to care about whether the products and services they use have a large carbon footprint. Companies that pay attention to their environmental credentials and effectively manage their eco practices are going to be the ones that thrive in the future. Below are four companies that are doing their best to help the environment.

Gazelle

This company has made its mark by recycling electronic goods that traditionally are difficult for consumers to dispose of in a safe and environmental way. The firm assesses the monetary value of products by using retailers such as eBay to estimate the second-hand price it would fetch for a sale, and then pays the owner that amount. If the product is no longer working, the company will still recycle it for free. Such commitment to environmentally-friendly practices is clearly paying off, as it generated a revenue in 2009 of $8.3 billion.

Mercury Solar Systems

This company provides a range of solar energy solutions to both companies and consumers looking to both save money on their utility bills and help protect the planet. Renewable energy schemes are one of the areas being championed by the government as an effective way of sustainably powering the planet. The firm has experienced growth of 870 percent over three years – a sure sign that its reliance on renewable solar energy is paying off.

Echosign

Echosign is one of the world’s leading providers of digital business solutions, including its specialized range of electronic signature software. As well as being dedicated to streamlining business practices, Echosign is also a clear believer in environmental sustainability. The company is moving towards being fully reliant on wind farms and harnessing wind energy, while it also plants a tree for every customer that is referred to it by existing users. What’s more, the company’s products themselves encourage environmental thinking. Electronic signatures cut down on the need for paper and physical properties that are unsustainable; in fact, Echosign’s average customer helps the environment by saving 12,000 pieces of paper a year when using the firm’s services.

Eco-Products

Eco-Products started life as many companies do – being operated by a father and son, who sold office supplies that had been recycled to companies in its local area. However, the desire of businesses to improve their eco credentials led to the firm growing and growing, until it boasted a revenue of $47.5 million in 2009. The company has now expanded into other areas and one of the products it is most proud of is the PLA (or polylactic acid) cup. The cups are made from plant resources that are completely renewable and are revolutionizing the beverage industry as customers are flocking to stores that use the eco-friendly products.

Although traditionally companies often saw battle lines drawn between green practices and profit margins, the lines are becoming continuously blurred as more and more firms begin to make money based on their environmentally-conscious standpoints. How will you environmentally update your business?

Filed Under: Energy Saving Appliances, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

Recycle — And Save Mother Earth

‘Reduce, reuse, and recycle’ is the phrase that was originally coined to encourage folks to become environmentally aware of the impact they have on the earth. While recycling has been the biggest push out of those three actions, it is still critical to pay attention to the other two.

The ‘reduce’ part of going green refers to reducing the amount of things that you consume. Reduce your use of items where possible. Reduce the amount of canned soda pop that you drink so that there are less aluminum cans going to the recycling center. Reduce the number of take-out meals you buy so that you have less Styrofoam containers to throw away. Instead of using paper towels, use cloth towels.

Reusing items that you have not only saves on the environment it also saves on the pocketbook. Refill your ink cartridge instead of buying new ones. Remake adult sized clothing into clothing for children. Buy rechargeable batteries so you have fewer batteries thrown away.

Recycle your technology. Each year, tons of technology ends up in a land fill. Cell phones, computers monitors, television sets, old VHS or DVD players could be sold through classified ads or yard sales. They could be donated to a local charity organization or schools. Many stores that sell electronics are willing to buy back your old electronics and dispose of them for you.

Make sure you have recycling bins in your home. Label them for plastics, aluminum, and paper. Make sure each family member uses the bins when throwing items away. Contact your city offices to see about recycling collection so that they can stop at your home to empty your bins.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/595768

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: , ,

The Benefits of Donating Cars for Charity

You may be one of the millions of people who have an old car that isn’t needed any more. It may be because you’ve upgraded to a more energy-efficient car or you’ve moved to the big city and don’t have a need to drive anywhere. The only problem is deciding what to do with the old car that you don’t need any longer.

If you are purchasing a new car, then you’ve probably considered trading it in; the problem with this is that a dealership isn’t going to give you much for the car. You could sell the car yourself, but while this sounds like a good idea, it really isn’t. Older cars waste a lot of energy and emit harmful toxins into the atmosphere so when you sell your old car, you’re not helping the situation. Hence, the next logical solution is to recycle your car by donating it to charity.

There are some great benefits to this. First, you’ll be helping others with your donation. There are many charities like Kars 4 Kids that will gladly come and pick up the car from your house. They may do a number of things with the car such as auctioning it off or cutting it up and selling the scrap metal to help cover their expenses or provide new materials for underprivileged people. Another benefit you’ll receive when you donate your car is that it is tax deductible. Therefore, if you have an old car you need to be rid of—donate it. You’ll be helping people in need, reducing energy waste, protecting the environment and receive an extra tax deduction!

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: , ,
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